Performance estimation

Estimate competitor performance without pretending it is exact

Estimate likely competitor momentum from public proxies like ad volume, search visibility, traffic tools, reviews, launches, and content velocity.

Best use case

Use this prompt when the source set matches the job

Use this when you need directional performance estimates and cannot access private revenue, spend, conversion, or retention data.

Before you paste

Give the prompt sources, tools, dates, and a decision

  • Paste raw notes with labels like homepage, pricing page, ad copy, SERP notes, offer page, export, screenshot, or review set.
  • Add the date you checked anything that can change, especially ads, prices, search results, AI answers, and website pages.
  • Tell AI which tools it can use: web search, deep research, files, code, browser, MCP, Semrush, Ahrefs, Similarweb, Panoramata, Sheets, or your own workspace.
  • Tell AI what decision the answer should support, so it gives you a useful recommendation instead of a generic summary.

Modern AI workflow

Use the prompt with current AI tools, not only a blank chat box

  • Use deep research or web search for current public evidence, then cite the URLs and date checked.
  • Use file or data analysis for exports, screenshots, CSVs, and historical logs. Do not summarize rows by instinct.
  • Use MCP/connectors when available so the AI can query Semrush, Ahrefs, Similarweb, Panoramata, Sheets, CRM, or your own files directly.
  • Use agent mode for multi-step research: collect, extract, compare, verify, then write.
  • Use artifacts, Canvas, tables, or charts when the output is a map, report, dashboard, or campaign plan.

Prompt

Estimate competitor performance without pretending it is exact

You are my competitor intelligence operator.

Task: Estimate competitor performance directionally from visible proxies and confidence labels.

My company: {{my_company}}
Competitors: {{competitor}}
Category: {{category}}
Decision I need to support: {{decision}}

Available sources, exports, URLs, files, screenshots, notes, and tool outputs:
{{sources}}

- Calculate directional signals from public proxies and exports. Label every estimate by confidence and source quality.
- Use any provided URLs, files, screenshots, exports, or connected tool outputs before analyzing.
- Cite the source, export, tool, or URL behind any claim that affects the decision.

Do the work:
1. List available performance proxies and their reliability.
2. Compare competitors on ad velocity, SEO visibility, traffic signals, content velocity, reviews, product launches, and channel consistency.
3. Create confidence labels for each estimate.
4. Identify signals that point in the same direction versus conflicting signals.
5. Recommend what to verify before making a strategic bet.

Return:
- Proxy scorecard.
- Directional performance estimate.
- Confidence and caveats.
- What to verify next.
- Decision recommendation.

Rules:
- Separate observed evidence, inferred signal, and recommended action.
- Put dates next to any recent or change-based claim.
- Cite URLs when you use web search or deep research.
- Name the tool, connector, MCP server, or export when you use one.
- Do not copy competitor creative. Translate the learning into our company context.
Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude Open in Gemini

Edit the prompt first if needed. ChatGPT and Claude open prefilled; Gemini opens with the prompt copied.

Variables

Replace these fields before you run the prompt

Variable What it means Example
{{my_company}} Required My company The company, product, store, or service you are comparing against the competitor. A DTC skincare brand selling refillable face wash
{{competitor}} Required Competitors One competitor, a short competitor set, or a tracked category. Brand X
{{category}} Required Market or category The buying context. This helps the AI avoid comparing the wrong kind of business. Premium skincare, France and UK
{{sources}} Required Sources and retrieval targets Paste collected sources, exports, screenshots, notes, URLs to check, or the MCP/tool datasets the AI should use. Homepage copy, pricing page, top 5 ads, title tags, Semrush export, Ahrefs export, Similarweb notes, Panoramata campaign examples
{{decision}} Required Decision to support The action you need to take after the analysis. Rewrite our landing page hero and offer comparison table

Example

Use this example to match the right level of detail

Source notes you paste into AI

My company: creator newsletter platform
Competitors: 6 newsletter tools
Sources: Similarweb notes, Ahrefs exports, ad library observations, review counts, launch posts
Decision: decide which competitor is gaining momentum fastest

What a useful answer should look like

Fictional example output

Directional read:
Competitor B shows the strongest visible momentum because SEO pages, review volume, and launch cadence all increased.

Confidence:
Medium. Traffic and revenue are still unknown.

Verify:
Check branded search trend, current ads, and new customer proof before calling it a leader.

Verification

Check whether the answer is useful

  • The output names the evidence behind each recommendation.
  • The output uses current sources, exports, or tool results where the task depends on fresh data.
  • The answer separates facts, estimates, and decisions.
  • The final next moves are specific enough to assign.

Mistakes

Mistakes that make this prompt weak

  • Asking for strategy before the source set is clear.
  • Mixing old screenshots with current claims without dates.
  • Copying competitor language instead of translating the insight.
  • Skipping verification because the answer sounds confident.

Source notes

Use AI to collect data, then make it show the evidence

A good AI workflow can search, inspect pages, analyze exports, call MCP tools, compare screenshots, and build tables. Make it show URLs, dates, exports, screenshots, or connector results behind the answer before you trust the recommendation.

What you should do next

Run it once, then verify the useful parts

Replace the fields, paste a labeled source set, run the prompt, and check the answer before using it in a strategy report.

Use next