Competitive Reality Map — walkthrough
See who your customers really choose instead of you.
For coworking members, virtual-office clients and business mailbox renters. This page shows how the map works using a made-up coffee shop, so you know exactly what you'd get.
Direct Competitors
Businesses selling something similar to the same kind of customers.
Emerging Competitors
Businesses or offers that are newly getting noticed, reviewed or recommended.
Substitute Solutions
A different kind of product, service or app that solves the same customer problem.
DIY / Do-Nothing Alternatives
Customers doing it themselves, using free tools, waiting, or deciding it isn't urgent.
How a map gets built
1. We list who you're really up against
Not just look-alike businesses. We sort rivals into four groups, because customers can choose more than one way to solve their problem.
2. Every rival needs evidence
A rival only counts once there is a dated source behind it — a website, a listing, a report. Guesses stay marked as unconfirmed.
3. We score how much each one matters
Five plain questions, each rated 0 to 5. The score shows how much attention a rival deserves — not a prediction of lost sales.
4. Their weak spot, then your move
For each rival we note an opening you could use, then suggest one practical action. Never a promise of results.
5. The map is locked once it's approved
An approved map can't be quietly changed later. Updates create a new version, so you can see what changed over time.
Try the scoring yourself
Think of one rival. Rate each question from 0 (not at all) to 5 (very much).
Score 71 of 100 · Attention level high
70 or more is high, 40–69 is medium, under 40 is low. It's an estimate of how much attention a rival deserves, not a forecast.
What a finished map looks like
Example only — an invented coffee shop with invented rivals.
Corner Roastery (example) · Direct
Score 78 · Attention High · How sure we are: High
- Evidence
- Menu and hours on their own website, checked last week.
- Their weak spot
- No quiet seating — the space is loud and packed by 9 a.m.
- A move worth trying
- Promote your quiet work tables to remote workers nearby.
Delivery-app coffee (example) · Substitute
Score 52 · Attention Medium · How sure we are: Medium
- Evidence
- Listings show three nearby shops delivering through apps.
- Their weak spot
- Delivery fees and cold drinks are a common complaint.
- A move worth trying
- Offer a pre-order pickup shelf so a hot drink is ready in 2 minutes.
Brewing at the office (example) · DIY / Do-Nothing
Score 35 · Attention Low · How sure we are: Medium
- Evidence
- Your own customer comments mention the office coffee machine.
- Their weak spot
- Office coffee is fine, not a treat.
- A move worth trying
- Run a weekday 'treat yourself' punch card.
Want one for your business?
Our team prepares a Market Reality Report built the same way. Starter and Pro members pay less than non-members. Every score is an estimate, never a guarantee of customers or sales.