Who This Helps
You're a growth marketer who needs to move channel metrics without guesswork. You've got data, but stakeholders want a clear story before they say yes. This is for you if you're tired of analysis that goes nowhere.
Mini Case
Meet Aisha. She runs growth at a SaaS startup. Last quarter, she had 12% channel lift from a new campaign, but her VP asked, "Why this channel?" Aisha had no competitive map to back her choice. She spent 7 days rebuilding her pitch. This time, she used the Strategy Basics: Competitive Map course to build a one-page strategy artifact. Her VP approved execution in 3 steps.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab your top three competitors. Not every logo in the market. Just the ones that matter for your channel choice.
- Pick one customer segment wedge. Avoid diluted positioning. Aisha chose "mid-market SaaS" and stuck with it.
- Build a differentiation grid. List where you win and where you lose. Use real evidence, not vibes.
- Spot one market signal. Look for a shift that changes your strategy. Aisha found a competitor dropping a channel she could own.
- Write your strategic tradeoff. Say no to one thing so you can say yes to another. This makes your case bulletproof.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't list every logo in your space. It wastes time and confuses stakeholders.
- Don't skip the customer segment wedge. Without it, your positioning looks like a blur.
- Don't present data without a story. Numbers alone won't get approval.
- Don't ignore moat signals. If you can't defend your move, it's not a strategy.
- Don't overcomplicate the grid. Keep it clean with evidence, not opinions.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a one-page competitive map that turns analysis into approved execution. No more guesswork. No more re-pitching. Just a clear artifact that says, "Here's where we win, here's where we lose, and here's our next move." That's a win your stakeholders will actually say yes to.