essay questions about swot analysis

How to Write a SWOT Analysis (Template and Examples Included)

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Planning for the Future

Where do you see yourself in five years? How about your career? Your business?

These questions keep a staggering amount of people awake at night. All too often, the future can seem like a dark, ominous cloud that looms just out of view. As the old proverb goes, we fear the unknown—and little can possibly be more unknowable than the future.

While there is no crystal ball that can accurately predict future market trends or the steps you should take to optimize your productivity and sharpen your competitive edge, we can offer some advice: Reframe the question. Rather than trying to pinpoint where you think you might be in five years, think about where you want to be at that point in time. Once you have a destination in mind, you can start planning a route to get there. After all, maps are great tools, but they can't help you if you don't know where you're going.

So, what's the metaphorical map in this scenario? We present to you the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

How to Write a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analyses are great strategic tools that are useful in project planning, business development , financial strategizing, and personal advancement . Simple, honest, and to-the-point, they facilitate a profound understanding of your or your business's current standing. Essentially, a SWOT analysis is a comparative list of all your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

There's more power in this process than you might think. You may be only hazily aware of your own strengths and weaknesses. However, thoughtfully recording and reflecting on them creates a thorough, conscious familiarity with both the resources available to you and the obstacles standing in your way. This awareness allows you to map out a path toward your goals with great precision and purpose. Writing a SWOT analysis will help you clearly evaluate whether your goals are feasible according to your resources and needs.

In this guide, we'll break down exactly how to write a SWOT analysis and provide a few examples along the way. Feel free to use our SWOT analysis template, given below, to write your own!

Our SWOT Analysis Template

Your list of strengths should focus on your current resources and abilities. It should relate to things that you do or that your company does well. These might be your or your company's accomplishments—both great and small—and the assets that you or your company have. Your strengths give you your greatest edge; they are the resources that propel you forward and that you can continue to develop as you progress.

When you draw up your first SWOT analysis, you may find yourself at a loss. Don't worry—it's difficult for most people to come up with an objective list of strengths and weaknesses on the spot. For your convenience, we've included a list of questions you can ask yourself to get started.

These questions should help you identify a few of your strengths. Remember, while our example questions mostly relate to business strengths, they can also apply to personal strengths. Go ahead and boast as much as you can.

What sets your company apart from others?
What do you have that other companies don't?
What are you most proud of about your company?
What makes clients come back to you?
What does your company do well?
What assets do you have access to?
What qualities does your company have that other companies try to emulate?
What has always been easy for your company?

Listing your weaknesses might be a little more uncomfortable than detailing your strengths, but trust us—doing so will help you in the long run. Understanding the obstacles in your path and the elements of your business or skills you may need to improve is just as important as appreciating your strengths. Once you're aware of your weaknesses, you can start working on them and building your next steps around them.

Your list of weaknesses should pertain to any current problems and challenges. Check out the list of questions below—it should give you an idea of where to start. Again, if you'd rather focus on your personal or career growth, feel free to alter these questions to suit your needs.

What makes your company blend in with its competition?
What do other companies have that you don't?
What are the most common criticisms that you receive from clients?
Why have certain clients not returned to you?
What does your company need to improve upon?
What kind of feedback do you receive from your employees?
What might your competition consider to be a weakness?
What has always been difficult for your company?
What are you unwilling to do or change?

Opportunities

Think about the opportunities available to you as potential future strengths. Your opportunities are the assets, resources, and events that could be beneficial to you in some way in the future. You may need to change some of your current approaches or adapt in other ways to capitalize on these opportunities, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to identify your potential opportunities:

What is happening in the current market that you could capitalize upon?
What changes have you been making that have returned positive results?
What is working for other companies?
How could you introduce new technology to make your processes more efficient?
What costs can you cut?
Could you access new sectors or demographic groups?
How can you improve or modernize your marketing techniques?
How can you remove existing obstacles?

Threats

Just as your opportunities are based on potential, so are your threats; these are the possible obstacles or issues that are not yet directly affecting your progress. But this doesn't mean that you shouldn't start thinking about them! Being aware of the challenges that you may encounter will help you either plan around them or confront them with solutions. Try to come up with several future events that may realistically hinder the momentum you build from engaging with your strengths and opportunities.

To get started, take a peek at our list of questions:

What obstacles might your weaknesses create?
Do changing market trends negatively affect your competitive edge?
What might stand in the way of the changes you make to accommodate your strengths and opportunities?
Do you have a lot of debt?
Could your competition exploit your weaknesses?

How did you do? Do you feel like you've listed everything? Or do you think you're missing something? Below, we've drafted examples of a business and a personal SWOT analysis to provide you with some perspective on what a completed one might look like.

An Example of a Personal SWOT Analysis

An Example of a Business SWOT Analysis

Final Words

The humble but effective SWOT analysis will produce a detailed map of your current environment—its hills and valleys alike. Knowing how to write a SWOT analysis will provide you with the vantage point you need to choose a direction and blaze a trail toward your goals. SWOT analyses may not be crystal balls, but they are something like compasses. Use them wisely, and you will never be lost.

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The Best 20 Questions to Ask in SWOT Analysis

Last Updated: Sep 16, 2020 by Kiesha Frue Filed Under: SWOT Analysis

You built your business to stick around for decades — not to peak in a few months then die out in even less time.

Business isn’t simple, especially when the competition is eager to snatch your customers. But with the proper tools for planning, you’ll maintain the upper hand. Whether that means:

Furthering your competitive advantage
Building new markets
Developing new concepts and products the competition can’t

Getting started is simple: use SWOT analysis . It’s an easy premise to help focus on what your company is doing right (and wrong) to keep it strong.

What is SWOT analysis?

SWOT analysis stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats . These four categories force you to understand the current status of your company to ensure it has a future. In SWOT analysis, these categories can be broken down into internal and external factors.

Internal factors

Internal factors are strengths and weaknesses. You can influence internal factors .

Strengths and weaknesses may include:

Brand identity
Company culture
Geological locations
Partnerships

Business analysts often conduct SWOT analysis. But for a simple overview, all you need is a pen and paper (or laptop). People who do SWOT analysis tend to focus on the first part: strengths and weaknesses, partly because they’re changeable. But also because it’s easier than analyzing external factors that you don’t have control over.

External factors

External factors in SWOT analysis are opportunities and threats. Often, these factors are out of your control. But by identifying them, you can plan for outcomes.

Opportunities and threats include:

Market size
Buying behaviors
Government regulations

Proper planning is how businesses continue to thrive decades after opening. Identifying company opportunities and threats are critical for planning. So, don’t skip this section because it’s less tangible than strengths and weaknesses.

If an earthquake destroyed your store tomorrow… What’s next? Or if your market size shrinks dramatically in the next 5 years, what will you do?

Obviously, you can’t plan for everything. But by being aware of potential complications, you may increase the survivability of your business.

Now, how do you get started? Begin with these 20 SWOT related questions.

20 SWOT analysis questions to ask yourself

Starting your SWOT analysis may leave you feeling stuck. You’ll wonder, what’s the most important factor to consider? What is the least? But let’s skip the unpleasant mental block with these opening questions.

What are we known for?
What is our unique selling proposition?
What resources do we have readily available?
What do our customers love about our product(s)?
What are we doing that no one else is?

