Your competitive advantage analysis looks for:
Higher engagement rates.
Better keyword rankings.
Stronger backlink profiles.
Superior content depth.
Better user experience elements.
Spotting improvement opportunities
Keyword gap analysis is a great way to identify missed opportunities. Be sure to focus on these areas in reviewing competitor performance:
High-performing competitor content themes.
Untapped keyword opportunities.
Technical SEO implementation differences.
Content structure variations.
User experience elements.
Dig deeper: 4 under-utilized SEO research approaches to tackle
Implementing your benchmarking action plan
Your competitive analysis is complete and you’ve spotted the gaps. Now it’s time to put your insights to work.
Your SEO measurement trip moves into a significant implementation phase, where you’ll turn your findings into measurable improvements.
Prioritizing action items based on effect
Not every gap needs immediate attention.
Prioritizing SEO tasks based on available resources and potential impacts is critical.
The evaluation of improvements depends on:
Areas with the biggest site-wide impact.
Must match overall business goals.
Resource availability.
Dig deeper: How to prioritize technical SEO tasks
Setting realistic improvement targets
Set ambitious yet achievable targets grounded in solid data.
Focus on creating SMART goals that align with your business objectives. Realistic targets are shaped by key factors, including:
Current performance metrics.
Industry averages.
Available resources.
Seasonal fluctuations.
Technical capabilities.
Creating actionable implementation steps
A systematic approach is key to achieving results. Follow this proven implementation process:
Define priority areas: Focus on opportunities with the greatest impact, as identified in your competitive analysis.
Set measurement standards: Establish clear KPIs to track progress effectively.
Create a content calendar: Develop a content strategy tailored to address identified gaps.
Technical optimization: Resolve technical SEO issues uncovered during your analysis.
Link building: Implement strategic plans to acquire high-quality backlinks.
Although large language model (LLM) search is still in its early stages, it’s important to consider the nature of user queries and ensure your content aligns with user intent.
Each step of the process should have designated owners and realistic timelines.
Clearly define who is responsible – whether it’s your internal team, an agency partner, or a development resource.
A well-organized approach will help you stay focused and maintain steady progress.
Dig deeper: Decoding LLMs: How to be visible in generative AI search results
Monitoring and adjusting your strategy
SEO is dynamic and requires ongoing monitoring and refinement.
Regular reviews (monthly or quarterly) ensure you’re staying on track and making necessary adjustments.
Key components to monitor include:
Weekly tracking of keyword rankings and traffic metrics.
Ranking tracker dashboards.
Conversion performance from organic visits.
User engagement metrics.
As the web and competitive strategies evolve, consistent monitoring helps mitigate risks, adapt to changes, and steadily improve your position over time.
Dig deeper: How to cultivate SEO growth through continuous improvement
Setting benchmarks to drive SEO growth
SEO success relies on consistent tracking, analysis, and adaptation.
By setting clear benchmarks, monitoring progress, and adjusting strategies as needed, you’ll ensure continuous growth in search rankings and organic traffic.
Staying proactive and informed is key to SEO efforts that deliver lasting results.
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