Product Positioning Assistant

You are a strategic positioning consultant who specializes in developing clear, detailed positioning frameworks for products.

When to Use This Skill

Invoke when the user:

• Wants to create a positioning framework for a product
• Needs a positioning statement
• Asks about competitive differentiation
• Wants to understand their market position
• Says "how should I position" or "positioning strategy"

Before Starting

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

Required Inputs

• Product name: What is the product called?
• Industry: What industry is this in? (e.g., B2B SaaS, e-commerce)
• Category: What type of product is it? (e.g., CRM, project management)
• Target persona: Who is this for? (e.g., marketing teams, founders)

Optional Context

• Existing capabilities and features
• Known competitors
• Current positioning (if any)
• Key differentiators

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Positioning Framework Structure

Build a complete Positioning Framework following this exact structure:

0. POSITIONING STATEMENT

For [target buyers] who [statement of the need or opportunity], the [product name] is a [product category] that provides [main benefits]. Unlike [primary competitor] which [competitors' benefits], our product [statement of primary differentiation].

Constraints: Keep to 3-4 sentences.

1. CUSTOMERS

Customers That Care List 5-7 specific customer groups who care deeply about the value the product delivers. Describe them by role, needs, or motivations.

Customer Use Cases List 5-7 real-world scenarios where customers would use the product. Be specific (e.g., "a startup founder building a GTM strategy" instead of just "marketing").

Customer Problems & Pain Points List 5-7 frustrations, obstacles, or challenges that the product helps solve. Make them real and practical.

2. PRODUCT & OFFERING

What are the product capabilities? List the main things customers can do with the product. Use action verbs.

What are the product features? List the key technical or functional elements that power these capabilities.

What are the product benefits? Translate capabilities into outcomes: time saved, clarity gained, revenue increased, stress reduced, etc.

Key Unique Attributes List the differentiators that competitors can't easily copy: frameworks, IP, relationships, brand credibility, data, or approach.

Embedded Value (and Proof) Show the evidence that the product works (e.g., metrics, adoption stats, testimonials, case studies).

How does the product work? Outline the journey a customer takes from discovery to value realization in 3-5 steps.

What does it look like? Describe visuals, formats, or deliverables customers interact with (e.g., templates, dashboards, newsletters, community, reports).

3. MARKET / PRODUCT CATEGORY / FRAME OF REFERENCE

Market Category Identify 5-7 macro market categories (e.g., "AI Productivity Assistant," "Growth Marketing Newsletter," "B2B SaaS Collaboration Tool").

Relevant Trends List 5-7 trends that make the product timely and important.

4. COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVES

If you didn't exist, what would customers use?

• Direct competitors (same JTBD, same solution)
• Secondary competitors (same JTBD, different solution)
• Indirect competitors (different JTBD, conflicting solution)

For each direct competitor group, break them down into:

• Local/National competitors (operating in the same country or local market)
• Regional competitors (operating across a wider geography like Africa, Europe, or LATAM)
• Global competitors (operating internationally)

List 5-7 examples in each geography tier.

How do these alternatives fall short for customers? For every competitor listed, explain in detail: what they offer, what they do well, why they ultimately fall short, which capability, feature, or benefit they fail to deliver.

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Output Format

Output as Markdown with:

• Bold section headers
• Bullet points for lists
• Keep the structure intact (don't skip or rename sections)
• Each list section must have at least 7 bullet points
• Competitive alternatives section must include sufficient detail for every named competitor

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Constraints

• Each section must have at least 7 bullet points (where lists are required)
• Keep "Positioning Statement" to 3-4 sentences
• Provide maximum detail in the Competitive Alternatives section
• Use en dashes (with spaces) for ranges or connections (e.g., June - August)
• Use em dashes (without spaces) for breaks in thought (e.g., word—word)

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Reference Examples

When generating outputs, reference and adapt the structure from:

• MIA Positioning Example (references/positioning-example-mia.md) - Complete positioning framework for a marketing intelligence assistant

Match the tone, phrasing, level of depth, and section order from this example precisely.

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Related Skills

• product-messaging: For developing messaging frameworks after positioning
• icp-persona: For detailed customer personas
• competitor-alternatives: For deeper competitive comparison pages

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Supporting file: references/positioning-example-mia.md

MIA Positioning Framework Example

Last Update: January 2026

POSITIONING STATEMENT

For marketers, startup founders, and GTM leaders who need practical, community-driven ways to execute Product Marketing, Growth & GTM strategies,

Marketing In Action (MIA) is a marketing media (newsletter, podcast, events), community & education platform (MIA Academy) that delivers actionable insights, proven frameworks, ready-to-use templates, martech/GTM tools and structured learning to execute Product Marketing, Growth & GTM strategies.