Opportunities

What new opportunities in the market are becoming available?
How is the market changing?
What opportunities did we pass, but are still available?
What would be the ideal opportunity for us?
What is the competition ignoring that we can play in our favor?

Find more about opportunities here.

Who are our competitors?
Has there been an increase in competition lately? Where and why?
What are the costs of our resources? Is it affecting our bottom line?
Are customers buying less of in our industry? Why?
Are our suppliers unreliable?

Crayon Competitive Intelligence blog

24 questions to consider for your next swot analysis.

So, you’re getting ready to conduct a SWOT analysis — fantastic! Whether you’re a marketer, an executive leader, a competitive intelligence (CI) professional, or someone else entirely, you’re on your way to making smarter and more impactful decisions.

As you know, conducting a SWOT analysis means evaluating your business through four distinct (yet closely connected) lenses: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Pretty self-explanatory, right?

Right. With that being said, determining what to include within each category of your SWOT analysis isn’t always intuitive. And that makes sense — conducting a SWOT analysis is, after all, an inherently introspective process. If introspection were easy … nevermind.

My point is that it’s difficult to be self-reflective. So, to guide you through your first SWOT analysis, we’ve compiled a collection of two dozen SWOT analysis questions — questions you’ll want to carefully consider in order to set yourself up for success going forward.

We’ll begin with some relatively broad SWOT analysis questions to get you thinking about your business and your competitive landscape . Then, because we here at Crayon are committed to helping you stay a step (or three) ahead of your rivals , we’ll share the questions you need to address in order to determine where you stand in relation to your closest direct competitor.

Ready to get started? Download your free competitive analysis template

12 SWOT Analysis Questions: Your Business & Your Market

Important note: You don’t necessarily need to answer each of these questions individually. The purpose of this blog post is simply to get you thinking — to unlock the in-depth knowledge you already possess with respect to your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

By no means exhaustive, here are 12 SWOT analysis questions to get your wheels turning.

What value do you provide that can’t be replicated by anyone else in the market?
Why do customers give you their business? What keeps them coming back?
What are you most proud of? What are your employees and/or coworkers most proud of?
What are some of the internal forces cutting into your bottom line?
Why did former customers churn ? What drove them away?
What’s holding you back from accomplishing the things you want and/or need to accomplish?

Opportunities

Can you satisfy any unmet demands that have been vocalized by your target customers?
Are there any emerging technologies that you can use to your advantage?
How can you apply your existing strengths in new and/or innovative ways?
What are some of the external forces cutting into your bottom line?
Are there any emerging technologies that undermine the perceived value of your business?
In what ways might your weaknesses get exposed or exploited?

12 SWOT Analysis Questions: Your Closest Direct Competitor

Hopefully, after working through our first batch of SWOT analysis questions — along with any others you came up with along the way — you’ve got a strong sense of where your business stands in the context of your market.

The time has come, now, to turn your attention to something more specific (and, perhaps, more exciting): your closest direct competitor . (A direct competitor, for anyone unfamiliar with the term, is a rival business with which you compete head-to-head for revenue.) Those of you in particularly crowded markets likely have several direct competitors that are each of equal importance. For the sake of simplicity, the following SWOT analysis questions have been written under the assumption that you’re thinking about one competitor in particular.

Again, keep in mind that the sole purpose of this non-exhaustive list is to get you thinking!

What are your key differentiators? In what ways is your product or service superior?
Why, specifically, do some customers choose to do business with you rather than them?
What’s your gut reaction when asked for a comparison between your business and theirs?
What about your competitor’s business keeps you up at night?
Why, specifically, do some folks choose to do business with them rather than you?
Are you unable to replicate some of the ways in which they provide value to customers?
Are there unmet demands in the market that you — and only you — can satisfy?
Can you use an emerging technology to amplify your strengths or exploit their weaknesses?
How might you more effectively communicate the ways in which you’re superior?
Are there unmet demands in the market that you’re unable to satisfy?
Is your competitor uniquely positioned to weather a potential and/or impending challenge?
How might your competitor exploit your weaknesses in new and/or innovative ways?

Use These SWOT Analysis Questions as Your Guide

When conducting a SWOT analysis , there’s no right or wrong way to arrive at the bullet points you type (or scribble) under each category; there are no right or wrong questions to consider. As long as you’re focused, honest, and — gulp — introspective, you’ll draw conclusions that will prove invaluable when the time comes to make decisions.

Though we’ve only scratched the surface, we hope you can use these SWOT analysis questions to jumpstart your next brainstorming session. Ideally, they’ll help guide you to some breakthroughs that you can use to refine your strategies and win more customers.

And if you have any ideas for additional SWOT analysis questions that you’d like to share, please feel free to leave a comment below!

See why Gong, Mastercard, and ZoomInfo trust Crayon to help them win more competitive deals.

The SWOT analysis essay and the four questions we are (really) asking – Tracy Gojdics, Director & Class of 2007

One of the application essay questions asks applicants to analyze their career using the SWOT technique. As a student you’ll become quite comfortable with SWOT analyses, but as an applicant it can be a bit confusing. The information below is provided to help you as you think about to write for this required essay question. We’ve taken the S, W, O and T and translated them to the four questions we are really asking. I hope this helps as you contemplate your essay. Upon completion you’ll not only feel better about having the essay done, but you’ll have a great career analysis to boot!

1. S = your strengths. Your strengths = what are your competitive advantages?

You will want to convey what you think your 3-5 competitive advantages/strengths are in thinking about your career and where it is today. Be sure to explain each.

Ex: I am a skillful negotiator. I have negotiated numerous important contracts for my organization, which have resulted in lower costs and increased services from our vendor partners. While negotiating contracts is part of my job, it is also something I enjoy doing and have mentored others in my organization through the negotiating process.

2. W = your weaknesses. Your weaknesses = What do you need to improve?

The admissions committee isn’t looking at your “weaknesses” so much as they are looking for whether or not you know what you need to improve as it relates to your career. You should discuss 3-5 areas for improvement.

Ex: I’m not a strong public speaker. Giving presentations is something that I have been working on for the past year as I am sometimes asked to give presentations to various groups. I get very nervous and am not super comfortable presenting, but recognizing this I have enrolled in a corporate class on giving better presentations.

3. O = Opportunities. Your opportunities = how can you enhance or advance your career?

Unlike strengths or weaknesses, opportunities come from your external environment. You might think that “getting an MBA” is the answer we are looking for, but you’d be wrong. Advancing your career means being proactive. How are you being proactive with your career? Discuss 3-5 things you are doing or could do to enhance or advance your career.

Ex: Attend targeted association meetings. Because I am interested in Product Management I have attended several speaker events and workshops through the Product Management Consortium. Attending these events has also broadened my professional network.

4. T = Threats. Threats = what could derail your career?

Just as with opportunities, threats come from your external environment. The economy may always be a threat, but how is it a threat? What else might be a threat? Think about your product or service, your competitors, your customers, the global landscape or your industry as a whole. These are just a few ideas to help get you started. List and discuss 3-5 things that have or could derail your career.

Ex: Our customers decide to go with another provider. As budgets get tighter and margins begin to shrink, many of our corporate customers are talking with multiple vendors and are no longer willing to stay with our company just because that is what they have been doing. The competition is fierce and losing customers would mean deep cuts to our organization and my unit in particular.

