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Growth Marketer · Strategy Basics: Competitive Map

Stop Guessing: Use a Differentiation Grid to Focus Your Next Move

Stop wasting effort on low-impact tests. Build a competitive map to see exactly where to focus your next experiment for real growth.

Who This Helps

This is for growth marketers tired of random experiments. The Strategy Basics: Competitive Map course gives you a one-page artifact to see your real market position. You'll stop guessing which channel to push next.

Mini Case

Aisha's team was stuck. They were running 5+ experiments a month across social, search, and email, but channel growth was flat. After building a Differentiation Grid, they saw they were losing on key features for their core segment. They paused 3 low-priority tests and doubled down on one content series. In 6 weeks, that single focused effort drove a 22% lift in qualified leads from their target wedge.

Do This Now (5 Steps)

  1. List your top 3 competitors—not every company, just the ones your customers actually compare you to.
  2. Pick one core customer segment to analyze. Avoid trying to please everyone at once.
  3. Build your Differentiation Grid. Use 4-5 key comparison points like pricing, core features, or messaging.
  4. Mark where you win (green), lose (red), and are tied (yellow) for each point.
  5. Find your biggest green area. That's your wedge—the single move to prioritize for your next experiment.

Avoid These Traps

  • Don't compare yourself to 10+ companies. It gets muddy. Stick to 3.
  • Don't skip the evidence. If you mark a 'win,' note the specific customer review or data point that proves it.
  • Don't try to fix all your 'red' losses at once. Pick one strategic wedge to own.
  • Don't let perfect data stall you. Use your best available insights and update the map as you learn.

Your Win by Friday

By Friday, you'll have a clean, one-page competitive map. You'll know your one key wedge. You'll present a single, high-impact experiment to your team instead of a list of maybes. Your next move will be clear, not a guess. You've got this.