{"id":39641,"date":"2017-05-09T10:39:50","date_gmt":"2017-05-09T10:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/?p=39641"},"modified":"2025-11-13T17:04:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T11:34:36","slug":"conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Conduct Competitor Research for Better Conversion Optimization Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Note: This is a guest article written by Shane Barker, a renowned digital marketing consultant. Any and all opinions expressed in the post are Shane\u2019s.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to <a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/conversion-rate-optimization\/conversion-rate-optimisation-tips\/\">increase your conversion rate<\/a>. And you\u2019ve implemented several CRO, or conversion rate optimization, strategies to help you do so. But have you considered researching your competitors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding competition is crucial for the success of your business in every aspect. It will help you determine what you\u2019re doing wrong, and what you can do better. It will also help you identify and capitalize on the weaknesses of your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/website-optimization\/#guide-download\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><em>Download Free: Website Optimization Guide<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, you\u2019ll learn the basics of conducting competitor research to enhance your CRO efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level1\" data-menu=\"#1: Identify Your Top Competitors\" id=\"1-identify-your-top-competitors\" data-menu-id=\"1-identify-your-top-competitors\" style=\"text-align:left\">#1: Identify Your Top Competitors<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Before beginning your research, you need to know whom to research. Who are your biggest competitors? The simplest definition would be businesses where your target customers can get the same kind of services or products you offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Include both direct and indirect competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Direct competitors<\/b> are businesses that sell the same products or services as you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Indirect competitors<\/b> are those who sell products or services that fulfil the same need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Burger King and McDonald\u2019s would be considered direct competitors because they have similar product offerings, that is, burgers. But Pizza Hut or Domino\u2019s would be an indirect competitor of both Burger King and McDonald\u2019s. Although they\u2019re both fast food joints, Pizza Hut and Domino\u2019s specialize in pizzas while the other two specialize in burgers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the ways you can identify your top competitors to conduct competitor research:<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Google Search for Relevant Keywords\" id=\"google-search-for-relevant-keywords\" data-menu-id=\"google-search-for-relevant-keywords\" style=\"text-align:left\">Google Search for Relevant Keywords<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Make a list of keywords relevant to your business, and conduct a Google search using those keywords. The businesses that show up on the first page of your search results are your top competitors. List them for further research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you\u2019re a wedding planner based in Sacramento. You can conduct a Google search using keywords like, \u201cwedding planning in Sacramento,\u201d \u201cwedding planner in Sacramento,\u201d \u201cwedding planner Sacramento,\u201d and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your top competitors in this case are the businesses that show up in the local pack and whose ads are displayed on the top of the page.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"486\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image8.png\" alt=\"screenshot of the results from SERP for a search query\" class=\"wp-image-39637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image8.png 486w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image8.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 486px) 100vw, 486px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br>You can find more competitors on the actual websites that show up in your search results. For the above example, if there are any sites that list wedding planners in the Sacramento area, you would need to check out those as well.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"451\" height=\"497\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image1.png\" alt=\"screenshot of the Google SERP results\" class=\"wp-image-39630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image1.png 451w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image1.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Use SimilarWeb\" id=\"use-similarweb\" data-menu-id=\"use-similarweb\" style=\"text-align:left\">Use SimilarWeb<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>SimilarWeb is a highly effective tool for identifying your competitors and determining their performance. All you need to do is type your website URL in the search bar and then click Start.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39634 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"374\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image5.png\" alt=\"competitor research tool\" class=\"wp-image-39634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image5.png 600w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image5.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Similarweb.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>This step generates an overview of your site\u2019s ranking and traffic, as shown in the screenshot below. As the goal here is to identify competitors, you need to click the option that says, \u201cSimilar Sites,\u201d as shown on the left sidebar.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39631 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"612\" height=\"289\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image2.png\" alt=\"competitor research tool\" class=\"wp-image-39631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image2.png 612w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image2.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Similarweb.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You will then get a list of some of the websites similar to yours, which you can sort based on the extent of similarity or ranking. Add them to your list so that you have a clear idea about who your competitors are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, click each of these results to check where the websites stand in terms of ranking, traffic, and so on. This performance analysis can be used as part of the third step in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39640 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"322\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image11.png\" alt=\"competitor research tool (Similarweb)\" class=\"wp-image-39640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image11.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image11.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Similarweb.