// week 02 · day 09 · thu

Read the Competitive Landscape.

$/competitive-intel · ~20 min
// 01 · what it does

Noise, signal, shift.

competitive-intel has three modes. Monitor takes a batch of competitive signals and classifies each as noise, signal, or shift — with threat severity and urgency ratings — then surfaces what changed since the last cycle and recommends actions. Deep Dive takes a specific competitor and area and produces a structured comparison with strategic implications. Research mode does the same as Monitor but sources the signals from the web rather than from PM-provided input.

Most competitive intelligence work is reactive: a sales rep mentions a competitor feature, leadership asks "what are they doing," and the PM scrambles. competitive-intel makes it proactive. Monitor mode is designed to be run on a regular cadence — weekly, bi-weekly — turning a pile of newsletters, alerts, and Slack shares into a structured threat assessment that takes 20 minutes instead of an afternoon.

Day 9 sits after the data work because competitive context is most useful when interpreted against your own numbers. Knowing that a competitor offers Instant Book only matters if you know your own Instant Book adoption rate and conversion lift. Today you have both.

// 02 · sample prompts

Two ways in.

prompt.basic.txt 
/competitive-intel

Deep Dive mode. Compare Airbnb Experiences against Terrain on their approach to guide/host onboarding. What can Terrain learn from how Airbnb handles new host acquisition and activation?
prompt.advanced.txt 
/competitive-intel

Monitor mode. Here are competitive signals from the last 30 days. Classify each as noise, signal, or shift. Assess threat severity and urgency. Recommend 1–2 actions.

Context: I'm the Adventurer Experience PM at Terrain, a two-sided marketplace for outdoor experiences. Terrain takes an 18% guide commission. Currently debating whether to mandate Instant Book for high-quality guides or introduce a flexible Instant Book option with configurable advance-notice windows.

---

[Signal 1 — Airbnb Experiences | April 14]
Airbnb announced "Experiences Pass" in a product blog post — a bundled credit system where guests can purchase a $150 or $300 pass and apply it toward any Airbnb Experience. Available in US and UK. Hosts receive full payout per booking regardless of pass type. Airbnb absorbs the discount.

[Signal 2 — Airbnb Experiences | April 8]
Airbnb quietly updated its Host quality tiers. Hosts with 4.9+ ratings and 50+ reviews are now labeled "Expert Host" with a badge in search results and priority placement. No announcement — spotted in a host community forum.

[Signal 3 — Viator | April 11]
Viator launched "Viator Independent" — a new onboarding track specifically for independent guides (not companies). Reduced documentation requirements, faster approval (48 hours vs. 5–7 days), and a 15% introductory commission rate for the first 6 months. Press release: "We're opening Viator to the solo guide economy."

[Signal 4 — Viator | April 3]
Viator updated its commission structure for its top 10% of operators (by GMV): reduced from 28% to 22%. No change for independent guides. Announcement made in a partner email.

[Signal 5 — GetYourGuide | April 17]
GetYourGuide announced a US Pacific Northwest expansion — 40 new outdoor and adventure guides onboarded in Washington and Oregon. Press release included a stat: "outdoor adventure is our fastest-growing category in North America." Headcount for their US supply team grew from 3 to 8.

[Signal 6 — GetYourGuide | April 6]
GetYourGuide launched "Booking Protection" — a cancellation insurance product for operators. If an adventurer cancels within 24 hours, the operator receives 50% of the booking value from GetYourGuide's insurance pool. Optional for operators at 2% of listing price per booking.

[Signal 7 — REI Adventures | April 19]
REI Adventures announced a "Local Guides" pilot in 3 cities (Seattle, Denver, Boulder) — independent guides can apply to offer day experiences under the REI brand. REI handles all booking, payment, and customer communication. Guides receive 70% of the booking value. Currently invitation-only, with public applications opening in Q3.

[Signal 8 — Viator | April 1]
Viator added a dark mode to its mobile app. No other changes noted.

---

/competitive-intel

Deep Dive mode. Competitor: Viator's new "Viator Independent" track. Area: independent guide onboarding and activation.

Decision context: Terrain is considering whether to lower barriers to guide onboarding to accelerate supply growth. Our current guide activation rate is 62% (guides who register and publish within 30 days). We're targeting 75%. Viator is now directly competing for the independent guide supply we depend on.

What is Viator's approach to the independent guide activation problem? What are their strengths and weaknesses relative to Terrain? What should Terrain learn from this — and what should we not copy?
// 03 · reflection

Three questions.

  1. 01Which competitive signal would you have dismissed as noise before running Monitor mode — and did the skill's classification change how you'd respond to it?
  2. 02What did the Deep Dive on Viator Independent reveal about Terrain's guide onboarding approach that you'd want to act on in the next quarter?
  3. 03Where is Terrain's competitive advantage weakest based on today's analysis — and is that a gap you'd close or accept?
← Day 8 Day 10 →