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How to Write a SWOT Analysis Paper

Successful businesses and people have been conducting SWOTs since at least the mid-twentieth century and have refined the process over time. The four categories you will explore in your SWOT analysis paper are Strengths (S), Weaknesses (W), Opportunities (O), and Threats (T). You can use SWOT analysis to help you assess your position in project planning, business development , finance, relationships, or for personal growth. Since SWOT analysis papers are usually assigned in business school or associated with business planning, we will focus on the steps for writing a SWOT analysis paper for business, but keep in mind that the process can be tailored to any situation—professional or personal.

If this process sounds laborious or daunting, do not fret: As with most things, conducting a SWOT analysis will get easier the more you do it, and eventually it might become an essential part of all of your decision-making processes. As you evaluate your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, you will gain skills and insights that can help you evaluate yourself, your business, and various decisions you are facing.

Better than a pros and cons list

Perhaps you are thinking, This sounds just like a pros and cons list . A SWOT analysis provides more information than a simple pros and cons list, and it makes it easier to identify potential action items and areas for growth. SWOT analysis considers more than just the pros and cons of a situation: It helps you identify internal and external factors that contribute to or inhibit your success.

Strengths and Weaknesses are generally considered internal factors, so they are things that you or your company can control or can work to improve.

Opportunities and Threats are typically external factors that occur outside of your business (i.e., things that you cannot control), but they are things that could significantly affect you or your business.

Identify your objective/goal

To get the most benefit from your SWOT analysis, be as specific as possible with your objective . If you are analyzing a business, consider focusing on one particular aspect of the business.

The best way to formulate your paper is to use a SWOT analysis chart to organize your thoughts before you actually start writing.

Write down the initial strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats that come to mind when you consider the objective. Use bullet points to separate items, be specific, and remember that you do not have to write in complete sentences on this chart. To be sure that you explore all applicable points, consider the following questions:

What does the business do best?
What do people like about it?
What draws people to the business?
What does the business offer that competitors can't or don't offer?
What puts the business at a disadvantage?
Consider employee feedback and customer reviews: Are there any items that multiple people have identified as issues?
In what areas does the business have less resources than competitors?
Why do potential clients choose a competitor over you?
What areas would you like to improve?

Be honest as you assess the business's weaknesses. Consider what aspects put your business at a disadvantage or what factors limit your growth potential. If you shy away from identifying weaknesses in this step, your SWOT analysis will not be effective or beneficial. Although it can be painful to identify weaknesses that are currently holding you back from personal or business growth, identifying and exploring these areas will give you the opportunity to improve. If you are uncertain if an item should be classified as a Weakness or a Threat , remember that Weaknesses are internal (things within the business that you can work to change) and Threats are external (things you have little or no control over). Also, accurately identifying weaknesses might help you recognize potential opportunities and/or threats.

Opportunities

Are there any potential market trends that suggest growth in your field in the coming year?
Does the business have any possible partnerships or sponsorships on the horizon?
Is the business considering expanding or developing new product lines or specialties?

In addition to any obvious opportunities, look at the strengths you've listed and see if there are any ways that you can turn strengths into opportunities.

Is the business affected by government policy? If so, are there any potential policy changes in the future?
What obstacles prevent you from doing more business or making more sales? Be specific and list them all.
Do you have periods of unreliable cash flow that threaten the business?
Does the weather or season affect the business?

Once you have listed all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, prioritize the results in each category from most impactful to least. Prioritizing your results in each of the four categories will help you visualize each item's importance so you can see how it relates to the other areas.

Writing the SWOT analysis paper

Now that you have filled out the SWOT chart and prioritized your SWOT results, you have the basic information to begin drafting your SWOT analysis paper. As with any professional paper, start with a strong introduction and state your objection and the focus of your SWOT analysis. In the next four paragraphs, describe the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that you prioritized on your SWOT analysis chart. If you have more items for each category than can comfortably fit in a paragraph, consider condensing your list. As you review the lists in each category, eliminate redundancies and consolidate similar items. If you still have too many items to fit in one paragraph after condensing, include one to three bullet points per paragraph, and try to keep the paragraphs balanced. For example, if you write three paragraphs for strengths, try to write three paragraphs for the other three categories as well.

Once you have identified and described your SWOTs, you can use your SWOT analysis chart to develop strategies and create a plan to achieve your business goals. The analysis is the most essential part of the SWOT analysis paper, because in this portion you will create action items and develop plans that can lead to future success. Assess each of the four areas (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) and look for commonalities or links between the categories. Some things to consider during this step:

Can you use one of your strengths to address a threat?
Look for ways to use your strengths to minimize your weaknesses.
How can you use your strengths to seize growth opportunities?
Is there a way to use your strengths to overcome threats?
Are there any weaknesses that you can address and eliminate?
Can you balance out a weakness by pursuing one of your opportunities?
Are your weaknesses preventing you from capitalizing on opportunities?
Are your weaknesses enhancing the likelihood that the business will suffer from a threat? If so, look to your strengths and see if there is a way to draw from your strengths to reduce the potential impact of the threat.

As you find connections between the bullet points in the four quadrants of your chart, start writing to generate ideas that you can turn into action. You can come back to edit these sentences and perfect these ideas later, but go ahead and record the thoughts now so you do not miss any potential connections. As you identify how different bullet points relate to each other, prioritize items that will generate revenue or reduce expenditure. Now, assess the action items that you have identified and put them in the order that makes the most sense to you. You can arrange your action items in the order that you would like to address them, or you can arrange them in the order that would make the most financial impact on the business. Organize the paragraphs in this section of the paper in your preferred order.

Now that you have performed a comprehensive SWOT analysis and identified action items to enhance strengths and reduce weaknesses, write a strong conclusion paragraph summarizing the most important findings. Keep in mind the purpose of your SWOT analysis paper here: If you intend to share this information with potential investors, make sure that you present a clear vision for growth and that you are realistic about how you will address weaknesses and potential threats. The crucial last step for any paper is to proofread, edit, and revise as needed. Now that you have completed your SWOT analysis and identified action plans, consider if applying a SWOT analysis to another aspect of your business or area of your life. Make a note in your calendar and conduct another SWOT analysis on this issue in six to twelve months so you can measure progress towards your goals.

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Your Full Guide on How to Write a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is one of those tools that you'll come across in any field. For example, it's used to define a product's competitive advantage, create a strategic plan for a business, and gain insights into consumer behavior.

But it's not just businesses that benefit from this technique. Personal SWOT analysis helps people plan their careers in the most optimal way possible, too.

As versatile as it is, SWOT analysis is not at all complicated. That's why its adoption rate is through the roof. And that's why you should learn how to take advantage of it, whether for an assignment or not.

To help you out with that, let's rely on our rich writing services experience and use it to break down in detail:

What a SWOT analysis is;
How it's applied in business strategies and marketing efforts;
How to use the SWOT framework for any task;
4 real-world SWOT analysis examples.

What Is SWOT Analysis, Exactly?

Any SWOT analysis template contains four sections, presented in a two-by-two matrix:

Strengths – your inherent qualities, resources, or skills that set you apart from the rest;
Weaknesses – whatever is or may be stopping you or the business from performing well;
Opportunities – external factors that you can use to your advantage to become more competitive;
Threats – external factors that may harm your performance in the short or long run.

Internal and External Factors in SWOT Analysis

Each section represents a list of factors. These sections can be grouped into two broader categories: internal and external factors.