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level1\" data-menu=\"#2: Try Out Your Competition\" id=\"2-try-out-your-competition\" data-menu-id=\"2-try-out-your-competition\" style=\"text-align:left\">#2: Try Out Your Competition<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Another important step in competitor research is to experience their services or products first-hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When dealing with e-commerce stores, try ordering from them. Analyze every aspect of the purchase process to identify what they\u2019re doing right and what mistakes they\u2019re making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe they\u2019ve implemented a chatbot to help their shoppers find what they\u2019re looking for quickly and easily. To improve your CRO, consider adding a chatbot to your website as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also analyze the user experience (UX) of your competitors\u2019 websites. Ensuring a <a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/cro-and-ux-match-made-in-heaven\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">good user experience<\/a> is an essential part of a successful CRO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To analyze the UX of your competitors, ask yourself questions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How easy is it for you to navigate your competitor\u2019s website?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there too many distractions on any of their web pages?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you having a tough time reading the copy because of a bad font choice?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the process of completing a purchase easy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, analyze their post-purchase service to see how well they respond to customer complaints. These questions can help you understand more about your competition. Analyze their services to determine what they\u2019re doing well, what you can improve on, and what mistakes you should avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of a brick-and-mortar shop, try visiting the establishment to experience its service. Make a note of the store\u2019s ambiance, how friendly the staff is, how well they present their products, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also ask the opinions of friends and family or your customers who have visited the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/website-optimization\/#guide-download\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><em>Download Free: Website Optimization Guide<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level1\" data-menu=\"#3: Analyze Competitor Performance and Strategy\" id=\"3-analyze-competitor-performance-and-strategy\" data-menu-id=\"3-analyze-competitor-performance-and-strategy\" style=\"text-align:left\">#3: Analyze Competitor Performance and Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>This is one of the most important steps in competitor research. When you think of analyzing their performance and strategy, several aspects may come to mind. Not sure what exactly to prioritize, or where to start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Analyze the following to conduct your competitor research more efficiently:<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Traffic and Ranking\" id=\"traffic-and-ranking\" data-menu-id=\"traffic-and-ranking\" style=\"text-align:left\">Traffic and Ranking<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>One of the key factors to consider when analyzing the performance of your competitors is their ranking. Find out how they rank for specific keywords and compare their performance against your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For competitor performance analysis, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SEMrush<\/a>, which you can access for free. You also have the option to upgrade to one of their paid plans, which allows for more results and reports per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the screenshot below, the tool gives you a report on the website\u2019s paid and organic search traffic. Using this tool, you can compare the amount of branded traffic and non-branded traffic and get some insight into the PPC campaigns of your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39636 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image7.png\" alt=\"semrush dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-39636\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image7.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image7.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Semrush.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>SEMrush can help you find out what your competitors are doing right so that you can use those opportunities to improve your CRO efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tool will also give you a list of keywords for which each website is ranked, along with the position and search volume for each keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39635 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image6.png\" alt=\"semrush dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-39635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image6.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image6.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Semrush.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spyfu.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SpyFu<\/a> is another useful tool for conducting competitor research. The tool helps you find your competitors on typing your website URL in the search bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most useful aspect of this tool is that it identifies the top organic and paid keywords used by your competitors. It also helps you to identify the keywords you share with your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image4.png\" alt=\"spyfu dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-39633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image4.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image4.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><strong>Image Source: spyfu.com<\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Link Profiles\" id=\"link-profiles\" data-menu-id=\"link-profiles\" style=\"text-align:left\">Link Profiles<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Link profiles are another important aspect to help you conduct competitor research. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/local-search-ranking-factors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moz<\/a>, link profiles are among the top search ranking factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good link profile will improve your website&#8217;s ranking, which will improve its visibility. The more visible your website is, the better your chances are of improving traffic. Increased traffic often leads to higher conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that you need to conduct competitor research to find out where they stand in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/glossary\/backlink\/\">backlinks<\/a>. Find out which websites are linking to them and how many backlinks they currently have. This will help you determine what backlinking goals you should set and which websites you should target through your backlinking efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use basic tools such as Backlink Checker from <a href=\"https:\/\/smallseotools.com\/backlink-checker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Small SEO Tools<\/a> to check which pages are linking to your competitors. For more detailed reports, you can use the two tools mentioned earlier, SEMrush and SpyFu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SpyFu gives you a list of pages linking to your competitors. In addition, it shows the number of organic clicks and domain strength of the websites linking to your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39632 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image3.png\" alt=\"spyfu links report\" class=\"wp-image-39632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image3.