“Our business is absolutely flawless and we have nothing to improve upon” — said no business owner ever. Instead, we business owners often think of all the ways we could potentially grow our businesses and guard against threats.
I often hear things like:
“Why are my customers not increasing?”
“If only there was a way to find out how to establish my business.”
“My competitors are doing so well, what am I doing wrong?”
The solution lies in one word: SWOT analysis. Well that’s two words, but you get my drift.
I recently conducted a SWOT analysis for my law firm marketing business and it changed everything. In this post, I’ll share my findings.
In this article:
What is a SWOT analysis?
Importance of a SWOT Analysis
Parts of a SWOT Analysis
External and Internal Factors of a SWOT Analysis
How do you write a good SWOT analysis?
Swot Analysis Chart
SWOT Analysis Examples
How to Act on a SWOT Analysis
6 SWOT Analysis Tips from Real Professionals
When to Use a SWOT Analysis
While it may seem simple on the surface, a SWOT analysis allows you to make unbiased evaluations on:
Your business or brand.
Market positioning.
A new project or initiative.
A specific campaign or channel.
Practically anything that requires strategic planning, internal or external, can have the SWOT framework applied to it, helping you avoid unnecessary errors down the road from lack of insight.
Importance of a SWOT Analysis
You may have noticed by now that SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. The framework seems simple enough that you’d be tempted to forgo using it at all, relying instead on your intuition to take these things into account.
As a small business owner, I was tempted to forgo using it, thinking I knew everything about my business anyway. I was wrong. Doing a SWOT analysis is important. Here’s why.
1. SWOT gives you the chance to worry and to dream.
A SWOT analysis is an important step in your strategic process because it gives you the opportunity to explore both the potential risks and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. You’re giving yourself the space to dream, evaluate, and worry before taking action.
Your insights then turn into assets as you create the roadmap for your initiative.
For instance, making a SWOT analysis for my business allowed me to consider the weaknesses and threats that my business might face in the future, which in turn led me to address any concerns or challenges and strategize on how to mitigate those risks.
At the same time, I was able to identify strengths and opportunities which helped inspire innovative ideas and helped me dream big. Both are equally important.
2. SWOT forces you to define your variables.
Instead of diving head first into planning and execution, I had to first take inventory of all my assets and roadblocks. This process helped me develop strategies that leverage my strengths and opportunities while addressing and mitigating the impact of weaknesses and threats.
As a result, I gained a comprehensive understanding of my current situation and created a more specific and effective roadmap. Plus, a SWOT analysis is inherently proactive. This means I was better equipped to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and set realistic goals.
3. SWOT allows you to account for mitigating factors.
As I continued to identify weaknesses and threats, I was better able to account for them in my roadmap, thereby improving my chances of success.
Also, accounting for mitigating factors allows me to allocate my resources wisely and make informed decisions that lead to sustainable growth. Using the SWOT analysis as a guide, I can confidently face challenges and seize opportunities.
4. SWOT helps you keep a written record.
As my organization grows and changes, I’ll be able to strike things off my old SWOTs and make additions. With this I can look back at where I came from and look ahead at what’s to come.
In other words, SWOT analyses serve as a tangible history of your progress and provide a reference point for future decision-making. With each update, your SWOT analysis becomes a living document that guides your strategic thinking and helps you stay agile and adaptable in an ever-changing business landscape.
By maintaining this written record, you foster a culture of continuous improvement and empower your team to make data-driven decisions and stay aligned with your long-term vision.
Parts of a SWOT Analysis
Conducting a SWOT analysis will help you strategize effectively, unlock valuable insights, and make informed decisions. But what exactly does a SWOT analysis include?
Let’s explore each component: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Strengths
SWOT strengths are the unique advantages and internal capabilities that give your company a competitive edge in the market. A strong brand reputation, innovative products or services, or exceptional customer service are just a few examples.
I have discovered that by identifying and capitalizing on your strengths, you can build a solid foundation for growth. You can also use those strengths in other areas that might need additional support, for instance, increasing customer satisfaction.
When asked how conducting a SWOT analysis on his business helped him, Rahul Vij, managing director of WebSpero Solutions replied that the analysis identified “a key strength in our customer service, which we then promoted more heavily in our marketing campaigns, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores.”
When I was looking into the strengths of my own business, here are some questions that I asked myself:
How satisfied are our current clients with our services?
What is our reputation within the industry?
What unique skills or expertise does the team possess?
Do we have any advantages over our competitors?
Weaknesses
SWOT weaknesses are areas where you may face challenges or fall short of your potential. It could be outdated processes, skill gaps within the team, or inadequate resources.
