Know how to analyse your competitors before internationalising

Do you want to make sure your brand is successful in new international markets? If so, you must know how to analyse your competitors online before taking the leap into internationalisation. In this article, we reveal the keys to discovering how your competitors can boost your success, as well as avoiding any possible hurdles. Let’s take a look together and find out why it is so important to analyse competitors and how this information allows you to make informed decisions, adapt to the objectives of the target market and ultimately be successful in your global expansion.

Online vs physical competition

It is essential to mark the difference between online and physical competition, as customers usually have a clear idea of your physical competitors, but not necessarily of who your digital competition is.

While physical competition refers to commercial businesses and establishments that operate in a specific geographical space, online competition includes all companies with an internet presence, regardless of where they are based. In the digital world, the entry barriers are usually lower and the competition more intense, as companies can reach a broader and more diverse audience without the need for a physical infrastructure in the target country.

 

 

What’s more, marketing strategies and digital communication can vary significantly from those used in the physical world, which requires a different approach to analysing and taking on the competition. That’s why it is essential to pay close attention to your online competition when planning your brand’s internationalisation, as this will allow you to adapt more effectively to the digital world and make the most of the opportunities offered by e-commerce and digital marketing.

 

10 tips on how to analyse your competitors

Before launching onto the international market, a key step is analysing the competitive environment. This process will allow you to obtain valuable information on their strategies and tactics, as well to discover any opportunities and challenges that will help you successfully position yourself in the target market. Analyse your online competition and prepare yourself as best you can for the adventure of internationalisation.

Identify local competitors

Get to know the local brands already established in your target market to understand their strategy and learn from their successes and errors. By learning how to analyse your competitors, you will be able to identify your main rivals and anticipate their movements.

Detect market niches

Analyse competition to identify opportunities and market niches that may not have been explored yet or are not yet saturated. This knowledge will allow you to effectively position yourself to attract an audience that is interested in your products or services.

Get to know market trends

Observe the actions of your competitors to obtain valuable information on the market trends and preferences of the local consumers. This way, you will be able to adapt your marketing and communication strategies to better connect with your target audience.

Adapt your value proposition

Understand the needs and expectations of your target audience to adapt your value proposition and set yourself apart from the competition. This is especially important in international markets, where preferences and consumer habits can vary significantly.

Learn from best practices

Study the marketing and communication strategies of the competition to learn from the best practices and apply them to your own business. By analysing your online competition, you will find out which tactics work and which don’t, allowing you to optimise your own options.

Evaluate product demand

Analyse competitors to evaluate the demand of your products or services in the target market and adapt your sales expectations. This is crucial to estimating the viability of your internationalisation project and defining realistic results.

Optimise your SEO strategy

Find out the keywords and SEO tactics used by your competitors to improve your positioning on search engines and increase your online visibility. By using the keywords your potential customers use, you will be able to attract a broader audience and improve your organic results in the target market.

Improve user experience

Observe how the competition interacts with their customers and what type of content they post to offer a better experience to their own users. This includes aspects such as your website’s design, browsing ability and the content you share with your audience.

Set realistic goals

Analyse competition to establish realistic and measurable goals for your brand in the target market. By understanding your competitor’s performance, you can adjust your expectations and draft a plan of action according to the market reality.

Reduce risks and costs

Analyse the competitive environment and make more informed decisions and minimise the risks and costs associated with internationalisation. Analysing your online competition will allow you to identify possible obstacles and plan an effective strategy to overcome them.

 

Before selling cross-border, know how to analyse your competitors

In conclusion, analysing your online competition is essential to successfully enter new markets and ensure your brand grows internationally.

Knowing how to analyse your competitors, identifying the local competition, detecting market niches, understanding trends, adapting your value proposition, learning the best practices, evaluating the product demand, optimising SEO strategy, improving user experience, setting realistic goals and reducing risks and costs, you will be better prepared to take on the challenges of internationalisation and become successful in an ever more competitive digital world.

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