Understanding how competitors are perceived by AI systems reveals opportunities to differentiate and improve your positioning.
Why Competitive Analysis Matters
AI assistants frequently compare brands:
- "What's the difference between X and Y?"
- "Which is better, X or Y?"
- "Alternatives to X"
Your positioning in these comparisons directly impacts recommendation likelihood.
What to Analyze
Share of Voice
How often each competitor is mentioned in relevant queries:
- Track mentions across query types
- Monitor changes over time
- Identify dominant players
Sentiment Comparison
How positively/negatively AI describes each brand:
- Compare recommendation language
- Note specific praise or criticism
- Identify sentiment drivers
Feature Attribution
Which features/benefits AI associates with each brand:
- Track unique differentiators
- Identify gaps in your coverage
- Note competitive advantages
Positioning Gaps
Where competitors are weak or absent:
- Find underserved use cases
- Identify missed keywords
- Discover niche opportunities
Competitive Intelligence Tactics
1. Query Mining
Run queries that would mention competitors:
- "[Competitor] alternatives"
- "[Competitor] vs"
- "Best [category] tools"
2. Response Analysis
For each competitor, note:
- How often they're mentioned
- In what context
- With what sentiment
- Which features highlighted
3. Gap Identification
Find opportunities where:
- Competitors are weak
- Category is underserved
- Your strengths aren't recognized
Competitive Strategies
When Behind Market Leaders
- Focus on specific use cases
- Target underserved segments
- Emphasize unique differentiators
- Build concentrated authority
When Leading
- Maintain citation presence
- Address emerging competitors
- Expand into adjacent topics
- Protect key positions
When Evenly Matched
- Create head-to-head content
- Highlight honest comparisons
- Build distinctive positioning
- Focus on sentiment