20 of the best prompts for SEO competitor analysis, step by step across 4 stages. Works with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

20 of the best prompts for SEO competitor analysis, step by step across 4 stages. Works with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Published June 28, 2026
SEO professionals often struggle with gathering and analyzing competitor data efficiently. This guide covers four key stages: identifying competitors, analyzing their strategies, benchmarking performance metrics, and deriving actionable insights. Users will produce comprehensive competitor analysis reports that inform their SEO strategies and content planning. This guide walks you through every stage of SEO Competitor Analysis, from Identify Key Competitors all the way through Derive Actionable Insights, with a curated, copy-ready prompt at each step. Each stage targets a specific phase of the process so you always know exactly what to ask and what output to expect. Works with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini and any other major AI tool.
This stage focuses on pinpointing direct and indirect competitors in your niche. Understanding who your competitors are is crucial for effective analysis and strategy development.
List top competitors in [INDUSTRY]
Generate a list of the top 5 competitors in the [INDUSTRY] sector. For each competitor, provide their website URL, a brief description of their main offerings, and detail their target audience. This analysis will assist in understanding the competitive landscape and identifying key players for further examination.
Identify indirect competitors for [PRODUCT]
Conduct a competitive analysis report for [PRODUCT] in the [MARKET SEGMENT]. Identify 3 to 5 indirect competitors and provide a detailed comparison that includes their target audience, key offerings, and unique selling propositions. Structure the report with an introduction, a section dedicated to each competitor, and a conclusion that summarizes insights on how these indirect competitors meet customer needs differently than direct competitors.
Analyze competitor market positioning
Conduct a detailed analysis of [COMPETITOR NAME]'s market positioning and present it in a structured report. Include sections that cover their unique selling propositions, target demographics, and marketing strategies. Assess their strengths and weaknesses based on these factors, providing specific examples and data to support your analysis. Finally, conclude with actionable recommendations on how to differentiate our brand from [YOUR BRAND NAME].
Compile competitor social media presence
Create a detailed report on the social media presence of [COMPETITOR NAME]. Include sections for each of the top 3 platforms they utilize, detailing their follower counts, engagement rates, and types of content shared. Analyze how these factors contribute to their overall social media strategy and audience engagement. Based on your findings, provide specific recommendations for how [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] can enhance its own social media approach to better compete in the market.
Identify emerging competitors in [NICHE]
Identify emerging competitors in [NICHE] by conducting a competitive analysis report. Focus on 2 to 3 emerging competitors and provide a detailed overview for each, including their innovative strategies, unique features, and potential impact on the market landscape. Structure the report with sections for each competitor, including an introduction, analysis, and a conclusion that summarizes key insights to aid in understanding market dynamics and identifying potential threats.
In this stage, you will evaluate the SEO and content strategies of your identified competitors. Understanding their tactics will help you refine your own approach.
Evaluate competitor keyword strategies
Analyze the SEO keyword strategies of [COMPETITOR NAME] and create a detailed report. Include sections for the top 5 keywords they rank for, specifying their search volume, keyword difficulty, and current ranking positions. Additionally, assess how these keywords align with [COMPETITOR NAME]'s content strategy, identify potential gaps in your own keyword approach, and conclude with actionable recommendations for enhancing your SEO strategy based on this analysis.
Assess competitor backlink profiles
Analyze the backlink profile of [COMPETITOR NAME] and create a detailed report. Include sections for the top 5 referring domains along with their domain authority scores. Summarize the types of content that attract links for each domain and provide insights into their link-building strategies. Finally, conclude with specific recommendations on how to enhance your own backlink strategy based on the analysis of these competitors.
Analyze content types used by competitors
Analyze the content types produced by [COMPETITOR NAME] in detail. Create a comprehensive report that includes sections for blog posts, videos, infographics, and social media content. For each content type, provide an overview of the format, examples of successful pieces, and an analysis of engagement metrics such as likes, shares, and comments. Conclude with insights on which formats appear to drive the most traffic and engagement, and offer specific recommendations for your own content strategy based on these findings.
Review competitor on-page SEO tactics
Analyze the on-page SEO tactics of [COMPETITOR NAME] and create a detailed report. Include sections that cover their use of headings, meta descriptions, internal linking structures, and keyword placement. For each section, provide specific examples from their website, evaluate the effectiveness of these tactics, and suggest actionable improvements that can enhance your own SEO strategy. Finally, conclude with a summary of best practices to adopt based on your analysis.
Identify competitor content gaps
Analyze the content strategy of [COMPETITOR NAME] to identify gaps in their coverage. Create a detailed report that includes sections for missing topics, keywords they are not addressing, and suggested content ideas to fill these gaps. For each suggestion, provide a brief rationale explaining how it could attract their audience and enhance your own SEO strategy.
This stage involves comparing your performance metrics against those of your competitors. Benchmarking helps identify areas for improvement and growth.
