# Positioning Updates - January 2026

**Date:** January 9, 2026  
**Status:** ✅ Strategic decisions documented  
**Purpose:** Summary of critical positioning changes to apply across documentation

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## Critical Update #1: MCP/SDK/CLI Repositioning

### Change

**OLD positioning:**
> "First to MCP" as competitive moat  
> MCP/SDK/CLI as unique differentiators

**NEW positioning:**
> MCP/SDK/CLI/Lab = **table stakes** for 2026  
> Collectively they express "DX-first approach", not competitive advantage

### Rationale

- All serious competitors will have MCP in 2026
- Can be replicated in 2-4 weeks by any team
- Like having documentation — expected, not special
- "First to market" advantage is temporary (months, not years)

### What IS still defensible

1. **Template System** — Intelligent prompt analysis + granular application (3-6 months to replicate)
2. **@references consistency** — Unique, complex (post-MVP)
3. **Production pipeline** — CDN + transformations included
4. **DX quality** — Sum of all tools + docs + support

### Documentation updates required

| Document | Section | Change |
|----------|---------|--------|
| 01-market-positioning-v3.md | Competitive table | Remove MCP/CLI from "unique advantages" |
| 01-market-positioning-v3.md | Moat strategy | Reframe: "Complete DX suite" vs competitors' partial |
| 13-competitive-analysis.md | Competitor features | Update comparison to show MCP as expected |
| 16-product-features.md | MCP section | Reframe as "must-have" not "differentiator" |

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## Critical Update #2: Template System (Marketing Reframe)

### Change

**OLD messaging:**
> "We enhance your prompts"  
> (Sounds restrictive — "we change what you wrote")

**NEW messaging:**
> "Choose a template that matches your style"  
> (User control — "you choose, we help")

### Key points

- Template is always applied (mandatory) — but framed as "ensures quality"
- Default template: **Photorealistic** (not "general")
- Granular enhancement:
  - Short prompt → full template applied
  - Partial prompt → fills missing details only
  - Detailed prompt → passes through unchanged
- Custom templates = **Pro tier paid feature** (replaces separate stylization system)

### Full documentation

See: [execution/20-template-system.md](execution/20-template-system.md)

### Documentation updates required

| Document | Section | Change |
|----------|---------|--------|
| 16-product-features.md | Prompt Enhancement | Rename to "Template System" |
| 10-pricing-strategy.md | Pro features | Add "Custom Templates" as paid feature |
| Landing page copy | Feature descriptions | Update messaging |
| API documentation | Enhancement parameter | Add template selection |

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## Critical Update #3: Resource Allocation (70/30)

### Decision

**70% effort:** SEO + Content (primary acquisition channel)  
**30% effort:** API refinement + validation outreach

### Rationale

- Organic search = highest quality signal
- Content builds sustainable moat (competitors can't copy overnight)
- First Henry article published, pipeline validated
- API is "good enough" for validation flows

### Implications

- Don't over-engineer API features before validation
- Prioritize content production velocity
- SEO optimization is strategic, not tactical
- Direct outreach is secondary to organic discovery

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## Critical Update #4: Validation Approach

### Current state

- 0 paying customers
- 0 interviews conducted
- 0 API feedback received

### Available validation flows

| Flow | Status |
|------|--------|
| Live URLs | ✅ Ready |
| Lab UI | TBD |
| API Integration | ✅ Ready |
| MCP | ❌ Not built |

### Approach catalog

8 approaches documented with reliability/cost/time analysis.

See: [execution/21-validation-approaches.md](execution/21-validation-approaches.md)

### Next step

Oleg decides which approach(es) to pursue. Recommendation: Discord AI Tools for best balance of reliability and speed.

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## Master Update Checklist

### High Priority (affects positioning)

- [ ] 01-market-positioning-v3.md — Remove MCP from unique advantages
- [ ] 01-market-positioning-v3.md — Update moat strategy section
- [ ] 13-competitive-analysis.md — Reframe competitor comparison
- [ ] 16-product-features.md — Rename "Prompt Enhancement" → "Template System"

### Medium Priority (affects pricing/features)

- [ ] 10-pricing-strategy.md — Add Custom Templates to Pro tier
- [ ] INDEX.md — Add documents #20, #21
- [ ] ROADMAP.md — Update current phase description

### Low Priority (can wait)

- [ ] Landing page messaging updates
- [ ] API documentation updates
- [ ] Marketing materials refresh

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**Document owner:** @men  
**Last updated:** January 9, 2026  
**Status:** Reference for documentation updates