![\"Spying](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/competitive-research-800.jpg\")
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Spying on your competitors is one of the best ways to understand more about your own business, how you present yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and how to improve your SEO strategy.<\/p>\n
There is no one \u201cright\u201d way to do competitor research. Actually, it can seem like an endless journey that takes you through twists and turns and down holes where more research can always be done.<\/p>\n
But, to simplify the process, I\u2019ll show you some tried-and-true steps you can take using tools and tips on how to do competitor research for SEO.<\/p>\n
Some businesses already have a good idea of who their market competitors are. If you don\u2019t, start brainstorming the list of all the businesses that offer similar services, products, or information as yours.<\/p>\n
Remember that your competition changes based on the service\/product\/information category, so be sure to think in those terms as well.<\/p>\n
Some questions you might want to ask as you assess the competitors include:<\/p>\n
Knowing who your market competitors are can help you discover valuable insights about your own business and website. It can help you maximize your strengths and reduce your weaknesses.<\/p>\n
It can also help with your keyword research, which I\u2019ll touch on in a bit. Do this exercise several times a year, as competition can change.<\/p>\n
Tool to consider:<\/p>\n
As we move on to the next step, remember that you will sometimes use the following steps and tools to assess your market<\/em> competitors online, which may differ from your online competition by keyword.<\/p>\n It\u2019s often the case that businesses will assume that their market competition offline is also their competition online. That is usually false.<\/p>\n The search results page is an entirely different arena. You are competing for your website\u2019s visibility in the search results for particular search queries (aka keywords). The next section will explain how to assess your competition online.<\/p>\n Tool to consider:<\/p>\n Keyword research is the first step in understanding who your true competitors are online \u2014 who shows up at the top of Google search results for the keyword you want to own?<\/p>\n As part of your keyword research, though, you will<\/em> want to look at your online market competitors. Research what keywords they rank for too, and add those words and phrases to your keyword list as potentials to explore.<\/p>\n Tools to consider:<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/strong> How to Do Keyword Research for SEO<\/a><\/p>\n Once you have a defined keyword list, you can see who is ranking for those keywords. This is something you could<\/em> do manually (in incognito mode<\/a>, of course, so that your search history doesn\u2019t bias the results). But many SEO tools out there will give you the data faster.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s use our SEOToolSet as an example of how you can get this data. The Research Summary<\/a> report gives you detailed information about the domains and webpages that are ranking for your target keywords.<\/p>\n In the report, you can see:<\/p>\n From there, you can go on to the next step, which is analyzing the SEO factors of those top-ranking webpages.<\/p>\n In many cases, competing in the search results is about being least imperfect compared to your competition<\/a>. So you want to be able to better understand what the top-ranked pages are doing right and where they might be lacking.<\/p>\n Here, SEO tools are invaluable. As an example, using our SEOToolSet, you can run the Multi Page Analyzer<\/a> (MPA) tool (we have a patent on this tool) to see what the competition is doing to rank.<\/p>\n If you have already used the Research Summary report as outlined in the previous section, you can select the webpages in the report to analyze with the MPA.<\/p>\n This report looks at things like:<\/p>\n (Check out the <\/em>free version of this SEO tool<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n We also use the SEOToolSet to power the Bruce Clay SEO WP plugin<\/a> that gives ranking factors in a different format for WordPress users. When you have the plugin installed, you get access to real-time optimization data based on the competitors that are ranking for your keyword.<\/p>\n Data points you can access include ranges for:<\/p>\n This data is invaluable as you create content and optimize webpages, so that you\u2019re not shooting in the dark.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/strong> Want Customized SEO Advice per Keyword? There\u2019s a Plugin for That!<\/a><\/p>\n Spending some extra time getting to know the competitors\u2019 link profiles can be useful. First, knowing how many links your competitor has gives some indication of how strong a role links may play in that site\u2019s ranking, and how many you might need. But that is not always the case.<\/p>\n There are countless factors that the search engine algorithms apply to a single query to determine results. And the criteria can change from query to query. So links are not the be-all, end-all. In fact, we often see websites with fewer links outrank those with many links, either because the quality of links outweighs quantity or just because other factors took precedence.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, your competition\u2019s link profiles can tell you other useful things like:<\/p>\n Tools to consider:<\/p>\n You can get a quick view of your competitor\u2019s website health by using the Site Checker<\/a> tool in the SEOToolSet. This can expose performance issues in your competition\u2019s website. Remember, the idea is to be least imperfect.<\/p>\n (Check out the <\/em>free version of this SEO tool<\/em><\/a>.) <\/em><\/p>\n Dig deeper into a single competitor’s webpage to see what they are doing in terms of optimization.<\/p>\n The SEOToolSet\u2019s Single Page Analyzer<\/a> tool gives detailed information on:<\/p>\n \u2026 and more.<\/p>\n (Check out the <\/em>free version of this SEO tool<\/em><\/a>.) <\/em><\/p>\n You can spy on your competitors\u2019 lost rankings and potentially capitalize on that quickly.