How to Check Out Local Competitors on Google: The Complete Local SEO Competitor Analysis Guide
Master local SEO competitor analysis with this comprehensive guide. Learn how to identify, analyze, and outperform local competitors on Google using advanced research techniques, competitive intelligence strategies, and data-driven insights to dominate your local market.
Dilshad Akhtar
29 December 2024
32 min read
TLDRQuick Summary
•Local competitor analysis is crucial for developing effective local SEO strategies and gaining competitive advantage
•Use multiple tools and methods to identify all relevant local competitors in your target market
•Analyze Google My Business profiles, keywords, backlinks, and social media presence of competitors
•Conduct comprehensive SWOT analysis to identify opportunities and threats in your local market
•Monitor competitor changes and adapt your strategies based on their moves
•Focus on content gap analysis to create superior content that competitors lack
•Develop pricing, service, and website strategies that differentiate you from competitors
•Regular competitor monitoring ensures you stay ahead in local search rankings
In the competitive world of local business, knowledge isn't just power—it's survival. Understanding what your local competitors are doing on Google can make the difference between dominating your market and getting lost in the crowd. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to systematically analyze your local competitors on Google, uncovering their strategies, identifying their weaknesses, and developing data-driven tactics to outperform them in local search results. Whether you're a local restaurant owner, service provider, or retailer, mastering competitor analysis is essential for local SEO success.
Why Local Competitor Analysis Matters for Your Business
Local competitor analysis is the foundation of effective local SEO strategy. Understanding what your competitors are doing on Google helps you identify opportunities, avoid their mistakes, and develop strategies that give you a competitive edge.
The Strategic Value of Competitor Intelligence
Key Benefits of Local Competitor Analysis
Market Understanding: Gain insights into local market dynamics and customer preferences
Strategy Development: Identify proven tactics and avoid common pitfalls
Opportunity Identification: Find gaps in competitor strategies you can exploit
Performance Benchmarking: Measure your performance against market leaders
Risk Mitigation: Anticipate competitor moves and prepare defensive strategies
Impact on Local Search Rankings
How Competitor Analysis Affects Rankings
Keyword Strategy: Discover high-performing keywords competitors rank for
Backlink Opportunities: Find link-building opportunities from competitor analysis
Local Schema Markup: See what structured data competitors use
Review Strategy: Learn from competitor review management approaches
Competitive Advantage Through Intelligence
Turning Analysis into Action
Differentiation: Develop unique value propositions based on competitor weaknesses
Resource Allocation: Focus efforts on strategies with highest ROI
Timing: Launch campaigns when competitors are vulnerable
Innovation: Identify underserved customer needs in your market
Tools and Methods for Finding Local Competitors on Google
The first step in local competitor analysis is identifying who your competitors actually are. This goes beyond obvious direct competitors to include indirect competitors and businesses targeting similar customer segments.
Google Search and Maps Analysis
Primary Research Methods
Local Pack Analysis: Search for your primary keywords and analyze the top 3 local results
Google Maps Search: Use Maps to find businesses in your geographic area
"Near Me" Queries: Search for location-based terms to find local competitors
Related Searches: Note Google's suggested related searches for additional competitors
People Also Search For: Use Google's "People also search for" feature to discover related businesses
Advanced Competitor Discovery Tools
Google My Business Insights
View competitor profiles in Google My Business
Analyze their business information completeness
Check their photo galleries and virtual tours
Monitor their regular updates and offers
Local SEO Tools
BrightLocal for local competitor analysis
Whitespark for local citation and review management
ReviewTrackers for competitor review monitoring
Yext for local listing management insights
Keyword Research Tools
Google Keyword Planner for local keyword volume
SEMrush for competitor keyword analysis
Ahrefs for backlink and content gap analysis
Moz Local for local search visibility tracking
Competitor Classification Framework
Types of Local Competitors to Track
Direct Competitors: Businesses offering identical products/services in your area
Indirect Competitors: Businesses serving same customer needs with different solutions
Aspiring Competitors: New or growing businesses that could become direct threats
Regional Competitors: Established businesses in nearby areas expanding locally
Online-Only Competitors: Digital businesses competing for same search terms
Analyzing Competitor Google My Business Profiles
Google My Business (GMB) profiles are the cornerstone of local SEO. Analyzing competitor GMB profiles provides valuable insights into their local SEO strategies and customer engagement tactics.
