How to Perform an SEO Competitive Analysis: Learn from Your Competitors

Business

SEO competitive analysis is by far one of the most important steps in any search engine optimization campaign. By understanding your competitors’ strategies, you can learn what works and what doesn’t and apply those lessons to your own website. In this blog post, we will show you how to perform an SEO competitive analysis step-by-step. We will also provide some tips on using the information you gather to improve your SEO strategy. Let’s get started!

What is SEO competitive analysis?

SEO competitive analysis is the process of research and evaluation of a competing website’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to your own. The goal is to identify areas where you can improve your SEO strategy to outrank your competitors. This process can be performed manually or using tools like Ahrefs’ Site Explorer.

Why is SEO competitive analysis important?

There are many benefits to performing an SEO competitive analysis. First and foremost, it helps you understand what strategies are working for your competitors and how you can apply those lessons to your website. Additionally, it allows you to keep tabs on changes in your competitor’s strategies to adjust yours accordingly. Finally, it provides valuable insights into the overall SEO landscape for your industry, which can help you make informed decisions about your SEO strategy.

How to perform an SEO competitive analysis (step-by-step)

Now that we’ve answered the question “what is SEO competitive analysis?” let’s look at how to actually do it. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

Step 1: Pick your competitors.

The first step is to identify who your main competitors are. This can be done by simply searching for keywords related to your business on Google and taking note of the websites that appear in the top results. Once you have a list of competitor websites, you’ll need to decide which ones to focus on. Generally speaking, you should choose those most similar to your website in terms of size, industry, and target audience.

Step 2: Analyze their backlink profiles.

One of the most important aspects of SEO is link building, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the first things you should analyze when performing an SEO competitive analysis. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to use a tool like Ahrefs’ Site Explorer. Simply enter your competitor’s URL into the tool and click “Explore.” From there, you’ll be able to see all the websites that are linking to your competitor. Take note of any patterns or opportunities that you see.

Step 3: Examine their on-page optimization.

On-page optimization is another important aspect of SEO. This refers to the content and structure of your website and how well it is optimized for search engines. To examine your competitor’s on-page optimization, start by looking at their title tags and meta descriptions. These should be unique and keyword-rich. 

Step 4 Analyze their social media presence.

Social media is another important part of SEO. To rank highly in search results, you need to have a strong social media presence. This means being active on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and posting high-quality content regularly. To get an idea of your competitor’s social media presence, simply visit their profiles and look at their activity level and engagement.

Step 5 Review their mobile optimization.

Mobile optimization is another important aspect of SEO. In today’s world, more and more people are using their phones to search the web, so it’s important that your website is optimized for mobile devices. To check your competitor’s mobile optimization, simply visit their website on your phone and see how it looks. Pay attention to things like the layout, design, and overall user experience.

Step 6: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses.

Once you’ve gathered all of this data, it’s time to analyze it. Look for any patterns or opportunities that you see. Are there any areas where your competitor is particularly strong? Any areas where they are weak? Make a note of both their strengths and their weaknesses.

Step 7: Develop a Game Plan

Now that you know what your competitor is doing right and wrong, it’s time to develop a game plan. What changes do you need to make to your own SEO strategy based on the information you’ve gathered? What can you do to take advantage of your competitor’s weaknesses? How can you capitalize on their strengths? Answers these questions and put together a plan of action. 

Step 8: Handling major Google updates.

Google is constantly changing and updating its algorithm, which can affect your rankings. If you notice a sudden drop in your rankings, it’s important to check if there has been a major Google update. You can do this by visiting the Google Algorithm Change History page. If there has been an update, take a look at what changed and make the necessary adjustments to your website. Monitor your competitor’s position after an update change. There may be a chance that your competitor has been penalized following the update. This could mean an excellent opportunity for you.

When it comes to SEO, it’s important to stay ahead of the competition. One way to do this is by performing an SEO competitive analysis. This will give you insights into what your competitors are doing right and wrong and how you can improve your SEO strategy.

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