<\/p>\n For example, if you could identify which keywords a competitor recently lost a ranking for, you could analyze the webpage and see what potential issues contributed to that. Then you can ensure your webpage for that keyword (new or old) exceeds it.<\/p>\n Tools to consider:<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to take your research beyond just the 10 blue links. Analyze all the results on the search results page for a target keyword. This gives you more insights into what content you should be creating and how.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/strong> What Is a Whole-Serp SEO Strategy? <\/a><\/p>\n Tools to consider:<\/p>\n Having a website structured or organized into silos (reflected in its navigation, links and content) is an SEO best practice. That\u2019s because it\u2019s good for both search engines and your visitors.<\/p>\n When you need to take a deeper dive into how your competitors support their relevance for rankings, you can look at their site structure. Remember, the name of the game is to be better than them.<\/p>\n Learn more: <\/strong>What Is SEO Siloing?<\/a><\/p>\n At the end of the day, it might seem like you can always do more competitor research (and that\u2019s probably true). However, if you follow the steps outlined in this article, you are well on your way to knowing how to beat your competitors.<\/p>\n Competitive research is just one aspect of a solid SEO program. If you\u2019d like to talk about your specific digital marketing needs, contact us for a free consultation<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Staying ahead demands a comprehensive understanding of your competitors’ strategies. Successful SEO execution hinges on insightful competitor research, enabling you to identify gaps and seize opportunities.<\/p>\n Identifying Key Players and Keywords<\/strong><\/p>\n Begin by identifying your primary competitors. Look beyond direct competitors to those ranking higher in your niche. Thoroughly analyze their website structure, content quality, and keyword usage. Utilize SEO tools to reveal the keywords driving their traffic, helping you refine your keyword strategy.<\/p>\n Content Quality and Backlink Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n Content is the cornerstone of SEO. Dive deep into your rivals’ content, evaluating its relevance, depth, and engagement. A robust backlink profile enhances authority, so analyze your competitor’s backlinks to discover linking opportunities. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush can provide comprehensive insights.<\/p>\n On-page and Off-page SEO Examination<\/strong><\/p>\n Scrutinize your competitors’ on-page SEO elements. Study their title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags. Evaluate their site speed and mobile-friendliness. In the off-page realm, examine their social media presence and link-building strategies. Learn from their successes and shortcomings.<\/p>\n Unearthing Content and Social Strategies<\/strong><\/p>\n Content goes beyond blogs. Investigate your rivals’ multimedia content, such as videos, infographics, and podcasts. Assess their social media tactics \u2013 which platforms they engage on, posting frequency, and interaction patterns. Incorporate successful approaches into your strategy.<\/p>\n Continuous Monitoring and Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n Competitor research is an ongoing endeavor. Set up alerts to stay informed about their updates and changes. Regularly revisit your analysis to adapt your strategy accordingly. This continuous cycle of monitoring and innovation will keep you ahead in the dynamic SEO landscape.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: Conducting Comprehensive Competitor Research for SEO Success<\/strong><\/p>\n Mastering competitor research is the compass that guides your SEO ship to uncharted territories of success. By meticulously studying your rivals’ strengths and weaknesses, you’re arming yourself with the knowledge needed to conquer the search engine battlefield. Stay vigilant, stay innovative, and watch your SEO strategy soar to new heights.<\/p>\n This article was updated on December 19, 2023. \u00a0 <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spying on your competitors is one of the best ways to improve your SEO strategy. Learn some of the tried-and-true steps how to do competitor research for SEO.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":96460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1232],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<\/a>Assess the Online Competition<\/h2>\n
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Choose Keywords<\/h3>\n
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Identify Competitors<\/h3>\n
![\"SEOToolSet](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEOToolSet-research-summary.png\")
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<\/a>Analyze Top Competitors<\/h2>\n
![\"On-page](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEOToolSet-multipage-analyzer.png\")
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![\"Bruce](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/BC-WP-plugin-summary.png\")
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Look at Link Profiles<\/h4>\n
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Check Website Health<\/h4>\n
![\"Site](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEOToolSet-site-checker.png\")
Analyze Single Webpages<\/h4>\n
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![\"Single](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEOToolSet-single-page-analyzer.png\")
Find Out Lost Rankings<\/h4>\n
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Do SERP Research<\/h4>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Google-search-results.png\")
Screenshot of the Google search results showing the different opportunities to rank<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
Look at Site Structure<\/h3>\n
![\"Sample](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEO-siloing.jpg\")
Sample structure for SEO siloing a power tools website<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a>FAQ: How can I effectively conduct competitor research to enhance my SEO strategy and outperform my rivals?<\/h3>\n
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