What problem does it solve? Competitive benchmarking fails when the competitor set is wrong: too broad, missing key rivals, or scoped without the client's positioning lens. This Skill defines who counts as a competitor, which tier they belong to, and which sources to mine before any scoring starts. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Positioning-brief gating: Requires a client positioning brief (identity, offer, target clients, differentiator, strategic tension) before scoping, so the set reflects the client's actual competitive lens. - Eight-axis player taxonomy: Classifies candidates across positioning stance, specialization, size band, engagement format, distinctiveness posture, evidence model, brand strength, and market reach. - Tiered output with pre-filter scoring: Resolves candidates into Direct, Adjacent, and Aspirational tiers using a 1–5 scoring matrix on offer overlap, distinctiveness, credibility, and craft proximity. - Use Case: A two-person brand-identity studio needs to scope its competitive landscape. The Skill produces a tiered set of 8–12 profiled competitors with axis tags and source links, ready to hand to benchmark-methodology. ## Quick Start Use competitive-platform-analysis to scope and tier the competitor set for my boutique design studio before benchmarking.
