The Competing Websites feature in Category Curves identifies all the domains ranking for the keywords within the selected category and filters. Unlike SiteCurves, which focuses on overlapping keywords with a specific domain, this view aggregates all competitors for the category, providing insights into their performance trends and rankings.
Competing Websites enables you to:
Track which domains are improving or declining within the category.
Monitor traffic or Share of Voice (SOV) trends over time.
Gain competitive insights across all ranking domains for the category.
This feature offers two distinct views:
Grid View: Displays trend charts for domain traffic or SOV changes over time.
List View: Provides a sortable and filterable table of competitors with detailed performance metrics.
You can also switch the SERP widget filter to analyze competitor performance across different SERP features within the category, such as AI Overviews, People Also Ask, Featured Snippets, or Local Pack. This allows you to see how competitors are performing in specific widgets, beyond traditional organic listings.
Key Features of the Competing Websites Page
Traffic/SOV Trends
The top section contains a bar chart displaying trends for improving and declining competitors within the category for the time period selected in the header.
Green bars represent improving domains, while red bars indicate declining ones.
Competitor Segments
Use the buttons below the chart to toggle between:
All Competitors: Lists every domain ranking for keywords in the category.
Improving Competitors: Focuses on domains with increasing traffic/SOV.
Declining Competitors: Highlights domains with decreasing performance metrics.
SERP Widget Filters
The default filter is set to Organic Listings (blue links). You can switch the widget filter to:
AI Overviews
People Also Ask
Featured Snippets
Local Pack, and more.
This displays competitors appearing in specific widgets and their performance for the filtered view.
For example:
Selecting AI Overviews shows competitors ranking within that widget, along with their traffic/SOV trends.
The data updates to show competitors that own or exist in the selected widget, helping you analyze their visibility.
Grid View
The default view presents each domain as a card, showcasing:
Domain Authority (DA).
Traffic or SOV trends over the selected time frame.
Overall performance changes.
Users can follow domains or add them to their portfolios using the "+" button.
List View
Switch to a tabular view for:
Sorting and filtering domains based on metrics like traffic, DA, keywords, and URLs.
A clear comparison of competitors based on user-defined parameters.
How to Use Competing Websites
Switching Between Views
Use the view toggles (Grid or List) in the upper-right corner to switch between visual trend cards and data tables.
Applying SERP Widget Filters
Click the SERP widget dropdown in the top-right corner to filter competitors based on their appearance in specific widgets.
Example:
Switching to Featured Snippets will display competitors owning or appearing in that widget and their performance metrics.
Use this feature to track competitors’ visibility across different SERP features.
Apply Location Filters
If your landscape is tracking SERPs in different locations, you can also refine your view to see competitors within specific locations.
Filtering and Sorting
Apply filters such as:
Domain Authority.
Keywords.
Traffic or SOV.
URLs ranking.
Date discovered (for new entrants).
Sort results by column headers in the List View to prioritize specific metrics.
Competitor Trends
Click on competitors in the Grid View to drill down into their traffic or SOV trends.
Analyze changes over the selected time span to identify patterns or opportunities.
Why Use Competing Websites?
Identify Opportunities: Spot competitors with improving trends to understand their strategies and potentially replicate their successes.
Monitor Declines: Track declining domains to gauge weaknesses and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Analyze Trends: Evaluate how traffic and visibility metrics fluctuate for all competitors in your category.
Explore Widget Performance: Understand which competitors dominate specific SERP features, such as AI Overviews or Featured Snippets.
Best Practices
Leverage Grid View for Trends: Use the Grid View to visualize traffic or SOV trends at a glance.
Sort Data in List View: Focus on specific metrics like traffic change or DA by sorting columns in the List View.
Track Improving Competitors: Regularly monitor domains with improving metrics to stay ahead in the competitive landscape.
Use SERP Widget Filters: Switch widgets to analyze competitor visibility in features like People Also Ask or Local Pack.
Refine by Location: Swtich your location filter to see competitors in categories in specific locations.
Follow Key Domains: Add noteworthy competitors to your portfolio for easier tracking and analysis.
FAQs About Competing Websites
How are competitors identified in Category Curves?
Competitors are all domains ranking for the tracked keywords within the selected category and filters.
What’s the difference between Grid View and List View?
Grid View highlights traffic or SOV trends for each domain, offering a visual summary in a card.
List View provides a data table for in-depth sorting and filtering of competitor metrics.
Can I filter competitors based on SERP widgets?
Yes, use the SERP widget dropdown to analyze competitors based on their visibility in specific features, such as AI Overviews, Featured Snippets, or Shopping Results.
How can I track specific competitors?
Add competitors to your portfolio by clicking the "+" button in either view.
Can I export the data?
Yes, use the Export button to download the competitor data for offline analysis in CSV or Excel format.