Welcome to the wild world of SEO – where the competition is high and everyone is aiming for the first position. According to Backlino, the number one result in Google gets approximately 32% of all clicks
Now, here’s the kicker: even if your content is top-notch, your SEO strategy is well-thought, and you’ve got all technical SEO tactics under your belt, there is still no guarantee that your website will rank on the first page of search results. In fact, over 90% of web pages get no search traffic from Google at all.
So, how exactly do you improve your SEO game? And what does competitive seo analysis have to do with it? That’s exactly what we are going to talk about in this blog.
Table of Contents
What Is an SEO Competitor Analysis?
SEO competitor, also known as competitive SEO analysis, refers to the practice of analyzing your competitors website to gather information on the most successful elements of their SEO strategy. This includes identifying their content strategy, targeted keywords, backlink profile, and more.
By performing SEO analysis you cut down on the time and effort you would otherwise need to put in to create a SEO strategy. You can instead learn what’s working for your competitors and incorporate the most successful elements into your own business.
In short, competitive seo analysis helps you identify:
- Who your SEO competitors
- Which keywords you should target
- What the competitive landscape look like
- What topics you should cover
- Where to find valuable links
When Should You Conduct an SEO Competitor Analysis?
Here’s a breakdown of when you should definitely dive into an Competitive SEO analysis:
Writing Content: When you’re crafting content, you must make sure that your content not only answers queries, but does it in a better way than your competitors. An SEO competitor analysis can help you create content that stands out from the crowd.
Planning Content: Before you start crafting content, you must analyze the content strategy of your competitors. This gives you the chance to add your own unique touch to what’s already working well. Also, this analysis helps you figure out how much elbow grease you’ll need to outshine the competition on a particular topic.
After a Ranking Dip: If your rankings suddenly take a nosedive, a competitor ranking analysis comes to the rescue. It helps you suss out what your competition is up to and what strategies are winning the race in your industry.
Stagnant SERPs Performance: If your page is stuck in the same spot in the search results and isn’t among the top dogs, competitive analysis comes in handy. It reveals the gaps you need to fill to give your page a boost.
SERPs Shake-up: When the search engine results pages (SERPs) get a makeover and another website snatches the top spot for a keyword you’re targeting, it’s time for an competitor SEO analysis. This lets you uncover their strengths and gives you a playbook to follow.
You might also want to read: SEO in Social Media – What It Is and How Does It Work in 2023
How to Do a Competitive SEO Analysis
Performing competitive SEO analysis can work wonders for your website’s ranking. Read down below to find out how you can perform this analysis successfullt.
Step 1: Identify your competitors
Whether you’ve just started your company or you run a well-established business, it is crucial to know who your competitors are. And it’s not just about what products and services you’re selling – it’s also about where you stand in the search engine game. Yep, those are your SEO rivals we’re talking about!
Luckily, there are a lot of SEO competitor analysis tools available in the market that can make the whole process easier. SEO competitor tools also are very useful in unearthing competitors that you might not have heard of or considered otherwise. One such tool for reliable SEO analysis reports is SEMRush.
Step 2: Analyze their SEO strategy
Analyze your competitor’s website to get a grasp of your rivals’ SEO tactics. Scope out their site structure, content strategy, and both short and long-tail keywords. You can also use tools such as Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Mobile-Friendly Test to evaluate their site speed and mobile-friendliness. With these insights you get a better idea about how your site matches up technically.
Moreover, don’t forget to probe into their content strategy. Check their top-ranking and keyword-rich pages, as well as the content driving the most traffic. BuzzSumo is handy for spotting popular content in your niche, helping you grasp audience preferences. Keep an eye out for unexpected traffic sources like blogs, landing pages, or ebooks.
Step 3: Perform keyword analysis
So, you might be acing your main keywords, but what about the ones you rank for but place you at the bottom of page one of the SERP? Yes, those matter too.
Consider this: if you include keywords that are really close to being perfect for your content, it could help you outdo your competition and get a better position. It’s like a clever trick!
Now, onto keyword gaps and opportunities – these are like hidden treasures. Imagine finding terms or phrases that you totally could and should be ranking for. Tools like SEMRush or AHREFS are your trusty sidekicks for this job.
And hey, don’t forget to keep an eye on your competitors. If they’re losing some keywords that still pack a punch in terms of search volume, that’s a signpost. Check why they’re slipping, learn from it, and whip up content that includes those keywords. It’s all about turning their loss into your gain!
Step 4: Analyze their On-Page optimization
Here’s the deal: your competitors might be outshining you in the SEO game because they’re putting in the work to optimize their pages. Here are some elements you’ve got to think about:
Titles: Your page title isn’t just a name tag – Google uses it to gauge keyword relevance and ranking. So, make sure your title tags are spot-on and tied to the right keywords. These titles impact how your page shows up in search results, social media, and browser tabs.
Meta-data: Meta keywords and descriptions matter. They help Google understand your page’s content. Take a peek at how your competitors are acing these optimizations.
Headlines or Headings: Google’s a fan of headings, especially those <h> tags connected to specific keywords. They can even land you in featured snippets, pushing your content to the top. By the way, Ahrefs says Google often prefers H1 tags over title tags.
Images and Videos: Are your rivals jazzing up their images and videos for web and mobile? Do they have smart tags? Follow suit to stay competitive.
Schema Markup and Structured Data: Structured data is your friend. It helps search engines understand your page better and boosts visibility in results.
URLs: Give your competitors’ URLs a glance. See if they’re doing something you’re not. Your URLs should be descriptive, concise, and loaded with relevant keywords.
Customer Experience: Usability counts. Check how your competitors’ pages are laid out, their navigation, and how quickly they load. How’s the overall experience for users, and how does it compare to yours?
By cracking the code on these aspects, you’ll be on your way to leveling up your SEO game!
Step 5: Perform backlink analysis
Let’s dive into the world of backlinks and rankings. Seo analysis sites like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz spill the tea on your competitors’ backlink game – a treasure trove of insights awaits.
Remember, it’s not about the quantity of backlinks; it’s all about quality. Quality backlinks give your content a boost, but watch out for low-quality ones – they can spell trouble. Avoid gathering links from just anywhere.
Analyze your competitors’ backlinks that could be propelling them upward. Can you replicate their strategy? Check if they’re snagging media coverage or recommendations from well-known organizations.
Guess what? Sites linking to your rivals might be open to linking to you too. Keep tabs on them. A smart move is reaching out for backlinks with fresh content or guides covering new or improved topics. It’s like playing backlink chess!
Conclusion
In the world of online battles, competitive SEO analysis is your guide. By performing SEO market analysis, you can sharpen your strategy, seize untapped opportunities, and claim your place in the digital spotlight. Get ahead by knowing your competition inside out and watch your online presence thrive.
