See What Your Competitors Are Doing, Then Do It Better
See What Your Competitors Are Doing, Then Do It Better
See What Your Competitors Are Doing, Then Do It Better
We audit your competitors’ local SEO visibility, including Map Pack rankings, share of voice, citations, and backlinks, to show you exactly how to outrank them.
Let’s Get You Found 📍
Let’s Get You Found 📍
Let’s Get You Found 📍
Let’s Get You Found 📍
They’re Ranking. You’re Not. Let’s Flip That Script.
Your competitors aren’t ranking by accident. They’re strategically optimizing their profiles, backlinks, and content to dominate Google local search results.
Our competitor evaluation identifies exactly why they're winning, then gives you a clear roadmap to overtake them on Google Maps, local 3-pack, and beyond.
What We Evaluate
We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, we’re looking at what’s already working for your competitors, matching it to level the playing field, and then building smarter on top of it. First we identify who your competitors actually are. Then we break down what they’re doing in every area to win locally, and finally we help you beat them at their own game. It’s a fast-to-follow strategy that helps your business show up higher in the Map Pack.
How We Break Down Competitor Visibility
We don’t just look, we reverse-engineer. Here’s what we analyze:
Share of Voice &
Map Grid Coverage
Ranking Grid (5x5):
We map out a 5-by-5 local search grid, identifying exactly who ranks in positions 1–3 most frequently across your targeted keywords. This gives us your share of voice—the percentage of times your business appears in the top results (Maps or organic) within a defined area.
Neighborhood-Level Visibility:
We analyze ZIP code dominance to find where competitors outrank you. Then we target those areas to improve your rankings and reach customers who are actively searching for your services.
Our goal? Help you win the grid, own more top 3 spots, and convert
Citation Coverage
Local, Geo & Industry-Specific Citations
Howl IQ, our AI tool, pinpoints where your competitors are listed and which directories matter most for Map Pack rankings. We'll match what’s already working, then go after high-value citation opportunities to boost your local and organic visibility. Your business gets listed everywhere your competitors are, and in even more places that build trust and relevance.
Google Business Profile Strategy
Categories & Keywords
We identify which categories your competitors are using on their Google Business Profiles, and uncover the keywords that are driving their visibility in local search.
Photo & Posting Cadence
Measure competitors’ posting frequency and photo updates, and determine how they're affecting rankings. Your brand should be showing up where customers spend time, not just on Google.
Detailed Backlink Audit
Backlink Profile Breakdown
We compare your competitors’ total backlinks and linking domains to understand whether they’re winning on industry-specific backlinks, local backlinks or both.
Authority Gap Analysis
We assess the quality of their backlinks by evaluating domain authority, identifying where high-DA sites are helping them rank, and then building a plan to get you listed on those sites (and their strongest equivalents).
Website & Technical SEO Signals
Content & Schema Usage
Evaluate how competitors leverage content and schema markup for local ranking.
Internal Linking Structure
Identify effective internal linking strategies to replicate on your site for improved rankings.
Review Placement & Language
Review Sites
Determine precisely where competitor keyword-rich reviews originate to understand their strategy.
Keyword Optimization
Analyze how competitors strategically incorporate keywords into reviews to boost visibility so you can beat them.
Content Tactics
The Power of Hidden Location Pages
Many businesses use hidden, location-specific pages that don’t appear in their menus but are built specifically to rank in nearby areas. With the help of Howl IQ, we'll uncover those strategies from your competitors and build stronger ones for you. If your map ranking stalls, we create hyper-local pages tied to your exact neighborhood, ZIP code, or search phrase. It’s all designed to move the dot, and get you into the top 3.
How We Break Down Competitor Visibility
We don’t just look, we reverse-engineer. Here’s what we analyze:
Share of Voice & Map Grid Coverage
Ranking Grid (5x5):
We map out a 5-by-5 local search grid, identifying exactly who ranks in positions 1–3 most frequently across your targeted keywords. This gives us your share of voice—the percentage of times your business appears in the top results (Maps or organic) within a defined area.
Neighborhood-Level Visibility:
We analyze ZIP code dominance to find where competitors outrank you. Then we target those areas to improve your rankings and reach customers who are actively searching for your services.
