5 Things Your Competitors Are Doing Right (And How to Do Them Better)

Sep 08, 09:19AM

Ever wondered why that one competitor always seems to dominate your Google search results? Or how they consistently show up in your prospects' social feeds while you're shouting into the digital void?

Last week, I was analyzing the competitive landscape for a Media Web Tek client, and I had one of those lightbulb moments. Instead of focusing on what competitors were doing wrong, I started paying attention to what they were actually nailing. And here's the kicker once you understand their winning moves, you can execute them better.

Here are the five things your competitors are probably crushing (and the exact strategies to outperform them).

1. They're Owning Their Keywords (While You're Chasing Trends)

Your most successful competitors aren't trying to rank for everything. They've identified their keyword sweet spot and they're dominating it completely.

I recently worked with a marketing automation company that was frustrated because their competitor consistently outranked them. When we dug deeper, we discovered something fascinating: the competitor had claimed ownership of 47 long-tail keywords around "email marketing workflows" while our client was chasing broad terms like "digital marketing."

What They're Doing Right:

• Keyword clustering around specific topics they can genuinely own
• Creating comprehensive content hubs that Google sees as authoritative
• Building internal linking structures that reinforce their expertise

How to Do It Better:

Go deeper, not broader. Instead of trying to rank for "project management software," dominate "project management software for remote teams" or "project management tools for creative agencies."

At Media Web Tek, we use what we call the Authority Stacking Method: identify 3-5 keyword clusters where you can realistically become the go-to resource, then create content that's 10x more comprehensive than anything your competitors have published.

Pro tip: Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to find the exact keywords your competitors rank for, then create content that answers every question those keywords imply and five more they didn't think of.

2. They've Mastered the Art of Social Proof (Without Being Obvious)

Your competitors aren't just collecting testimonials they're strategically weaving social proof throughout every customer touchpoint.

I noticed this pattern with a SaaS client's main competitor: instead of having a boring testimonials page, they embedded customer success stories into their blog posts, featured user-generated content on social media, and included specific metrics in their case studies.

What They're Doing Right:

• Contextual social proof that appears naturally in content
• Customer stories that focus on outcomes, not just satisfaction
• Strategic placement of trust signals throughout the buyer journey

How to Do It Better:

Make social proof work harder. Instead of generic "Great service!" reviews, showcase specific transformations your customers experienced.

Create what we call Impact Stories: detailed narratives showing exactly how your solution solved real problems. Include before/after metrics, timeline details, and honest challenges you helped overcome.

Actionable strategy: For every piece of content you create, ask yourself: "What social proof element would make this 3x more convincing?" Then add it.

3. They're Building Email Lists While You're Chasing Vanity Metrics

Here's something that might sting: while you're celebrating your follower count, your smartest competitors are quietly building email lists that actually convert.

One of our Media Web Tek clients was obsessing over their Instagram engagement while their competitor was capturing 200+ qualified email subscribers weekly. Guess who was closing more deals?

What They're Doing Right:

• Value-first lead magnets that solve immediate problems
• Email sequences that educate and nurture, not just pitch
• Segmentation strategies that deliver relevant content to specific audience groups

How to Do It Better:

Create lead magnets that your competitors' customers would want to steal. Think beyond basic ebooks develop tools, templates, assessments, or mini-courses that provide immediate value.

The Media Web Tek approach: Create "gateway content" that naturally leads to your paid solutions. If you're a marketing agency, don't just offer a "marketing checklist" create a "competitive analysis template" that demonstrates your strategic thinking.

Conversion tip: Your lead magnet should make people think, "If this free stuff is this good, their paid service must be incredible."

4. They're Talking to Customers, Not at Them

Your most successful competitors have figured out something crucial: customers don't care about your features they care about their problems getting solved.

I see this constantly in our client work. The companies dominating their markets aren't the ones with the most features they're the ones speaking their customers' language most fluently.

What They're Doing Right:

• Customer research that goes beyond basic surveys
• Content that addresses real pain points, not imagined ones
• Messaging that uses the actual words customers use to describe their problems

How to Do It Better:

Become a customer psychology expert. Spend time understanding not just what your customers need, but how they think about their problems.

The research method that changed everything for us: We interview customers about their decision-making process, but instead of asking "Why did you choose us?" we ask "What was happening in your business that made you start looking for a solution like ours?"

This reveals the emotional triggers and situational context that drive purchasing decisions insights your competitors probably don't have.

5. They're Playing the Long Game (While You're Optimizing for This Quarter)

The competitors who consistently win aren't just executing tactics they're building sustainable competitive advantages.

One of our clients was frustrated because their competitor seemed to effortlessly attract top talent, land speaking opportunities, and get featured in industry publications. When we analyzed their strategy, we realized they'd been consistently investing in thought leadership for three years while our client was jumping from tactic to tactic every quarter.

What They're Doing Right:

• Consistent content creation that builds authority over time
• Relationship building with industry influencers and publications
• Investment in brand assets that compound (podcasts, communities, educational resources)

How to Do It Better:

Think in years, not months. Choose 2-3 channels where you can consistently show up and provide value, then commit to them for at least 18 months.

The compounding content strategy: Instead of creating one-off blog posts, develop content series that build on each other. Create educational frameworks, methodologies, or systems that become associated with your brand.

Example: At Media Web Tek, we don't just write about digital marketing we've developed specific methodologies like the "Authority Stacking Method" and "Strategic Intelligence Framework" that clients associate with our approach.

The Meta-Strategy That Ties It All Together

Here's what most businesses miss: these five strategies work best when they're integrated, not implemented in isolation.

Your keyword strategy should inform your social proof collection. Your email sequences should reinforce your long-term positioning. Your customer research should drive your content creation.

The Media Web Tek Integration Framework:

1. Start with customer research to understand the real problems and language
2. Identify keyword opportunities based on how customers actually search for solutions
3. Create content that naturally incorporates social proof and builds long-term authority
4. Use lead magnets to capture and nurture your ideal audience
5. Play the long game while measuring short-term progress

Your Competitive Advantage Action Plan

This Week: Choose one competitor who consistently outperforms you. Analyze their approach through these five lenses.

This Month: Implement the "do it better" version of their strongest strategy.

This Quarter: Integrate all five strategies into a cohesive competitive advantage system.

This Year: Watch as you become the competitor other businesses are studying.

The truth is, your competitors aren't doing anything magical. They're just executing fundamental strategies more consistently and strategically than you are. The good news? Now you know exactly what those strategies are.

Ready to stop playing catch-up and start setting the pace in your industry? Contact Media Web Tek today for a comprehensive competitive analysis that reveals exactly what your competitors are doing right and how you can do it better.