Unlike generic marketing newsletters or paid marketing programs, platforms and communities, which focus on theory gated behind a paywall, MIA combines media, peer-driven community, and applied education into one ecosystem where marketers learn in public, practice in real scenarios, and grow their careers with clarity.

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CUSTOMERS

Customers That Care

• Product, Growth & Marketing Marketers in early- to mid-stage product-led, SaaS, B2B, B2C, and software-first companies
• Marketers and founders looking to execute product and growth marketing strategies and tactics
• Founders leading GTM and marketing before hiring full teams
• Founders trying to hire, build and manage high-performing marketing teams
• Marketing leaders hiring, training, or upskilling teams
• Senior marketers transitioning into full-stack or T-shaped roles
• Junior to mid-level marketers building real execution experience
• Junior marketers navigating career growth, job opportunities, and hands-on skill-building
• MarTech brands seeking to reach engaged early adopters

Customer Use Cases

• Joining a trusted peer community to get feedback on live campaigns
• Developing marketing skills through structured programs, not random content
• Building authority and visibility through media, events, and community participation
• Executing Product-Led and Marketing-Led Growth initiatives
• Building full-funnel growth strategies (Demand Gen, Lead Gen, ABM, Lifecycle, Retention)
• Finding MarTech tools that integrate with, and improve GTM workflows
• Benchmarking marketing performance through reports and case studies
• Developing a T-shaped skillset in product, content, lifecycle, and growth marketing
• Looking for local and global opportunities to hire marketing talent
• Looking for local and global opportunities to find product and growth marketing-related jobs
• Looking for startup consulting, advisory and agency solutions

Customer Problems & Pain Points

• Too much marketing theory with little execution clarity
• Fragmented learning across newsletters, Twitter threads, and courses
• Limited access to peers, mentors, and real feedback loops
• Courses that feel outdated or disconnected from current GTM tools
• Lack of real-world Product/Growth Marketing blueprints
• Lack of actionable, ready-to-go marketing templates to execute a project or set up a function
• Lack of reliable benchmarking data
• Lack of marketing and growth frameworks to leverage for short- and long-term wins
• Cutting through the noise of information to figure out which resources are truly valuable
• Overwhelm from too much high-level theory without execution clarity
• Isolation from peers and limited access to mentorship or career direction
• Struggling to choose or use the right MarTech tools for their GTM use cases
• Difficulty progressing from junior roles to strategic ownership
• Global content that ignores emerging market realities

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PRODUCT & OFFERING

What are the product capabilities?

• Deliver ongoing, practitioner-led marketing education through marketing media (newsletter, podcast, events), community & education platform (MIA Academy)
• Translate marketing theory into applied workflows, templates, and checklists
• Provide access to peers, mentors, and operators for feedback and accountability
• Support career growth through learning paths, visibility, and hiring connections
• Access weekly newsletters packed with actionable insights
• Download templates, swipe files, and frameworks to support GTM and growth execution
• Learn from in-depth interviews and case studies from startup marketing leaders
• Benchmark strategies using data-driven reports and teardown examples
• Connect with peers and mentors via Substack Chat, LinkedIn Group, and community highlights
• Find the best martech product and tool recommendations for GTM use cases and growth motions
• Access to a marketing job board to connect founders and execs to marketing talent

What are the product features?

MIA is an ecosystem: MIA Media (newsletter, podcast, events), MIA Community Events, education platform (MIA Academy), and jobs platform (MIA Jobs).

MIA Media

• Newsletter series including: Marketing In Action, Marketing-Led Growth, T-shaped Marketers, MarTech and Marketing Ideas
• Podcast and video interviews with marketing leaders
• Downloadable templates (Google Docs, Sheets, Notion)
• Marketing case studies and deep dives
• Marketing reports, and trends
• Marketing job board and talent discovery listings
• Community access via WhatsApp, Substack Chat and LinkedIn Group

MIA Community Events

• Annual/bi-annual flagship ecosystem marketing events (high-quality, sponsor-backed experiences)
• Quarterly micro community meetups
• Virtual Workshops, AMAs, Multipanels & Fireside Chats

MIA Academy

• Cohort-based programs on Product Marketing, Growth, GTM & AI (MIA Marketing Framework)
• Self-paced courses with structured modules and assignments
• Live workshops, office hours, and teardown sessions
• Peer discussion spaces and feedback threads
• Mentorship access and guest expert sessions

What are the product benefits?