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image3.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: spyfu.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>SEMrush is even more comprehensive. It gives you a report on the number of backlinks your competitor has and the number of domains linking to these backlinks.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39639 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"303\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image10.png\" alt=\"semrush backlinks report\" class=\"wp-image-39639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image10.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image10.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Semrush.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Also, you can use SEMrush to view the top anchor texts being used to link to your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-39638 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"628\" height=\"204\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image9.png\" alt=\"semrush dashboard\" class=\"wp-image-39638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image9.png 628w, https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/05\/image9.png?tr=w-375 375w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Semrush.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Landing Page Strategy\" id=\"landing-page-strategy\" data-menu-id=\"landing-page-strategy\" style=\"text-align:left\">Landing Page Strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>In addition to your competitors\u2019 performance, you need to determine their ability to impress their audience. This means that you need to analyze their landing page strategy and identify their strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How strong is the headline?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the value proposition clear?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the landing page design aesthetically pleasing?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any visuals on the page?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are just some of the questions you need to ask when analyzing the landing pages of your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level2\" data-menu=\"Pricing Strategy\" id=\"pricing-strategy\" data-menu-id=\"pricing-strategy\" style=\"text-align:left\">Pricing Strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>When you conduct competitor research, it\u2019s also important to analyze their pricing strategy. Their rates may be are more competitive and, therefore, your target customers are choosing them over you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What can you do to present your rates in a more appealing manner to enhance your CRO efforts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are your competitors offering multiple pricing options?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any guarantees that make their offers more trustworthy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do they compare various pricing options?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the biggest strengths and weaknesses of their pricing strategies?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"js-cro-guide-subheading gtm_heading \" data-level=\"level1\" data-menu=\"Next Steps\" id=\"next-steps\" data-menu-id=\"next-steps\" style=\"text-align:left\">Next Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Now you know more about how to conduct competitor research to improve your <a href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/conversion-rate-optimization\/\">conversion rate optimization<\/a> strategy. Next, you need to make a list of the top strengths and weaknesses of each competitor based on the data you have collected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, one competitor\u2019s top strengths may be an excellent landing page design and a good backlinking strategy. But the same competitor could be lagging in terms of organic search ranking and customer service as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From this list, you can identify opportunities to improve your CRO efforts. Your competitor research can also provide you with insights into the mistakes you should avoid and ways to improve your service so that it stands out from your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got any questions about the tips provided here? Feel free to ask them or share your ideas in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, don&#8217;t forget to check out this engaging conversation we had with the CEO &amp; Co-Founder of Sleeknote Mogens M\u00f8ller where he explains how you can compete against the top brands in your industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-pocket-casts wp-block-embed-pocket-casts\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 690px; max-height: 100%; position: relative;\">    <div style=\"padding-bottom: 42.857142857142854%;\"><\/div>    <iframe title=\"How To Compete Against The Big Fish By Mogens M\u00f8ller - VWO Podcast\" src=\"https:\/\/pca.st\/embed\/u519rqh5\" style=\"border: 0; border-radius: 8px; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Note: This is a guest article written by Shane Barker, a renowned digital marketing consultant. Any and all opinions expressed in the post are Shane\u2019s. You want to increase your conversion rate. And you\u2019ve implemented several CRO, or conversion rate optimization, strategies to help you do so. But have you considered researching your competitors? Understanding&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":55792,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"post_read_time":8,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1850],"tags":[],"feature":[],"industry-type":[],"product":[],"role":[],"region":[],"class_list":["post-39641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conversion-rate-optimization"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vwoofficial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/OG-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shane Barker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@shane_barker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VWO\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shane Barker\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Shane Barker\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f38968af5fe262863d8d6033e416af8f\"},\"headline\":\"How to Conduct Competitor Research for Better Conversion Optimization Results\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\"},\"wordCount\":1756,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Conversion Rate Optimization\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\",\"name\":\"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":700,\"caption\":\"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better