Internal factors – Strengths and Weaknesses in the first row – are inherent to you or the company. However, you can also do something about them if need be. Think of your skills as a professional if you're working on a personal SWOT analysis, for example.

External factors – Opportunities and Threats in the second row – aren't under your personal or the company's control. But they have an impact on you or the business, nonetheless. Once-in-a-lifetime pandemics, inflation, or industry trends are good examples here.

Positive vs Negative Factors

Another way to think about the SWOT matrix is by juxtaposing negative and positive factors :

Strengths and Opportunities can help you or the company achieve your goal or succeed at a project. So, they represent positive factors.
Weaknesses and Threats can negatively impact your progress and have to be mitigated. They're negative factors.

Why is SWOT Analysis Important?

Now that the question ‘What is a SWOT Analysis?’ is answered, you must have several others on your mind. So let's answer them one by one.

Who Should Do a SWOT Analysis?

Businesses of all sizes and in all industries can benefit from SWOT analyses. So, whether you're a prospective entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a C-level executive, this technique will be a useful arrow in your quiver.

You can also benefit from conducting a personal SWOT analysis. It would be best if you did it when looking for a job or facing a major life decision.

Why Should You Do a SWOT Analysis?

At its core, SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique. It's meant to help you organize all the factors. That, in turn, enables you to gain key insights into where you stand and how you can move from point A to point B.

How does it help you in strategic planning, exactly? The SWOT matrix shows you:

Which strengths you should maximize and emphasize;
Which weaknesses you should minimize and keep at bay;
Which opportunities you can take advantage of;
Which threats you should look out for and counter.

All of this leads to one outcome: better, more informed decision-making. Plus, SWOT analysis is notorious for challenging your assumptions as long as everyone involved is straightforward and honest in their answers.

What Can SWOT Framework Be Used For?

Now, let's talk about real-life practical applications of this technique. Here are three SWOT analysis examples:

Choosing the business model for a new enterprise;
Creating a break-even analysis and a business plan;
Analyzing the company's quarterly and annual performance.

At a personal level, you can also conduct your own SWOT analysis to:

Increase your chances of landing a job;
Position yourself for getting a promotion;
Understand what needs to change in your life in general.

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How to Conduct a SWOT Analysis in 8 Steps

SWOT analysis isn't complicated to conduct, and that's why they are so popular. Yet, it might be a wrong first impression.

A good SWOT analysis can take hours and should involve multiple people in a brainstorming session. It should also be as objective as possible – which can be harder to achieve than it seems.

So, how do you use a SWOT analysis – and get a quality result for your strategic decision-making process? Here's your step-by-step SWOT analysis example that you can use as a guide. If you need a custom writing -address to professionals.

1. Determine Your Goal

Starting brainstorming without a goal means getting into the SWOT analysis blind. And your SWOT matrix will be useless – or misleading – in the long run.

For example, depending on your goal, the same factor can be a key strength or an irrelevant note. For example, if you aim to reach the 18-25 demographic in your marketing campaign, your active presence on TikTok will be a great asset. But if you need to find a way to attract more quality candidates in the hiring process, the TikTok presence will only help you a little.

So, zero in on what you want to achieve with this SWOT analysis. This can be a decision you or the company have to make – for example, whether to launch a certain product line. Your goal can also be to solve a certain problem or to create/reassess your strategy.

2. Do Your Research

Your research wouldn't be complete if you googled ‘What is a SWOT analysis?’ You'll need a lot of data during your brainstorming session. If you have it, you'll avoid guessing your company's or your own strengths or external threats related to your goal.

What Data to Look For

Your research should consist of two parts:

Internal research . You'll need every piece of information on your or the company's performance to pinpoint the internal factors in SWOT analysis. That can include financial, sales, marketing, and other reports with key metrics.
External research . Gather the data on your competitors, the market, the company's position and market share, and the industry as a whole. This data will be the basis for assessing your opportunities and threats.

There's one footnote, though. Depending on the goal, you'll need different data sets. So, focus on relevant data.

3. Pinpoint Your or Your Organization's Strengths

Now, it's time for the brainstorming session. If you're doing a SWOT analysis for a business, go with it: bring the right people to the table, virtual or not. It'll help you get a more objective, realistic, and complete matrix.

Start with the internal factors, namely your internal strengths: they're always easier to home in on.

Need a SWOT analysis example of a company's strengths? Here are five of them:

Outstanding customer service with a high satisfaction rate;
Strong financial performance;
The first-mover advantage;
Positive brand attributes;
Strong technical expertise in the field.

5 Questions to Ask

Here are five questions to kick off your brainstorming and help you discover your company's strengths – or your own:

What do you or the company do well?
What are your strongest assets?
Is there something only you or the company do?
What is your competitive edge?
What do customers appreciate about the company?

4. Zero in on Your or Your Company's Weaknesses

Now, it's time to move on to a more difficult part of assessing your internal factors: your weaknesses. Take a hard look at your or the business's performance and define what could be going better. Don't try to embellish the truth here!

Keep in mind: there are some weaknesses that you can eliminate and some others that you can only mitigate.

Looking for weaknesses SWOT analysis examples for students who run their businesses? Here are five of them:

Poor brand recognition among the target audience;
Suboptimal employee productivity;
Limited resources, human or otherwise;
Lack of intellectual property for key technologies;
Long delivery times.

To explore your personal or business weaknesses, ask the following five questions:

What do your competitors beat you at?
What do customers complain about?
What is holding back your or the company's success?
What resources do you or the company lack?
What are the gaps in your internal business processes?

5. Identify External Opportunities

Before you can exploit opportunities, you need to identify them in your SWOT analysis – and determine which ones are worth using, too.

For that, you'll need to turn to the external environment research you've done. Then, look at that data and pinpoint which trends or events you could take advantage of.

Need a SWOT analysis example or two here? Take a look at these three business opportunities:

New markets emerging within the industry;
New advertising channels rising to prominence;
Particular customer needs that remain underserved.

4 Questions to Ask

If you don't know how to start zeroing in on opportunities, start with these four questions:

Are there ways to gain useful resources you don't have or have little of?
Are there any technological advancements that can help you mitigate your weaknesses?
Are there any new or overlooked opportunities that you can exploit?
How can the current economy or market trends be of use to you?

6. Home in on Potential Threats

Time to move on to the final part of a standard SWOT analysis: threats. These external trends and events can get in your way – or already are.

If you're working on a personal SWOT analysis, threats can include:

High competition for the job you're after;
Potential layoffs due to a financial crisis.

If you're conducting one for a large company or a small business, negative external factors can include:

New emerging competitors, direct or indirect;
New regulations that can entail considerable additional costs for the business;
Unfavorable investment climate.

3 Questions to Ask

If you need a push in the right direction, here are three questions to help you zero in on the threats:

Who are your competitors, and what is their market position?
What is the state of the economy, industry, and market? Are they in decline?
Are there any new regulations that can harm the business?

7. Review Your SWOT Analysis Matrix

Having a good SWOT analysis right after brainstorming is impossible. You need to review every factor you've written down and edit the list. Leave only the elements that truly matter – and make them more specific if required.

