Here’s how to create a professional petal diagram (competitor flower chart) in PowerPoint 2013. Since there’s no built-in chart type for this, you’ll construct it using shapes, which gives you full control over sizing, colors, and positioning.

Method 1: The Teardrop Technique (Recommended)

This creates the classic consulting-style petal diagram where each teardrop represents a competitor radiating from your company at the center.

Step 1: Create the Petals

1. Go to Insert > Shapes > Basic Shapes > Select Teardrop
2. Draw one teardrop on the slide
3. Rotate it so the point faces outward: Format > Arrange > Rotate > Rotate Right 90°
4. Resize to your desired length (this will represent the competitor’s strength/market presence)

Step 2: Duplicate and Arrange

1. With the teardrop selected, press Ctrl+D to duplicate
2. Position the copy slightly offset
3. Repeat until you have one petal per competitor (typically 4–8 petals)
4. Rotate each petal around the center:
   • Select a petal
   • Format > Arrange > Rotate > More Rotation Options…
   • Enter rotation degrees (for 6 competitors: 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, 300°)

Step 3: Position in a Circle

1. Drag all petals to form a circle around a central point
2. Use Format > Arrange > Align > Align Center and Align Middle to perfect the circle (align them as a group, then distribute)
3. Pro tip (PowerPoint 2013): Use the Smart Guides (red dashed lines that appear when dragging) to ensure equal spacing

Step 4: Add the Center Hub

1. Insert > Shapes > Oval
2. Hold Shift while drawing to create a perfect circle
3. Position over the center where all petal points meet
4. Format with a contrasting color (this represents your company)

Step 5: Label and Format

1. Insert > Text Box for each competitor name
2. Place text at the wide end of each teardrop
3. Resize individual petals to indicate relative strength (larger = stronger competitor)
4. Use the Eyedropper tool (Format > Shape Fill > Eyedropper—new in 2013!) to pull brand colors from competitor logos

Step 6: Group for Safety Select all elements (petals, center circle, text) and press Ctrl+G to group them so nothing shifts accidentally.

Method 2: SmartArt (Fastest)

If you need something quick and don’t need precise sizing:

1. Insert > SmartArt > Picture > Radial Cluster
2. Or try Cycle > Basic Radial
3. Convert to shapes: SmartArt Tools > Design > Convert > Convert to Shapes
4. Edit the shapes using Edit Points (right-click shape) to create pointed petal tips

Method 3: Data-Driven Petal (Quantitative)

If petals represent numerical data (market share):

1. Insert > Chart > Radar > Filled Radar
2. Input data where each column is a competitor and rows are criteria
3. Format the chart to remove gridlines and axes for a cleaner “flower” look
4. Limitation: Less visual impact than manual shapes

Content Tips for Competitor Analysis

For each petal, include:

• Competitor Name (largest text)
• Primary Strength (e.g., “Enterprise Focus,” “Low Cost”)
• Threat Level (color-code: red = high threat, yellow = medium, green = low)
• Market Share % (optional numerical label)

Visual Hierarchy:

• Make your company’s center circle larger if you’re the market leader, or use a star icon
• Vary petal lengths to show relative scale—don’t make them all identical sizes unless the market is perfectly fragmented

PowerPoint 2013 Specific Shortcuts

• Quick duplication: Ctrl+D, then position the copy, then press Ctrl+D again—PowerPoint remembers the spacing and creates a perfect circle automatically
• Precision rotation: Right-click petal > Size and Position… > enter exact rotation in the dialog box
• Alignment: Select all petals > Format > Align > Distribute Horizontally (then rotate the group if needed)

Would you like me to walk through how to animate the petals appearing one by one during a presentation, or would you prefer help deciding what specific data points (market share, feature comparison, pricing) should determine the size of each petal in your specific industry?

A Petal Diagram (popularized by Steve Blank) is a powerful way to show your company at the center of a ecosystem, surrounded by several market categories (the petals) that represent your competitors.

Here is a step-by-step guide to building a professional Petal Diagram in PowerPoint 2013.

Step 1: Create the Center (Your Company)

The center of the diagram represents your startup or project.

1. Open a blank slide in PowerPoint.
2. Go to the Insert tab and click Shapes.
3. Select the Oval (hold Shift while dragging to make it a perfect circle).
4. Place it in the dead center of the slide.
5. Right-click the circle, select Edit Text, and type your company name.
6. Formatting: Under the Drawing Tools Format tab, give it a distinct color (e.g., a bold blue or dark gray) to make it stand out.

Step 2: Create the "Petals" (Market Segments)

Each petal represents a different category of competitors or a market segment you are entering.

1. Go to Insert > Shapes and select the Oval again.
2. Draw a large oval that overlaps slightly with your center circle.
3. Adjust Transparency (Crucial):
   • Right-click the new oval and select Format Shape.
   • Under Fill, set the Transparency to about 40% to 60%. This allows you to see the center circle and other petals underneath.
4. Duplicate: Select the petal and press Ctrl + D several times (usually 4 to 6 petals total).
5. Position: Arrange the ovals in a radial pattern around your center circle so they look like flower petals.

Step 3: Organize and Label the Segments

Now you need to identify what each market segment represents.

1. Go to Insert > Text Box.
2. Place a text box at the outer edge of each petal.
3. Label each petal with the market category (e.g., "CRM Software," "Social Media Tools," "Data Analytics").
4. Formatting: Use a bold font for these category headers so they are easily readable.

Step 4: Add Competitor Names

This is the "Analysis" part of the diagram.

1. Identify the top 3–5 competitors for each segment.
2. Go to Insert > Text Box.
3. Type the names of the competitors and place them inside the corresponding petal.
4. Tip: Place the competitors that are most similar to you closer to the center circle, and the more traditional/distant competitors toward the outer edge of the petal.

Step 5: Professional Polish

To make the slide board-room ready:

• Color Coding: Give each petal a different color (e.g., one light green, one light orange, etc.), but keep the transparency high.
• Remove Outlines: Select all shapes, go to Shape Outline, and select No Outline for a cleaner, modern look.
• Alignment: Select your center circle and all petals, go to Format > Align, and use Align Center and Align Middle to ensure the core is perfectly positioned.

Action Checklist for Your Analysis

• Identify 5-6 Segments: Don't just look at direct competitors; look at "adjacent" markets where users might come from.
• Select Key Competitors: Only list the most relevant 3-4 names per petal to avoid clutter.
• Check Overlaps: If a competitor belongs in two categories, place their name in the area where two petals overlap.

Would you like me to explain how to choose which market segments (petals) to include, or do you need help with a specific color palette for your brand?