Planning Market Entry

This skill develops comprehensive market entry strategies for entering new markets, geographies, customer segments, or product categories.

When to Use This Skill

Invoke this skill when the user:

• Requests market entry strategy or planning
• Wants to expand to new geography or region
• Asks about entering a new customer segment
• Needs go-to-market (GTM) strategy
• Mentions expansion, international growth, or new markets
• Wants to evaluate market entry options
• Asks "should we enter this market?" or "how do we enter this market?"

Market Entry Framework

Entry Decision Process

1. Market Assessment → 2. Entry Strategy → 3. GTM Planning → 4. Execution
        ↓                      ↓                   ↓               ↓
   Is it attractive?    How to enter?      How to compete?    Measure & adapt

Step 1: Market Assessment and Attractiveness

Evaluate if the market is worth entering:

Steps:

1. Define the target market clearly
2. Size the market opportunity (TAM/SAM/SOM)
3. Assess market growth and trends
4. Analyze competitive intensity
5. Evaluate entry barriers
6. Assess strategic fit
7. Calculate expected ROI

Market Assessment Template:

# Market Entry Assessment: [Market/Geography/Segment]

## Market Definition

**Target Market:** [Specific definition]
- Geography: [Region, country, city]
- Customer segment: [Who exactly]
- Product/service category: [What you're selling]
- Market boundaries: [What's included/excluded]

## Market Opportunity

**Market Sizing:**
- TAM: $XXB (total addressable market)
- SAM: $XXB (serviceable addressable market)
- SOM: $XXM (serviceable obtainable market in 3 years)
- Methodology: [How calculated]

**Market Dynamics:**
- Current size: $XXB (YYYY)
- Growth rate: XX% CAGR
- Stage: [Emerging/Growing/Mature/Declining]
- Trends: [Key trends affecting market]

## Competitive Landscape

**Competition Level:** High/Medium/Low

**Key Competitors:**
1. [Competitor 1]: [Market share, positioning]
2. [Competitor 2]: [Market share, positioning]

**Competitive Intensity:**
- Market concentration: [HHI or top 3 share]
- Price competition: [Intense/Moderate/Low]
- Product differentiation: [High/Medium/Low]

**Your Competitive Position:**
- Advantages: [What you bring]
- Disadvantages: [Where you're weak]
- Differentiation: [How you'll compete]

## Entry Barriers

**Barrier Level:** High/Medium/Low

**Specific Barriers:**

**Regulatory:**
- Licensing requirements: [What's needed]
- Compliance: [Standards, certifications]
- Time to approval: [Duration]
- Cost: $XX

**Localization:**
- Language: [Requirements]
- Cultural adaptation: [Needs]
- Product modification: [Changes needed]
- Cost: $XX

**Distribution:**
- Channel access: [Difficulty]
- Partnership requirements: [Needed partners]
- Local presence: [Office, team needed]

**Capital:**
- Minimum investment: $XX
- Time to profitability: XX months

**Customer:**
- Switching costs: [High/Medium/Low]
- Incumbent loyalty: [Strong/Weak]
- Brand requirements: [Known brand needed]

## Strategic Fit

**Alignment with Strategy:**
- Core competency match: [How well capabilities transfer]
- Resource availability: [Can we support this]
- Risk tolerance: [Acceptable risk level]
- Strategic importance: [How critical is this market]

**Fit Score:** X/10

## Market Attractiveness Score

| Factor | Weight | Score (1-10) | Weighted |
|--------|--------|--------------|----------|
| Market size | 20% | X | X.X |
| Growth rate | 20% | X | X.X |
| Competition | 15% | X | X.X |
| Entry barriers | 15% | X | X.X |
| Strategic fit | 15% | X | X.X |
| Profitability potential | 15% | X | X.X |
| **Total** | **100%** | - | **X.X/10** |

**Interpretation:**
- 8-10: Highly attractive, prioritize entry
- 6-8: Moderately attractive, consider carefully
- 4-6: Marginal, proceed with caution
- 0-4: Not attractive, avoid or defer

**Assessment:** [Recommendation]

## Financial Projections

**Investment Required:**
- Year 1: $XX (setup, localization, marketing)
- Year 2: $XX (scaling)
- Year 3: $XX (optimization)
- **Total:** $XXX