3 Things to Pay Attention to

There are some common caveats that you can overlook if you need to be more careful during this step. Here are three of them to avoid:

Factors that aren't specific enough – clarify or cross them out;
Factors that aren't evidence-based – find proof or get rid of them;
Factors that are over- or underestimated – have a fresh pair of eyes to look at the list.

8. Decide on the Solution

Once you've finished filling out and editing your SWOT analysis template, your work is only beginning. Now, you need to take your SWOT matrix and use your findings to find the solution to your key issue.

4 Questions to Pose

Here are four questions to guide you in your solution-seeking:

How can you maximize your strengths? Which ones should be the top priority to boost?
How can you mitigate or eliminate your weaknesses? Which ones should be taken care of first?
Which opportunities should you take advantage of? Which ones will pay off the most?
Which threats can do the most harm? How can you limit their impact?

4 SWOT Analysis Examples for Students

Need something more than just a SWOT analysis template? Let's see how this tool can be applied to practice with these four real-world SWOT analysis examples for students.

But if these sample SWOT analysis still don't help you, don't panic just yet. You can always order an essay online and let professionals worry about it. And no, it won't cost you a small fortune!

Amazon and Tesla Analysis

Apple and personal swot analysis, are you drowning in schoolwork.

Students that need a little additional encouragement with their tasks can benefit from our top essay writing service

Special Occasion Speech: Best Ideas for Any Event

Master the Art of Writing an Impressive Swot Analysis Essay

Are you struggling with how to get started with your recent assignment of writing a swot analysis essay? It sure is a tough ask from students dealing with such an essay for the first time.

But you don’t have to worry as this blog post serves as a comprehensive guide to help students grasp the fundamentals of writing a SWOT analysis essay. It breaks down the intricate components, providing a step-by-step approach that simplifies understanding and implementation for learners.

As you should know. the swot analysis essay has four crucial elements, such as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The strengths and weaknesses pertain to internal aspects, focusing on what an entity excels at and where it lacks. Opportunities and threats, on the other hand, address external factors, exploring potential avenues for growth and the challenges that may hinder progress.

This blog post is filled with amazing guidelines from professional paper writers . Hence, it’s an opportunity even for new students to master some tricks and tips for writing a good swot analysis essay.

Table of Contents

What is a Swot Analysis?

A SWOT analysis is a strategic tool used by organizations to evaluate their internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats. It’s all about looking at the good and bad stuff inside the organization and the good and bad stuff outside of it, to get a clear picture of where things are at and where they could go in the future. This analysis is super helpful for coming up with plans, making smart choices, and using the good stuff to deal with any weaknesses or outside threats.

The importance of a SWOT analysis lies in its ability to provide a clear overview of an organization’s or project’s current state, facilitating better strategic planning and decision-making. By identifying strengths and weaknesses, an organization can leverage its advantages while addressing areas that require improvement. Furthermore, recognizing external opportunities allows for proactive steps to capitalize on them, while acknowledging threats helps in developing contingency plans to minimize their impact. Overall, conducting a swot analysis enables a more focused and informed approach toward achieving goals and maintaining competitiveness.

For students seeking assistance in crafting a swot analysis essay or assignment, relying on professional paper writing help can be beneficial. Expert writers can offer guidance on structuring the analysis, gathering relevant data, and ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the subject matter.

Why Should Students Learn to Write a Swot Analysis Essay?

Learning to write a SWOT analysis essay equips students with valuable skills applicable across various fields and industries. Understanding how to conduct a SWOT analysis develops critical thinking, analytical, and decision-making abilities. It enables students to assess an organization’s or a project’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, fostering a deeper comprehension of strategic planning and evaluation.

Mastering the skill of writing a SWOT analysis essay allows students to:

Develop Analytical Skills

Analyzing internal and external factors cultivates a structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making. This skill is transferable to many scenarios beyond business settings.

Enhance Strategic Thinking

Recognizing and evaluating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats fosters strategic thinking. It encourages students to consider multiple perspectives and anticipate potential outcomes, which is vital in making informed decisions.

Improve Communication

Writing a SWOT analysis essay involves organizing thoughts and presenting information coherently. This skill enhances communication abilities, allowing students to convey complex ideas effectively.

Prepare for Real-world Applications

SWOT analysis is widely used in business, marketing, project management, and other fields. Acquiring proficiency in this area prepares students for future professional endeavors where strategic evaluation and planning are crucial.

Steps to Writing a Good Swot Analysis Essay

Here’s a step-by-step approach to learning how to write a swot analysis essay that even the experts working with the most experienced coursework writing service would follow.

Step 1: Choose a Subject

Select an organization, a project, a product, or a specific situation to analyze. Clearly define the scope and objectives of your analysis.

Step 2: Identify Strengths

List the internal factors that give the subject a competitive advantage or positive attributes.
Consider unique resources, skills, market position, or any other advantageous aspects.

Step 3: Pinpoint Weaknesses

Evaluate internal factors that hinder the subject’s performance or pose challenges.
Identify areas for improvement such as lack of resources, inefficient processes, or any other internal limitations.

Step 4: Explore Opportunities

Analyze external factors that could positively impact the subject.
Look for emerging trends, market shifts, technological advancements, or any other external opportunities that can be leveraged.

Step 5: Assess Threats

Identify external factors that could potentially harm the subject’s success.
Consider competition, economic factors, regulatory changes, or any other external threats that could negatively impact the subject.

Step 6: Organize the Information

Create a structured format to present your analysis. This could be a table, a matrix, or a written narrative divided into sections for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Step 7: Analyze Relationships

Explore how strengths can counteract weaknesses or how opportunities can offset threats. Highlight connections between internal and external factors.

Step 8: Provide Examples and Evidence

Support each point with specific examples, data, or anecdotes to strengthen your analysis and provide credibility to your arguments.

Step 9: Formulate Recommendations

Based on the analysis, propose strategies or actions to capitalize on strengths, address weaknesses, exploit opportunities, and mitigate threats.

Step 10: Conclusion

Summarize the key findings of your SWOT analysis and emphasize the significance of the insights obtained. Conclude with a clear takeaway or recommendation.

good swot analysis essay vs bad swot analysis essay

How Can Students Get Better at Writing a Swot Analysis Essay?

Students can enhance their skills in writing a SWOT analysis essay through several methods:

Practice Regularly

Engage in consistent practice by analyzing various subjects using the SWOT framework. This repetition hones analytical skills and strengthens the ability to identify relevant factors.

Study Examples

Review a well-written swot analysis paper example or report to understand the structure, language, and depth of analysis. Analyze how to present a swot analysis and how to conclude it well. Going through examples will also allow you to understand the swot analysis format.

Gather Comprehensive Information

Ensure a thorough understanding of the subject being analyzed. Gather data from reliable sources to support each point in the analysis, enhancing its credibility.

Seek Feedback

Share your SWOT analysis drafts with peers, instructors, or mentors. Constructive feedback helps identify areas for improvement and enhances the quality of the analysis.

Utilize Resources

Utilize academic resources, online materials, textbooks, and guidance from professionals or writing centers to grasp different approaches to conducting and presenting SWOT analyses.

Critical Thinking Development

Practice critical thinking by challenging assumptions, considering alternative perspectives, and evaluating the significance of each factor within the analysis.

Refinement through Revision

Revise and refine the analysis multiple times, focusing on clarity, coherence, and depth. Each revision contributes to a more polished and comprehensive SWOT analysis.

