Your competitor is dominating page #1. You're stuck on page 3-5....
Nick Zviadadze 🇺🇦@Nick_zv_
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Nov 14, 2025
~6 min read
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Your competitor is dominating page #1.
You're stuck on page 3-5.
Here’s my step-by-step process for outranking them in 12 months.
(I’ve used this EXACT strategy for 30+ clients 🧵)
You're stuck on page 3-5.
Here’s my step-by-step process for outranking them in 12 months.
(I’ve used this EXACT strategy for 30+ clients 🧵)
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Before we dive in…
Want help outranking your competitors?
I'd love to work with you!
Grab a free consultation here ⇒ mintseo.com
Want help outranking your competitors?
I'd love to work with you!
Grab a free consultation here ⇒ mintseo.com
3
1/ First, a reality check:
You can't outrank competitors by doing the SAME thing they're doing.
You need to:
- Identify the exact gap
- Quantify what you need
- Execute faster and better
Here's how 👇
You can't outrank competitors by doing the SAME thing they're doing.
You need to:
- Identify the exact gap
- Quantify what you need
- Execute faster and better
Here's how 👇
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2/ Step 1: SEO Fundamentals First
Before anything else, make sure you have:
- Fast page speed (<3 seconds)
- Mobile responsiveness
- Clean URL structure
- Proper internal linking
- Basic on-page SEO
Fix these BEFORE chasing competitors.
Before anything else, make sure you have:
- Fast page speed (<3 seconds)
- Mobile responsiveness
- Clean URL structure
- Proper internal linking
- Basic on-page SEO
Fix these BEFORE chasing competitors.
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3/ Step 2: The Complete Competitor Gap Analysis
Most people only look at backlinks.
That's a mistake.
You need to analyze THREE gaps:
- Keyword Gap
- Content Gap
- Backlink Gap
Let's break each one down 👇
Most people only look at backlinks.
That's a mistake.
You need to analyze THREE gaps:
- Keyword Gap
- Content Gap
- Backlink Gap
Let's break each one down 👇
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4/ The Keyword Gap Analysis
Step 1: Run your competitor through Semrush Organic Research
Step 2: Export ALL keywords they're ranking for (no filters yet)
Step 3: Add everything to a Google Sheet
This gives you the complete picture of their keyword strategy.
Step 1: Run your competitor through Semrush Organic Research
Step 2: Export ALL keywords they're ranking for (no filters yet)
Step 3: Add everything to a Google Sheet
This gives you the complete picture of their keyword strategy.
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5/ Step 4: Repeat for 2-3 more competitors
For each competitor:
- Run through Semrush
- Export ALL keywords
- Add to your master sheet
Now you have hundreds (maybe thousands) of keywords in one place.
This is your goldmine.
For each competitor:
- Run through Semrush
- Export ALL keywords
- Add to your master sheet
Now you have hundreds (maybe thousands) of keywords in one place.
This is your goldmine.
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6/ Step 5: Organize into topic clusters
Group your keywords by theme:
- Email marketing
- Content strategy
- Link building
- SEO tools
- etc.
This helps you see which topics drive the most traffic in your niche.
Group your keywords by theme:
- Email marketing
- Content strategy
- Link building
- SEO tools
- etc.
This helps you see which topics drive the most traffic in your niche.
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7/ Step 6: Pick ONE cluster to dominate
Don't spread yourself thin.
Pick your most important topic cluster and focus there first.
Why? Building topical authority in one area ranks you faster than scattered content across multiple topics.
Don't spread yourself thin.
Pick your most important topic cluster and focus there first.
Why? Building topical authority in one area ranks you faster than scattered content across multiple topics.
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8/ Step 7: Now apply the filters
Within your chosen cluster, filter for:
- CPC: $3+
- Keyword Difficulty: 0-30
These are your quick win keywords:
High CPC = High buyer intent
Low KD = You can actually rank
Start here.
Within your chosen cluster, filter for:
- CPC: $3+
- Keyword Difficulty: 0-30
These are your quick win keywords:
High CPC = High buyer intent
Low KD = You can actually rank
Start here.
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9/ Pro tip for keyword prioritization:
Within each cluster, sort by ascending keyword difficulty.
