Finding Your True SEO Competitors
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?? Finding Your True SEO Competitors?
?? This Week's Guest in the Sweet Spot
?? Tool of the Week in the finance category
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? Short on time? Listen to this on the go.
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One of the biggest misconceptions about SEO is that your competitors online are the same as your competitors in real life.
For example:
If you’re a business coach, you might think other local coaches or consulting firms are your primary SEO competitors.
Or even possibly the IG channels with a lot of followers.
But if those businesses don’t have a strong online search presence, meaning they don't show up in google, or aren’t targeting the same keywords as you, they may not even show up in the search results your audience is seeing.
Instead, your SEO competitors might include a national platform like SCORE offering free business coaching resources, or a popular blog on entrepreneurship that ranks highly for terms like “how to grow my small business.”
The truth is, your real SEO competitors are the ones who show up when your audience is searching online.
They’re not necessarily the same businesses you’re competing with for clients directly.
And that’s why this topic is so important.
Your SEO competitors are any websites that rank for the same keywords or phrases your audience is searching for.
This means they might not even be selling the same product or service as you.
They could be blogs, news sites, or even directory aggregators, those websites that list other websites.?
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Here's a couple of examples.
For an interior designer, your competitors might include Pinterest boards or blog posts about DIY home makeovers, or national chains offering virtual design consultations, or a local furniture store ranking for “modern living room ideas.”
For a copywriter, your competitors could include online tools like Grammarly, which rank for “writing tips,” or freelance platforms like Upwork, where potential clients search for copywriters, or marketing blogs dominating keywords like “how to write a compelling sales page.”
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The key point is that your SEO competition is based on visibility, not similarity.
Now that you know who your competitors might be, let’s talk about how to find them.
The most common way is to search like your audience does.
If you believe they mostly use Google, start by typing your target keywords or topics into Google.
For example, if you’re targeting “best family photographer in Chicago,” look at the websites that show up on the first page.
Those are your direct SEO competitors.
If you believe they mostly use TikTok, start by typing your target keywords or topics into TikTok. See what comes up.
Another option is to use SEO tools.
They can show you which sites are ranking for specific keywords.
And we now have AI Search Engines to think about.
AI-driven search engines like Perplexity.ai are changing the SEO game by pulling information from a wide array of sources and generating summarized conversational answers.
This means you might have new competitors to consider—those dominating answers in these emerging platforms.
Searching your keywords on Perplexity or similar engines can help you identify who’s winning visibility in the AI-driven space.
It's important to remember that these types of tools are pulling information from other sources.
Other search engines. Other websites.
Here's what I put on my proverbial splat hat, an asterisk over my head because that statement is true at the time of this recording but it can change at any moment.
It's a very roller coastery thing right now so what I'll suggest is to review the sources that these AI search engines cite.?
And finally, consider analyzing search intent.
It’s not just about who ranks, but why they rank.
Pay attention to the type of content that’s performing well—whether it’s blog posts, product pages, or videos—and think about how you can create something even more relevant or useful for your audience.
Understanding your true competitors is essential because it allows you to create smarter strategies.
And here’s 3 reasons why:
Ultimately, identifying your true SEO competitors helps you stay visible and relevant in the ever-changing website marketing world.
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The Takeaway
Your SEO competitors might surprise you, but that’s a good thing!
By identifying them, you gain valuable insights into how to improve your online visibility and help grow your business. Understanding your true SEO competitors is only the beginning.
The real magic happens when you use that knowledge to create a strategy that outshines them and puts your business in front of the right audience at the right time.
That’s where my SEO Power Up Plan comes in.
It’s designed to help small business owners like you cut through the confusion and focus on what really matters: building sustainable SEO strategies that attract more traffic, generate qualified leads, and create lasting growth.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing measurable results, let’s get started.
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Until next week… virtual High Five!
Barb
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?? THIS WEEK IN THE SMALL BUSINESS SWEET SPOT ?
But Wait, There’s More! Lessons from Late-Night TV for Your Website (Bonus EP35)
The best social sharing snippet from Lorraine in this interview... "Yes, because the number of people who fill out a contact form is very small compared to the number of people who come to your website. And. If you push too fast for the end goal, you miss the opportunity to create relationships, get someone to just sign up for a newsletter, download and learn one thing.
In this episode, I chat with marketing strategist Lorraine Ball about the small yet powerful tweaks that can make a big difference in your marketing. From applying lessons from late-night TV infomercials to ensuring every page of your website has a purpose, we discuss strategies that are both practical and impactful. Lorraine also shares her thoughts on the resurgence of QR codes, creative ways to leverage user-generated content, and the importance of a clear, actionable marketing strategy. Whether you’re looking to boost conversions, build relationships, or simplify your approach, this episode is packed with tips to help your business thrive.
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?? TOOL OF THE WEEK ?
YNAB
Stands for You Need a Budget. I resisted a budgeting system for a long time. I kept thinking, I don't have that many bills! But with a business and saving for various personal experiences, a budgeting system has a been so helpful. And, it also allows me to budget for my business! This tool is amazing. And has tons of raving fans to prove it.?
*I am a tool geek. I love me a useful tool. I personally use, have used or review every tool I recommend. I am an affiliate of some and earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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Baltimore's Premier Headshot Specialist ? Advance Your Career. Elevate Your Brand. ? Unique Focus on Headshots for Lawyers and Law Firms ?Fabulous and Fun Studio in Woodberry/Hampden
3 个月I regularly appear as no. 1 or 2 in *real* search results for my specialty, headshots. But more and more people need to sift through results from Yelp, Bark, Snappr and most recently AI headshot generators. I’m also seeing a lot more sponsored ads from actual photographers in my city, which tells me they are experiencing a downturn in their business. Things are getting crazy!
Marketing Coach, Podcast Host, Author, Speaker and Photographer
3 个月this was a great read, filled with simple and practical SEO tips