Reverse engineering your competitors’ approaches can show why their websites rank high while yours might lag. You can gain a competitive edge by following the steps outlined in this article. So, let’s get started without further delay.

Site Structure

The foundation of any SEO strategy lies in the structure of your website. The first step is to assess how many pages and posts your site contains. For this demonstration, we’ll use the example of Dennis Nottingham’s website. Let’s navigate to his site and examine its structure.

Click on the top-ranking website.

Append”/sitemap.xml” to the URL to access the site’s sitemap.

The reason for checking both the post and page sitemaps is to understand the topical authority of the website. Copy all the service pages into a Google Sheet for later analysis. Ensure you also do this with other sites to gain a broader perspective.

Copy all the service pages relevant to your client’s offerings. Additionally, include essential pages like”Our Clinic,””Feedback,””Contact,” and”Privacy Policy” if applicable to your client’s website.

Keywords

Before delving into on-page optimization, it’s crucial to identify which pages on your competitor’s website are driving the most traffic. This step will help you compile a keyword sheet with primary keywords and LSI keywords (related terms). LSI keywords provide context and relevance to your content.

We’ll use a tool like Ahrefs to perform this analysis. Input the competitor’s website URL into Ahrefs’ Site Explorer and navigate to”Organic Keywords.”

Identifying the primary keywords driving traffic is vital. Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz’s Keyword Explorer, or Google Keyword Planner.

Content and On-Page Optimization

Understanding the content and on-page elements of your competitor’s website is crucial. To analyze these aspects, you can use browser extensions like SEO Minion, a free tool.

Evaluate the page’s structure of H1, H2, and H3 headers.

Analyze the schema markup used on the page.

Take note of how many H1 headers are used. Excessive H1 headers can make search engines understand the page’s main topic. Export this information to your Google Sheet.

SEO Services: Optimize your website’s content by appropriately structuring H1, H2, and H3 headers. Utilize schema markup, such as local business schema, to provide additional information to search engines.

Link Profile

Contrary to the belief that links no longer matter in SEO, they remain a significant ranking factor in 2023. Analyzing your competitor’s link profile can provide valuable insights into their SEO strategy.

Use tools like Ahrefs to examine their backlink profile. Pay attention to the anchor text, referring domains, and link types, especially do-follow links.

SEO Services: Focus on acquiring quality backlinks, including web 2.0 and directory links. These links can significantly impact your website’s authority and rankings.

In summary, reverse engineering your competitor’s SEO strategy involves four key steps:

Site Structure: Analyze the competitor’s site to understand its layout and pages.

Keywords: Identify primary keywords driving traffic to competitor’s pages.

Content and On-Page Optimization: Assess header structure and schema markup.

Link Profile: Analyze backlinks to gain insights into their link-building strategy.

By following these steps and incorporating them into your SEO strategy, your website will rank higher and gain a competitive advantage. Remember to adapt these findings to your client’s specific needs and services.

Please feel free to reach out to Convex Studio if you have any questions or need further assistance. We’re here to help you succeed in the ever-evolving world of SEO. Best of luck with your SEO endeavours.