Octopus Competitive Intelligence

Most don’t fail because they’re bad at competing. They fail because they don’t understand what “competition” really is. Some imagine “competitor analysis” as detailed spreadsheets. They track product launches, ad campaigns, and price changes. These tactical moves are easy to spot. Or they think of competitor pricing. They’re also easy to misunderstand. So stop watching your competitors. Think of it like this: when you focus on your competitor’s last move, you’re reacting to a snapshot of the past. Their strategy—the forces behind their next three moves—is invisible to you. You don’t win by reacting. You win by understanding what’s coming next. Market leaders aren’t fixated on what their competitors have just done. They focus on why those moves were made and what they signal about the market’s direction. Competitor analysis  isn’t about copying tactics. It’s about understanding the motives behind your competitors’ strategies. Use that insight to position your business for long-term ...

Who Are Your Competitors Really Trying to Help? Weekly Winning Strategies To improve your competitive intelligence, ask this key, often overlooked question. Who are your competitors really trying to help? “Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.” —  Seth Godin In competitive analysis, businesses focus on what competitors are doing. This includes their pricing, product features, and campaigns. They don’t understand why or for whom. But, the truth is, their target audience drives every action your competitor takes. They are trying to solve a problem for that audience. You’ll miss the bigger picture if you don’t identify  who  they’re targeting and  what  problems they’re solving. Here’s how to dig deeper and get more specific: Step 1: Identify Their Target Audience Start by asking yourself: Who is this competitor focusing on? Not just broadly, like “small businesses” or “healthcare providers.” But at a more granular level. Look fo...

The biggest disruptor in your market over the next decade won’t be AI itself. It will be those who use it better, faster, and more creatively than everyone else. This isn’t a sci-fi fantasy. A shiny new tech won’t descend from the heavens and magically transform industries. The real story is grittier. The winners will use AI to destroy established business models ruthlessly. They will build ecosystems that dominate every customer interaction. You will still have to be beating competitors to that next deal. And here’s the punchline: the real disruptor isn’t technology. It’s speed, adaptability, and the audacity to break the rules. If you think you can sit back, watch the dust settle, and copy-paste a strategy from your competitors, you’re toast. They’ll already have rewritten the rulebook—and locked you out of the game. Equally, grabbing the first or any solution just to tell the board you have AI nailed is not the answer either. The Hidden Disruption: Power Dynamics Are Shifting For ye...