SEO Content: Competitor Research#

Guides competitor research for SEO, content, backlinks, and positioning. Use when planning content, auditing articles, building links, or evaluating market position.

When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Research Types#

TypePurposeOutputKeyword/topicTopics competitors rank for; gapsKeyword opportunities; content ideasContentStructure, length, gaps vs top rankersLength target; H2 structure; content gapsBacklinkLink profile; sites linking to competitorsLink gap; outreach targetsPricingCompetitor pricing, positioningPricing context; differentiationSEO metricsOrganic traffic, rankings vs competitorsBenchmark; opportunity areas

Competitor Keyword / Topic Analysis#

MethodPracticeReverse engineeringAnalyze competitor titles, H1, URL; identify topics they rank forSERP overlapKeywords with overlapping top-ranking pages → same cluster; #4–10 = opportunitysite: operatorsite:competitor.com to see indexed pagesToolAhrefs, Semrush—competitor keyword overlap, gap analysis

Output: Keyword opportunities; topics competitors cover that you don't.

Competitor Content Analysis#

ElementCheckWord countTop 10 average; length target for your contentH2 structureTopics covered; structure to adoptContent gapsWhat top rankers cover that you missKeyword placementPrimary keyword in title, H1, first 100 wordsFormatLists, tables, FAQ; match or improve

Use when: Auditing or creating articles; see article-page-generator for Research Phase integration.

Competitor Article Fetch Workflow (for Article Analysis)#

When analyzing or auditing a single article, use this lightweight workflow to obtain competitor articles:

1. Obtain URLs: From user, project-context Section 11, or web search for "[target keyword]" to find top-ranking pages
2. Fetch content: Use mcp_web_fetch or WebSearch to fetch 2–3 top-ranking pages
3. Analyze: Word count, H2 structure, keyword placement, content gaps, CTA, schema
4. Output: Competitor URLs, brief structure comparison, content gaps, length target, keyword opportunities

Output format: Competitor URLs; word count and H2 structure per URL; content gaps vs your article; recommended length target; keyword opportunities (terms top rankers use that your article misses).

Competitor Backlink Analysis#

ActionPurposeCompare profilesYour backlinks vs competitorsLink gapSites linking to competitors but not youOpportunityOutreach to those sites; content they might link to

Tools: Ahrefs, Semrush—Link Intersect, competitor backlink reports. See backlink-analysis.

Competitor Pricing#

UsePracticePositioningWhere you sit vs competitorsDifferentiationValue prop when price differsAlternatives pagesWho to include; how to position

See pricing-strategy, alternatives-page-generator.

Data Sources#

SourceUseSimilarWebTraffic, engagement, traffic sources by domainAhrefsCompetitor domains, backlinks, DRSEMrushOrganic competitors, traffic shareGAReferral traffic, acquisition by sourcePostHogCompetitor feature usage (if tracked)

Report Workflow#

1. Parse — Read Excel/CSV, infer domain, visits, traffic sources, etc. from headers
2. Enrich — Web search, visit competitor sites; read project-context.md if present
3. Build — Structure data for report
4. Generate — Output report in chosen format

Output Format#

• Competitors identified
• Research type (keyword, content, backlink, pricing)
• Findings (gaps, opportunities, benchmarks)
• Recommendations (content to create, links to pursue, positioning)

Report Structure Reference#

SectionContentExecutive SummaryKey findings (top 3), top 3 recommendationsCompetitor OverviewCompetitor, category, market position, key strengthProduct ComparisonFeature/capability vs Us vs CompetitorsSWOT AnalysisOur strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats; competitor deep divesMarketing & MessagingValue prop, target audience, key channelsGaps & OpportunitiesGap, opportunity, priorityPrioritized RecommendationsRecommendation, impact, effort, owner

Related Skills#

• keyword-research: Competitor reverse; keyword discovery
• article-page-generator: Competitor article analysis in Research Phase
• content-strategy: Competitor analysis for topic mapping
• content-optimization: Competitor length and structure as reference
• backlink-analysis: Competitor backlink comparison; link gap
• seo-monitoring: Competitive comparison; organic vs competitors
• alternatives-page-generator: Competitor selection; comparison framing
• migration-page-generator: Competitor migration paths
• pricing-strategy: Competitor pricing context
• affiliate-marketing: Find affiliates promoting competitors
• directories: Competitor info for directory submissions