**Expected Returns:**
- Year 1 revenue: $XX
- Year 2 revenue: $XX
- Year 3 revenue: $XX
- Breakeven: Month XX

**ROI Analysis:**
- 3-year cumulative revenue: $XXX
- 3-year cumulative investment: $XXX
- ROI: XX%
- Payback period: XX months

## Go/No-Go Recommendation

**Decision:** [Go / Go with conditions / No-go / Defer]

**Rationale:**
1. [Reason 1]
2. [Reason 2]
3. [Reason 3]

**Conditions (if conditional go):**
- [Condition 1]
- [Condition 2]

**Next Steps:**
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]

Step 2: Entry Mode Selection

Choose how to enter the market:

Steps:

1. Evaluate entry mode options
2. Assess resource requirements for each
3. Analyze risk vs. control tradeoffs
4. Consider speed to market
5. Evaluate long-term strategic goals
6. Select optimal entry mode

Entry Mode Options:

# Entry Mode Analysis

## Option 1: Organic/Greenfield Entry

**Description:** Build presence from scratch

**Approach:**
- Direct sales and marketing
- Build local team
- Establish local entity
- Full control over operations

**Pros:**
- Full control and ownership
- Build exactly what you want
- Capture all profits
- Protect IP and know-how

**Cons:**
- Highest risk
- Slowest to market
- Highest investment
- Learning curve on local market

**Best for:**
- Strong competitive advantages
- Unique offering hard to replicate
- Long-term commitment to market
- Sufficient resources and patience

**Timeline:** XX-XX months to launch
**Investment:** $XXX
**Risk Level:** High

## Option 2: Partnership/Alliance

**Description:** Partner with local player

**Approach:**
- Distribution partnership
- Co-marketing agreement
- Strategic alliance
- Technology licensing

**Pros:**
- Faster market access
- Local expertise and relationships
- Shared risk and investment
- Quick proof of concept

**Cons:**
- Less control
- Profit sharing
- Partner dependency
- Potential conflicts

**Best for:**
- Testing market before full commitment
- Complex regulatory environment
- Relationship-driven markets
- Limited local knowledge

**Timeline:** XX-XX months to launch
**Investment:** $XX
**Risk Level:** Medium

## Option 3: Acquisition

**Description:** Buy existing local player

**Approach:**
- Acquire competitor or complementary company
- Acquire customer base and team
- Rebrand or integrate

**Pros:**
- Fastest to significant scale
- Immediate market presence
- Existing customer base
- Local team and knowledge

**Cons:**
- Highest upfront cost
- Integration challenges
- Cultural fit risks
- Overpaying risk

**Best for:**
- Need rapid scale
- Fragmented market with targets
- Available capital
- Experienced with M&A

**Timeline:** XX-XX months to close + integration
**Investment:** $XXX-$XXX
**Risk Level:** Medium-High

## Option 4: Licensing/Franchising

**Description:** License to local operators

**Approach:**
- License IP, brand, or technology
- Franchise model
- Royalty-based revenue

**Pros:**
- Minimal investment
- Low risk
- Scalable quickly
- Partner manages operations

**Cons:**
- Least control
- Quality control challenges
- Limited upside
- Brand risk from poor execution

**Best for:**
- Asset-light expansion
- Brand-driven business
- Multiple similar markets
- Capital constraints

**Timeline:** XX months to first partner
**Investment:** $X
**Risk Level:** Low

## Recommended Entry Mode: [Selected Mode]

**Rationale:**
1. [Reason 1]
2. [Reason 2]
3. [Reason 3]

**Implementation approach:**
[Specific plan for chosen mode]

Step 3: Beachhead Market Strategy

Identify where to start within the new market:

Steps:

1. Segment the broader market
2. Identify potential beachhead segments
3. Assess each segment's attractiveness
4. Evaluate competitive position per segment
5. Select initial focus segment
6. Plan expansion from beachhead

Beachhead Selection:

# Beachhead Market Strategy

## Market Segmentation

**Segment 1: [Name]**
- Size: $XX TAM
- Characteristics: [Description]
- Pain points: [Key needs]
- Competition: [Level]
- Access: [Ease of reaching]
- Win rate potential: XX%
- Attractiveness score: X/10

**Segment 2: [Name]**
[Same structure]

**Segment 3: [Name]**
[Same structure]

## Beachhead Selection Criteria

| Segment | Size | Pain | Competition | Access | Win Rate | Score |
|---------|------|------|-------------|--------|----------|-------|
| Segment 1 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 |
| Segment 2 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 |
| Segment 3 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 | X/10 |