Our goal? Help you win the grid, own more top 3 spots, and convert
Citation Coverage
Local, Geo & Industry-Specific Citations
Howl IQ, our AI tool, pinpoints where your competitors are listed and which directories matter most for Map Pack rankings. We'll match what’s already working, then go after high-value citation opportunities to boost your local and organic visibility. Your business gets listed everywhere your competitors are, and in even more places that build trust and relevance.
Google Business Profile Strategy
Categories & Keywords
We identify which categories your competitors are using on their Google Business Profiles, and uncover the keywords that are driving their visibility in local search.
Photo & Posting Cadence
Measure competitors’ posting frequency and photo updates, and determine how they're affecting rankings. Your brand should be showing up where customers spend time, not just on Google.
Detailed Backlink Audit
Backlink Profile Breakdown
We compare your competitors’ total backlinks and linking domains to understand whether they’re winning on industry-specific backlinks, local backlinks or both.
Authority Gap Analysis
We assess the quality of their backlinks by evaluating domain authority, identifying where high-DA sites are helping them rank, and then building a plan to get you listed on those sites (and their strongest equivalents).
Website & Technical SEO Signals
Content & Schema Usage
Evaluate how competitors leverage content and schema markup for local ranking.
Internal Linking Structure
Identify effective internal linking strategies to replicate on your site for improved rankings.
Review Placement & Language
Review Sites
Determine precisely where competitor keyword-rich reviews originate to understand their strategy.
Keyword Optimization
Analyze how competitors strategically incorporate keywords into reviews to boost visibility so you can beat them.
Content Tactics
The Power of Hidden Location Pages
Many businesses use hidden, location-specific pages that don’t appear in their menus but are built specifically to rank in nearby areas. With the help of Howl IQ, we'll uncover those strategies from your competitors and build stronger ones for you. If your map ranking stalls, we create hyper-local pages tied to your exact neighborhood, ZIP code, or search phrase. It’s all designed to move the dot, and get you into the top 3.
Even If You Don’t Work With Us, You Still Need to See This
Here’s the reality: local SEO isn’t just about ROI, it’s about survival. If you’re not visible, you're not even in the conversation.
This isn’t a “try it and see” scenario, it’s about understanding why your competitors outrank you. If you’re not taking action, you're actively giving away potential customers to your competitors.
Outrank Your Rivals,
With Their Own Playbook
We’ll audit what’s working for them, and build something even better for you.
Competitor Audit FAQ
What is competitor evaluation in local SEO?
It’s a deep look at what your competitors are doing online to succeed. We analyze their rankings, content, and online strategies to see why they’re ahead and how you can overtake them.
Why should I care about my competitors’ online strategies?
If they’re ranking above you, they’re getting the customers you could be getting. Understanding their tactics helps you know exactly what to do to compete and win those customers over to your business.
What does Local Howl look at during a competitor evaluation?
We audit competitors’ Google Business Profiles, websites (SEO content and structure), reviews, and even their backlinks. By seeing what they do well (and where they fall short), we pinpoint opportunities for your business to shine.
Will I see the results of my competitor analysis?
Yes, we share our findings with you. You’ll get a clear summary or report showing what competitors are doing and what steps we recommend for you to beat them.
Can competitor insights really help my business rank higher?
Absolutely. It takes the guesswork out of your strategy by revealing what’s working in your market, so you can focus on the high-impact tactics that drive results.
What is competitor evaluation in local SEO?
It’s a deep look at what your competitors are doing online to succeed. We analyze their rankings, content, and online strategies to see why they’re ahead and how you can overtake them.
Why should I care about my competitors’ online strategies?
If they’re ranking above you, they’re getting the customers you could be getting. Understanding their tactics helps you know exactly what to do to compete and win those customers over to your business.
What does Local Howl look at during a competitor evaluation?
We audit competitors’ Google Business Profiles, websites (SEO content and structure), reviews, and even their backlinks. By seeing what they do well (and where they fall short), we pinpoint opportunities for your business to shine.
Will I see the results of my competitor analysis?
Yes, we share our findings with you. You’ll get a clear summary or report showing what competitors are doing and what steps we recommend for you to beat them.
