7 Proven Ways to Identify Competitors' Strategies and Outperform Them

Have you ever wondered why some competitors seem to have all the answers?

They launch new products faster.

They attract customers you’re trying to win.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? I have been there too.

Many business owners echo the questions I had:

“Why do they always stay one step ahead?”

“What are they doing that I’m missing?”

The secret could lie in the fact that you’re not monitoring your competition, and therefore, you’re leaving gaps in your strategy.

Now, don't get me wrong. Delivering value, innovating, and building relationships are crucial, but so is keeping an eye on the competition.

When you understand what your competitors are doing, you can adapt, innovate, and lead.

Working on my practice and helping business owners, I found 7 strategies that work for businesses across all industries:

1. Analyze Their Customers

Your competitors’ customers hold the key to their success.

What do they like about their offerings? What’s missing?

You can easily find out more by reading reviews, testimonials, and feedback on their websites and social media.

Look for common themes—they’ll reveal customer pain points and preferences.

2. Track Their Online Presence

A lot can be learned from competitors’ digital activities.

Their website, blog, and social media show their focus areas and audience engagement.

Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor their keywords and traffic.

Set alerts for new blog posts or announcements. While a lot of what you see there could be hype but you can make out if you observe and analyze it over a period of time. A little bit of history is important too.

3. Watch Their Advertising

Competitors’ ads tell you what they’re selling and how they’re positioning it.

I have my own way of analyzing advertisements and other publicity material. But platforms like Adbeat or Facebook Ad Library can be very valuable in tracking their campaigns.

Pay attention to their messaging and calls to action. Mind you, your competitors may be tracking your campaigns too.

4. Follow Their Partnerships

Who are your competitors collaborating with?

Strategic partnerships reveal growth areas and market expansion plans.

So, Monitor press releases, industry events, and LinkedIn updates for announcements.

5. Observe Their Talent Strategy

Competitors’ hiring trends reflect their priorities.

Are they building teams for new markets or skills?

Check job postings and LinkedIn profiles to understand their focus areas.

6. Leverage Technology for Competitive Analysis

Data-driven tools simplify competitor monitoring.

They provide insights into trends, strengths, and weaknesses.

Invest in tools like SimilarWeb or SpyFu to get a complete picture of your competitors’ strategies.

7. Engage in Industry Networking

Industry events and forums are goldmines of information.

You’ll learn what competitors are prioritizing and where the market is heading.

Attend conferences, webinars, and trade shows.

Build relationships with industry insiders for deeper insights.

Why Monitoring Matters

Understanding your competition isn’t about copying—it’s about staying prepared.

It’s how you identify opportunities they’re missing.

It’s how you build strategies that give you the edge.

Start small. Pick one strategy from this list and implement it today.

You’ll be amazed at how much insight you can gain.

I have had the opportunity and privilege to help over 100 business owners to improve their competitive positioning and dominate their market. DM me if you want to improve your business' positioning or are struggling with it.