In 2025, SEO is more competitive than ever. Ranking on the first page of Google isn’t just about writing content — it’s about writing the right content with the right strategy, and a big part of that comes from knowing exactly what your competitors are doing. This guide will show you how to perform advanced competitor analysis using modern tools and proven tactics.
Step 1: Identify Your Top 10 Competitors on Google
Start by typing your main keyword into Google — for example, “Riyadh AC Repair.” Note down the top 10 organic results.
These are your real competitors because:
- They are already ranking
- Google favors their structure, content, and backlinks
You can use tools like MozBar to check their Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) right from the SERP.
🔍 Tip: Skip ads and focus only on organic results.
Step 2: Analyze Competitors Using Ahrefs Site Explorer
Once you have the top URLs, head over to Ahrefs Site Explorer and analyze them one by one.
Key metrics to check:
- Domain Rating (DR)
- URL Rating (UR)
- Referring Domains
- Backlinks
- Organic Traffic
- Top Ranking Keywords
Use the Content Gap Tool to discover keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t.
Step 3: Find & Analyze Their Top Performing Keywords
In Ahrefs:
- Go to the “Top Pages” section
- Click on “Organic Keywords”
Choose high-traffic keywords and open the corresponding page. Analyze:
- Keyword placement (H1, meta title, first paragraph)
- Use of images and alt text
- Word count
- Page structure (headings, bullets, tables)
This tells you exactly how they’re winning — now, you can plan to do it better.
Step 4: Reverse Engineer Their Backlink Strategy
Backlinks still rule in 2025 — but only quality ones.
In Ahrefs:
- Go to Backlinks tab
- Filter: DoFollow + One link per domain
- Check where they’re getting links from:
- Guest posts
- Business directories
- Forums
- Press mentions
Start replicating their link sources. You can also:
- Reach out to the same sites
- Use HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
- Publish guest posts with higher value
🧠 Pro Tip: Use ChatGPT to help draft personalized outreach emails for link building.
Step 5: Audit Their Site Design & UX
User experience is a strong Google ranking factor. Visit each competitor’s site and analyze:
- Mobile responsiveness
- Loading speed (use GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights)
- Navigation and layout
- CTAs and conversion funnel
Make note of what makes their site user-friendly — and improve your own.
Step 6: Check Their Social Profiles and Content Distribution
Most high-performing sites in 2025 have strong social signals.
Audit:
- LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter)
- Posting frequency
- Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
- Content type (videos, carousels, blog links)
Tools like BuzzSumo can help you see which content types work best for them — replicate and optimize.
Step 7: Use Additional Tools for Deeper Insight
Here are some additional tools you can use:
Tool | Purpose |
SEMrush | Keyword gap, competitor traffic trends |
SimilarWeb | Traffic sources and user journey |
BuiltWith | Tech stack (CMS, plugins, CDN) |
Ubersuggest | Keyword opportunities and domain overview |
📊 Tip: Combine these tools with Ahrefs for 360-degree competitor insight.
Step 8: Create Content That Outranks Your Competition
Armed with all your findings, it’s time to execute.
To outrank, your content must be:
- 10x more useful (visuals, data, examples)
- SEO-optimized (H1-H3 structure, alt tags, internal links)
- More engaging (videos, quotes, interactive tools)
Here’s a content improvement checklist:
✅ In-depth research
✅ Keyword optimization
✅ FAQ schema
✅ Page speed optimization
✅ Clear CTAs
✅ Social sharing buttons
Bonus: Build a Competitor Analysis Spreadsheet
Create a Google Sheet that tracks:
- Competitor domain
- Top-ranking URLs
- DR/UR
- Top keywords
- Referring domains
- Social media activity
- Content gaps
Update it quarterly and use it for ongoing content planning and outreach.