Well No. Any Search give thousand of results. But you are basically competing with top ten results which is like ability which if you have for a niche you will rank. Don't do what your competitors are doing. For long term do just the opposite of what they are doing. After that see what strategies is unavoidable and copy. For ex if they make do follow links make nofollow links etc. Competitors analysis is for study of the niche and if you can make better content. If you also do the same thing the niche becomes unnecessarily competitive. So more and more link dependent instead of content dependent. Same if it is a short term project.
When I use to give competitive exam I never saw what others are studying. Just genuine interest in subject which only top rankers have. I only saw the minimum statistical requirements like cut off etc for that rank that is all. I got All India rank 40 something for GATE exam
all India 4000 something in JEE and AIEEE and IES to qualify for interview etc. Its like coaching institutes in India that has made colleges and Job exam unnecessarily competitive and a business.