Apply Real-life Scenarios

Practice applying the SWOT framework to real-life situations or current events. This helps in understanding the practical applications of the analysis beyond theoretical knowledge.

Stay Updated

Keep abreast of industry trends, market changes, and relevant developments to conduct a more accurate and up-to-date SWOT analysis.

Time Management

Allocate sufficient time for each phase of the analysis, from research to drafting and revising. Effective time management ensures a more thorough and well-constructed SWOT analysis.

Final Thoughts

In this blog post, we’ve focused on a systematic approach to learn the process of crafting a compelling SWOT analysis essay for students. We wanted to make it easier for students to write a good swot analysis essay, so we broke it down into clear steps. Our goal was to give them a complete guide that covers everything they need to know. We want students to see how important it is to understand both their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats in the outside world. Our approach is all about teaching them the skills they need to make smart decisions and plan strategically.

This guide gives students a step-by-step way to write a SWOT analysis essay. First, you have to choose a topic and figure out what the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats are. Then, the guide helps you analyze and organize your info. It’s important to connect what’s happening inside and outside the topic when making recommendations. By the end, you’ll have a well-rounded and smart analysis.

For students seeking additional support and guidance in crafting their SWOT analysis essays, our essay writing service provides a valuable resource, enhancing their understanding and proficiency in SWOT analysis writing.

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SWOT Analysis: How To Do One [With Template & Examples]

Published: October 05, 2023

As your business grows, you need a roadmap to help navigate the obstacles, challenges, opportunities, and projects that come your way. Enter: the SWOT analysis.

man conducting swot analysis for his business

This framework can help you develop a plan to determine your priorities, maximize opportunities, and minimize roadblocks as you scale your organization. Below, let’s go over exactly what a SWOT analysis is, a few SWOT analysis examples, and how to conduct one for your business.

When you’re done reading, you’ll have all the inspiration and tactical advice you need to tackle a SWOT analysis for your business.

What is a SWOT analysis? Importance of a SWOT Analysis How to Write a Good SWOT Analysis SWOT Analysis Examples How to Act on a SWOT Analysis

What is a SWOT analysis?

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning technique that puts your business in perspective using the following lenses: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Using a SWOT analysis helps you identify ways your business can improve and maximize opportunities, while simultaneously determining negative factors that might hinder your chances of success.

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.

Free SWOT Analysis Template

A free SWOT analysis template, plus other helpful market research resources.

Opportunities

You're all set.

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Importance of a SWOT Analysis

You’ve 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.

But you shouldn’t. Doing a SWOT analysis is important. Here’s why.

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, when you consider the weaknesses and threats that your business may face, you can address any concerns or challenges and strategize on how to mitigate those risks. At the same time, you can identify strengths and opportunities, which can inspire innovative ideas and help you dream big. Both are equally important.

SWOT forces you to define your variables.

Instead of diving head first into planning and execution, you’re taking inventory of all your assets and roadblocks. This process will help you develop strategies that leverage your strengths and opportunities while addressing and mitigating the impact of weaknesses and threats.

As a result, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of your current situation and create a more specific and effective roadmap. Plus, a SWOT analysis is inherently proactive. That means you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and set realistic goals.

SWOT allows you to account for mitigating factors.

As you identify weaknesses and threats, you’re better able to account for them in your roadmap, improving your chances of success.

Moreover, accounting for mitigating factors allows you to allocate your resources wisely and make informed decisions that lead to sustainable growth. With a SWOT analysis as a guide, you can confidently face challenges and seize opportunities.

SWOT helps you keep a written record.

As your organization grows and changes, you’ll be able to strike things off your old SWOTs and make additions. You can look back at where you 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.

Your 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. By identifying and capitalizing on your strengths, you can foster customer loyalty and build a solid foundation for growth.

No business is flawless. 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.

Opportunities are external 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.

Threats are external factors that are beyond your control and pose challenges to your business. 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.

In a SWOT analysis, you’ll have to take both internal and external factors into account. We’ll cover those next.

Free Market Research Kit

5 Research and Planning Templates + a Free Guide on How to Use Them in Your Market Research

SWOT Analysis Template
Survey Template
Focus Group Template

SWOT Analysis Internal and External Factors

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.

Brand reputation
Unique expertise
Loyal customer base
Talented workforce
Efficient processes
Proprietary technology
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.

Emerging markets
Changing consumer trends
Technological advancements
Positive shifts in regulations
New gaps in the market you could fill
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?

There are several steps you’ll want to take when evaluating your business and conducting a strategic SWOT analysis.

1. Download HubSpot's SWOT Analysis Template.

There’s no need to start from scratch for your analysis. Instead, start by downloading a free, editable template from HubSpot. Feel free to use the model yourself, or create your own as it suits your needs.

HubSpot’s free SWOT analysis template explains how to do a SWOT analysis.

3. Identify your objective.

Before you start writing things down, you’ll need to figure out what you’re evaluating with your SWOT analysis.

Be specific about what you want to analyze. Otherwise, your SWOT analysis may end up being too broad, and you’ll get analysis paralysis as you are making your evaluations.

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.

All of these are examples of good reasons to conduct a SWOT analysis. By identifying your objective, you’ll be able to tailor your evaluation to get more actionable insights.

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.

5. Identify your weaknesses.

In contrast to your strengths, what are the roadblocks hindering you from reaching your goals? What do your competitors offer that continues to be a thorn in your side?

This section isn’t about dwelling on negative aspects. Rather, it’s critical to foresee any potential obstacles that could mitigate your success.

When identifying weaknesses, consider what areas of your business are the least profitable, where you lack certain resources, or what costs you the most time and money. 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?

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, maybe you’re hoping your Facebook ads will attract a new, larger demographic. 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.

7. Contemplate your threats.

It’s likely, especially if you’re prone to worry, you already have a good list of threats in your head.

If not, gather your employees and brainstorm. 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?

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 content that showcases your product’s unique features.

SWOT Analysis Chart

Download a free SWOT analysis chart included in HubSpot’s free market research kit .

A SWOT analysis doesn’t have to be fancy. Our SWOT analysis chart provides a clear and structured framework for capturing and organizing your internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats. It's the perfect visual aid to make sense of the wealth of information gathered during your 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 are a great starting point to inspire you as you do your own SWOT analysis.

Apple’s SWOT analysis

Here’s how we’d conduct a SWOT analysis on Apple.

First off, strengths. While Apple has many strengths, let’s identify the top three:

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, an Apple user can easily sync their iPhone and iPad together. They can access all of their photos, contacts, apps, and more no matter which device they are 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.

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.

Now, let’s take a look at opportunities for Apple.

It’s easy to recognize opportunities for improvement, once you consider Apple’s weaknesses. Here’s a list of three we 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.

Finally, let’s look at threats to Apple.

Believe it or not, they do exist.

Here are three of Apple’s biggest threats:

Tough competition.
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. The company isn’t number one in China and doesn’t have a very positive relationship with the Chinese government. In India, which has one of the largest consumer markets in the world, Apple’s market share is low , and the company has trouble bringing stores to India’s market.

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 we’d fill out a SWOT template if we were Starbucks:

Download this Template for Free

Restaurant Small Business SWOT Analysis

Some small business marketers may have difficulty relating to the SWOTs of big brands like Apple and Starbucks. Here’s an example of how a dine-in Thai restaurant might visualize each element.