Profile Completeness and Optimization
Essential GMB Elements to Analyze
Business Name: Check for consistent branding and legal business name usage
Business Categories: Primary and secondary categories selected
Address and Contact Info: Accuracy and completeness of business details
Business Hours: Operating hours and special hours configurations
Website and Phone: Click-to-call and website click tracking
Business Description: Keyword optimization and unique selling propositions
Visual Content Strategy Analysis
Photo Gallery Assessment
Number and quality of business photos
Product/service photography effectiveness
Team photos and behind-the-scenes content
Customer photos and user-generated content
Regularity of photo updates and freshness
Virtual Tour and Video Content
Presence of Google Virtual Tours
Video content integration and quality
360-degree photos and interactive content
Live video sessions and stories
Logo and Branding Consistency
Professional logo design and usage
Brand color scheme consistency
Visual branding across all profile elements
Custom cover photo and profile optimization
Attributes and Features Analysis
GMB Features to Evaluate
Business Attributes: Services, amenities, and features listed
Products and Services: Detailed service listings and pricing transparency
Booking and Reservations: Integration with booking systems
Menu and Ordering: Digital menu integration and online ordering
Special Offers: Promotions, deals, and special announcements
Events and Updates: Regular business updates and event promotions
Review Management Strategies
Competitor Review Analysis
Review Volume: Total number of reviews and review velocity
Rating Distribution: Average rating and star distribution
Response Strategy: How quickly and effectively they respond to reviews
Review Themes: Common customer feedback and sentiment analysis
Review Acquisition: Methods used to encourage customer reviews
Keyword Research Based on Competitor Analysis
Competitor keyword analysis reveals the search terms driving traffic to your competitors' websites and GMB profiles, helping you identify high-value keywords for your own optimization efforts.
Competitor Keyword Discovery Methods
Tools and Techniques for Keyword Research
SEMrush Keyword Gap Analysis: Compare your keywords with competitors
Ahrefs Content Explorer: Find top-performing content in your niche
Moz Keyword Explorer: Discover local and long-tail keywords
Google Search Console: Analyze your own search performance data
Google Keyword Planner: Research keyword volume and competition
Google Trends: Analyze seasonal trends and regional interest
Local Keyword Analysis Framework
Primary Local Keywords
Business name + location (e.g., "restaurant in downtown")
Service + location (e.g., "plumbing service near me")
Product + location (e.g., "coffee shop main street")
Industry + location (e.g., "dentist office area")
Long-Tail Local Keywords
Specific service queries (e.g., "emergency plumbing service 24/7")
Backlink analysis reveals the external websites linking to your competitors, providing insights into their link-building strategies and potential opportunities for your own local SEO efforts.
Local Link Building Opportunities
Types of Local Backlinks to Analyze
Local Directories: Yelp, Yellow Pages, local chamber of commerce
Industry Associations: Professional organizations and trade groups
Local Media: Newspapers, TV stations, radio stations
Community Organizations: Local charities, events, and community groups
Local Blogs and Websites: City guides, neighborhood sites, local influencers
Analyze competitor backlink profiles and domain authority
Identify high-quality local link opportunities
Track new and lost backlinks over time
Analyze anchor text distribution and link quality
Moz Link Explorer
Domain Authority and Page Authority metrics
Spam score analysis for competitor backlinks
Link opportunity identification
Local citation tracking and management
SEMrush Backlink Analytics
Competitor backlink comparison tools
Historical backlink data and trends
Backlink gap analysis between competitors
Toxic backlink identification and disavowal
Local Link Building Strategies
Proven Local Link Building Tactics
Local Sponsorships: Sponsor local events, charities, and community organizations
Guest Blogging: Write articles for local blogs and community websites
Local Partnerships: Partner with complementary local businesses
Testimonials and Reviews: Provide testimonials for local suppliers and partners
Resource Pages: Get listed on local resource and directory pages
Local Media Coverage: Pitch stories to local journalists and media outlets
Citation Building Analysis
Local Citation Strategy Evaluation
Citation Consistency: How consistently competitors appear across directories
Citation Quality: Authority and relevance of citing websites
Nap Consistency: Name, Address, Phone consistency across citations
Industry Directories: Specialized directories for your industry
Local Listings: Complete coverage across local listing sites
Social Media Presence Comparison
Social media analysis reveals how competitors engage with customers online, manage their brand presence, and drive traffic to their local business listings.