By acknowledging these weaknesses, you can establish targeted initiatives for improvement, upskill your team, adopt new technologies, and enhance your overall operational efficiency.
When asked if he had any mistakes to avoid when compiling a list of weaknesses in a SWOT analysis, Rob Cheng, Founder of Big Hat Marketing said:
“You really need to resist the temptation to use an ‘inside-out’ approach to SWOT analysis … Instead, think ‘outside-in’ and approach it as if you were working for your top competitors — how would they try to position your weaknesses? That’s how you find useful insights that can help turn a SWOT into a strong strategic market position.”
Some of the questions I used to identify my company’s weaknesses include:
How do we address customer feedback?
Are there any gaps in skills or expertise within the team?
In what areas are we underperforming or experiencing challenges?
What limitations do we face compared to our competitors?
Opportunities
While I was compiling the list of my business’s strengths and weaknesses, it occurred to me that there are some opportunities for my business to grow.
This is one of the many advantages of making a SWOT analysis for your organization. It helps you identify external and internal factors that can contribute to your company’s progress.
These may include emerging markets, technological advancements, changes in consumer behavior, or gaps in the market that your company can fill. By seizing these opportunities, you can expand your market reach, diversify your product offerings, forge strategic partnerships, or even venture into untapped territories.
Here are some questions that helped me identify the opportunities for my business’s growth; it might be helpful to ask your research team these questions before getting started:
Are there any underserved or untapped customer segments that we could target?
What new products or services could we introduce to meet evolving customer needs?
Are there any changes in industry standards that could open up new avenues for growth?
What do our competitors offer that we don’t?
Threats
In a SWOT analysis, threats are external factors that are beyond your control and pose challenges to your business. Factors like increased competition, economic volatility, evolving regulatory landscapes, or even changing market trends are examples of threats.
By proactively assessing and addressing them, you can develop contingency plans, adjust your strategies, and minimize their impact on your operations.
When I was preparing the SWOT analysis of my business, I was forced to confront these threats. This can be a scary process, so here are some questions you should consider to help streamline the process:
Are there any emerging competitors or disruptive technologies that could threaten our market position?
Are there any regulatory or legal risks we need to address?
Are there any economic factors (such as inflation, recession, or currency fluctuations) that could impact our operations?
How do we handle reputation management and potential PR problems?
During the creation process of my business’s SWOT analysis, we had to take both internal and external factors into account. I’ll cover those next.
External and Internal Factors of a SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis typically has internal (i.e., within your organization) and external (i.e., outside your organization) factors at play. Here’s a breakdown of each.
Internal Factors
Internal factors refer to the characteristics and resources within your organization that directly influence its operations and performance. These factors are completely within your organization’s control, so they can be modified, improved, or capitalized upon.
In a SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses are categorized as internal factors. Let’s look at a few examples.
Strengths
Brand reputation
Unique expertise
Loyal customer base
Talented workforce
Efficient processes
Proprietary technology
Weaknesses
Outdated technology
Inadequate resources
Poor financial health
Inefficient processes
Skill gaps within the team
External Factors
External factors are elements outside the organization’s control that have an impact on its operations, market position, and success. These factors arise from the industry climate and the broader business environment. You typically have no control over external factors, but you can respond to them.
In a SWOT analysis, opportunities and threats are categorized as external factors. Let’s look at a few examples.
Opportunities
Emerging markets
Changing consumer trends
Technological advancements
Positive shifts in regulations
New gaps in the market you could fill
Threats
Intense competition
Economic downturns
Disruptive technologies
Changing regulations
Negative shifts in consumer behavior
Remember, a well-rounded SWOT analysis empowers you to capitalize on strengths, address weaknesses, seize opportunities, and navigate threats — all while making informed decisions for the future.
Now, let’s take a look at how you can write a good SWOT analysis for yourself or for stakeholders.
How do you write a good SWOT analysis?
In my experience, there are several steps you’ll want to take when evaluating your business and conducting a strategic SWOT analysis. They include the following.
1. Download a good SWOT analysis template.
There’s no need to start from scratch for your analysis. Instead, you can start by downloading a free template from the internet. Feel free to use the model yourself, or create your own as it suits your needs.
Pro tip: HubSpot has a free and editable SWOT analysis template that can be downloaded as a pdf or a doc. For an easier process, you can use this.
2. Arrange each section into a table with four quadrants.
Whether you use the template above or create your own, a table format can help you visualize your SWOT analysis. In my experience, this can be done by arranging each of the four sections into separate quadrants.