A SWOT analysis example for a restaurant small business.

Small restaurants can lean into their 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.

Local Boutique SWOT Analysis

In another small business example, let’s take a look at a SWOT analysis for a local boutique.

A SWOT analysis example 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 one step. Executing the findings identified by the analysis is just as important — if not more.

Put your insights into action using the following steps.

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.

Address your weaknesses.

Back to the boutique example, one of its weaknesses is having a poor social media presence. To mitigate this, the boutique could hire a social media consultant to improve its strategy. They may even tap into the expertise of a social-savvy employee.

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.

When to Use a SWOT Analysis

While the examples above focus on business strategy in general, you can also use a SWOT analysis to evaluate and predict how a singular product will play out in the market.

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.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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SWOT Analysis

Understanding your business, informing your strategy.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Key Takeaways:

SWOT stands for S trengths, W eaknesses, O pportunities, and T hreats.

A "SWOT analysis" involves carefully assessing these four factors in order to make clear and effective plans.

A SWOT analysis can help you to challenge risky assumptions, uncover dangerous blindspots, and reveal important new insights.

The SWOT analysis process is most effective when done collaboratively.

What Is a SWOT Analysis?

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, and so a SWOT analysis is a technique for assessing these four aspects of your business.

SWOT Analysis is a tool that can help you to analyze what your company does best now, and to devise a successful strategy for the future. SWOT can also uncover areas of the business that are holding you back, or that your competitors could exploit if you don't protect yourself.

A SWOT analysis examines both internal and external factors – that is, what's going on inside and outside your organization. So some of these factors will be within your control and some will not. In either case, the wisest action you can take in response will become clearer once you've discovered, recorded and analyzed as many factors as you can.

In this article, video and infographic, we explore how to carry out a SWOT analysis, and how to put your findings into action. We also include a worked example and a template to help you get started on a SWOT analysis in your own workplace.

Why Is SWOT Analysis Important?

SWOT analysis can help you to challenge risky assumptions and to uncover dangerous blindspots about your organization's performance. If you use it carefully and collaboratively, it can deliver new insights on where your business currently is, and help you to develop exactly the right strategy for any situation.

For example, you may be well aware of some of your organization's strengths, but until you record them alongside weaknesses and threats you might not realize how unreliable those strengths actually are.

Equally, you likely have reasonable concerns about some of your business weaknesses but, by going through the analysis systematically, you could find an opportunity, previously overlooked, that could more than compensate.

How to Write a SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis involves making lists – but so much more, too! When you begin to write one list (say, Strengths), the thought process and research that you'll go through will prompt ideas for the other lists (Weaknesses, Opportunities or Threats). And if you compare these lists side by side, you will likely notice connections and contradictions, which you'll want to highlight and explore.

You'll find yourself moving back and forth between your lists frequently. So, make the task easier and more effective by arranging your four lists together in one view.

A SWOT matrix is a 2x2 grid, with one square for each of the four aspects of SWOT. (Figure 1 shows what it should look like.) Each section is headed by some questions to get your thinking started.

Figure 1. A SWOT Analysis Matrix.

Swot analysis template.

When conducting your SWOT analysis, you can either draw your own matrix, or use our free downloadable template .

How to Do a SWOT Analysis

Avoid relying on your own, partial understanding of your organization. Your assumptions could be wrong. Instead, gather a team of people from a range of functions and levels to build a broad and insightful list of observations.

Then, every time you identify a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, or Threat, write it down in the relevant part of the SWOT analysis grid for all to see.

Let's look at each area in more detail and consider what fits where, and what questions you could ask as part of your data gathering.

Strengths are things that your organization does particularly well, or in a way that distinguishes you from your competitors. Think about the advantages your organization has over other organizations. These might be the motivation of your staff, access to certain materials, or a strong set of manufacturing processes.

Your strengths are an integral part of your organization, so think about what makes it "tick." What do you do better than anyone else? What values drive your business? What unique or lowest-cost resources can you draw upon that others can't? Identify and analyze your organization's Unique Selling Proposition (USP), and add this to the Strengths section.

Then turn your perspective around and ask yourself what your competitors might see as your strengths. What factors mean that you get the sale ahead of them?

Remember, any aspect of your organization is only a strength if it brings you a clear advantage. For example, if all of your competitors provide high-quality products, then a high-quality production process is not a strength in your market: it's a necessity.

Weaknesses, like strengths, are inherent features of your organization, so focus on your people, resources, systems, and procedures. Think about what you could improve, and the sorts of practices you should avoid.

Once again, imagine (or find out) how other people in your market see you. Do they notice weaknesses that you tend to be blind to? Take time to examine how and why your competitors are doing better than you. What are you lacking?

Be honest! A SWOT analysis will only be valuable if you gather all the information you need. So, it's best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.

Opportunities

Opportunities are openings or chances for something positive to happen, but you'll need to claim them for yourself!

They usually arise from situations outside your organization, and require an eye to what might happen in the future. They might arise as developments in the market you serve, or in the technology you use. Being able to spot and exploit opportunities can make a huge difference to your organization's ability to compete and take the lead in your market.

Think about good opportunities that you can exploit immediately. These don't need to be game-changers: even small advantages can increase your organization's competitiveness. What interesting market trends are you aware of, large or small, which could have an impact?

You should also watch out for changes in government policy related to your field. And changes in social patterns, population profiles, and lifestyles can all throw up interesting opportunities.

Threats include anything that can negatively affect your business from the outside, such as supply-chain problems, shifts in market requirements, or a shortage of recruits. It's vital to anticipate threats and to take action against them before you become a victim of them and your growth stalls.

Think about the obstacles you face in getting your product to market and selling. You may notice that quality standards or specifications for your products are changing, and that you'll need to change those products if you're to stay in the lead. Evolving technology is an ever-present threat, as well as an opportunity!

Always consider what your competitors are doing, and whether you should be changing your organization's emphasis to meet the challenge. But remember that what they're doing might not be the right thing for you to do. So, avoid copying them without knowing how it will improve your position.

Be sure to explore whether your organization is especially exposed to external challenges. Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems, for example, that could make you vulnerable to even small changes in your market? This is the kind of threat that can seriously damage your business, so be alert.

Use PEST Analysis to ensure that you don't overlook threatening external factors. And PMESII-PT is an especially helpful check in very unfamiliar or uncertain environments.

A SWOT Analysis Example

Imagine this scenario: a small start-up consultancy wants a clear picture of its current situation, to decide on a future strategy for growth. The team gathers, and draws up the SWOT Analysis shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. A Completed SWOT Analysis.

As a result of the team's analysis, it's clear that the consultancy's main strengths lie in its agility, technical expertise, and low overheads. These allow it to offer excellent customer service to a relatively small client base.

The company's weaknesses are also to do with its size. It will need to invest in training, to improve the skills base of the small staff. It'll also need to focus on retention, so it doesn't lose key team members.

There are opportunities in offering rapid-response, good-value services to local businesses and to local government organizations. The company can likely be first to market with new products and services, given that its competitors are slow adopters.

The threats require the consultancy to keep up-to-date with changes in technology. It also needs to keep a close eye on its largest competitors, given its vulnerability to large-scale changes in its market. To counteract this, the business needs to focus its marketing on selected industry websites, to get the greatest possible market presence on a small advertising budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About SWOT Analysis

1. who invented swot analysis.

