1 Day Marketing
What Are Your Competitors Doing?
You know what they charge. Do you know what your customers see when they look them up?
Most Ipswich business owners can tell you exactly what their competitors charge. Ask what they’re doing online and you’ll usually get a shrug. That’s a problem, because your customers are looking at both of you before they decide who gets the job. If you don’t know what they see on the other side, you’re guessing at your own marketing.
Why this matters more than you think
You don’t need to out-spend the competition. You need to out-position them. That means knowing three things:
- What they do well. So you can match it.
- What they do badly. So you can beat it.
- What they don’t do at all. So you can own it. This is where the real opportunities sit, because most local competitors are doing the bare minimum online.
Where to look (it’s all free)
- Google search. Search for what you do plus your suburb. Whoever shows up first is your competitive set, like it or not.
- Google Business Profile. Check how many reviews they have and how recent. Five reviews from last month beats fifty from three years ago.
- Their website. Does it work on a phone? Does it load fast? Can you tell what they do and how to contact them in five seconds?
- Social media. Are they posting? Is anyone engaging? A quiet page tells you how much attention they’re paying.
- Their reviews. Complaints about slow replies, poor communication or missed appointments are gold. If you’re better at those things, say so.
Turning what you find into action
- If they’re slow to respond, make fast response a stated part of your offer.
- If their reviews are old or thin, push harder on collecting fresh ones.
- If their content is generic, get specific about your suburb, your trade and real jobs you’ve done.
- If their website is outdated, make sure yours works properly on a phone, because that’s where most searches happen.
Make it a regular check
Checking on competitors isn’t a one-off. Markets shift, new businesses turn up, and existing ones improve or slip. A quick look every few months keeps you aware of where you actually stand, not where you assume you stand.
Out-position, don’t out-spend
The biggest wins are usually the things your competitors aren’t doing at all. Find the gap and fill it before someone else does.
If you don’t have the time to do this properly, it’s exactly the kind of groundwork an outsourced marketing manager handles, and it pays off before you spend another dollar on marketing.
Not sure where you stand against your competitors?
Book a free 20-minute discovery call or marketing health check — no pressure, no jargon.
Book your free 20-minute sessionFrequently Asked Questions
How often should I check what my competitors are doing?
Every few months is enough for most small businesses. Anything more frequent rarely changes enough to act on.
Do I need paid tools to research competitors?
No. Google search, Google Business Profiles, competitor websites and public reviews will tell you most of what you need to know.
What’s the most useful thing to look at first?
Reviews. They show what customers care about and where competitors are falling short.
1 Day Marketing. One day at a time. Based in Ipswich, serving small businesses across Brisbane and beyond.
