Observations from Studying Other Sites

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How often do you browse competitor sites?

Part of my daily routine involves checking out the competition. I want to know what they feel is important. No, it doesn't always define my own site, but it is one part of the research I do.

I wrote recently about a new approach I'm taking with one of my websites. It's a niche that I have a great amount of personal experience with but my experience seems to be different than many other people state.

The previous article is: https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/dianek59/blog/positive-think...

Since the comments on forums and groups seem so negative, I decided it was time to do more than just check out other related sites. This time, I delved deep into research to see if maybe the tone had just changed on the niche from when I first entered. Maybe I just missed it.

I took quite a bit of time with this. It's important to me and I felt that I needed to take a deeper look.

The results confirmed what I'm seeing on the groups and forums. Similar niche sites seem to fall into two categories.

  • Many sites simply state medical or technical type knowledge.
  • Other sites tug at the emotional side of the issue.

I didn't see much overlap.

The knowledge sites range from a bit dry, filled with useful information, but lacking that emotional feel that this niche really craves, in my opinion.

However, the emotional sites seem to be filled with quite a lot of negativity and have little in the way of true education.

My site combines the two, leaving me to wonder if I've made the right choices. I have over 50 posts and many more planned.

The approach I am taking feels right. I feature ways for people to find a good solution for their needs (supplies, equipment, useful tips) while also encouraging them to manage the emotional roller-coaster and sometimes quite stressful times the niche often includes.

I'll be continuing my research and also tracking my posts very closely. I need to see what my readers are most interested in. But I'm also now tracking my competitors a bit more closely. Even though I believe my approach is the right one, I acknowledge that I could be wrong or at least not perfectly right. Time will tell.

How closely do you follow your competitors' websites? Do you find that information useful?

I'm on a mission to find out!

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Recent Comments

45

Diane, great question
I always use my keywords to do an analysis in Jaaxy

This tells me who my first 10 competitors are. I also do the same keywords research in Google

Even though, they are all saying the same things. It gives me a chance, like you, on how to be different in my approach with my content to my readers

I am always following them very closely

It sounds like you are on the right track, Simone!

Thank you Diane

Competition is healthy and - yes looking at what is working now and then trying to make ours better is what we strive for,

I often check what the competition is doing, unfortunately, or fortunately, a lot of the competition is here in WA learning the same things I am.

We all have an equal chance.

Alex

That might present more challenges, I suppose.

More challenges - yes, but also more opportunity.

Yes, that's true, too!

That's what I'm doing now: Looking at competitors websites. Before writing content, I check who is on the first page, then I try to write a better one.

I also use some tools to see what kind of backlinks they have, etc.

Sounds like a good plan.

I must admit that I only look at competitors sites when looking for information.

I use them for that, too. But I guess the researcher in me is always seeking to expand.

Knowing what other sites are doing is a big help.

Yes, it is.

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