What are my competitors doing, and what should I do first?

Customers compare you with the businesses nearby. You don't have time to track what those businesses do.

The short answer

Search the way your customers do and list the top three names. Compare their offer, reviews and ads with yours, then fix the biggest gap first.

Do it yourself

  1. Search like a customer

    Search your service and town on Google and Maps. Note the top three names.

  2. Read their reviews

    Note what customers praise and what they complain about. Those are gaps you can fill.

  3. Look at their ads

    Check which ads they run now, and what each one offers.

  4. Pick one move

    Choose the gap that matters most to customers, and fix it this month.

Tools people use

  • Meta Ad Library A searchable database of active ads across Facebook, Instagram and Meta's other apps.
  • Google Alerts Watches the web for new content on a name or topic you choose.
  • Semrush Search and competitor research. A free plan, then paid plans from $139 a month.

Or have it run for you

The Block checks your competitors for you and turns what it finds into ranked next steps.

One readable report

Positioning, competitors, website signals and market context come together in one report.

Ranked by what matters

Opportunities are ranked, so you can see what to do first.

Then it gets done

Pick a finding and it becomes work. Nothing goes out without your yes.

Questions

How do I find out what my competitors are doing, and what should I do about it first?

Search the way your customers do and list the top three names. Compare their offer, reviews and ads with yours, then fix the biggest gap first.

How often should I check my competitors?

A quick check each quarter suits most small businesses. Look again when a new name starts showing up.

Should I copy what they do?

No. Look for what their customers wish they did better, and lead with that.

Sources

  1. Meta Transparency Center: Ad Library tools
  2. Google Alerts
  3. Semrush: Pricing

Public pages read on October 14, 2026. Prices and features change; check each site before you choose.

See also

More answers

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