Social Media Platform Analysis
Key Social Metrics to Track
Follower Count: Size of competitor audiences across platforms
Engagement Rate: Likes, comments, shares per post
Posting Frequency: How often competitors post content
Content Strategy: Types of content that perform best
Response Time: How quickly competitors respond to messages
Cross-Platform Integration: How social profiles link to website and GMB
Content Strategy Evaluation
Content Types and Themes
Product/service showcases and demonstrations
Customer testimonials and user-generated content
Educational content and industry insights
Behind-the-scenes and team culture posts
Promotional content and special offers
Community engagement and local event participation
Visual Content Quality
Photo and video quality and professionalism
Branding consistency across all posts
Use of stories, reels, and short-form content
Live video sessions and Q&A events
User-generated content encouragement
Engagement and Community Management
Response rate to comments and messages
Community building and conversation starters
Customer service handling on social platforms
Influencer partnerships and collaborations
Contest and giveaway management
Social Media Tools for Analysis
Competitor Social Media Monitoring Tools
Hootsuite Insights: Social media competitor analysis and benchmarking
Sprout Social: Competitive analysis and social listening
Brandwatch: Social media monitoring and sentiment analysis
Iconosquare: Instagram competitor analysis and insights
Followerwonk: Twitter competitor analysis and follower insights
GMB Integration: How competitors link social profiles to Google My Business
Review Generation: Social media strategies for encouraging Google reviews
Website Traffic: How social media drives traffic to local business websites
Brand Consistency: Unified messaging across social and local listings
Event Promotion: Social media strategies for promoting local events
Pricing, Service Offerings, and Website Analysis
Analyzing competitor pricing strategies, service offerings, and website design provides insights into market positioning and customer value propositions.
Competitor Pricing Strategy Analysis
Pricing Intelligence Gathering
Service Packages: Different service tiers and pricing structures
Pricing Transparency: How openly competitors display pricing information
Dynamic Pricing: Time-based or demand-based pricing strategies
Discount Strategies: Promotional pricing and discount patterns
Value-Added Services: Free services or bonuses included in pricing
Payment Options: Accepted payment methods and financing options
Service Offering Comparison
Core Service Analysis
Range and depth of services offered
Service quality indicators and certifications
Unique service offerings or specialties
Service delivery methods and channels
Service guarantees and satisfaction policies
Customer Experience Factors
Appointment booking and scheduling systems
Customer communication and follow-up processes
Customer education and consultation approaches
Post-service support and maintenance offerings
Customer loyalty and retention programs
Service Differentiation
Unique selling propositions and competitive advantages
Technology integration and innovation in service delivery
Customization and personalization capabilities
Speed and convenience factors
Quality and reliability differentiators
Website Design and User Experience Analysis
Website Performance Evaluation
Loading Speed: Page load times and performance optimization
Mobile Responsiveness: Mobile user experience and design adaptation
Navigation Structure: Website organization and user flow
Content Quality: Information architecture and content presentation
Conversion Optimization: Call-to-action placement and conversion funnel design
Trust Signals: Security badges, testimonials, and credibility indicators
Technology and Feature Analysis
Digital Capabilities Assessment
Booking Systems: Online appointment booking and reservation systems
E-commerce Integration: Online ordering and payment processing
CRM Integration: Customer relationship management systems
Analytics Implementation: Website analytics and tracking capabilities
SEO Optimization: Technical SEO implementation and on-page optimization
Security Features: SSL certificates, security measures, and data protection
Local Citation and Directory Presence Analysis
Citation analysis evaluates how consistently and completely competitors appear across local directories and online listings, which significantly impacts local search rankings.
