Need to Outperform Your Competitors in 2026? Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS delivers an insightful masterclass on outperforming competitors through applied SEO marketing tactics. The discussion covers the critical distinction between direct and indirect competitors, strategic approaches to competitive analysis using tools like SimilarWeb.com and SparkToro.com, and the importance of focusing on long-term performance over short-term rankings.
Show Notes
Happy Valentine's Day Weekend! Need to Outperform Your Competitors in 2026? Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS delivers an insightful masterclass on outperforming your competition through applied and actionable SEO marketing tactics. The discussion covers the critical distinction between direct and indirect competitors, strategic approaches to competitive analysis using tools like SimilarWeb.com and SparkToro.com, and the importance of focusing on long-term performance over short-term rankings.
Favour emphasizes the value of understanding customer intent, the difference between pre-purchase and post-purchase behavior, and how to leverage both Google search and social media platforms like Instagram for comprehensive market visibility. The session includes live Q&A with participants discussing real-world challenges in SEO strategy, website validation, and go-to-market approaches for startups in niche markets.
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Detailed Timestamps
Introduction & Topic Overview
00:00 - 02:02 - Opening: Outperform competitors with applied search everywhere optimization (SEO marketing tactics)
02:02 - 03:10 - Understanding your competitors: National, international, local, and regional competition
Direct vs. Indirect Competitors
03:10 - 04:46 - Defining direct and indirect competitors in your market
04:46 - 06:17 - Market share dynamics and competitive positioning
Practical Example: Flower Business Case Study
06:17 - 09:13 - Using a Valentine's flower business as a practical example
09:13 - 11:47 - Time-based pricing strategies and customer behavior patterns
11:47 - 14:22 - Applying competitive insights to pricing and positioning
SEO Strategy & Competitive Analysis
14:22 - 17:35 - Understanding competitor strengths and weaknesses
17:35 - 20:48 - Using competitive intelligence for content strategy
20:48 - 23:19 - Keyword research and search intent analysis
Tools & Resources for Competitive Research
23:19 - 25:42 - Introduction to SimilarWeb, SocialBlade, and SparkToro
25:42 - 27:58 - Cost-effective alternatives for competitive analysis
27:58 - 30:16 - Building long-term visibility through strategic tools
Live Q&A Session Begins•
30:16 - 31:02 - Mohsen introduces himself: Software engineer starting a startup in the tattoo field
31:02 - 32:34 - Question: How to approach SEO when there's no competition in your field?
Google vs. Instagram Strategy Discussion
32:34 - 35:05 - Why Google is the most unsaturated platform for search-based marketing
35:05 - 37:15 - Instagram as a feed-based platform vs. Google as intent-based search
37:15 - 40:30 - Pre-purchase vs. post-purchase intent: Amazon vs. YouTube analogy
Website Validation & Trust Building
40:30 - 43:12 - The importance of having a website for business credibility
43:12 - 45:38 - Off-page SEO: Connecting Instagram to your website
45:38 - 48:05 - Building relationship models across platforms
Advanced SEO Tactics
48:05 - 50:21 - Running ads effectively: Brand awareness before advertising spend
50:21 - 52:47 - Understanding audience targeting and customer journey mapping
52:47 - 54:26 - Closing remarks and how to stay connected on Clubhouse
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between direct and indirect competitors?
Direct competitors are businesses that offer the same products or services within your niche or market. They target the same customer base and operate in similar ways. For example, if you sell red roses, other florists selling red roses are your direct competitors.
Indirect competitors are businesses that offer different products or services but satisfy the same customer need or compete for the same market share. Using the flower example, supermarkets and farmer's markets selling flowers would be indirect competitors to a specialized florist.
2. How do I find out who my competitors are?
Favour recommends using several competitive analysis tools:
- SimilarWeb: For website traffic and audience insights
- SocialBlade: For social media analytics and competitor tracking
- SparkToro: For audience intelligence and content discovery
You can also identify competitors by searching for your target keywords on Google and seeing which businesses rank for those terms. Consider both national, international, local, and regional competitors depending on your market scope.
3. Should I focus on Google or Instagram for my business?
According to Favour, Google is the most unsaturated platform because it's based on search intent—people actively looking for specific solutions. Instagram is a feed-based platform better suited for brand awareness and showcasing visual results (before/after transformations, product demonstrations).
Best approach: Use both strategically. Google captures pre-purchase intent (people researching solutions), while Instagram provides post-purchase validation and builds brand awareness. Having a website connected to your Instagram profile adds credibility and improves your off-page SEO.
4. What's more important: ranking or performance?
Favour emphasizes that performance is more important than ranking. Rankings fluctuate constantly (like stock prices or gas prices), but performance focuses on long-term outcomes:
- How quickly can you serve customers?
- What value do you provide beyond just appearing in search results?
- Can customers find your information when they need it?
Anyone can rank with AI-generated content today, but what makes your business different is the experience, speed, and value you deliver to customers.
5. How do I approach SEO if I have no competition in my field?
When you're in a niche market with little to no competition, Favour suggests:
Reverse engineer your success: If you're getting traction on Instagram, create corresponding website content (10 Instagram posts = 10 website articles)
Focus on search volume: Research if there's search demand on Google for your services
Build credibility: Having a website validates your business more than social media alone
Create content ecosystems: Connect your social media to your website through embedding posts and cross-linking
6. Why is having a website important if I already have Instagram?
A website provides business validation and credibility. As Favour's example illustrated: if three businesses offer the same service but only one has a website, customers will trust the one with a website because it demonstrates investment in human resources, infrastructure, and long-term commitment.
Additionally, a website enables off-page SEO—when your Instagram links to your website, you're building relationship models between platforms that improve your overall search visibility.
7. What is pre-purchase vs. post-purchase intent?
- Pre-purchase intent: Customers researching before buying (e.g., reading Amazon reviews, comparing products on Google)
- Post-purchase intent: Customers who already bought and need guidance (e.g., watching YouTube tutorials on how to use an air fryer they purchased)
Understanding this distinction helps you create appropriate content for each stage of the customer journey. Google and review sites capture pre-purchase intent, while platforms like YouTube and Instagram serve post-purchase needs.
8. Should I run ads if people can't find my business organically?
Favour advises: Don't run ads first if people can't find you organically. If the answer to "Will they find my business without ads?" is no, then focus on building organic visibility first through SEO and content creation.
If people can already find you organically, then running ads becomes more cost-effective because you're amplifying existing brand awareness rather than starting from zero.
9. What are applied SEO marketing tactics?
Applied SEO refers to search everywhere optimization—not just optimizing for Google, but creating a comprehensive presence across all platforms where customers might search:
- Google search
- Instagram search
- YouTube search
- Social media platforms
- Review sites
- Local directories
It's about understanding customer behavior across multiple touchpoints and ensuring your business is discoverable wherever customers are looking.
Additional Resources Mentioned
SimilarWeb: Competitive website analytics
SocialBlade: Social media statistics and tracking
SparkToro: Audience research and insights
ChatGPT: AI content generation tool (mentioned in context of ranking vs. performance)
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