How intense is competition in your industry, or the industry you want to enter? You should know the answer before you make your marketing plans. There are at least five competitive forces that determine the long-term attractiveness of an industry from a profitability perspective. The five forces are as follows:
" Industry Competitors - Intensity of Rivalry;
" Potential Entrants - Threat of Mobility;
" Substitutes - Threat of Substitute Products; and
" Suppliers - Bargaining Power.