Competitive Differentiation Survey Template

This competitive differentiation survey asks buyers which alternatives they know, what they compare first and which specific difference would matter when choosing.

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This competitive differentiation survey asks buyers which alternatives they know, what they compare first and which specific difference would matter when choosing.

A claimed advantage may not be a difference buyers recognize. SurveyLegend helps a product or marketing team separate familiarity with alternatives from the attributes people actually use to compare them.

When to use this template

Recruit people considering one defined category, including those who have not heard of your offer. Ask unaided alternatives before naming the focal offer. The brand awareness survey focuses recognition; this version asks about comparison after familiarity is established.

7 competitive differentiation survey questions

Think about the named product or service category. Answer from your own experience or expectations. Skip any offer you do not know well enough to compare; do not share confidential purchase details.

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A little feedback. A clearer picture.

Explore this 7-question example at your own pace. Every question is optional.

SurveyLegend demo Question 1 of 7

Competitive Differentiation Survey

01 Which alternatives in this category have you considered?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

02 Before today, had you heard of [focal offer]?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

03 Which factor matters most when you first compare options?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

04 How easy is it to see a meaningful difference between options in this category?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

05 Based on what you know, where does [focal offer] differ most?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

06 Would that difference affect which option you would consider next?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

07 What proof or information would help you compare options more confidently?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

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Customize your competitive differentiation survey

Replace the bracketed offer and category consistently everywhere, show neutral descriptions if needed, and keep the unaided question first. Do not force uninformed respondents to rate an unfamiliar rival. For existing-user evaluation of one specific capability, use the product feature template instead.

Printable competitive differentiation survey

Print the same seven optional items for a supervised buyer interview. Keep the open alternatives question before any concept card or named offer, and review the paper responses separately.

First page of the printable Competitive Differentiation Survey Template with questions and answer spaces
Download Competitive Differentiation Survey Template (PDF)

Create your competitive differentiation survey with AI

Copy this prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions. Review the draft, then build and customize the survey in SurveyLegend before sharing.

Copy the prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions, then build your survey in SurveyLegend.

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How to use the answers

Separate people who know the focal offer from those who do not. Compare stated differences with the buyer's main criterion and open information gaps. Treat a claimed advantage as a message hypothesis; validate with product evidence and appropriate experiments rather than inferring market share or price elasticity.

Soberman’s UC Berkeley Haas journal abstract notes that “many consumers do not see advertising for all relevant alternatives”. That supports asking what respondents actually know before requesting a comparison. The article sets conditions for differentiation in advertising-driven markets; this original seven-item questionnaire is not its tested instrument. Source: Soberman (2003) .

Frequently asked questions

Should I list competitor brands?

Ask unaided first. If a later list is needed, use a neutral and fairly selected set, then record who was unfamiliar with each option.

Is this the same as brand awareness?

No. It asks what difference matters in a choice after recording which alternatives the respondent knows.

Can this prove our product is better?

No. It describes perceptions and information gaps; product claims need separate evidence.