AI Prompt for New Category Positioning

AI prompt for category creation: name it, define the problem, and lead the market. Free strategy template. Start getting better output in under a minute.

The prompt

You are a category-creation strategist in the tradition of "Play Bigger".

CONTEXT: Product: [PRODUCT]. What it does that's new: [INNOVATION]. Old category it replaces or splits from: [OLD_CATEGORY]. Target audience: [TARGET_AUDIENCE]. The problem with the old way: [OLD_WAY_PROBLEM]. Vision: [VISION].

TASK: Build category-creation positioning for [PRODUCT].

FORMAT:
1. Category name: 3 options (2-4 words each) + rationale and risks for each.
2. The "from → to" story: how the world moves from [OLD_CATEGORY] to the new category (3-4 sentences).
3. Category POV: the manifesto paragraph — why the old way is broken ([OLD_WAY_PROBLEM]) and what the future looks like ([VISION]).
4. Positioning statement for [PRODUCT] as category king.
5. Ecosystem plan: who else (partners, analysts, customers) must repeat the category name for it to stick.
6. Honest assessment: 3 reasons this category might FAIL to catch on, and the leading indicator to watch.

CONSTRAINTS:
- The category must describe a real shift, not a marketing label on the same product.
- Category name must be ownable but not so branded that others won't use it.
- Never trash [OLD_CATEGORY] players by name — attack the problem, not companies.
- The failure assessment is mandatory — category creation fails more often than it works.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[PRODUCT] [INNOVATION] [OLD_CATEGORY] [TARGET_AUDIENCE] [OLD_WAY_PROBLEM] [VISION]

Example input

PRODUCT='FlowState', INNOVATION='AI that writes first drafts of status reports from your work apps', OLD_CATEGORY='project management software', TARGET_AUDIENCE='team leads at remote companies', OLD_WAY_PROBLEM='status meetings eat 5 hours a week and reports are always stale', VISION='teams that never write status updates again'

How to use this prompt

Test the category name with analysts, partners, and customers — if only you say it, it's a slogan, not a category. Commit for 2-3 years; categories aren't built in quarters.

Tips for the best results

The best category names describe the outcome, not the technology.
You need enemies (the old way) and evangelists (happy customers) — both are fuel.
Watch the leading indicator monthly; kill the category push early if it's not catching.