A comprehensive content marketing strategy, white hat organic SEO practices, consistent link building efforts, and strong social media marketing, well, this certainly makes for a terrific digital marketing strategy.

But hey, too much of everything, and you’re just doing what the rest of the world is doing. Today, let’s try to look at things a little differently.

First let’s address some questions.

Do you remember when exactly was the last time you did a competitive analysis? Don’t mind my asking, but have you ever done it? If your answer is a big, naive no, then maybe you have no idea how your digital marketing strategy stands out compared to its competitors.

Let me tell you a secret, spying on your competitors can be unexpectedly wonderful and can greatly help you find your own shortcomings and in the process help you get better at the game. I’m sure you’ve heard this saying countless times: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And in the kingdom of online marketingthis is a quote you need to live by.

See, every business that exists on this planet has at least one competitor aiming for the biggest slice of the pie. So doesn’t it make sense to know how your competitors are outperforming you when you’re both trading the same products or services? If you look closely, it’s a pretty creative way to better understand your target audience. Once you’re familiar with the tactics, you can formulate some really impactful strategies.

Here are some of the things your business competitors can teach you about digital marketing.

Target audience and traffic: I’m sure you think you have a clear idea of ​​who your customers are and where they come from. But a simple analysis can determine if any of your competitors are attracting more traffic than you or not. If they really are, it would be a good idea to follow the strategies they are looking for.

Content that matters: It is a mistake to think that everything that is original is sold. Within an industry, only a limited type of content is shared. It can be anything: blog posts, weekly quizzes and polls, or Q&A. Perhaps your competitors know this better than you.

You also get to know what doesn’t work: The best way to progress is to learn from the mistakes of others, don’t you think? Your competitors can also be wrong. Therefore, it’s a good idea to constantly monitor your marketing campaigns and learn what gets noticed and what doesn’t work with the masses.

The key here is to learn from those who are best at this game. And once you’ve discovered the key players, you enhance their good plays and avoid their misses.

And yes, always remember that there is no substitute for originality.