In the world of Toledo Ohio web design and search engine optimization (SEO), there are a number of tried-and-true best practices that most businesses know to follow. Most are aware that quality content is the most important thing of all: what you’re putting out into the world needs to feel like it was written by humans, for humans, no matter what.
Local SEO, keyword research, mobile optimization – these are aspects of SEO that you’re essentially dead in the water without. But one part of the process that many overlook – and the part that is likely holding you back from the results that you’re after – has to do with conducting a thorough competitor analysis as often as you’re able to do so.
The Value of Competitor Analysis: An Overview
At its core, the term “competitor analysis” in SEO is exactly what it sounds like – you’re taking a deep dive into the online presence of your competitors online to see how they’re doing. This is crucial because not only does it give you insight into what they’re doing that is working that you can then learn from… it’s also a great way to find those weak spots in their own strategy that you can capitalize on moving forward.
For starters, competitor analysis may also help you identify some other organizations that you didn’t even realize were competitors in the first place. Remember that most industries don’t operate exclusively in a brick-and-mortar world any longer. Thanks to the Internet, a business doesn’t have to be in the same geographic area that you are to be considered a competitor. Therefore, this type of analysis can give you a better understanding of how much competition you truly have.
Beyond that, competitor analysis helps in ways like:
- It shows you what websites your competitors are linking to, allowing you to pick and choose which ones you want to link to for yourself.
- It helps you understand what keywords you should be targeting in the first place.
- It identifies keywords that may be underserved by your competitors, allowing you to slip in and get a foothold.
- It provides you with the best possible understanding of not only where your industry and market currently is, but where it all is likely heading in terms of trends you need to know about.
InfoStream: Your Website Design Toledo Partner
But in a larger sense, competitor analysis is important because of the way SEO works on a basic level. To rank as highly as possible in your industry, a search engine (or rather, an algorithm) needs to determine that your site ultimately offers more value than someone else’s. The only way you can confirm that you’re headed in that direction is if you know where you stand not just within the context of your customers, but with regard to everyone else around you who has the same goal.
If you’d like to find out more information about why competitor analysis is one of the essential components of success in terms of search engine optimization, or if you’d just like to discuss your business’ own needs with a website development Toledo expert in a bit more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact InfoStream today.
