Conduct Competitive Analysis

[annaisaacks]

Title: Conduct Competitive Analysis and Secondary Research for Homepage Redesign

Description: Perform a competitive analysis and conduct secondary research to gather data and insights on user behavior, industry trends, and best practices. This will involve analyzing competitors' websites, reviewing industry reports, and collecting relevant data from existing studies. The goal is to identify opportunities, strengths, and areas for improvement to inform the homepage redesign process.

Definition of Done:

1. Completion of competitive analysis.
2. Compilation of secondary research data.
3. Identification of key insights and trends.
4. Creation of a comprehensive report summarizing findings.
5. Review and approval from the project manager and UX lead.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Competitive Analysis:

  • [x] Identify and select key competitors for analysis.
  • [x] Evaluate competitors' websites based on design, usability, features, and user experience.
  • [x] Document strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) for each competitor.

• Secondary Research:

  • [x] Gather data from industry reports, academic papers, and existing studies on user behavior and industry trends.
  • [x] Review and compile relevant data on best practices for homepage design and user experience.

• Summary Report:

  • [x] Create a comprehensive report that summarizes the findings from the competitive analysis and secondary research.
  • [x] Highlight key insights, trends, and actionable recommendations for the homepage redesign.
  • [x] Organize the report into clear sections for easy reference.

• Stakeholder Review:

  • [x] Present the report to the project manager and UX lead for review.
  • [x] Incorporate feedback and finalize the report.

Tasks:

1. Identify key competitors to analyze.
2. Conduct a detailed evaluation of competitors' websites, focusing on design, usability, features, and user experience.
3. Document the SWOT analysis for each competitor.
4. Collect relevant data from industry reports, academic papers, and existing studies on user behavior and industry trends.
5. Compile and review the secondary research data.
6. Create a comprehensive report that summarizes the findings from both the competitive analysis and secondary research.
7. Organize the report into clear sections for easy reference.
8. Review the report with the project manager and UX lead.
9. Incorporate feedback and finalize the report.
10. Prepare the report for the next step: reviewing and analyzing insights and data.

Issue Intention: By conducting a competitive analysis and secondary research, we aim to gather valuable insights and data that will inform the homepage redesign process. This ensures that the redesign is based on industry best practices, user behavior trends, and a thorough understanding of the competitive landscape.

Relevant Documentation and Resources:

• Competitive Analysis Guide
• SWOT Analysis for Competitive Research
• Conducting Secondary Research
• Industry Reports and Trends
• Analyzing User Behavior

[Rijul-s]

Competitors

1. freeCodeCamp: A widely popular open-source community where people learn to code for free.
2. The Odin Project: Offers a free, open-source coding curriculum designed to take students from zero to full-stack developer.
3. Codecademy: Provides free and paid interactive coding classes in different programming languages.
4. LaunchCode: A nonprofit focused on helping people learn tech skills and launch careers in coding.

Component	DevLaunchers	Competitor 1: freeCodeCamp	Competitor 2: The Odin Project	Competitor 3: Codecademy	Competitor 4: LaunchCode
Headline & Subheadline	Does the headline convey the platform's purpose quickly and clearly? E.g., "Empowering people to create with technology"	Effective, concise, emphasizes “Learn to code for free”	Strong, speaks to “full-stack web development”	Clear, offers “Learn coding in easy steps”	Focuses on providing career opportunities, highlights “job-ready skills”
Value Proposition	Are the benefits and unique features prominently displayed? E.g., "Mentorship, real-world projects"	Free, global, comprehensive coding education	Practical curriculum, open-source	Access to interactive lessons, paid options	Free programs, career-focused support
Visual Design & Branding	Is the design visually appealing, intuitive, and aligned with the brand? Are there distracting elements?	Simple, approachable design with a focus on readability	Minimalistic, text-heavy	Professional, clean design	Corporate, clean design
Call-to-Action (CTA)	Are the CTAs clear and actionable? E.g., "Join Now" or "Start Learning"	Prominent, frequent “Join for Free”	Immediate call to join the curriculum	“Sign up” button is clear	Emphasizes “Apply now”
Social Proof/Testimonials	Are there user testimonials, case studies, or success stories featured?	Limited, could benefit from more visible proof	Multiple testimonials and success stories	Showcases success stories	Emphasizes alumni success
Navigation & Usability	Is it easy to find key information, and is the user journey smooth?	Clear, intuitive	Simple, clear pathways	Strong navigation, but sign-up process is longer	Easy navigation, designed for conversions
Content & Features	Are features like projects, mentorships, or coding curriculum showcased?	Yes, focuses on real-world projects and mentorships	Project-based learning is a core focus	Courses and curriculum clearly laid out	Focus on job placement and mentoring
SEO & Analytics	Does the site rank well in searches? Are key terms optimized?	Potential for improvement in SEO	Strong SEO presence for many coding terms	Solid SEO, well-indexed content	Adequate SEO, focused on nonprofit mission

Analysis & Recommendations for DevLaunchers Strengths:

• Value Proposition: The emphasis on real-world projects and mentorship is a strong differentiator.
• Call-to-Actions: Clear and frequent, encouraging sign-ups and engagement.

Weaknesses:

• Social Proof: Could use more testimonials or case studies to build trust.
• SEO: Optimizing the landing page for SEO by including more relevant keywords (e.g., “learn to code”, “mentorship”, etc.) could improve visibility.
• Visual Design: A slight design overhaul, focusing on a more modern, professional look, could improve overall user engagement.

https://www.freecodecamp.org/

https://www.theodinproject.com/

https://www.codecademy.com/

https://www.launchcode.org/