Who This Helps
This is for growth marketers who are tired of running random experiments that waste time and budget. You want to move channel metrics without guesswork. The Strategy Basics: Competitive Map course helps you build a one-page strategy artifact that shows exactly where you win and where you lose.
Mini Case
Meet Aisha. She runs growth at a SaaS startup. Her team had 12 experiments lined up for the quarter. After building a competitive map, she realized 8 of them were copying moves from a competitor who was already winning. She killed those, focused on one segment wedge, and saw a 30% lift in trial-to-paid conversion in 7 days. No guesswork.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Grab your top 3 competitors. Not every logo in the market. Just the ones your customers actually compare you to.
- List your best customer segment. Pick one wedge where you already have traction. Don't dilute.
- Build a simple grid. Write your strengths and weaknesses next to each competitor's. Use real evidence, not vibes.
- Find one strategic tradeoff. What are you willing to stop doing to win? That's your next experiment.
- Run that experiment this week. Focus all your effort on the one move that changes the game.
Avoid These Traps
- Don't include every competitor. Aisha learned that the hard way when her grid became useless.
- Don't pick a segment wedge that's too broad. You'll end up with a diluted positioning.
- Don't run experiments that copy a competitor's winning move. You'll just feed their moat.
- Don't skip the evidence step. Opinions without data lead to wasted sprints.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a one-page competitive map that tells you exactly which experiment to prioritize. No more guessing. No more wasted budget. Just one clear move that moves your channel metrics. And hey, you might even have time to grab coffee before standup.