3. Identify your objective.
Before you start writing things down, you’ll need to figure out what you’re evaluating with your SWOT analysis.
Sometimes this requires a bit of analysis itself. Rene Ymzon, a marketing manager at Advanced Motor Controls, discussed this, saying:
“Given our diverse range of products, industries served, and the dynamic nature of the markets we operate in … we needed a clear picture of where we excel and where we need improvement.”
For instance, if you’re creating a new social media program, you’ll want to conduct an analysis to inform your content creation strategy.
If you’re launching a new product, you’ll want to understand its potential positioning in the space. If you’re considering a brand redesign, you’ll want to consider existing and future brand conceptions.
Pro tip: One of the ways that I used to identify my objective and to tailor my evaluation to get more actionable insights was to be ultra specific. Being too broad in your SWOT analysis may result in analysis paralysis as you are making your evaluations.
4. Identify your strengths.
“Strengths” refers to what you are currently doing well. Think about the factors that are going in your favor as well as the things you offer that your competitors just can’t beat.
For example, let’s say you want to use a SWOT analysis to evaluate your new social media strategy.
If you’re looking at a new social media program, perhaps you want to evaluate how your brand is perceived by the public. Is it easily recognizable and well-known? Even if it’s not popular with a widespread group, is it well-received by a specific audience?
Next, think about your process: Is it effective or innovative? Is there good communication between marketing and sales?
Finally, evaluate your social media message, and in particular, how it differs from the rest of the industry. I’m willing to bet you can make a lengthy list of some major strengths of your social media strategy over your competitors, so try to dive into your strengths from there.
Pro tip: Assemble a team of key members across management, operations, and marketing to ensure you have a 360-degree view of your company in order to avoid any blind spots.
5. Identify your weaknesses.
When I was thinking about the weaknesses of my company, I first thought about the negative aspects of my business. However, upon further research, I discovered that weaknesses in a SWOT analysis are not necessarily about dwelling on the bad, but about foreseeing any potential obstacles that could obstruct growth.
What are the roadblocks hindering you from reaching your goals? What do your competitors offer that continues to be a thorn in your side?
Take input from employees in different departments, as they’ll likely see weaknesses you hadn’t considered.
If you’re examining a new social media strategy, you might start by asking yourself these questions:
First, if I were a consumer, what would prevent me from buying this product, or engaging with this business? What would make me click away from the screen?
Second, what do I foresee as the biggest hindrance to my employees’ productivity, or their ability to get the job done efficiently? What derails their social media efforts?
Pro tip: You can learn a lot about your organization’s weaknesses from customer feedback. Your customer service team can put together a comprehensive customer feedback report to help you identify some of the weaknesses of your product/services.
6. Consider your opportunities.
This is your chance to dream big. What are some opportunities for your social media strategy you hope, but don’t necessarily expect, to reach?
For instance, while I was conducting my SWOT analysis, I discovered that there are some opportunities for growth by introducing complimentary services like social media content creation and PR services. Maybe you’re hoping your YouTube video gets 10,000 views and increases sales by 10%.
Whatever the case, it’s important to include potential opportunities in your SWOT analysis. Ask yourself these questions:
What technologies do I want my business to use to make it more effective?
What new target audience do I want to reach?
How can the business stand out more in the current industry?
Is there something our customers complain about that we could fix?
The opportunities category goes hand-in-hand with the weaknesses category. Once you’ve made a list of weaknesses, it should be easy to create a list of potential opportunities that could arise if you eliminate your weaknesses.
Pro tip: Scott Gabdullin, the founder of Authority Factors, says that “Sometimes traditional SWOT research can be time-consuming. To speed things up, I found it more efficient to create a set of targeted questions.”
7. Contemplate your threats.
As someone who is prone to worry, I always have a good list of threats in my head primed and ready to go. For the non-worriers, gather your employees and brainstorm. You can start with these questions:
What obstacles might prevent us from reaching our goals?
What’s going on in the industry, or with our competitors, that might mitigate our success?
Is there new technology out there that could conflict with our product?
In my experience, writing down your threats helps you evaluate them objectively.
For instance, maybe you list your threats in terms of least and most likely to occur and divide and conquer each. If one of your biggest threats is your competitor’s popular Instagram account, you could work with your marketing department to create a strong Instagram marketing strategy.
Pro tip: Complement your SWOT analysis with other strategic frameworks like PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental) to get a clearer view of your external environment.
SWOT Analysis Chart
A SWOT analysis doesn’t have to be fancy. This SWOT analysis chart provides a clear and structured framework for capturing and organizing your internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats.
