What are your competitors' analysis methods/tools/prompts when launching a new site?

[cockus]

What are your competitors' analysis methods/tools/prompts when launching a new site? Do you use specific prompts? Tools? Or manual checks only?

Lets say you have a idea to launch a site and there are only a few competitors and you know you can beat them. However, these competitors are authoritative sites in a local market.

 

[DangerJones]

For research you really only need Perplexity, Claude, Grok, OpenClaw and WisprFlow and then to talk through the problem by building a niche research report, scanning Reddit and socials for topic clusters and common questions, seeing who the different dominators are for different types of media content, put together unanswered questions and high traffic/trend focused stuff and you’re offer to the races.

 

[Ontenet Digital Ltd]

For a new local site, I start with manual SERP analysis first. I check who ranks, what page type ranks, their titles, content depth, GBP strength, reviews, local citations, backlinks, and weak points.

Tools I usually use: Ahrefs/Semrush for backlink and keyword gaps, Screaming Frog for technical/on-page checks, and manual Google searches for real SERP intent.

Simple prompt after collecting data:“Analyze these top competitors for [service] in [city]. Find their SEO strengths, content gaps, backlink opportunities, local trust signals, weak pages, and suggest a 90-day plan to beat them.”

AI helps organize the research, but manual SERP checking is still the most important part.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

When launching a new site, I use a mix of tools and manual checks. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Search Console help analyze keywords, backlinks, and traffic.

I check competitors’ top pages, keywords, content quality, and backlinks. I also review their site structure and local SEO signals. Then I create better, more helpful content and build stronger, relevant links.

 

[Linvora]

What are your competitors' analysis methods/tools/prompts when launching a new site? Do you use specific prompts? Tools? Or manual checks only?

Lets say you have a idea to launch a site and there are only a few competitors and you know you can beat them. However, these competitors are authoritative sites in a local market.

Keep it simple: analyze top pages (keywords, structure, content depth), check their backlinks, and spot gaps. Use Ahrefs/Ubersuggest + manual SERP review. Don’t copy—do it better (intent + depth + UX) and grab a few strong local links.