Citation Profile Assessment
Citation Quality Metrics
Citation Consistency: How consistently competitors appear across directories
Citation Quality: Authority and relevance of citing websites
NAP Consistency: Name, Address, Phone consistency across citations
Industry Directories: Specialized directories for your industry
Local Listings: Complete coverage across local listing sites
Directory Presence Evaluation
Major Directory Coverage
Google My Business and Google Maps listings
Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local review platforms
Industry-specific directories and associations
Chamber of Commerce and local business organizations
BBB (Better Business Bureau) and trust organizations
Citation Management Tools
BrightLocal citation tracker for monitoring listings
Whitespark for citation building and management
Yext for multi-location citation management
Moz Local for citation auditing and optimization
Citation Strategy Analysis
Competitor citation acquisition strategies
Response time to citation requests
Citation claim and verification processes
Regular citation updates and maintenance
Local Schema Markup Analysis
Structured Data Implementation
Local Business Schema: Implementation of local business structured data
Review Schema: Rich snippet optimization for reviews and ratings
Service Schema: Detailed service information markup
Event Schema: Local event and promotion markup
Organization Schema: Company information and credibility signals
SWOT Analysis for Local Businesses
SWOT analysis provides a structured framework for evaluating your competitive position by analyzing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in your local market.
Conducting Competitor SWOT Analysis
SWOT Framework for Local Competitors
Strengths: What competitors do exceptionally well in your market
Weaknesses: Areas where competitors struggle or underperform
Opportunities: Market gaps and trends competitors aren't exploiting
Threats: External factors that could impact competitor performance
Strengths Analysis
Brand and Reputation
Established brand recognition and customer loyalty
Strong online reputation and review management
Brand consistency across all marketing channels
Customer retention and referral programs
Market Position
Dominant local search rankings and visibility
Strong local citation and directory presence
Established relationships with local partners
Market share and customer base size
Operational Excellence
Efficient processes and service delivery
Technology integration and digital capabilities
Staff expertise and training programs
Quality control and customer satisfaction metrics
Weaknesses Analysis
Competitor Vulnerabilities
Service Gaps: Services or products competitors don't offer
Customer Service Issues: Poor response times or service quality
Outdated Technology: Lack of modern digital capabilities
Pricing Disadvantages: Higher prices or less competitive offerings
Geographic Limitations: Limited service areas or coverage
Opportunities Analysis
Market Opportunities
Emerging Trends: New technologies or services competitors haven't adopted
Customer Needs: Unmet customer demands in your market
Geographic Expansion: Underserved areas or new market segments
Partnership Opportunities: Strategic alliances competitors haven't formed
Content Gaps: Topics and information competitors aren't covering
Action Planning: Convert insights into actionable strategies
Performance Tracking: Measure the impact of competitive strategies
Conclusion
Local competitor analysis on Google is not a one-time activity—it's an ongoing process that should become part of your regular business routine. By systematically monitoring your competitors, analyzing their strategies, and adapting your approach based on what you learn, you can maintain a competitive edge in your local market. Remember that the goal isn't just to copy what your competitors are doing, but to identify opportunities where you can provide superior value to your customers. Use the insights from your competitor analysis to refine your local SEO strategy, improve your Google My Business profile, and create content that better serves your target audience. With consistent effort and smart analysis, you can transform competitor research from a defensive tactic into a powerful offensive strategy that drives real business growth.
Ready to Build Your Dream Website?
Let's discuss your project and create something amazing together.
About Dilshad Akhtar
Founder of Sharp Digital with extensive experience in local SEO and competitor analysis. Expert in helping local businesses dominate their Google search presence.
Related Articles
Discover more insights about web development and digital marketing
8 min read
Which is the Best Web Development Company in Jamshedpur?
Discover why Sharp Digital is the best web development company in Jamshedpur. Expert web development services with local understanding and global standards. 5+ years experience, 100+ projects.
Discover why WordPress powers 40% of the web and remains the top choice for websites. Learn about its flexibility, customization options, and advantages over platforms like Wix.
Yes, WordPress sites are secure, but only if you do the right things. Do you know that WordPress powers over 40% of the internet. Due to its popularity wordpress becomes a common target for hackers. But using proper technique, regular updates, and the right tools, your WordPress site could become the most secure website on the planet.