# SWOT Analysis Template

> A structured SWOT template for competitive intelligence. Rate each item 1–5 for impact and confidence.

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## SWOT: [Competitor / Company Name]

**Date:** [Date] | **Analyst:** [Your Name]

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## Strengths (Internal — What They Do Well)

*Rate: Impact (1-5) on competitive position | Confidence (1-5) in assessment*

| # | Strength | Impact | Confidence | Our Response |
|---|----------|--------|------------|-------------|
| 1 | [e.g., Largest market share at 41%] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [How to neutralize] |
| 2 | [e.g., Strong brand recognition in enterprise] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Reframe buying criteria] |
| 3 | [e.g., 2,000+ integrations] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Elevate a different criterion] |
| 4 | [Add more rows as needed] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Our counter-strategy] |
| 5 | | [1-5] | [1-5] | |

**Key takeaway:** [Synthesize their biggest competitive advantage and how to address it]

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## Weaknesses (Internal — Where They're Vulnerable)

| # | Weakness | Impact | Confidence | How to Exploit |
|---|----------|--------|------------|----------------|
| 1 | [e.g., NPS declining -8 pts this year] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Discovery question] |
| 2 | [e.g., Slow release cadence] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Proof point to surface] |
| 3 | [e.g., Enterprise onboarding takes 6+ weeks] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Speed comparison] |
| 4 | [Add more rows as needed] | [1-5] | [1-5] | |
| 5 | | [1-5] | [1-5] | |

**Key takeaway:** [Most exploitable weakness and the sales/marketing tactic to surface it]

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## Opportunities (External — What They Could Exploit For Growth)

| # | Opportunity | Impact | Confidence | Should We Act First? |
|---|-------------|--------|------------|---------------------|
| 1 | [e.g., SMB segment underserved] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Yes/No — Why] |
| 2 | [e.g., Growing demand for AI features] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Yes/No — Why] |
| 3 | [e.g., International expansion] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Yes/No — Why] |
| 4 | [Add more rows] | [1-5] | [1-5] | |
| 5 | | [1-5] | [1-5] | |

**Key takeaway:** [Which opportunity poses the biggest risk if they capture it first?]

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## Threats (External — What Could Harm Their Position)

| # | Threat | Impact | Confidence | Can We Accelerate This? |
|---|--------|--------|------------|------------------------|
| 1 | [e.g., Our new AI features surpass theirs] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Yes — How] |
| 2 | [e.g., Open-source alternatives gaining traction] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [No — Why] |
| 3 | [e.g., Regulatory changes] | [1-5] | [1-5] | [Monitoring only] |
| 4 | [Add more rows] | [1-5] | [1-5] | |
| 5 | | [1-5] | [1-5] | |

**Key takeaway:** [Which external threat is most likely to materialize in the next 6–12 months?]

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## TOWS Strategic Matrix

*Convert SWOT into actionable strategies using the TOWS framework.*

| | Strengths (S) | Weaknesses (W) |
|---|--------------|---------------|
| **Opportunities (O)** | **SO: Offensive** — Use strengths to capture opportunities<br>[Strategy 1]<br>[Strategy 2] | **WO: Defensive** — Overcome weaknesses to pursue opportunities<br>[Strategy 1]<br>[Strategy 2] |
| **Threats (T)** | **ST: Defensive** — Use strengths to neutralize threats<br>[Strategy 1]<br>[Strategy 2] | **WT: Survival** — Minimize weaknesses and avoid threats<br>[Strategy 1]<br>[Strategy 2] |

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## Action Plan

| Priority | Action | Based On (SWOT Item) | Owner | Deadline |
|----------|--------|---------------------|-------|----------|
| P0 | [Immediate action] | [e.g., W1 + O2] | [Name] | [Date] |
| P1 | [This quarter] | [e.g., S3 + O1] | [Name] | [Date] |
| P2 | [Next quarter] | [e.g., T2] | [Name] | [Date] |

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## Data Sources Used

- [ ] Competitor website & product pages
- [ ] Review platforms (G2, TrustRadius, Capterra)
- [ ] Social media & community discussions
- [ ] Job postings (LinkedIn, Indeed)
- [ ] Press releases & news articles
- [ ] Earnings calls & investor presentations
- [ ] Patent filings
- [ ] Ad libraries (Google, Meta, TikTok)
- [ ] SEO tools (SEMrush, Ahrefs, Similarweb)

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*Template by [FollowEngine](https://followengine.com) — Free to use, attribution appreciated.*