Blog Post

Growth doesn’t just happen. It’s not some happy accident. It’s the result of sharp observation, solid planning, and strategic action. One of the most powerful tools I use to help clients grow smarter (not harder) is competitor research.

Now, don’t worry—I’m not suggesting you wear a disguise and sneak into boardrooms. But I am saying that understanding what your rivals are doing (and not doing) can unlock opportunities you didn’t even know existed.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I turn plain old competitor data into actual, effective business strategy. No fluff. Just real talk and useful insights.

• How I identify which competitors to analyze
  
• The types of information I actually pay attention to
  
• Tools I trust to dig into the details
  
• How I translate research into meaningful strategy
  
• Why obsessing over your competitors can sometimes backfire
  

Here’s the thing: your competitors aren’t standing still. They’re updating products, shifting pricing, trying new content strategies—and some of them are doing it really well.

That’s exactly why I make research a standard part of any strategy I develop. It helps uncover:

• Blind spots in your market
  
• Weak points in your competitors’ approach
  
• Opportunities to do something better—or just different
  

Research helps you stay proactive. If you’re only reacting, you’re already behind. If you’re new to this topic, you might want to start with my breakdown on market and competitor research basics.

Before I dive into data, I define who matters. Not everyone selling something similar is worth watching. I focus on:

These are the folks targeting the same customers with the same solution. If you’re a SaaS company offering time tracking software, for example, other time tracking platforms are your direct competition.

These are sneaky. They solve the same problem differently. Maybe someone’s using project management tools with time tracking add-ons. That’s still competition—even if it looks like a different category.

Once I know who I’m watching, I look for:

• Product or service features
  
• Pricing models and changes
  
• Positioning and messaging
  
• Marketing channels and campaigns
  
• Customer reviews and complaints
  
• Website design, speed, and SEO performance
  

I cover how to start identifying and evaluating these elements in Market Research 101.

You don’t need to be a data scientist. Just curious, a bit nosy, and systematic. I use tools and platforms that make the digging easier, like:

• Ahrefs / SEMrush – For keyword and backlink strategies
  
• SimilarWeb – To understand where traffic is coming from
  
• BuiltWith – To snoop on the tech stack
  
• Social Searcher – For tracking social mentions and engagement
  
• G2, Trustpilot, Reddit – For real customer feedback
  
• Your competitors’ own websites and newsletters – For tone, positioning, and call-to-action strategy
  

If you want a more detailed breakdown of the tools I trust, I’ve listed my favorites right here.

Data is nice, but action is better. Here’s how I turn all that research into something you can actually use.

If you don’t know what you’re trying to improve, no research will help. Want more leads? Higher conversion? Better retention? That goal shapes what kind of insights matter most.

Maybe your competitors have a beautiful interface but confusing onboarding. Maybe they’re great at SEO but weak on email marketing. These are opportunities. Your goal is to serve the customer better than they are—simple as that.

I show how to identify those market gaps in this quick guide.

This is where the magic happens. I build strategy by answering a few simple questions:

• What can you improve based on what they’re lacking?
  
• What messaging can you own that no one else is using?
  
• Where are they overspending—and how can you outsmart, not outspend?
  

A client I worked with was struggling to keep users engaged after onboarding. We analyzed competitors and noticed most of them focused only on early setup—but ignored ongoing user success.

We created a customer education campaign post-onboarding, with webinars and in-app prompts. Within three months, product usage increased by 37%, and customer retention got a solid boost. That move came directly from research.

You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel—sometimes you just need to give it better traction.

I love competitor research. But even I know there’s a limit.

You shouldn’t:

• React to every change your competition makes
  
• Assume they know what they’re doing
  
• Neglect your own data and customer feedback
  

Research is a guide—not a command. Your business is still your business. Keep your eyes on your customers, and let your competitors play catch-up.

Let’s be honest—doing this manually every time is a pain. These tools make it smoother:

• SEMrush – All-in-one suite for SEO and PPC competitor analysis
  
• BuzzSumo – Great for content strategy and trending topics
  
• SparkToro – To understand audience interests and behaviors
  
• Ubersuggest – Budget-friendly tool for SEO comparisons
  

If you need industry-specific tools (e.g., for ecommerce, SaaS, or B2B), I’ve covered some niche-friendly options here.

I recommend:

• Quarterly updates – for general awareness
  
• Before major product or campaign launches – for deeper insight
  
• During market shifts – when you sense changes in demand or competition
  

Weekly research is overkill unless you’ve got a full team. Focus on consistency, not compulsiveness.

Competitor research isn’t about copying. It’s about clarity. It’s about understanding the landscape so you can make sharper decisions, avoid costly missteps, and offer more value.

The trick isn’t collecting more data. It’s knowing what to do with it. If you’ve already started gathering insights but feel unsure what the next step should be, this article walks through how I build strategy from the ground up.

Or if you’re in the early stages of planning a product launch, I highly suggest reading this first. It’ll save you time and second-guessing.

And if you need someone to help you turn that spreadsheet into strategy—well, you know where to find me.