Compare organic traffic metrics
Conduct a comparative analysis report on the organic traffic metrics of [YOUR WEBSITE] and [COMPETITOR NAME]. Include sections for total visits, bounce rate, and average session duration. For each metric, analyze how your site performs relative to the competitor, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, provide actionable recommendations to enhance your organic traffic performance based on the findings. Ensure the report is structured clearly and includes data visualizations where applicable.
Benchmark keyword rankings
Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the keyword rankings for [YOUR WEBSITE] in comparison to [COMPETITOR NAME]. Create a detailed report that includes three sections: 1) keywords where your site ranks higher, 2) keywords where your site ranks lower, and 3) keywords where both sites rank equally. For each section, provide insights on potential areas for optimization and strategies to improve rankings. Additionally, summarize your findings and include actionable recommendations for enhancing overall SEO performance.
Analyze social media engagement rates
Analyze the social media engagement rates for [YOUR WEBSITE] and [COMPETITOR NAME]. Create a comparative report that includes sections for likes, shares, and comments on similar posts. For each metric, provide insights on how these figures reflect overall social media effectiveness. Additionally, include actionable recommendations for improving engagement based on the analysis. Present the findings in a structured format with clear headings and bullet points for easy readability.
Review conversion rates
Analyze the conversion rates of [YOUR WEBSITE] in comparison to [COMPETITOR NAME]. Create a detailed report that includes sections on lead generation metrics, sales conversion rates, and insights on strengths and weaknesses. For each metric, provide a brief analysis explaining how it impacts overall effectiveness, and suggest specific areas for improvement. Additionally, include visual representations such as graphs or charts to illustrate key differences and trends in the data.
Evaluate content performance metrics
Analyze the performance metrics of your top content in comparison to [COMPETITOR NAME]'s best-performing content. Create a detailed report that includes sections for page views, shares, and time on page. For each metric, include a comparison chart, highlight key differences, and suggest actionable insights to enhance your content strategy. Finally, conclude with a summary of potential growth areas based on your analysis.
In the final stage, you will synthesize your findings into actionable insights that can inform your SEO and content strategies.
Summarize key findings from competitor analysis
Create a detailed report summarizing the key findings from your competitor analysis of [COMPETITOR NAME]. Structure the report into three sections: strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for your own SEO and content strategy. For each section, provide specific examples and insights that can inform actionable steps. Additionally, include a brief summary of how these findings can shape your next strategic moves and suggest at least two specific actions to implement based on the insights gathered.
Develop an action plan based on insights
Create a detailed 3-month action plan based on insights gained from analyzing [COMPETITOR NAME]. Include sections for keyword targeting strategies, content creation ideas, and link building tactics. For each section, provide specific actions, timelines, and expected outcomes. Additionally, summarize the key insights that informed your recommendations to ensure the plan is data-driven and actionable. This structured document will serve as a roadmap to enhance your SEO and content strategies effectively.
Identify new content opportunities
Analyze the content strategy of [COMPETITOR NAME] to identify new content opportunities that address gaps in their approach. Create a detailed report that includes three specific content topics, suggested formats (such as blog posts, videos, or infographics), and a brief rationale for each choice based on audience engagement potential. Additionally, provide recommendations on how these opportunities can be integrated into your existing content calendar to enhance overall SEO performance.
Outline a competitive advantage strategy
Create a comprehensive competitive advantage strategy document for [COMPETITOR NAME]. Include an analysis of their unique selling propositions, a detailed description of how they differentiate their target audience, and innovative content ideas tailored to your brand. Structure the document with clear headings for each section, and provide actionable recommendations based on your findings. Conclude with a brief summary of how these strategies will enhance your brand's positioning in the market, emphasizing specific metrics or outcomes to measure success.
Set KPIs for ongoing competitor monitoring
Create a comprehensive KPI monitoring plan for ongoing analysis of [COMPETITOR NAME]. Include sections that define each KPI, such as traffic growth, keyword ranking changes, and backlink acquisition. For every KPI, explain its significance, outline the method for measurement, and specify target benchmarks to monitor progress. Finally, provide actionable recommendations on how to adapt your SEO and content strategies based on the insights derived from these KPIs.
Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz are essential for conducting thorough competitor analysis. They provide insights into keyword rankings, backlink profiles, and traffic metrics, enabling informed decision-making.
Competitor analysis should be conducted at least quarterly to stay updated on market changes. Regular analysis helps identify new opportunities and threats, ensuring your SEO strategy remains competitive.
Key metrics include organic traffic, keyword rankings, backlink profiles, and social media engagement. These metrics provide a comprehensive view of a competitor's performance and strategy.
Insights can be used to refine your SEO strategy, identify content gaps, and improve your overall performance. They help in setting realistic goals and prioritizing tasks effectively.
Focus on their keyword strategies, content types, backlink profiles, and performance metrics. Understanding these areas will help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your own strategy.
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