5
Competitors Audited
direct + adjacent category
2-3
Gaps Identified
actionable positioning opportunities
30 min
Time Per Audit
focused, not exhaustive
1 day
Total Time
all 5 audits done in one sprint
2-3 gaps
is the sweet spot — enough to differentiate, focused enough to act on
| Dimension | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Identity | Generic | Consistent | Distinctive | Iconic | Category-defining | Color, typography, photography style, logo elasticity |
| Voice & Tone | Corporate | Friendly | Distinct | Beloved | Cultural | Copy style, humor, formality, consistency across channels |
| Packaging | Functional | Branded | Experiential | Premium | Collectible | Unboxing quality, sustainability, tactile element, shareability |
| Social Presence | Broadcasting | Engaging | Community | Trendsetting | Cultural force | Post frequency, engagement rate, UGC volume, content quality |
| Website / D2C UX | Template | Custom | Optimized | Best-in-class | Award-worthy | Speed, mobile UX, product photography, trust signals |
| Customer Experience | Reactive | Responsive | Proactive | Delightful | Famous for it | Shipping, returns, support quality, post-purchase touchpoints |
| Content Strategy | Product shots | Education | Storytelling | Authority | Movement | Blog, video, email — depth and consistency of content output |
| Price Positioning | Cheapest | Competitive | Premium | Value-based | Veblen | Where they sit vs. category, perceived value, discounting habits |
30 min
per competitor — sharp focus beats deep rabbit holes
| Field | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 | Competitor 4 | Competitor 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Name | — | — | — | — | — |
| Category | — | — | — | — | — |
| Price Range | — | — | — | — | — |
| Visual Score (1-5) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Voice Score (1-5) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Packaging Score (1-5) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Key Strength | — | — | — | — | — |
| Key Weakness | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gap We Can Fill | — | — | — | — | — |
Grid aesthetic, Reel frequency, Story highlights, Comment tone, Hashtag strategy, UGC volume. Screenshot their best-performing posts. Note what gets engagement vs. what they post most.
Homepage hierarchy, product page photography, copy voice, trust signals (reviews, guarantees, certifications), mobile experience, page speed. Order their product to test the full experience.
This is irreplaceable. Order from each competitor. Photograph every touchpoint. Note: outer box condition, packing quality, inserts, product presentation, follow-up emails. Time the full unboxing experience.