This chart was the perfect visual aid that I needed to help me make sense of the wealth of information I gathered during my analysis. (Plus, you can always customize and paste it into a document you plan to share with stakeholders.)
But remember: Filling out the SWOT chart is just one step in the process. Combine it with our entire market research kit, and you’ll have all the tools necessary to help your organization navigate new opportunities and threats.
SWOT Analysis Examples
The template above helps get you started on your own SWOT analysis.
But if you’re anything like me, it’s not enough to see a template. To fully understand a concept, you need to see how it plays out in the real world.
These SWOT examples are not exhaustive. However, they were a great starting point for me as I conducted my SWOT analysis, and I hope they help you too!
Apple’s SWOT analysis
Here’s how I would conduct a SWOT analysis on Apple.
Strengths
First off, strengths. While Apple has many strengths, in my opinion the top three are:
Brand recognition.
Innovative products.
Ease of use.
Apple’s brand is undeniably strong, and its business is considered the most valuable in the world. Since it’s easily recognized, Apple can produce new products and almost ensure a certain degree of success by virtue of the brand name itself.
Apple’s highly innovative products are often at the forefront of the industry. One thing that sets Apple apart from the competition is its product inter-connectivity. For instance, as an Apple user, I can easily sync my iPhone and iPad together and access all of my photos, contacts, and apps no matter which device I am using.
Lastly, customers enjoy how easy it is to use Apple’s products. With a sleek and simple design, each product is developed so that most people can quickly learn how to use them.
Weaknesses
Next, let’s look at three of Apple’s weaknesses:
High prices.
Closed ecosystem.
Lack of experimentation.
While the high prices don’t deter Apple’s middle- and upper-class customer base, they do hinder Apple’s ability to reach a lower-class demographic.
Apple also suffers from its own exclusivity. Apple controls all its services and products in-house, and while many customers become loyal brand advocates for this reason, it means all burdens fall on Apple employees.
Ultimately, Apple’s tight control over who distributes its products limits its market reach.
Lastly, Apple is held to a high standard when it comes to creating and distributing products. Apple’s brand carries a high level of prestige. That level of recognition inhibits Apple from taking risks and experimenting freely with new products that could fail.
Opportunities
Now, let’s take a look at opportunities for Apple. It was easy to recognize opportunities for improvement, once I considered Apple’s weaknesses. Here’s a list of three that I came up with:
Expand distribution options.
Create new product lines.
Technological advancement.
One of Apple’s biggest weaknesses is its distribution network, which, in the name of exclusivity, remains relatively small. If Apple expanded its network and enabled third-party businesses to sell its products, it could reach more people globally, while alleviating some of the stress currently put on in-house employees.
There are also plenty of opportunities for Apple to create new products. Apple could consider creating more affordable products to reach a larger demographic, or spreading out into new industries — Apple self-driving cars, perhaps?
Finally, Apple could continue advancing its products’ technology. Apple can take existing products and refine them, ensuring each product offers as many unique features as possible.
Threats
Finally, I looked at threats to Apple because believe it or not, they do exist. Here are three of Apple’s biggest threats according to their customers (me):
Tough competition.
Lawsuits.
International issues.
Apple isn’t the only innovative tech company out there, and it continues to face tough competition from Samsung, Google, and other major forces. In fact, Samsung sold more smartphones than Apple did in Q1 of 2022, shipping 17 million more units than Apple and holding 24% of the market share.
Many of Apple’s weaknesses hinder Apple’s ability to compete with the tech corporations that have more freedom to experiment, or that don’t operate in a closed ecosystem.
A second threat to Apple is lawsuits. Apple has faced plenty of lawsuits, particularly between Apple and Samsung. These lawsuits interfere with Apple’s reputable image and could steer some customers to purchase elsewhere.
Finally, Apple needs to improve its reach internationally. If Apple can’t compete globally the way Samsung or Google can, it risks falling behind in the industry.
Starbucks’ SWOT Analysis
Now that we’ve explored the nuances involved with a SWOT analysis, let’s fill out a SWOT template using Starbucks as an example.
Here’s how I would fill out a SWOT template if I were a part of Starbucks’s marketing team.
Restaurant Small Business SWOT Analysis
If you are a small business owner like me, you may have trouble relating to the SWOTs of big brands like Apple and Starbucks (I know I did).
Here’s an example of how a dine-in Thai restaurant might visualize each SWOT element.
If I owned a small restaurant, I would lean into my culinary expertise and service skills to find opportunities for growth and brand awareness. A SWOT analysis can also help identify weaknesses that can be improved, such as menu variation and pricing.