## Selected Beachhead: [Segment Name]

**Why this segment:**
- [Reason 1: e.g., Highest pain point and least competition]
- [Reason 2: e.g., Easy to access and prove value]
- [Reason 3: e.g., Can expand to adjacent segments]

**Target customers within beachhead:**
- [Specific customer profile]
- Estimated count: XXX companies/customers
- Initial target: XX customers in first 6 months

**Expansion Path:**

Beachhead Adjacent 1 Adjacent 2 Full Market (Segment 1) → (Segment 2) → (Segment 3) → (All Segments) Months 0-6 Months 6-12 Months 12-18 Months 18+

**Success criteria to expand:**
- XX customers acquired in beachhead
- XX% retention rate
- NPS > XX
- Proven repeatability

Step 4: Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy

Develop comprehensive plan to enter and compete:

Steps:

1. Define value proposition for target market
2. Develop pricing and packaging strategy
3. Select customer acquisition channels
4. Plan marketing and positioning
5. Design sales approach
6. Build operational requirements
7. Set metrics and goals

GTM Plan Template:

# Go-To-Market Strategy: [Market]

## Value Proposition

**Core message:**
"[Headline value prop for this market]"

**Key benefits:**
1. [Benefit 1 tailored to market]
2. [Benefit 2 tailored to market]
3. [Benefit 3 tailored to market]

**Differentiation:**
- vs. [Incumbent 1]: [How we're different/better]
- vs. [Incumbent 2]: [How we're different/better]

**Proof points:**
- [Social proof, case studies, metrics]

## Pricing Strategy

**Model:** [Subscription/Usage/License/etc.]

**Pricing:**
- Entry: $X per [unit]
- Standard: $Y per [unit]
- Enterprise: Custom

**Pricing position:** [Premium/Mid-market/Value]

**Localization:**
- Currency: [Local currency or USD]
- Price adjustment: [±X% vs. home market]
- Payment methods: [Accepted methods]

## Customer Acquisition Strategy

**Primary channels (Year 1):**

**Channel 1: [e.g., Direct sales]**
- Target: [Customer type]
- Approach: [Outbound, field sales]
- Capacity: XX sales reps
- Quota: $XXX per rep
- CAC target: $XX
- Expected contribution: XX% of revenue

**Channel 2: [e.g., Digital marketing]**
- Target: [Customer type]
- Tactics: [SEO, paid ads, content]
- Budget: $XX/month
- CAC target: $XX
- Expected contribution: XX% of revenue

**Secondary channels (Year 2+):**
- [Channel 3]: [Brief description]

## Marketing Strategy

**Positioning:**
- Category: [How we frame the market]
- Tagline: [Localized messaging]

**Launch campaign:**
- Timeline: [X months]
- Budget: $XX
- Tactics:
  1. [Tactic 1: PR, launch event]
  2. [Tactic 2: Digital campaign]
  3. [Tactic 3: Partnership announcements]

**Ongoing marketing:**
- Content marketing: [Topics, channels]
- Events: [Trade shows, conferences]
- Digital: [SEO, SEM, social]
- PR: [Media relations strategy]

## Sales Strategy

**Sales model:** [Self-serve / Inside sales / Field sales / Hybrid]

**Sales process:**
1. [Lead generation]
2. [Qualification]
3. [Demo/Trial]
4. [Proposal]
5. [Close]
6. [Onboarding]

**Sales enablement:**
- Battle cards: [vs. key competitors]
- Pitch deck: [Localized version]
- Demo environment: [In local language]
- Case studies: [Local or relevant]
- Pricing calculator: [In local currency]

**Team structure:**
- Sales reps: XX (hire by Month X)
- Sales engineers: XX
- SDRs: XX
- Manager: [Hire timing]

## Operations & Support

**Local presence:**
- Office: [Yes/No - Location]
- Team: XX people (roles)
- Legal entity: [Type and timeline]

**Localization:**
- Product: [Translation, feature adaptation]
- Documentation: [Help docs, legal]
- Support: [Language, hours, channels]
- Compliance: [Certifications, regulations]

**Support model:**
- Hours: [Coverage]
- Channels: [Email, chat, phone]
- SLA: [Response times]
- Language: [Supported languages]

