A List of Possible Weakness Ideas for SWOT Analysis

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Remember that there is a free SWOT maker Excel template available on this site.

List of Possible CAPABILITY-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • A high-cost logistics system
  • A market follower
  • Being a market laggard
  • Ineffective new product development process
  • Inefficient logistics system
  • Limited ability to keep up with technology
  • Limited access to marketplace data
  • Limited customer database information
  • Limited IT/software expertise
  • Limited marketing effectiveness
  • Limited ownership of key patents
  • Limited R&D expertise and team
  • Limited time for patent protection
  • No access to propriety software
  • No real ability to identify market insights
  • No use of marketing-mix models
  • Poor customer database information
  • Poor manufacturing expertise
  • Poor service levels
  • Poor speed-to-market
  • Poor understanding of the market
  • Reliance on generic market modelling
  • Reliance on manual systems
  • Resistance to change
  • Slow to change and adapt
  • Unable to truly understand where the market is heading
  • Unsuccessful international expansion/s
  • Weak technical expertise

List of Possible FINANCIALLY-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Difficult to access to capital and funding
  • Fluctuating cash flows
  • High cost of capital
  • High cost structure
  • No growth in revenue
  • No real economies of scale
  • Poor cost efficiencies
  • Tight profit margins
  • Weak financial reserves
  • Weak profitability levels

List of Possible CULTURE-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • High staff turnover
  • Inflexible staff structure
  • Limited staff skills and expertise
  • Mixed quality staff
  • No consideration of internal marketing
  • No real sales or service culture
  • Poor corporate culture
  • Poor service levels
  • Silo-based culture
  • Under-performing sales teams
  • Unmotivated staff

List of Possible CUSTOMER-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Declining net promoter scores
  • High level of customer turnover
  • Limited market share
  • Limited niche marketing success
  • Limited number of new customers
  • Limited overall customer equity
  • Low levels of customer satisfaction
  • No clear segments targeted
  • No real sense of the target consumer
  • No structured CRM program
  • No understanding of the customer journey
  • Not meeting changing consumer needs
  • Not overly close to the customer
  • Poor customer experience provided
  • Poor overall fit to customer’s needs
  • Poor share of target markets
  • Poor share-of-customer
  • Reducing customer lifetime values
  • Targeting price elastic markets
  • Vague value proposition
  • Weak customer relationships

List of Possible PRODUCT-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Imitative product design
  • Limited product range
  • Low quality products
  • Low value products
  • Many product gaps
  • No distinct product features
  • Products seen as hard-to-use
  • Seen as a product follower
  • Undifferentiated products
  • Unsuccessful product line extensions

List of Possible MARKETING-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Awkward locations
  • Cannot access emerging market segments
  • Continued strategic failures
  • Creative marketing approach only
  • Difficult to generate publicity
  • Fluctuating marketing success
  • Limited access to key locations
  • Limited engagement from marketing communications
  • Limited sales area coverage
  • Limited strategy success
  • No global access or reach
  • No strong relationships with influencers
  • Operating In declining markets
  • Operating in markets with fluctuating prices
  • Poor market knowledge
  • Product-centric strategy
  • Recent failures in entering new markets
  • Reliant on one main channel
  • Small sales team
  • Uncertain marketing strategy
  • Unclear market positioning
  • Under performing sales team
  • Up and down track-record of results
  • Weak overall value proposition

List of Possible BRAND-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Declining brand equity
  • Have to price under the market
  • Limited market appeal
  • Low brand awareness
  • Many negative attitudes to the brand
  • No clear brand associations
  • No consumer connection to the brand
  • No international brand awareness
  • Perceived as a me-too player
  • Recent failed brand extensions
  • Reliance on a single brand
  • Seen as being disinterested in corporate social responsibility
  • Seen as having a inconsistent brand
  • Unclear positioning
  • Usually the substitute brand only
  • Weak brand equity
  • Weak market share

List of Possible DIGITAL-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Limited online advertising experience
  • Limited social media success
  • No company app
  • No experience with online comparison websites
  • No expertise in creating engaging online content
  • No real relationships with online “influencers”
  • No/poor online sales channel
  • Poor ratings on review websites
  • Poor social media engagement
  • Relatively new to digital marketing
  • Static website
  • Weak/no relationships with media

List of Possible CHANNEL-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • An unappealing channel partner
  • Awkward franchisee relationships
  • Ineffective online channels
  • Limited channel access
  • No use of strategic alliances
  • Poor retailer relationships
  • Poor supplier relationships
  • Poor/no outsourcing partnerships
  • Poorly regarded in the industry
  • Significant channel conflict
  • Weak bargaining power with retailers
  • Weak bargaining power with suppliers

List of Possible COMPETITOR-BASED Weaknesses for a SWOT Analysis

  • Broad competitive set
  • Cost disadvantage
  • Dynamic competitive landscape
  • Losing acquisition opportunities to key competitors
  • Low barriers to entry to the market
  • Many emerging new entrants
  • Many substitute competitive products
  • Significant price-based competition
  • Strong existing competitors

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