Monitoring your competitors' marketing activity is an excellent strategy to maintain a competitive edge. It may seem daunting, but it's actually quite simple.
Here are seven valuable tips to assist you in tracking pricing trends, evaluating enhancements to products or services, and staying informed about changes in their marketing strategies and tactics.
Before you start tracking competitive marketing, it's important to conduct some research to determine which companies should be included on your list. This step may seem obvious, but it can lead to surprising discoveries.
To identify your competitors, consider the following:
Don't forget to also consider substitute products. For example, if you sell heating oil, it's worthwhile to monitor the marketing practices of natural gas and propane distributors as well.
The internet is a wealth of information waiting to be discovered. Take advantage of this vast resource to gain insights into your competitors' marketing strategies. With a wide range of tools available, it is now easier than ever to identify which firms are outperforming your company in terms of targeted keywords. By researching the keywords your competitors are bidding on, you can develop your own PPC and SEO strategies to stay one step ahead.
Here are some tools worth checking out that will impress your boss with fresh ideas:
This is a great idea because you can learn by seeing what works and doesn’t work from them. Track how frequently they post, the type of content they are posting and which tactics generated the most likes or shares. Looking at their content can also spark a new idea that would work great for your company.
This quick and easy step takes less than a minute and provides a wealth of valuable information about your competition.
Bonus tip: Set up alerts for industry buzzwords that could impact your business.
Mystery shopping is an effective strategy to uncover the strengths and vulnerabilities of your competitors. So gather your team and discreetly assess their performance without drawing attention.
Moreover, consider making a purchase of their product. This will provide valuable insights into their shipping time, packaging quality, and how it compares to your own product.
Follow your competitors' social media outlets and see how well they control their chatter.
It's crucial to pay attention to the social media platforms that your competitors are using and determine which ones are the most effective for them. Additionally, be sure to identify any gaps that exist in your industry. You may discover that there is an untapped opportunity on Pinterest or another platform that you can leverage to your advantage.
Customer reviews, including those of your competitors, provide valuable insights into the preferences and priorities of customers. By analyzing these reviews, you can identify areas where your competitors may be falling short and capitalize on these weaknesses to attract new clients. It is also important to assess how your competitors respond to reviews and handle customer situations.
To get a quick takeaway, feel free to download this infographic, which will provide you with valuable insights and guidance to kickstart your competitive analysis and tracking.