It involves research into your target audiences — their needs, behaviours, perceptions and language — alongside an audit of how competitors position themselves, what they say and how they present their brands visually and verbally.
The focus is specifically on brand perception, positioning and communication rather than broader market or product research. The outputs are designed to inform brand strategy and differentiation, not product development or pricing decisions.
Typically a combination of desk research, analysis of publicly available competitor communications, and primary research with customers or prospects which may include interviews, surveys or focus groups depending on the scope.
Most analyses cover four to eight direct competitors in depth, with a broader scan of the wider competitive landscape. The focus is on the brands your target audience is most likely to consider alongside yours.
Most audience and competitor brand analysis projects take three to five weeks from briefing to delivery, depending on the depth of primary research involved.
Sales, marketing and leadership all bring useful perspectives. Involving customer-facing team members in the briefing process often surfaces valuable insights that wouldn’t emerge from desk research alone.
A structured analysis report covering key audience insights, a competitive landscape review, identified positioning gaps and white space, and strategic implications for your brand development or repositioning.
Yes. An audience and competitor analysis is an ideal precursor to a rebrand or brand refresh. It ensures the creative work that follows is grounded in evidence rather than assumption.
Existing data is always a useful starting point and can be incorporated into the analysis. The project then focuses on filling the gaps rather than repeating research you’ve already done.
Markets change and competitor brands evolve, so a refresh every two to three years is reasonable. It’s also worth commissioning when a significant strategic change — a new market, a new product, a change of audience — makes existing analysis less relevant.