How To Actually Learn Something From A Competitor Analysis
There’s a fine line between studying your competition and falling into a full-on spiral of comparison. Competitor analysis can either clarify your strategy, or turn into a black hole of “why do their Instagram reels get 40k views and ours get 12?”
But when done right, competitor analysis is one of the sharpest tools in your marketing kit. It’s not about copying. It’s about context. It shows you what the market is responding to, what gaps exist, and where your brand has room to dominate.
We help brands leverage competitor research to play smarter, not smaller. Here’s how to dig in without drowning, and what to actually do with what you find.
Step One: Know Who You’re Actually Competing With
Spoiler: It’s not always the biggest brand in your industry. You need to analyze businesses that are targeting your audience with similar solutions, not just household names.
Start with 3 to 5 competitors that:
- Serve your region or niche
- Offer similar products or services
- Show up in the same spaces as you (social platforms, local SEO, etc.)
This gives you a relevant, manageable pool of businesses to study. And yes, keep an eye on both direct competitors and what we call “category crossovers.” Basically, companies who aren’t selling what you sell, but are still taking up space in your audience’s brain.
Step Two: Scope Out Their Online Presence
Visit their website, follow them on socials, sign up for their newsletter, maybe even request a quote. Pay attention to the full user experience. How do they present themselves? What’s their tone? Are they consistent across platforms?
Ask yourself:
- What’s their core messaging?
- What visuals or formats are they using?
- How do they describe their value?
- Is their SEO game strong?
- Are they ranking for keywords you’ve ignored?
You’re not just looking for what they’re doing, you’re looking for what’s landing. That Instagram feed with 5,000 followers but zero engagement? Flashy, but not effective. That simple blog post with high rankings and organic comments? That’s worth a closer look.
Step Three: Break Down Their Content Strategy
Content is where you’ll really see how a brand tries to position itself. Are they thought leaders, educators, entertainers, or deal-pushers?
Look at:
- Blog frequency and quality
- Video marketing (are they using it? how well?)
- Social media mix (platforms, post types, engagement)
- Email cadence and tone
What formats are they leaning into? What are they ignoring that you could double down on?
For example, maybe all your competitors are churning out blogs but ignoring YouTube or TikTok. That’s a lane. Or maybe everyone’s shouting in marketing-speak and nobody’s telling real customer stories. That’s a chance to own authenticity.
Step Four: Watch How They Convert
This is the part a lot of businesses skip, and it’s one of the most revealing.
How easy is it to contact your competitors? Are their CTAs clear and confident or buried and bland? What does their sales funnel look like? Do they offer lead magnets, free trials, or consultation calls?
Go through their process (without being shady). You’ll quickly see who has a dialed-in funnel and who’s just winging it.
And while you’re at it, look at their reviews. What are customers praising or complaining about? That’s real-world data on where they’re strong and where they’re slipping. And if you're not learning from that, your competitors sure are.
Step Five: Turn Analysis Into Action
The goal here isn’t to imitate, it’s to differentiate. Once you’ve got a clear picture of your competitive landscape, start asking strategic questions:
- Where are they weak that you’re strong?
- What are they missing that you can offer?
- What messages are overplayed—and what fresh angle can you bring?
Maybe they all sound alike, and you can win with voice. Maybe they’re playing it safe visually, and you can stand out with bold creative. Maybe their offers are outdated, and you can outmaneuver them with flexibility and relevance.
The smartest brands don’t try to be better in every category. They pick the lane they can own and they double down.
Competitor Research Isn’t About Envy, It’s About Strategy
Your competition can be your best teacher if you know what to look for. A strong competitor analysis doesn’t just tell you what others are doing; it helps you sharpen what you should be doing next.
At Right Tool Media, we help businesses use competitor insights to build smarter campaigns, clearer messaging, and more effective funnels. If your current strategy feels like a shot in the dark, we’ll help you light the way with a little competitive clarity.
Because the goal isn’t just to keep up. It’s to lead.








