Competitor Content Gap Analysis

What You'll Need

Active subscriptions to Semrush and either Ahrefs or MarketMuse, plus access to ChatGPT (GPT-4 recommended). You'll also need your primary competitors identified and your current content inventory documented. Gather your top 3-5 direct competitors' domains before starting.

Step 1: Map Competitor Content Landscape

Time: 30 minutes | Tool: Semrush Navigate to Semrush's Organic Research tool and enter your first competitor's domain. Click on the "Organic Keywords" tab and filter for keywords ranking in positions 1-10 with search volume above 100. Export this data to CSV, focusing on keywords with commercial or informational intent indicators. Repeat this process for each competitor, creating separate exports. In Semrush's Keyword Gap tool, enter your domain as the main domain and add up to 4 competitor domains. Select "Missing" keywords to see what your competitors rank for that you don't. Export this comprehensive gap analysis - this becomes your master opportunity list. Pro tip: Use Semrush's "Questions" filter to specifically identify question-based keywords your competitors target, as these often represent untapped FAQ and how-to content opportunities.

Step 2: Analyze Content Depth and Authority

Time: 45 minutes | Tool: Ahrefs Open Ahrefs' Site Explorer and input your first competitor's domain. Navigate to "Top Pages" and sort by organic traffic. Identify their highest-performing content pieces that don't have direct equivalents on your site. Note the word count, number of referring domains, and social shares for each piece. Use Ahrefs' Content Gap tool by entering your domain and competitor domains. Filter for keywords where competitors rank in top 10 but you rank below position 50 or don't rank at all. Focus on keywords with difficulty scores between 20-60 that align with your content capabilities. Export the data and cross-reference with your Step 1 findings to identify overlapping opportunities. These represent your highest-confidence content gaps where multiple competitors are succeeding.

Step 3: Content Intent Classification with AI

Time: 40 minutes | Tool: ChatGPT Upload your consolidated keyword list from Steps 1-2 to ChatGPT. Use this prompt: "Analyze these keywords and classify each by search intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional). Also identify content format opportunities (guide, comparison, list, tutorial, review) and cluster related keywords into content themes. Export in a structured format." ChatGPT will group your keywords into thematic clusters and suggest content formats. For each cluster, ask for specific content angle recommendations: "For the [theme] cluster, suggest 3 unique content angles that differentiate from standard approaches competitors are taking." This AI analysis reveals not just what content to create, but how to approach topics differently than your competitors, giving you a competitive edge in content positioning.

Step 4: Prioritize with MarketMuse Scoring

Time: 35 minutes | Tool: MarketMuse Input your top 20 keyword clusters from Step 3 into MarketMuse's Content Planning tool. MarketMuse will generate personalized difficulty scores based on your current domain authority and topical expertise. Focus on topics scored as "Fair" to "Good" opportunities rather than "Difficult" ones. Use MarketMuse's Compete application to analyze the top-ranking pages for your highest-priority topics. This shows you the content depth and topical coverage needed to compete effectively. Note the suggested word count ranges and key subtopics you must cover. Create a final priority matrix combining search volume, MarketMuse difficulty scores, and business relevance. Your top 10 opportunities should balance decent search volume with realistic ranking potential given your current domain strength.

Step 5: Generate AI-Powered Content Strategy

Time: 30 minutes | Tool: ChatGPT For your top 5 prioritized content opportunities, use ChatGPT to create detailed content briefs. Provide this prompt: "Create a comprehensive content brief for [keyword/topic]. Include target search intent, required H2 sections, key points to cover, suggested word count, and 3 unique angles to differentiate from competitors. Base recommendations on these competing URLs: [list top 3 competitor URLs]." Generate content calendars by asking ChatGPT to sequence your content creation based on topical relationships and seasonal factors. Request specific publication timelines that build topical authority progressively rather than randomly. Finally, have ChatGPT create measurement frameworks for each piece, including target keywords to track, expected timeline to ranking improvements, and success metrics beyond just rankings (engagement, conversions, brand mentions).

Common Pitfalls

• Choosing content gaps that are too competitive for your current domain authority - stick to realistic difficulty scores
• Ignoring search intent when analyzing competitor content - a keyword might seem relevant but serve different user needs
• Focusing only on keyword volume without considering business relevance or conversion potential
• Copying competitor content approaches exactly instead of finding unique angles and differentiation opportunities

Expected Results

You'll identify 50-100 specific content opportunities your competitors rank for while you don't, with each opportunity scored for difficulty and business impact. Success means creating 5-10 pieces of content that begin ranking within 3-6 months while establishing topical authority in areas where competitors previously dominated unchallenged.