Gaining a Competitive Edge: How Small Businesses Can Analyse and Leverage Their Competitors’ Digital Strategies

Running a small business is not for the faint-hearted, the challenge of trying to stand out amidst fierce competition can be a daunting one. One way to create an effective marketing strategy is by looking at your competitors’ marketing strategies. By analysing and reviewing your competitors’ digital strategy, you can gain valuable insights to inform and enhance your marketing plans.

Identify the Best Platforms

The first step in this process is identifying and studying the digital platforms and channels where your competitors are most active. This can include social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, websites, blogs, email marketing, search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies, and paid advertising campaigns. By discovering where your competitors are focusing their efforts, you can gain a clearer understanding of the digital landscape relevant to your industry.

Evaluate Content and Messaging

Once you have identified the digital platforms your competitors are using, take a closer look at the content they are sharing. Assess the type of content they are producing, the tone of their messaging, and how they are engaging with their audience. Consider how often they are posting and with what material (are they using stills, videos or lives?). Focus on which content is bringing them the most likes and engagement. This can provide valuable inspiration for designing your content strategy.

Audience Engagement

Another crucial aspect of competitor analysis is evaluating how their audience is interacting with their digital content. Look into the level of engagement their posts receive, including likes, comments, and shares. This can help you to understand what resonates with their audience and can offer key insights into the preferences and expectations of your shared target market.

Paid Advertising

In addition to organic content, it’s important to review your competitors’ digital advertising strategies. Analyse their use of paid social media advertising, such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Look into the types of ads they are running, the targeting options they are using, and the effectiveness of their ad campaigns. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of how they are reaching and capturing the attention of potential customers through paid digital promotions.

Plan Your Marketing Strategy

You can use the information you have gained about what is and what isn’t working for your competitors to put together your digital strategy. You may also want to identify areas where you can stand out from your competitors, whether it’s through unique messaging, more relatable content, or a more personal approach to reaching your audience. By consistently monitoring and adapting your strategy based on competitor insights, you can position your small business for digital marketing success.

With over forty years of combined marketing experience, we know that marketing can be a daunting task for small business owners, so we have created a range of support packages to help you grow and develop your business. Prices start from only £120 and we don’t tie our clients into long contracts. Get in touch with Ava Rose Marketing to find out more or visit our services page.