• Reduces the gap between learning marketing and doing marketing
• Saves time by replacing scattered content with structured execution paths
• Reduce overwhelm by consolidating tools, ideas, and knowledge in one place
• Accelerate go-to-market and growth execution with peer-tested resources
• Provides global and African-context insights often missing from mainstream content
• Stay current on MarTech and growth trends with curated tools and commentary
• Improve marketing performance with proven templates and strategic frameworks
• Find or hire for remote growth and marketing roles faster
• Build community, find mentorship, and grow your career in a trusted space
• Builds confidence through practical application and peer validation

Key Unique Attributes

• Media, community, and education designed as one integrated system
• Strong execution bias grounded in real startup and GTM work
• Practitioner-led content instead of recycled thought leadership
• Built by practitioners from startups across multiple regions (Africa, US, EMEA)
• Built and curated by operators actively working in marketing
• Community-first learning with feedback, not passive consumption
• Focus on developing a T-shaped skill set in product, content, lifecycle, and growth marketing
• Free and frictionless access to most content and community
• Career-oriented positioning, not just skill acquisition

Embedded Value (and Proof)

• 47.52% average open rate and 11% CTR (far above industry standards)
• 3,000+ newsletter reads per month
• Trusted by 5,000+ marketers and founders across 69 countries
• Testimonials and commendations from an engaged community
• Active participation in community discussions and live sessions
• Repeat attendance and demand for events and workshops
• Testimonials from marketers applying MIA templates and frameworks
• Growing inbound interest from MarTech brands and partners
• Consistent visibility across LinkedIn, Substack, and ecosystem platforms

How does the product work?

1. Discover: Marketers find MIA through newsletters, social content, podcasts, or events
2. Engage: They subscribe, read, listen, attend events, and download free resources
3. Apply: Users implement templates, frameworks, and ideas in real campaigns
4. Deepen: They join the community or enroll in MIA Academy programs for structured learning
5. Grow: Members gain skills, feedback, visibility, and career opportunities
6. Contribute: Advanced members share insights, case studies, and mentor others

What does it look like?

• Clean, readable newsletters with clear structure and CTAs
• Podcast and video content optimized for mobile and async learning
• Templates in Google Docs, Sheets, and Notion with copy-and-use formatting
• Community spaces designed for discussion, feedback, and sharing
• Workshop recordings, slides, and practical assignments
• Visual systems that prioritize clarity over aesthetics
• Consistent MIA branding across media, education, and community touchpoints

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MARKET / PRODUCT CATEGORY / FRAME OF REFERENCE

Market Category

• Marketing Media Company
• Marketing Newsletter
• Marketing Community
• Marketing Events Company
• Marketing Education Platform
• Marketing Jobs Platform
• Product Marketing Newsletter
• Growth Marketing Newsletter
• Marketing Enablement Platform
• Marketing Resource Hub
• Marketing Template Library
• Marketing Swipe Files

Relevant Trends

• Rise of T-shaped and full-stack marketers
• Demand for Marketing-Led Growth and PLG insights
• Creator-led media and peer-based learning > traditional institutions
• Rapid evolution of GTM teams, roles and stack
• Rapid evolution of MarTech tools and need for curated recommendations
• Community-first brands driving retention and learning
• Shift from theory-heavy courses to applied learning

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COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVES

MEDIA COMPETITORS | JTBD: Learn modern marketing from real practitioners

Direct Competitors (Marketing Media, Newsletters & Community)

Global:

• Lenny's Newsletter by Lenny Rachitski
• MKT1 Newsletter by Emily Kramer
• Swipe Files by Corey Haines
• GTM Strategist by Maja Voje
• Growth Scoop by Elena Verna
• Demand Curve by Julian Shapiro
• Marketing Examples by Harry Dry
• Marketing Ideas by Tom Orbach
• Product-Led Newsletter by Wes Bush
• MRR Unlocked by Alex Estner
• Growth.Design by Dan Benoni

Nigerian/Africa:

• Growth Case Studies by Olabinjo Adeniran
• Marketing for Geeks Newsletter by Lade Falobi
• Smarketers Hub by Aisha Owolabi
• Contech by Daniel Orubo
• The Early Stage Marketer by Onyinye Nwankwo

Secondary Competitors (Marketing Learning Resources & Platforms)

Free Marketing Resources:

• Simplilearn
• YouTube resources

Paid Marketing Courses & Community:

• CXL
• Reforge
• Product Marketing Alliance
• Algrowithm
• Marketing bootcamps
• Marketing books
• Marketing GPTs

Indirect Competitors

• General AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude)
• Freelancer Marketplaces (e.g., Fiverr, Upwork)
• Entertainment platforms (e.g., Netflix, YouTube bingeing)

How do these alternatives fall short for customers?

Global Newsletters:

• Too Strategic, Not Tactical Enough
• Lack of Downloadable, Ready-to-Use Templates
• Paywalled or Exclusive Access
• U.S./EU-Centric Case Studies
• No Support for Layered Skill Development

Nigerian / African Newsletters:

• Limited Tactical Depth & Structure
• Few Multi-Channel GTM Frameworks
• Minimal Resource Sharing (Templates, Tools)
• Lack of Benchmarking or Data-Backed Insights
• No Skill Development Pathway
• Fragmented or Non-Existent Community