Conversion Optimization Results\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Conversion Rate Optimization\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conversion-rate-optimization\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Conduct Competitor Research for Better Conversion Optimization Results\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"VWO\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/VWOLogo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/VWOLogo.png\",\"width\":780,\"height\":492,\"caption\":\"VWO\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vwoofficial\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/VWO\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vwoofficial\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/vwo\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f38968af5fe262863d8d6033e416af8f\",\"name\":\"Shane Barker\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8287bfa39b5194922dd924ba26ef15d633e87bb05718cb7178016a7143569d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8287bfa39b5194922dd924ba26ef15d633e87bb05718cb7178016a7143569d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Shane Barker\"},\"description\":\"A digital strategist consultant to Fortune 500 companies and celebrity A-listers, Shane Barker has helped thousands of expert entrepreneurs expand their outreach and bolster their reputation. Whether it\u2019s launching products, creating and converting niche website traffic, or building targeted sales funnels, Shane works daily to make sure brands like Puma and IMAX stay relevant and influential. His vast wheelhouse includes business development, marketing blueprints, SEO, and social media marketing. Practicing what he preaches, Shane writes prodigiously on many facets of content marketing and SEO best practices. He is a top contributor at INC and the Huffington Post and has been named one of the top Salesforce influencers for his viral article, 15 Keys To Writing Better Content For Social Media Campaigns. In December 2016, he was named the 13th most influential marketer online by the Content Marketing Institute. He proudly adds his charming personality to the mix with his Marketing Growth Podcast, which is #32 in the business category for Apple Podcast rankings.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/shanebarker\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/shane_barker\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/author\/shane\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO","description":"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO","og_description":"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.","og_url":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/","og_site_name":"Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vwoofficial\/","article_published_time":"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/OG-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Shane Barker","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@shane_barker","twitter_site":"@VWO","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shane Barker","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/"},"author":{"name":"Shane Barker","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f38968af5fe262863d8d6033e416af8f"},"headline":"How to Conduct Competitor Research for Better Conversion Optimization Results","datePublished":"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/"},"wordCount":1756,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png","articleSection":["Conversion Rate Optimization"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/","url":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/","name":"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better CRO","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png","datePublished":"2017-05-09T10:39:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-13T11:34:36+00:00","description":"Tips and tricks to conduct a complete competitor research program to help you in your A\/B testing and CRO.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/01\/Feature-image_How-To-Conduct-Competitor-Research-For-Better-Conversion-Optimization-Results-Copy.png","width":1200,"height":700,"caption":"How To Conduct Competitor Research For Better Conversion Optimization Results"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conducting-competitor-research-for-better-optimization-results\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Conversion Rate Optimization","item":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/conversion-rate-optimization\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Conduct Competitor Research for Better Conversion Optimization Results"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/","name":"Blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"VWO","url":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/VWOLogo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/static.wingify.com\/gcp\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/VWOLogo.png","width":780,"height":492,"caption":"VWO"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vwoofficial\/","https:\/\/x.com\/VWO","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vwoofficial\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/vwo"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f38968af5fe262863d8d6033e416af8f","name":"Shane Barker","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8287bfa39b5194922dd924ba26ef15d633e87bb05718cb7178016a7143569d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a8287bfa39b5194922dd924ba26ef15d633e87bb05718cb7178016a7143569d0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Shane Barker"},"description":"A digital strategist consultant to Fortune 500 companies and celebrity A-listers, Shane Barker has helped thousands of expert entrepreneurs expand their outreach and bolster their reputation. Whether it\u2019s launching products, creating and converting niche website traffic, or building targeted sales funnels, Shane works daily to make sure brands like Puma and IMAX stay relevant and influential. His vast wheelhouse includes business development, marketing blueprints, SEO, and social media marketing. Practicing what he preaches, Shane writes prodigiously on many facets of content marketing and SEO best practices. He is a top contributor at INC and the Huffington Post and has been named one of the top Salesforce influencers for his viral article, 15 Keys To Writing Better Content For Social Media Campaigns. In December 2016, he was named the 13th most influential marketer online by the Content Marketing Institute. He proudly adds his charming personality to the mix with his Marketing Growth Podcast, which is #32 in the business category for Apple Podcast rankings.","sameAs":["https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/shanebarker\/","https:\/\/x.com\/shane_barker"],"url":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/author\/shane\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39641"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102641,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39641\/revisions\/102641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"feature","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"industry-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry-type?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/role?post=39641"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=39641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}