Take a broader view
When considering your competitors, the first ones you think of might be those in your area. Because you're planning a website, it makes sense to adopt a broader view that includes online competitors. As a simple example, if you owned a bookstore you would be competing against Amazon.com as well as other local retailers.
Search the web for the products or services like yours. Find out who sells them and where they are. Could they be taking business from you?
Related industries
Direct competitors aren't the only ones chasing your customer's dollar. Think about companies that sell alternative products or services that people might buy instead of yours. How do they use the web?
For example
- If you sell a product for teenage girls, research teen magazines, make-up, jewellery and accessories.
- If you sell an upmarket product, research other expensive products and services such as customised holidays, prestige cars and wealth management.
Take a walk in your customer's shoes
Browse through your competitors' websites and imagine you are a customer. Record your experiences and ideas for improving them. Note any product or service that you could also provide or improve.
Sign up for their email marketing campaigns, or newsletter services.
Ask friends or colleagues to visit your competitors' businesses or websites and give you feedback.
Google your competitors
Search the web for your competitors (try variations on their names). See what you can discover about their online activities, or if people have talked about them in forums, review sites or social media.
Ask your staff
Your sales people and staff who deal with suppliers will hear information about competitors. Or someone might know about competitive products and services that you haven't yet considered.