Many people attribute SWOT Analysis to Albert S. Humphrey. However, there has been some debate on the originator of the tool, as discussed in the International Journal of Business Research .

2. What Does SWOT Analysis Stand For?

SWOT Analysis stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

3. What Can a SWOT Analysis Be Used For?

SWOT analysis is a useful tool to help you determine your organization's position in the market. You can then use this information to create an informed strategy suited to your needs and capabilities.

4. How Do I Write a SWOT Analysis?

To conduct a SWOT analysis, you first need to create a 2x2 matrix grid. Each square is then assigned to one of the four aspects of SWOT. You can either draw this grid yourself or use our downloadable template to get started.

5. How Do SWOT Analysis and the TOWS Matrix compare?

While SWOT analysis puts the emphasis on the internal environment (your strengths and weaknesses), TOWS forces you to look at your external environment first (your threats and opportunities). In most cases, you'll do a SWOT Analysis first, and follow up with a TOWS Matrix to offer a broader context.

6. What Are the Biggest SWOT Analysis Mistakes?

Making your lists too long. Ask yourself if your ideas are feasible as you go along.
Being vague. Be specific to provide more focus for later discussions.
Not seeing weaknesses. Be sure to ask customers and colleagues what they experience in real life.
Not thinking ahead. It's easy to come up with nice ideas without taking them through to their logical conclusion. Always consider their practical impact.
Being unrealistic. Don't plan in detail for opportunities that don't exist yet. For example, that export market you've been eyeing may be available at some point, but the trade negotiations to open it up could take years.
Relying on SWOT Analysis alone. SWOT Analysis is valuable. But when you use it alongside other planning tools (SOAR, TOWS or PEST), the results will be more vigorous.

How to Use a SWOT Analysis

Use a SWOT Analysis to assess your organization's current position before you decide on any new strategy. Find out what's working well, and what's not so good. Ask yourself where you want to go, how you might get there – and what might get in your way.

Once you've examined all four aspects of SWOT, you'll want to build on your strengths, boost your weaker areas, head off any threats, and exploit every opportunity. In fact, you'll likely be faced with a long list of potential actions.

But before you go ahead, be sure to develop your ideas further. Look for potential connections between the quadrants of your matrix. For example, could you use some of your strengths to open up further opportunities? And, would even more opportunities become available by eliminating some of your weaknesses?

Finally, it's time to ruthlessly prune and prioritize your ideas, so that you can focus time and money on the most significant and impactful ones. Refine each point to make your comparisons clearer. For example, only accept precise, verifiable statements such as, "Cost advantage of $30/ton in sourcing raw material x," rather than, "Better value for money."

Remember to apply your learnings at the right level in your organization. For example, at a product or product-line level, rather than at the much vaguer whole-company level. And use your SWOT analysis alongside other strategy tools (for example, Core Competencies Analysis ), so that you get a comprehensive picture of the situation you're dealing with.

SWOT Analysis Tips

Here are four tips for getting more out of a SWOT analysis:

Be specific. The more focused and accurate you are about the points you write down, the more useful your SWOT analysis will be.
Work backwards. Experiment with filling in the four sections of your SWOT analysis in a different order, to stimulate new ways of thinking. Working backwards, in particular, from threats to strengths, may cast new light on the situation.
Get together. Highlight the most useful people to contribute to your SWOT analysis, then gather information and ideas from them all.
SWOT your competition ! To stay ahead of your competitors, carry out a regular SWOT analysis on them . Use everything you know about them to evaluate their situation, and use SWOT analysis to plan your competitive strategies accordingly.

It's also possible to carry out a Personal SWOT Analysis . This can be useful for developing your career in ways that take best advantage of your talents, abilities and opportunities.

SWOT Analysis Infographic

See SWOT Analysis represented in our infographic :

SWOT Analysis helps you to identify your organization's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

It guides you to build on what you do well, address what you're lacking, seize new openings, and minimize risks.

Apply a SWOT Analysis to assess your organization's position before you decide on any new strategy.

Use a SWOT matrix to prompt your research and to record your ideas. Avoid making huge lists of suggestions. Be as specific as you can, and be honest about your weaknesses.

Be realistic and rigorous. Prune and prioritize your ideas, to focus time and money on the most significant and impactful actions and solutions. Complement your use of SWOT with other tools.

Collaborate with a team of people from across the business. This will help to uncover a more accurate and honest picture.

Find out what's working well, and what's not so good. Ask yourself where you want to go, how you might get there – and what might get in your way.

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Personal swot analysis.

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Comments (1)

SWOT is useless. When you try it and you find Weaknesses box bulging, but Strengths & Opportunities completely empty, what can that possibly achieve?

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Swot Analysis Essay Examples

Swot analysis of google company.

Google is one of the top 5 most recognizable tech company brands in the world (Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon). It was rated by Forbes second overall among the top brands values for the third straight year, being valued at US$132.1 billion. Google has...

A Report on the Operations of Zara in Foreign Countries

This report was commissioned to examine how Zara operates in foreign countries and their use of intercultural communication abilities in multicultural situations. For a better understanding of what type of challenges Zara faces, we would like to do a SWOT analysis with the focus of...

Analysis Strategic Plan Part 2: Swot

When we plan to start a new project or to achieve a goal, we must identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in which it’s called the SWOT analysis. the essential goal of a SWOT examination is to enable associations to build up a full attention...

Meta-analysis of the Company "Amazon"

To start with, this is Amazon executive summary paper where deep analysis of this company is discussed. Meta-analysis shows that there is a significant positive overall correlation between formal planning and success. Armstrong describes strategic planning 'a specific method for deciding the company's broad objectives,...

Swot Analysis and Strategies of Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco was the world's second-largest retailer, Costco was the largest retailer of option in the world with organic food, rotisserie chicken, premium beef, and wine. Costco has the core competencies that give it a competitive advantage over its competition. Costco has defined its business model...

A Swot Analysis for Nike Company

An analysis outlines the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the retailer that can be considered on a basis of recommendation for making short-term or long-term strategic decisions. Nike has a very dominant market position with a strong brand image - they are the...

Strategic Business Management Analysis of Hong Kong Disneyland

Even monopoly business structures have to undergo intense competition and hence frequently change their management strategies in order to maintain their market coverage. The same goes with every business structures, we need a strategic business management as it is the most vital factor for assisting...

The Analysis to Gain an Insight of Dell

The purpose of this analysis is to gain an insight of Dell Inc. Starting out providing general background information of the company. It also discusses an industry analysis and containing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) table and analysis of the SWOT. Finally ending...

Quality Report on Fedex Company

In our project, we chose to talk about the service providing company, FedEx. We will be giving a little background on the organization. Furthermore, we will be discussing the SWOT analysis that we have interpreted, as well as the assessment of the quality practices and...

Report on Campus Cleaners Marketing Plan

Campus Cleaners is a growing, family-owned corporation in the first year of business in Shreveport Louisiana. Campus Cleaners sells a laundry delivery service for college students that attend Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Campus Cleaners staff face an expansion challenge, as Campus Cleaners popularity begins...

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An Example of a Business SWOT Analysis

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Steps to Writing a Good Swot Analysis Essay

Step 1: Choose a Subject

Step 2: Identify Strengths

Step 3: Pinpoint Weaknesses

Step 4: Explore Opportunities