What Is Keyword Competition Analysis? [+5 Tools to Help You Rank]

Keywords are an integral part of online marketing. If you can rank well on search engine results pages (SERPs), you’ll experience an increase in website traffic and, as a result, more conversions.

But how do you outrank your competition, especially when they’re aiming for the same goal?

The answer is: Keyword competition analysis.

Continue reading to learn more about how keyword analysis can give your website the boost it needs to outshine your competition in the search results!

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What is keyword competition analysis?

So, what is keyword competition analysis?

Keyword competition analysis helps you understand what keywords your competitors are ranking for, giving you valuable insights to benefit your website.

It aims to identify how you can improve your keyword usage to reach more of your audience — and drive conversions.

Thanks to the availability of keyword information on the internet, businesses can see whether they need to fill gaps in their strategies or pursue other keyword niches. By checking out your competition, you can develop new ways for your website to rise above the rest.

Why keyword competition analysis matters

If you create a keyword strategy without knowing how your competitors are doing, you’re missing out on key information. By doing keyword competition analysis, you can:

1. See the keywords you should be using to outperform your competitors, bringing you to the top of SERPs
2. Take a closer look at what might be missing in your online marketing strategy
3. Gain information about your market, including necessary industry knowledge

Ultimately, it can help to look at how your competition may be performing better or worse than your brand. When you conduct standard keyword research, comparing your current strategy to your competitors’ approaches can impact your brand’s next marketing step.

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What to know before conducting keyword competition analysis

To properly conduct keyword competition analysis, you should first consider a few aspects of your audience and competitors. Keep in mind that keyword research gives you a chance to revise your online marketing strategy so that you can grow your business.

Your keyword competition analysis has meaning — you should use it as a tool to better your approach.

Audience

Achieving the most insight from your competitors’ keyword usage starts with your audience. If you develop a few buyer personas, you’ll learn more about your audience’s interaction with your website. Then, you can build a list of potentially relevant keywords to research.

Note that your target audience may change over time — be sure to update your buyer personas as you shift your brand’s intent.

Your competitor keyword analysis will be just as impactful and helpful. Of course, you may also want to use your research to identify new relevant buyer personas you might be missing.

Competitors

You must know your top competitors to conduct accurate and meaningful research. Don’t target every other similar business — be precise in finding out your most relevant competitors to save time and effort while growing your business.

Invest time into identifying your most appropriate competitors. You might find that competitors come and go, so paying attention to new players in the field is a crucial part of keeping your approach focused and informed.

The 5 best keyword competition analysis tools in 2025

Generally, doing keyword competition analysis is straightforward because you can use various online tools to do the job for you.

Here’s an overview of some of the best keyword competition analysis tools in 2025:

1. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

The Keywords Explorer from Ahrefs is a keyword tool you can use to see all kinds of information about who’s ranking for certain keywords.

Once you know your competitors, you can see how many keywords they’re ranking for. These are just two examples of how you can use the tool to conduct keyword research.

2. Google Alerts

Check out Google Alerts to stay on top of new content relating to your market. There are a few different ways to tailor it to your needs, such as signing up for alerts for keywords you’re interested in targeting or you already target.

3. Semrush Keyword Research

Semrush’s powerful Keyword Research tool gives you an in-depth look at various keyword-related topics. For example, the Keyword Gap feature allows you to compare keywords on competitors’ websites so you can spot any gaps on your website.

4. Social Mention

If your company doesn’t use Google, you can use Social Mention as a comprehensive alternative to Google Alerts. This tool lets you track all mentions of keywords you add to the tool. You get more information, too, like which keywords users are discussing the most.

5. CompetitorSpyFX

Through CompetitorSpyFX, you can receive a full data report that outlines the keywords your competitors are using. You can also see how updating your keyword usage will impact your marketing strategy. Adding CompetitiorSpyFX to your tool roundup can give you valuable insights into what changes you should make.

P.S. If you’re looking to see where your website ranks for keywords, use a free Google position check tool!

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Learn more about SEO services from WebFX

Understanding your competition’s approach to keyword usage is just one part of optimizing your website for search engines. WebFX has the expertise and services you need to get a leg up on your competitors.

Explore our SEO services today to learn more about how we can drive results for your brand. Contact us online or chat with us by calling 888-601-5359 to get started!