## Partnerships

**Partner strategy:**
- Type 1: [Distribution partners]
  - Target partners: [List or profile]
  - Partner value prop: [Why they'd partner]
- Type 2: [Technology partners]
  - Integration targets: [Companies]

**Partner program:**
- Commission: XX%
- Enablement: [Training, materials]
- Co-marketing: [Budget and activities]

## Success Metrics & Goals

**Year 1 Goals:**
- Revenue: $XXX
- Customers: XXX
- Market share: X%
- CAC: $XXX
- LTV/CAC: X.X
- NRR: XXX%

**Leading Indicators:**
- Pipeline: $XXX (Month 3)
- Trials/Demos: XXX/month
- Conversion rate: XX%
- Sales cycle: XX days

**Milestones:**
- Month 3: [Milestone]
- Month 6: [Milestone]
- Month 12: [Milestone]

## Budget & Resources

**Year 1 Investment:**
- Team: $XXX (XX people)
- Marketing: $XXX
- Sales: $XXX
- Localization: $XX
- Legal/Compliance: $XX
- Operations: $XX
- **Total:** $XXX

**Breakeven:** Month XX

## Risk Mitigation

**Risk 1: [e.g., Slower than expected adoption]**
- Likelihood: Medium
- Impact: High
- Mitigation: [Strategy]
- Contingency: [Backup plan]

**Risk 2: [e.g., Regulatory delays]**
[Same structure]

## Timeline & Roadmap

**Q1:**
- [Major activities]

**Q2:**
- [Major activities]

**Q3:**
- [Major activities]

**Q4:**
- [Major activities]

Entry Patterns

Pattern 1: Geographic Expansion (International)

• Assess country/region attractiveness
• Address localization needs
• Navigate regulatory requirements
• Adapt GTM for cultural differences
• Example: US SaaS company entering Europe

Pattern 2: Vertical Market Entry (New Industry)

• Research industry-specific needs
• Develop vertical value proposition
• Build industry expertise
• Attend industry events
• Example: Horizontal tool entering healthcare

Pattern 3: Segment Expansion (Move up/down market)

• Adapt product for segment needs
• Reposition pricing and packaging
• Change sales motion (self-serve vs. enterprise)
• Example: SMB product moving upmarket to enterprise

Pattern 4: Product Category Expansion

• Leverage existing customer base
• Cross-sell/upsell strategy
• Product development roadmap
• Example: CRM adding marketing automation

Validation Checklist

Before finalizing market entry plan:

• Market opportunity quantified (TAM/SAM/SOM)
• Competitive landscape analyzed
• Entry barriers identified and assessed
• Entry mode selected with rationale
• Beachhead market defined
• Value proposition tailored to market
• Pricing strategy determined
• GTM channels selected
• Resource requirements calculated
• Financial projections completed
• Success metrics defined
• Risk mitigation plans developed
• Timeline and milestones set
• Go/No-Go decision made

Examples

Example 1: US SaaS Entering UK Market

Input: "Should we expand our SaaS product to the UK?"

Process:

1. Assess UK market size and growth
2. Analyze UK competitors
3. Evaluate entry barriers (low for SaaS)
4. Select entry mode (organic/direct)
5. Identify beachhead (London-based tech companies)
6. Develop GTM (digital + inside sales)
7. Calculate investment and ROI
8. Recommend go/no-go

Output: Market entry plan with GTM strategy and financial projections

Example 2: SMB Tool Moving to Enterprise

Input: "How do we move upmarket to enterprise customers?"

Process:

1. Assess enterprise segment attractiveness
2. Identify product gaps for enterprise needs
3. Evaluate sales model change required
4. Select beachhead (small enterprise segment)
5. Develop enterprise value prop
6. Design field sales approach
7. Plan product roadmap
8. Create expansion timeline

Output: Upmarket expansion strategy with roadmap

Additional Notes

• Market entry is a multi-year commitment - ensure commitment before starting
• Start with a beachhead and expand rather than "boiling the ocean"
• Local market knowledge is critical - hire locals or find local partners
• Test and learn approach reduces risk
• Combine with analyzing-tam for market sizing
• Use competitive-intelligence for competitive analysis
• Link to creating-swot-analysis for entry decision
• Use analyzing-customers to understand local customer needs
• Monitor and adapt - market entry plans evolve with learnings