How to Analyze Your Competitors on Social Media

Figure Out Who You're Even Competing Against (It's Not Who You Think)

Step one: ditch the ego. You're not trying to be Coca-Cola. Put that thought away. Your real competitors are the accounts your ideal customer actually follows *instead of you*. It's the local coffee shop with the killer Reels, the freelance designer whose carousel posts get saved a thousand times, or that indie brand whose community celebrates every launch. Go find 3-5 of them. Keep it manageable. Look for ones in your lane, with a similar vibe, who are just a few steps ahead. That's your starting lineup.

Spy on Their Content (Without Being Creepy)

Now, just watch. For a week, scroll their feeds like a normal human. Don't just look at the pretty pictures. Ask the real questions. What are they *actually* posting? Is it 90% polished product shots, or are they showing their team eating pizza on a Friday? Do they use memes? Do they hop on trends? Is their voice super professional or "hey bestie"? Write this down. Seriously, open a doc. You'll spot patterns you'd miss otherwise--like how every Tuesday they post a customer story, or every Thursday they ask a question. This isn't about copying. It's about understanding their playbook.

Gut-Check Their Engagement (The Numbers Don't Lie)

Likes are nice. Comments are currency. See which posts of theirs get people talking. Not just a fire emoji, but actual sentences. Are people asking questions? Tagging friends? Sharing personal stories? That’s gold. That's the content that *matters*. Also, look at the ratio. An account with 50k followers getting 100 likes per post is telling you something (and it's not good). An account with 5k followers getting 50 genuine comments is punching way above its weight. Figure out *why*. Is it because they're brutally honest? Do they run amazing polls? That's the juicy intel right there.

Clock Their Timing & Frequency (Work Smarter)

Here's a secret: consistency often beats genius. Notice when they post. Is it early morning with a coffee shot? Lunch break memes? Deep-dive guides at 8 PM? Platforms will give you some data, but your own eyes work too. Do they post three times a day or three times a week? More importantly, does their audience respond at those times? You might find a competitor posting at 9 AM, but all their comments roll in at 7 PM. That's a clue. You don't have to match their schedule beat-for-beat, but it shows you when their crowd is most alive.