Lecture Notes: Building a Competitive Intelligence System

Introduction

• Objective: Learn how to build a competitive intelligence system for businesses.
• Cost: Can sell reports for $297.
• Functionality: Tracks competitor website changes, analyzes reviews, and creates automated reports.
• Speaker: Jack from a school community and YouTube channel focused on AI and automation.

System Overview

• Weekly Reports: Automatically generated reports of competitor activities.
• Data Points:
  • Website changes
  • Review analysis
  • Social media profiles
• Output: Automated PDF reports sent via email.
• Tools Used: Airtable, ChatGPT, Claude, PDF.co

Step-by-Step Guide

Setting Up Competitor Monitoring

1. Identify Competitors:
   • Use search terms related to the industry to find competitors.
   • Example: "best candles UK" yields a list of competing companies.
2. Collect Data:
   • Gather company name, website URL, and review links (e.g., Trustpilot).
   • Input data into Airtable.

Automating Website Change Detection

1. Capture Website Snapshot:
   • Use HTTP to get files and convert HTML to text.
2. Analyze Changes:
   • Compare current and previous snapshots using AI to detect meaningful changes.
   • Log changes in Airtable.

Analyzing Competitor Reviews

1. Collect Reviews:
   • Extract reviews from sites like Trustpilot or Google Reviews.
2. Review Analysis:
   • Use AI to determine sentiment, key strengths, and common complaints.
   • Update Airtable with analysis results.

Data Aggregation and Report Creation

1. Aggregate Data:
   • Compile data from various modules (website changes and reviews).
2. Generate Reports:
   • Use AI to create HTML for report layout.
   • Convert HTML to PDF using PDF.co.
3. Email Reports:
   • Auto-generate email drafts with attached reports for client review.

Advanced Features

• Customize Reporting: Add new data points like social media analysis.
• Scalability: System can handle various industries and multiple competitors.
• PDF Customization: Use AI to design report layout and branding.

Practical Applications

• Business Value: Provides actionable insights for strategic decisions.
• Client Engagement: Offer free trials to attract clients.
• Revenue Potential: Charge for continued service post-trial.

Conclusion

• Automation Benefits: Saves time and provides deep market insights.
• Flexible System: Easily adaptable to client needs and market changes.

• Note: The automation process can be further enhanced and tailored based on specific client requirements.