While a restaurant might not be as worried about high-level lawsuits, a small business might be more concerned about competitors or disruptors that might enter the playing field, or well, allergies.
Local Boutique SWOT Analysis
In another small business example, let’s take a look at a SWOT analysis for a local boutique.
This shop might be well known in its neighborhood, but it also might take time to build an online presence or get its products in an online store. Because of this, some of its strengths and opportunities might relate to physical factors while weaknesses and threats might relate to online situations.
How to Act on a SWOT Analysis
After conducting a SWOT analysis, you may be asking yourself: What’s next?
Putting together a SWOT analysis is only the first step. Executing the findings identified by the analysis is just as important — if not more.
Here are some ways you can act on a SWOT analysis.
1. Take advantage of your strengths.
Use your strengths to pursue opportunities from your analysis.
For example, if we look at the local boutique example above, the strength of having affordable prices can be a value proposition. You can emphasize your affordable prices on social media or launch an online store.
2. Address your weaknesses.
Back to the boutique example, one of its weaknesses is having a poor social media presence. If I were the boutique owner, I would mitigate this by hiring a social media consultant to improve its strategy.
I might even tap into the expertise of a social-savvy employee. An example of a business owner that uses social media so well is Dr. Miami. If you check out his TikTok account, you might let out a chuckle or two.
3. Make note of the threats.
Threats are often external factors that can’t be controlled, so it’s best to monitor the threats outlined in your SWOT analysis to be aware of their impacts on your business.
4. Do a SWOT analysis regularly.
In most industries, the market and industry trends change rapidly. For instance, in the SEO industry, there have been some confusing changes lately. One way to get ahead of these changes is by conducting a regular SWOT analysis.
Alari Aho, CEO and founder of Toggl, says that, “A mistake we learned from was not revisiting and updating our SWOT analysis regularly. The market and internal conditions change rapidly, and failing to update our analysis meant that we were sometimes working with outdated information. Now, we conduct SWOT analyses annually, and more frequently if significant market or internal changes occur.”
6 SWOT Analysis Tips from Real Professionals
To help you conduct strategic and comprehensive SWOT analysis, I asked six industry professionals for insights on conducting a SWOT analysis.
Here’s what they had to say:
“Make sure your SWOT analysis is based on data and evidence, not just subjective opinions or assumptions. Wherever possible, we tried to back up our assessments with hard numbers and examples, such as revenue figures, client feedback, and competitive research.”
–Sam Kadel, founder of KBA Web
“SWOT analysis shouldn’t be done theoretically. It should be crafted on real-time variables. Sometimes, one may not recognize what’s the S or W in a process and that is a sign that the objectives and design of the process need more thought.”
–Zeeshan Akhtar, head of marketing at Mailmodo
“It’s easy to fall into a groupthink because usually, SWOT analysis is conducted by management. What we did differently in this case, given the issue we wanted to tackle, was involve an external consultant as well as internal employees to get more diverse perspectives and creative solutions.”
–Zach Dannett, cofounder at Tumble
“During a SWOT analysis, delving deep into competitors’ operations to uncover their vulnerabilities can be invaluable. For instance, discovering a key competitor struggling with customer service inefficiencies through reviews and market feedback can highlight an opportunity for differentiation.”
–Harrison Tang, CEO of Spokeo
“Set priorities and focus on the most impactful areas first. Allocate resources strategically, prioritizing initiatives that promise the greatest returns.”
Arham Khan, CEO of Pixated
“In terms of leveraging the results, businesses need to be proactive. Don’t just see it as a one-time report – use it as a roadmap. Whether reinforcing strengths, addressing weaknesses or pursuing opportunities, SWOT should influence strategic planning and product roadmaps. Revisit it annually too, as situations evolve.”
–Kelly Indah, editor-in-chief at Increditools
When to Use a SWOT Analysis
Ultimately, a SWOT analysis can measure and tackle both big and small challenges, from deciding whether or not to launch a new product to refining your social media strategy.
When conducting your own SWOT analysis, you may face problems like data overload, differing opinions, and actionability. I certainly did. However in my experience, these problems can be solved by:
Focusing on the most relevant information and filtering out the noise.
Facilitating discussions to reach an agreement or using a neutral moderator.
Ensuring each point is specific and actionable, providing clear direction for your strategies.
I will conclude this piece by saying don‘t underestimate the power of taking a step back from time to time to assess where you’ve been, where you‘re at, and where you’re going.
I firmly believe that regularly conducting a SWOT analysis is critical for any entrepreneur looking to grow.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
