Every business wants visibility — that moment when someone searches for a product or service, and your brand shows up first. But what if your competitors are already ranking higher, getting more clicks, and attracting your target customers?
That’s where competitor SEO tracking comes in.
Understanding your competitors’ SEO strategy isn’t about copying what they do — it’s about learning what works, spotting opportunities they’ve missed, and building a smarter, stronger strategy for your business.
At Charisol, we’ve worked with small businesses and startups across multiple industries, helping them turn insights into action. By tracking the right SEO data, you can make informed decisions that bring measurable growth — and we’ll show you how.
Why Tracking Competitors’ SEO Matters
Your competitors are not just rivals; they’re a valuable source of insight. When you analyze their SEO performance, you uncover:
- What keywords drive their traffic
- How they structure their content to rank higher
- Where they earn backlinks
- What gaps exist in their strategy that you can fill
Essentially, you’re learning from their wins and their mistakes. This saves you time, helps you focus your resources, and allows your brand to build an edge — especially if you’re operating in a competitive digital market.
How do I Track My Competitors’ SEO Strategy?
Let’s break it down into practical, easy-to-follow steps.
1. Identify Your Real Competitors
Before you start analyzing, identify who your true SEO competitors are. These aren’t necessarily the biggest names in your industry — they’re the websites ranking for the same keywords your target audience searches for.
How to find them:
- Search your main keywords on Google and note which domains appear consistently on page one.
- Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to find keyword overlap and top-ranking sites.
- Check local competitors if you serve a regional audience.
Pro tip: Sometimes your biggest SEO competitor isn’t a company — it could be a blog, a media site, or even an online marketplace.
2. Analyze Their Keyword Strategy
Keywords are the foundation of SEO. To understand how your competitors attract traffic, analyze:
- Which keywords they rank for (especially those driving the most traffic)
- Keyword intent — Are they targeting informational, commercial, or transactional searches?
- Keyword gaps — Terms you could target that they’re missing
Tools like Ahrefs’ Site Explorer or SEMrush’s Organic Research can reveal keyword data, including estimated search volume and ranking difficulty.
Example:
If your competitor ranks highly for “affordable web design for startups,” you might discover related terms like “custom digital solutions for small businesses” — giving you a chance to capture a segment they’re not optimizing for.
3. Study Their Content Strategy
Your competitors’ content is a roadmap to what their audience values. Look at:
- Types of content they produce — blog posts, guides, case studies, videos, etc.
- Publishing frequency — how often they post new content
- Engagement — social shares, comments, backlinks
Pay attention to how they position themselves. Are they educating, entertaining, or selling directly? This reveals how they build trust and authority.
You can use BuzzSumo to see which of their articles perform best and which topics resonate most.
At Charisol, we often help small businesses use these insights to craft a tailored content strategy — one that blends brand storytelling with data-driven SEO for maximum reach and impact.
4. Evaluate Their On-Page SEO
Next, check how your competitors optimize their pages. Look at:
- Title tags and meta descriptions — Are they keyword-rich and engaging?
- Headings (H1, H2, etc.) — Do they structure content for readability and search relevance?
- Internal linking — How do they connect related pages?
- User experience (UX) — Is the site fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate?
A competitor might be ranking well not just because of keywords, but because of a seamless user experience — something Google values highly.
If you’re unsure how to match or exceed this, our team at Charisol can help you audit and rebuild your website for performance and conversion.
5. Check Their Backlink Profile
Backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking factors. They show Google that your content is credible and valuable.
Use Ahrefs or Moz Link Explorer to analyze:
- The number and quality of backlinks
- The type of content earning those links
- The domains referring to them
Once you know where competitors are getting links, you can:
- Pitch similar publications or websites
- Create higher-quality content on similar topics
- Build partnerships for guest posting or mentions
This doesn’t mean copying links — it means understanding what makes them link-worthy and building your own opportunities around that insight.
6. Monitor Their Technical SEO
Even the best content won’t perform if the site has technical issues. Look at:
- Site speed (use Google PageSpeed Insights)
- Mobile responsiveness
- Indexing issues (check how many pages appear in Google search)
- Structured data usage (like schema for rich results)
A slow or poorly structured website can drop rankings quickly. If you discover competitors outperform you here, it’s a sign your site might need technical optimization — something Charisol’s development team specializes in when building or redesigning digital products.
7. Track Their Social and Brand Signals
SEO doesn’t exist in isolation. Strong social engagement and brand mentions can influence search visibility.
Track where your competitors are most active:
- Which platforms drive the most engagement?
- Are influencers or media outlets mentioning them?
- How do they integrate SEO with social marketing?
By observing these patterns, you can strengthen your own brand presence across channels — and ensure your SEO and marketing efforts work together.
Tools to Help You Track Competitor SEO
Here are some trusted tools to make your competitor research efficient and accurate:
| Tool | What It Does Best |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Deep backlink and keyword analysis |
| SEMrush | Comprehensive competitor tracking & SEO audits |
| Moz | Domain authority and link insights |
| Ubersuggest | Budget-friendly keyword and traffic analysis |
| Screaming Frog | On-page and technical SEO analysis |
| BuzzSumo | Content performance tracking and ideas |
You don’t need all of them — start with one or two that fit your goals and budget.
How Charisol Can Help You Outperform Your Competitors
At Charisol, we understand that SEO is not just about rankings — it’s about growth, visibility, and creating digital experiences that connect.
Our team of developers, designers, and SEO experts work with startups and small businesses to:
- Build SEO-friendly websites that attract and retain visitors
- Create content strategies based on real data and audience insights
- Provide technical support to improve site performance and user experience
We help you track, adapt, and evolve — ensuring your digital presence remains ahead of the curve.
If you’re ready to understand what your competitors are doing (and do it better), get started with us today.
FAQs
Is it ethical to track competitors’ SEO strategies?
Yes, absolutely. All the data you’ll be using is publicly available. The goal is to learn from what’s working in your industry, not to copy someone’s work.
How often should I analyze competitor SEO?
At least once every quarter. SEO trends change quickly, and regular monitoring helps you stay ahead.
What’s the biggest mistake when tracking competitors?
Copying their keywords or content directly. Always focus on improving and personalizing what you learn for your audience.
Can small businesses really compete with bigger brands?
Yes — with the right strategy. Targeting niche keywords, building authority through valuable content, and optimizing for local SEO can help small businesses outperform larger competitors.
Conclusion
Tracking your competitors’ SEO strategy gives you the knowledge to make smarter, data-driven moves. You’ll understand what’s working in your market, identify gaps, and position your business to attract the right audience.
At Charisol, we believe every small business deserves a strong digital foundation. With the right insights, tools, and partners, you can build that — and more.
So, are you ready to uncover what your competitors are doing and take your SEO game to the next level?