Knock out the easiest keywords first:
- Build quick wins
- Establish topical authority
- Gain momentum
Then move to harder keywords once you have authority.
Within each cluster, sort by ascending keyword difficulty.
Knock out the easiest keywords first:
- Build quick wins
- Establish topical authority
- Gain momentum
Then move to harder keywords once you have authority.
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10/ Once you dominate one cluster:
Move to the next topic category.
Repeat the process:
- Filter for high CPC, low KD
- Sort by difficulty
- Start publishing
This systematic approach beats random keyword targeting every time.
Move to the next topic category.
Repeat the process:
- Filter for high CPC, low KD
- Sort by difficulty
- Start publishing
This systematic approach beats random keyword targeting every time.
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11/ The Content Gap Analysis (Macro Level)
Process:
1. Find competitor's blog index URL
2. Run through Semrush Organic Research
3. Count their total published posts
4. Check their publishing frequency (manual review)
5. Compare to YOUR numbers
Process:
1. Find competitor's blog index URL
2. Run through Semrush Organic Research
3. Count their total published posts
4. Check their publishing frequency (manual review)
5. Compare to YOUR numbers
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12/ Example calculation:
Competitor has: 200 blog posts
You have: 50 posts
Gap: 150 posts
Want to catch up in 12 months?
→ Publish 13+ posts/month
Want to catch up in 6 months?
→ Publish 25+ posts/month
Now you know EXACTLY what you need.
Competitor has: 200 blog posts
You have: 50 posts
Gap: 150 posts
Want to catch up in 12 months?
→ Publish 13+ posts/month
Want to catch up in 6 months?
→ Publish 25+ posts/month
Now you know EXACTLY what you need.
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13/ The Content Gap Analysis (Micro Level)
Manually audit 10-20 of their best performing posts.
Look for:
- Headline structure
- Content depth
- Visual elements
- Internal linking patterns
- CTAs and conversions
- Unique value adds
Manually audit 10-20 of their best performing posts.
Look for:
- Headline structure
- Content depth
- Visual elements
- Internal linking patterns
- CTAs and conversions
- Unique value adds
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14/ What to analyze in their content:
✅ Headlines: Do they use numbers? Power words? Brackets?
✅ Structure: How do they organize information? What makes it scannable?
✅ Visuals: Custom graphics? Screenshots? Data viz?
✅ Depth: Surface-level or comprehensive?
✅ Headlines: Do they use numbers? Power words? Brackets?
✅ Structure: How do they organize information? What makes it scannable?
✅ Visuals: Custom graphics? Screenshots? Data viz?
✅ Depth: Surface-level or comprehensive?
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15/ Find opportunities to do better:
- Add more recent data/statistics
- Include real case studies
- Create better visuals
- Add interactive elements
- Provide downloadable resources
- Build more comprehensive guides
The goal: Make THEIR best content look average.
- Add more recent data/statistics
- Include real case studies
- Create better visuals
- Add interactive elements
- Provide downloadable resources
- Build more comprehensive guides
The goal: Make THEIR best content look average.
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16/ The Backlink Gap Analysis
Here's where most people get discouraged.
"My competitor has 5,000 backlinks!"
But here's the truth:
Most of those backlinks are worthless.
Let me show you how to find the REAL number 👇
Here's where most people get discouraged.
"My competitor has 5,000 backlinks!"
But here's the truth:
Most of those backlinks are worthless.
Let me show you how to find the REAL number 👇
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17/ Finding REAL competitor backlinks:
On Ahrefs, apply these filters:
1. DR: 20+
2. Link Type: In Content
3. Do-Follow only
Boom. Their "5,000 backlinks" just became 300.
Much more manageable, right?
On Ahrefs, apply these filters:
1. DR: 20+
2. Link Type: In Content
3. Do-Follow only
Boom. Their "5,000 backlinks" just became 300.
Much more manageable, right?
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18/ Now manually audit those 300:
Export to Google Sheet and remove:
- Scraper websites
- Link farms
- Spammy directories
- Foreign language sites (unless relevant)
- Sites with zero traffic
Real number is probably closer to 100-150 quality links.
Export to Google Sheet and remove:
- Scraper websites
- Link farms
- Spammy directories
- Foreign language sites (unless relevant)
- Sites with zero traffic
Real number is probably closer to 100-150 quality links.
