Frequently Asked Questions

Won't all pitches look the same if everyone uses the same tools?

No, because distinctiveness comes from three layers that AI can't replicate:

1. Different inputs. Your client, category, and market context are unique. Boeing's crisis is fundamentally different from a challenger FMCG brand, even if both use The Frame.

2. Different decisions. The tools generate options, but you choose. One agency selects the Sweet Spot territory because their client wants proven ground. Another picks a Promising territory because they have the evidence to back it. Same tool, opposite strategic decisions.

3. Different craft. Comms Threader gives you a strategic platform. What you do with it-the campaign ideas, the creative executions, the tone of voice, the channel strategy-that's where your agency's craft shows up. A strategic platform isn't a campaign. It's a starting line.

Think of it like architecture firms all using CAD software. The software doesn't make buildings look the same. The architect's vision does that. Same principle here.

Is this just ChatGPT with a nice interface?

No. Comms Threader encodes strategic methodology, not just prompt engineering.

ChatGPT is a general-purpose assistant. Comms Threader has opinions. It forces you to name sector messaging conventions (Dru's disruption thinking). It makes exclusions mandatory (Porter's positioning trade-offs). It won't let you continue without committing to outputs.

The Territory Perception Map plotting brand territories on Stretch vs Believability? That's not a ChatGPT feature. That's strategic assessment methodology built into the tool. See the full comparison for more detail.

The Pitch Readiness Check showing 73% with red flags on deliverability? That's honest strategic assessment, not generic AI cheerleading.

Can I use this for existing clients, or just pitches?

Both. The tools work in two modes:

Cascade Mode takes you through Story → Audience → Message → Plan → Frame sequentially. Perfect for new business pitches where you're building from scratch.

Free Roam Mode lets you use tools independently. Use The Channel to generate social concepts for an existing client campaign. Use The Prototyper to explore innovation territories. Use The Landscape to map sector dynamics before a planning session.

The tools are scaffolding. Use them however fits your workflow.

What if the AI gets it wrong?

Then you edit it. That's the point.

Every output is editable. The Story suggests a problem reframe that's too broad? Sharpen it. The Frame generates a territory that doesn't fit your client's risk appetite? Ignore it and choose another. The Channel creates concepts that feel off-brand? Regenerate or use "Vary This" for alternatives.

The tools are suggestions, not instructions. Your judgment overrides the algorithm every time.

How much does it cost vs hiring a strategist?

Comms Threader doesn't replace strategists. It makes them faster.

A freelance senior strategist costs £800–1,500/day. Comms Threader Pro is £149/month for unlimited pitches. If you're a small agency doing 2–3 pitches per month, the ROI is immediate.

But the real value isn't replacing strategists. It's making junior strategists productive sooner and giving senior strategists time back to focus on craft, not admin.

Do I need to use all the tools, or can I skip some?

In Cascade Mode, you use all five core tools sequentially. Each builds on the last. The Audience needs The Story's context. The Message needs The Audience's audience tension. Skipping a step weakens the thread.

In Free Roam Mode, use whatever you need. Just need social concepts? Go straight to The Channel. Just need project costing? Use The Estimator. The tools work independently when you're not running a full pitch flow.

Can I upload client briefs and research?

Yes, and you should. The tools work better with context.

Upload PDFs, Word docs, Excel files. The tools parse them and use the content to inform AI suggestions. A thin brief gets generic outputs. A rich brief with research, competitive analysis, and audience data gets sharper, more specific outputs.

Garbage in, garbage out still applies. The tools amplify what you give them.

What happens to my data?

Your projects are private to your workspace. No other agencies can see your work. We don't train AI models on your data. See our privacy policy for full details.

Projects save to cloud storage with automatic backups. If you're offline, they save locally and sync when you reconnect.

Can I export to PowerPoint or Word?

Yes. Every tool exports to PPTX and DOCX. The exports are client-ready, professionally formatted, and editable.

The Frame generates an 8-slide comms plan with your strategic platform. The Channel exports concept boards with scene breakdowns and production notes. The Plan produces a one-page brief.

Nothing is locked in the app. Export, edit in PowerPoint, add your agency branding, present to clients.

How do I know if my pitch is good enough?

The Pitch Readiness Check gives you a percentage score and flags vulnerabilities.

73% "Presentation Ready with Fixes" means: decent strategic foundation, but weak on deliverability and evidence. You can present it, but expect pushback on "can you actually do this?"

89% "Strategically Sound" means: strong across most dimensions, minor refinement needed.

The tool doesn't hide weaknesses. It flags them so you can fix them before the client meeting.

What if I disagree with the AI's assessment?

Override it. Your judgment wins.

The Territory Perception Map puts your chosen territory in "Promising" but you think it's "Sweet Spot"? You know your client better than the algorithm does. Choose it anyway.

The Pitch Readiness Check flags your platform as 73% but you think it's stronger? Present it confidently. The tool gives assessment, not permission.

Can I collaborate with my team?

Yes, on Pro tier. Add team members to your workspace. Everyone works on the same projects with real-time saving.

Best practice: One person "drives" per session to avoid overwrites. Review together, but designate a single editor.

Is there a learning curve?

15 minutes to learn the basics. A few pitches to master the flow.

The tools guide you step-by-step. Tooltips explain what each field does. The forced outputs tell you exactly what you need to articulate.

Junior strategists can be productive in their first session. Senior strategists use it faster once they understand the methodology embedded in the tools.

What's the difference between Lite and Pro?

Lite (£49/mo): Social creative tools (The Channel, The Landscape, The Frame). Good for content teams, social agencies, freelancers.

Pro (£149/mo): Full pitch flow (all 5 core tools), team collaboration, unlimited projects, priority support. Good for agencies actively pitching.

See full comparison at commsthreader.com/pricing.

Do you offer training or onboarding?

Pro users get priority email support. Enterprise users get white-glove onboarding, dedicated training sessions, and a walkthrough of your first pitch.

All users get access to video walkthroughs, case studies, and support documentation. Email support@commsthreader.com to book a session.

Does Comms Threader work on mobile or tablets?

Comms Threader is optimized for desktop use (1280x720 minimum).

Tablets (landscape mode): iPad/Android tablets work for viewing and reviewing projects. Some tools work (Channel, Landscape), but creating new projects works best on desktop.

Mobile (view only): Smartphones can view saved projects and read documentation. Creating projects not recommended due to small screens and interaction complexity.

Best practice: Create on desktop, review on tablet, share via mobile.

Does Comms Threader integrate with Miro, Figma, or Notion?

Not directly, but you can export and import easily.

Google Slides: Export to PPTX from Comms Threader → Import to Google Slides.

Notion: Export to DOCX → Copy/paste content into Notion pages.

Miro/FigJam: Export to PPTX → Screenshot slides → Upload images to Miro.

Figma: Export concepts to PPTX → Use as reference for Figma designs.

Comms Threader generates strategic outputs. Your project management tools organize them. They're complementary, not overlapping.

Can I export all my projects at once?

Currently, you export projects individually per tool (PPTX/DOCX).

Each tool has its own project library. Export projects one at a time from the tool they were created in.

Need bulk export? Contact support@commsthreader.com with your workspace name. We can provide a data export of all saved projects.

Read the Philosophy & Approach guide to understand how the tools amplify human judgment.

Review the Boeing case study to see a complete pitch flow in action.

Email us: support@commsthreader.com - we're here to help.