Identifying Competitors
Ranksphere identifies the businesses appearing alongside yours in local search results. This guide explains how competitors are found, where to view them, and how to understand the information shown.
How competitors are identified
You do not need to add competitors manually.
Whenever you run a local ranking scan, Ranksphere checks which businesses appear at each pin and adds them to your competitor results. This gives you a list of the businesses competing for the same keywords across your selected area.
Competitors are identified separately for each location and keyword. The results are updated whenever you run a new scan.
Where to view your competitors
Competitor data is available from the Overview and Rankings sections of each location.
Overview
The Local Pack card shows the businesses ranking around your location.
Each business includes its:
- Average map rank
- Average Google review rating
- Number of reviews
Your business is marked as You, making it easier to see which competitors are ranking above or below you.
Rankings
Open a completed scan to view more detailed competitor information.
From the heatmap, you can:
- Select or hover over a pin to see the businesses ranking from that location
- Compare categories, ratings and review counts
- View the top competitors across the scanned area
The Top Competitors section ranks businesses by their average map position and may also show their categories, reviews, rating, and share of voice.
Understanding competitor metrics
Average map rank
Average map rank shows a business’s average position across all the pins included in the scan.
A lower number means a stronger average ranking. For example, an average rank of 3 is better than an average rank of 8.
Rankings can change from one pin to another, so the average gives you a clearer view of performance across the full area rather than relying on one search location.
Rating and reviews
This shows the business’s current Google rating and total number of reviews.
You can use this information to compare your review profile with the businesses appearing alongside you.
Share of voice
Share of voice shows how often a business appears prominently across the scanned area.
A higher share of voice means the business is visible across more pins and is taking up a larger share of the local search results for that keyword.
Using competitor insights
Competitor insights help you see where other businesses have stronger visibility.
For example, you may find that a competitor:
- Ranks above you across more pins
- Appears more consistently throughout the area
- Has a stronger rating or more reviews
- Uses a different primary category
- Has a larger share of voice
Use these comparisons to identify where your business may need attention. This could include reviewing your Google Business Profile information, categories, reviews, citations, website content, or local landing pages.
Your Smart Tasks may also highlight actions based on competitor and ranking data.
Access to competitor data
Workspace Owners and Admins can view competitor information for every location in the workspace.
Members can view competitors for the locations shared with them.
Guests can only view competitor information when they have access to the relevant Overview or Rankings section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to add my competitors manually?
No. Ranksphere identifies competitors automatically from your local ranking scan results.
How does Ranksphere decide which businesses are competitors?
A business is treated as a competitor when it appears in the local search results at one or more pins included in your scan.
This means the competitor list is based on the businesses currently ranking for the same keyword in your selected area.
Why can’t I see any competitors?
Competitor information becomes available after a local ranking scan has been completed.
Run a scan for the location and keyword you want to check, then open the completed results.
Why is a competitor’s position shown as an average?
A business may rank differently from one pin to another.
The average map rank combines its positions across the full scan, giving you a more balanced view of how it performs throughout the area.
Why are different competitors shown for different keywords?
Businesses do not rank for every search in the same way. A competitor appearing for one keyword may not appear for another.
Ranksphere identifies competitors separately for each keyword and scan.
What should I do when a competitor ranks above me?
Start by comparing their visibility, categories, rating, review count, and share of voice with your own.
You can then review the areas that may be affecting your rankings, such as:
- Google Business Profile completeness
- Primary and secondary categories
- Reviews and unanswered reviews
- Local citations
- Website content
- Location relevance
Check your Smart Tasks for recommended actions based on the latest data.
Related: Local Rank Tracking · Scan Credits · Locations
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