Can competitor insights really help my business rank higher?
Absolutely. It takes the guesswork out of your strategy by revealing what’s working in your market, so you can focus on the high-impact tactics that drive results.
What is competitor evaluation in local SEO?
It’s a deep look at what your competitors are doing online to succeed. We analyze their rankings, content, and online strategies to see why they’re ahead and how you can overtake them.
Why should I care about my competitors’ online strategies?
If they’re ranking above you, they’re getting the customers you could be getting. Understanding their tactics helps you know exactly what to do to compete and win those customers over to your business.
What does Local Howl look at during a competitor evaluation?
We audit competitors’ Google Business Profiles, websites (SEO content and structure), reviews, and even their backlinks. By seeing what they do well (and where they fall short), we pinpoint opportunities for your business to shine.
Will I see the results of my competitor analysis?
Yes, we share our findings with you. You’ll get a clear summary or report showing what competitors are doing and what steps we recommend for you to beat them.
Can competitor insights really help my business rank higher?
Absolutely. It takes the guesswork out of your strategy by revealing what’s working in your market, so you can focus on the high-impact tactics that drive results.
What if I don't know who my main online competitors are?
We’ll figure it out for you by seeing who appears for your target searches. Often, your true online competitors are the businesses showing up when local customers search for your services, and we identify those key players for you.
Is competitor evaluation a one-time or ongoing process?
It can be ongoing if you want to stay ahead. We provide an initial deep-dive, but we also recommend periodic check-ins since competitor tactics and search trends change over time.
Will analyzing competitors guarantee I outrank them?
We can’t promise an exact rank, but it gives you a big advantage. With a clear plan to outperform them (backed by data), and consistent effort, you greatly improve your chances of climbing above competitors.
Does competitor analysis include looking at their reviews and ratings?
Yes, we look at their customer reviews to see what people love or complain about. This insight helps you highlight strengths they’re missing and avoid mistakes they’ve made, giving you a competitive edge in customer satisfaction.
How quickly can I act on competitor evaluation findings?
Right away. We’ll deliver an action plan prioritized by impact, so you know exactly which steps to tackle first for the quickest boost in your visibility.
What if I don't know who my main online competitors are?
We’ll figure it out for you by seeing who appears for your target searches. Often, your true online competitors are the businesses showing up when local customers search for your services, and we identify those key players for you.
Is competitor evaluation a one-time or ongoing process?
It can be ongoing if you want to stay ahead. We provide an initial deep-dive, but we also recommend periodic check-ins since competitor tactics and search trends change over time.
Will analyzing competitors guarantee I outrank them?
We can’t promise an exact rank, but it gives you a big advantage. With a clear plan to outperform them (backed by data), and consistent effort, you greatly improve your chances of climbing above competitors.
Does competitor analysis include looking at their reviews and ratings?
Yes, we look at their customer reviews to see what people love or complain about. This insight helps you highlight strengths they’re missing and avoid mistakes they’ve made, giving you a competitive edge in customer satisfaction.
How quickly can I act on competitor evaluation findings?
Right away. We’ll deliver an action plan prioritized by impact, so you know exactly which steps to tackle first for the quickest boost in your visibility.
What if I don't know who my main online competitors are?
We’ll figure it out for you by seeing who appears for your target searches. Often, your true online competitors are the businesses showing up when local customers search for your services, and we identify those key players for you.
Is competitor evaluation a one-time or ongoing process?
It can be ongoing if you want to stay ahead. We provide an initial deep-dive, but we also recommend periodic check-ins since competitor tactics and search trends change over time.
Will analyzing competitors guarantee I outrank them?
We can’t promise an exact rank, but it gives you a big advantage. With a clear plan to outperform them (backed by data), and consistent effort, you greatly improve your chances of climbing above competitors.
Does competitor analysis include looking at their reviews and ratings?
Yes, we look at their customer reviews to see what people love or complain about. This insight helps you highlight strengths they’re missing and avoid mistakes they’ve made, giving you a competitive edge in customer satisfaction.
How quickly can I act on competitor evaluation findings?
Right away. We’ll deliver an action plan prioritized by impact, so you know exactly which steps to tackle first for the quickest boost in your visibility.