Best Social Media Analytics Tools for Competitor Analysis: A Simple Guide

When you’re trying to grow your brand or business on social media, it’s important to keep an eye on your competitors. But how do you know what they’re doing, right? How do you track their success? That’s where social media analytics tools for competitor analysis come in.

In this article, we will explore the best social media analytics tools for competitor analysis. These tools can help you monitor your competitors’ social media activity and performance. By using these tools, you can improve your own social media strategy and stay ahead of the competition.

What is Competitor Analysis on Social Media?

Competitor analysis means studying what your competitors are doing on social media. This includes looking at their

• Engagement: How many likes, shares, and comments do they get?
• Audience: How quickly are they growing their followers or subscribers?
• Content: What kind of posts are they sharing? (photos, videos, stories)
• Hashtags: Which hashtags are getting them more attention?
• Posting Frequency: How often do they post?

By looking at all of this, you can find out what’s working for them and what isn’t. Then, you can use that information to make your strategy better.

Why Use Social Media Analytics Tools?

You can try to monitor your competitors manually, but using social media analytics tools makes it much easier. Here’s why:

1. Save Time: You don’t have to check each competitor’s social media profile one by one. The tool gathers all the data for you.
2. Get Accurate Data: These tools are designed to give you accurate, up-to-date information.
3. Gain insights: They provide in-depth information that can help you learn from your competitors’ strategies.
4. Make Better Decisions: With the right data, you can adjust your strategy and improve your social media efforts.

Now, let’s look at some of the best social media analytics tools for competitor analysis that can help you get ahead.

1. Hootsuite Insights

Why It’s Good for Competitor Analysis:

Hootsuite is a well-known tool for managing social media accounts. Its Insights feature lets you track your competitors and see what people are saying about them online.

Key Features:

• Monitor Brand Mentions: See when your competitors are mentioned across social media.
• Engagement Data: Check how many likes, shares, and comments their posts are getting.
• Sentiment Analysis: Understand if the mentions are positive or negative.

How to Use It:

1. Add your competitors’ social media accounts to Hootsuite.
2. Track their engagement and see what types of posts work best for them.
3. Compare your performance to theirs and make adjustments to your strategy.

2. SEMrush Social Media Tracker

Why It’s Good for Competitor Analysis:

SEMrush is a popular SEO tool, but it also helps you track your competitors on social media. It shows you their growth, content performance, and more.

Key Features:

• Track Multiple Competitors: You can track up to 50 competitors.
• Social Media Ads: See what kind of ads your competitors are running.
• Engagement Metrics: Measure how well your competitors’ posts are doing.

How to Use It:

1. Add your competitors’ social media profiles.
2. Track their engagement, growth, and ad performance.
3. Use this data to improve your posts and advertising.

3. BuzzSumo

Why It’s Good for Competitor Analysis:

BuzzSumo helps you find the best content on social media. You can see which articles, videos, or posts from your competitors are getting the most shares and likes.

Key Features:

• Content Analysis: Find out which posts are most shared by your competitors.
• Content Ideas: Get ideas for your own content based on what’s trending.
• Influencer Tracking: See which influencers are working with your competitors.

How to Use It:

1. Search for your competitors’ websites or social media profiles.
2. Look at which content is performing well for them.
3. Use the information to create similar, but better, content for your own brand.

4. Sprout Social

Why It’s Good for Competitor Analysis:

Sprout Social is a great tool for managing social media, and it has excellent features for competitor analysis. It lets you compare your performance with competitors on different platforms.

Key Features:

• Social Media Reports: See how your posts compare to your competitors.
• Hashtag Tracking: Track which hashtags your competitors are using and their success.
• Audience Insights: Learn about your competitors’ audience and how they engage.

How to Use It:

1. Set up your competitors’ profiles.
2. Compare engagement rates, audience growth, and hashtag performance.
3. Use the insights to adjust your social media strategy.

5. Socialbakers (Emplifi)

Why It’s Good for Competitor Analysis:

Socialbakers, now part of Emplifi, provides detailed data on your competitors. It lets you compare engagement rates, track content performance, and find influencer partnerships.

Key Features:

• Engagement Comparison: See how your competitors’ posts are doing in comparison to yours.
• Content insights: discover what kind of content is working for them.
• Influencer Tracking: Find out which influencers are working with your competitors.

How to Use It:

1. Add your competitors’ profiles to Socialbakers.
2. Track and compare their content performance and engagement.
3. Use the information to improve your content and influencer marketing strategy.

How to Choose the Right Social Media Analytics Tools for Competitor Analysis

Choosing the right tool depends on your needs. Here are a few things to consider:

• Budget: Some tools are free, while others require a paid subscription. Choose one that fits your budget.
• Features: Make sure the tool offers the features you need, such as content analysis, engagement tracking, and hashtag monitoring.
• Ease of Use: Choose a tool that is easy to navigate and use, even if you’re not a tech expert.

Conclusion: Social Media Analytics Tools for Competitor Analysis

Using the best social media analytics tools for competitor analysis can help you stay ahead in the social media game. By tracking your competitors’ performance, you can learn what works and what doesn’t and make better decisions for your brand.

So, whether you’re using Hootsuite Insights, SEMrush, or BuzzSumo, these tools will give you the data you need to improve your social media strategy. Don’t just follow your competitors—outsmart them with the right analytics tools!