How to Build a Competitor SWOT Analysis That Drives Strategy
A practical guide to creating SWOT analyses for your competitors. Includes templates, examples, and tips for actionable insights.
A SWOT analysis is one of the most powerful tools for understanding your competitors. When done right, it reveals opportunities to differentiate and vulnerabilities to exploit.
What is a SWOT Analysis?
SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It's a framework for analyzing any entity - your own company, a competitor, or a market opportunity.
SWOT Applied to Competitors
When analyzing competitors, your SWOT should answer:
- Strengths - What do they do better than anyone else?
- Weaknesses - Where do they fall short? (Hint: These are your opportunities)
- Opportunities - What market trends could benefit them?
- Threats - What could disrupt their business?
SWOT Analysis Template
Use this structure for each competitor:
Company: [Competitor Name]
Strengths (2-4):
- What are they known for?
- What do customers praise?
Weaknesses (2-4):
- What do customers complain about?
- Where do they underinvest?
Opportunities: Market trends in their favor
Threats: Risks to their business model
Pro Tips for Better SWOT Analysis
- Use multiple data sources (reviews, social media, job postings)
- Update quarterly - markets change fast
- Focus on actionable insights, not just observations
- Automate with tools like GapScout AI for real-time analysis
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