For digital marketing professionals and local SEO strategists, effective rank tracking is not just beneficial — it’s essential. BrightLocal has become a high-performing platform in this domain, providing robust tools for tracking local search rankings. One of the standout features is the ability to monitor how a business stacks up against its competitors through the competitor tracking function. By adding and removing competitors tactically, users can maximize insights, sharpen strategies, and stay ahead in local search rankings.
The Value of Rank Tracking Competitors
In today’s hyper-local marketing environment, understanding who your real competitors are online is as important as knowing them offline. BrightLocal gives users the ability to monitor several competitors alongside their own local search performance. This allows businesses to:
- Benchmark themselves against industry peers
- Identify market leaders in their niche or geographic location
- Analyze SEO strategies that may be contributing to rivals’ higher rankings
- Track changes in competitor rankings to spot trends and emerging threats
Competitor tracking also reveals data that can guide adjustments in your own optimization efforts — from keyword targeting to citation building.
How to Add Competitors in BrightLocal
Strategically selecting the right competitors to track is key. Here’s a step-by-step process for adding competitors within the BrightLocal Rank Tracker:
- Log in to your BrightLocal account and navigate to the specific Rankings Report.
- Click on the ‘Competitors’ tab found in the navigation panel of the report.
- Choose ‘Add Competitor’.
- Enter the competitor’s business name and URL. Optionally, you can also add their physical address if it’s a local business.
- Click ‘Save’ to begin tracking their keyword performance alongside your own.
Note that BrightLocal allows users to track a limited number of competitors depending on their subscription plan, so choose businesses that most closely mirror your local presence and offerings.
Criteria for Choosing the Right Competitors
Selecting who gets included in your competitor list can make all the difference. Here are a few tips for identifying the ideal businesses to monitor:
- Geographic Relevance: Their physical location overlaps with your service area.
- Keyword Targeting: They rank for the same local keywords as your business.
- Business Model Similarity: They offer similar products or services.
- Online Visibility: They have an active local SEO presence.
Avoid including national brands or franchises unless they operate on a local level and are directly competing for the same customer base.
How to Remove Competitors
Over time, your competitive landscape may change. Whether a competitor goes out of business or moves to a different focal area, it might become necessary to remove them from your watchlist.
To delete a competitor:
- Go to the Rankings Report on your dashboard.
- Navigate to the ‘Competitors’ tab.
- Click the trash icon or ‘Remove’ next to the business profile you wish to eliminate.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Once removed, that competitor’s ranking history will no longer be displayed in your reports. Cleaning your competitor list regularly keeps your data clean, relevant, and actionable.
Pro-Level Hacks for Competitor Management
There are several hidden tactics savvy SEOs use to boost the intelligence value from BrightLocal’s rank tracking feature:
- Rotate Competitors Monthly: Use a rotating list of competitors to watch a broader spectrum of local businesses over time without exceeding your plan’s caps.
- Spy on Industry Leaders: Even if they’re not competitors by geography, tracking top-performing brands can offer SEO inspiration.
- Create a Baseline Report: Capture initial ranking data before making optimization changes to measure impact over time.
- Use Competitor Insights in Client Reports: If you’re an agency, showcasing how your client stacks up builds value and trust.
Another advanced strategy is mapping keyword overlaps between your business and competitors. This allows you to find opportunities where you fall short — and where you’re succeeding.
Best Practices for Long-Term Monitoring
BrightLocal isn’t just a fire-and-forget tool. Treating competitor rank tracking as an ongoing strategy leads to more impactful optimization. Follow these best practices:
- Review Rankings Weekly: Keep tabs on sudden changes or algorithm shifts that might affect local SEO.
- Adjust Keywords Quarterly: Your business evolves, so should your keyword targets.
- Set Goals: Identify desired local SERP positions and benchmark your progress monthly or quarterly.
- Use Historical Comparisons: Use BrightLocal’s timeline features to track your growth over time compared to competitors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with BrightLocal’s powerful tools, missteps are common. Watch out for these:
- Tracking Irrelevant Businesses: Don’t waste your quota on businesses that don’t pose a real threat.
- Failing to Update Data: Keep addresses, competitor business names, and URLs current.
- Ignoring Mobile vs Desktop Rankings: BrightLocal offers both. Know where your audience searches from and monitor accordingly.
By managing competitors with an informed and methodical approach, BrightLocal users can transform simple tracking tools into a strategic SEO advantage.
Conclusion
Whether you are new to local SEO tracking or a seasoned marketing pro, BrightLocal’s competitor tracking feature provides immense value. By carefully choosing who to monitor, updating the list strategically, and analyzing competitor insights with intent, local businesses can use this feature to gain tangible SEO advantages and ultimately win in local search results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Can I track more competitors if I need to?
Yes, but it may require upgrading your BrightLocal plan. Most entry-level plans come with a limited number of competitor slots. -
Do I get notifications when competitor rankings change?
BrightLocal does not send real-time alerts for competitor changes, but you can review updates during each report cycle. -
Are removed competitors’ data saved?
Once a competitor is removed, their ranking data disappears from your dashboard, so it’s wise to export historical data if needed. -
Can I export competitor tracking data?
Yes. You can export reports in CSV or PDF formats for external analysis or client meetings. -
How often are rankings updated in BrightLocal?
Rankings can be set to update daily, weekly, or monthly depending on your subscription and settings.
