Competitive Research Guide

Stop Competing. Start Standing Out.

Most small business owners watch their competitors with worry. This guide shows you how to see them as free market research instead.

The Competitive Research Guide for Small Businesses by LUCE Business Consulting is a 10-page, step-by-step guide. It teaches you to use your competitors' public customer reviews to see where customers are happy, where they are frustrated, and where you can step in and do it better.

Inside the guide:

• The "Friend" mindset: study your competitors with curiosity instead of fear.
• Step 1: choose 3–5 competitors worth studying (direct, indirect and inspiring).
• Step 2: mine customer reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook and more.
• Step 3: sort feedback into Loves, Frustrations and Wishes, and map the customer journey.
• Step 4: spot the gaps that matter, with a simple 4-question gap test.
• Step 5: differentiate using the Eliminate–Reduce–Raise–Create grid from Blue Ocean Strategy by Kim & Mauborgne.
• Step 6: write your positioning statement and follow a 30-day action plan.
• A ready-to-use worksheet to record your findings.

Perfect for: small business owners, service providers, coaches, consultants, freelancers and startups who want a clear, repeatable way to stand out.

What you'll walk away with: a clear picture of your competitors' customer experience, three gaps you can fill, and a plan to make your business the obvious choice.

Created by LUCE Business Consulting. Serving Texas, based in San Antonio.