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19/ Calculate YOUR backlink requirements:
Competitor quality links: 120
Your quality links: 30
Gap: 90 links
Timeline options:
12 months = 8 links/month
6 months = 15 links/month
3 months = 30 links/month
Pick your timeline, set your target.
Competitor quality links: 120
Your quality links: 30
Gap: 90 links
Timeline options:
12 months = 8 links/month
6 months = 15 links/month
3 months = 30 links/month
Pick your timeline, set your target.
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20/ But here's the thing:
You don't just need the SAME number of links.
You need MORE.
Add 20-30% buffer to your target.
So if competitor has 120 links:
→ Target 150+ links
This ensures you actually overtake them.
You don't just need the SAME number of links.
You need MORE.
Add 20-30% buffer to your target.
So if competitor has 120 links:
→ Target 150+ links
This ensures you actually overtake them.
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21/ Step 3: Create Your Execution Plan
Now that you know all three gaps, create a master plan:
Month 1-3:
- Publish X articles
- Build Y backlinks
- Target Z keywords
Month 4-6:
- [specific targets]
Month 7-12:
- [specific targets]
Now that you know all three gaps, create a master plan:
Month 1-3:
- Publish X articles
- Build Y backlinks
- Target Z keywords
Month 4-6:
- [specific targets]
Month 7-12:
- [specific targets]
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22/ The Weekly Execution Checklist:
Content:
- Publish [X] new articles
- Update [Y] old posts
- Add [Z] internal links
Link Building:
- Send [X] outreach emails
- Publish [Y] guest posts
- Land [Z] quality backlinks
Track everything religiously.
Content:
- Publish [X] new articles
- Update [Y] old posts
- Add [Z] internal links
Link Building:
- Send [X] outreach emails
- Publish [Y] guest posts
- Land [Z] quality backlinks
Track everything religiously.
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23/ Monthly progress tracking:
Monitor:
- New keywords ranking
- Traffic growth
- Backlinks acquired
- Content published
- Competitor movements
Adjust strategy based on data.
If something's not working, pivot fast.
Monitor:
- New keywords ranking
- Traffic growth
- Backlinks acquired
- Content published
- Competitor movements
Adjust strategy based on data.
If something's not working, pivot fast.
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24/ Common mistakes to avoid:
❌ Copying competitor content word-for-word
❌ Targeting keywords you can't rank for
❌ Building low-quality backlinks
❌ Ignoring search intent
❌ Publishing without promotion
❌ Giving up after 3 months
❌ Copying competitor content word-for-word
❌ Targeting keywords you can't rank for
❌ Building low-quality backlinks
❌ Ignoring search intent
❌ Publishing without promotion
❌ Giving up after 3 months
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25/ The truth about outranking competitors:
It's not about:
❌ Having more budget
❌ Using better tools
❌ Working with big agencies
It's about:
✅ Better strategy
✅ Faster execution
✅ Higher quality output
✅ Consistent effort
It's not about:
❌ Having more budget
❌ Using better tools
❌ Working with big agencies
It's about:
✅ Better strategy
✅ Faster execution
✅ Higher quality output
✅ Consistent effort
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26/ Remember:
Your competitor took 2-3 years to get where they are.
You can close that gap in 6-12 months by:
- Working smarter
- Publishing faster
- Building better links
- Creating superior content
Speed + Quality = Victory
Your competitor took 2-3 years to get where they are.
You can close that gap in 6-12 months by:
- Working smarter
- Publishing faster
- Building better links
- Creating superior content
Speed + Quality = Victory
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27/ The bottom line:
Stop guessing what works.
Analyze what's ALREADY working for competitors.
Then:
- Steal their best keywords
- Create better content
- Build more backlinks
- Execute relentlessly
That's how you win.
Stop guessing what works.
Analyze what's ALREADY working for competitors.
Then:
- Steal their best keywords
- Create better content
- Build more backlinks
- Execute relentlessly
That's how you win.
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Want to dominate your niche?
Follow me @Nick_zv_ for battle-tested SEO strategies that actually work.
And RT this thread if it helped! 🙏
Follow me @Nick_zv_ for battle-tested SEO strategies that actually work.
And RT this thread if it helped! 🙏
