Websites, Stores and Search
Generative engine optimization: how to get cited by AI search
What generative engine optimization really is, what the research shows, and a step-by-step plan to get your pages cited by AI search.
SEO
Competitor SEO Gap Analysis
See exactly where three rival sites win in search, and get a 90-day plan for the gaps worth closing.
When the same few competitors keep showing up above you, guessing at the reason wastes time and budget. Competitor SEO Gap Analysis shows where 3 rivals you name win. You see the keywords they rank for, the pages you lack, the sites that link to them and the AI answers that mention them. Every finding is checked by a person and turned into a 90-day plan.
- Keyword, content and backlink gaps against 3 named competitors
- An AI answer check for 20 buyer questions
- A 90-day plan ranked by effort and likely impact
$1,425
10–20 working days
What it is
Competitor SEO Gap Analysis is a one-time study of where 3 competitors you name beat you in search. We compare keywords, content and linking sites, check 20 buyer questions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, and review search features. You get a 90-day plan ranked by effort and likely impact.
Why businesses buy it
Losing to the same competitors month after month is frustrating, and the cause is rarely obvious. They may cover topics you skip, earn links from sites that ignore you, or appear in AI answers where you are missing. This analysis puts those gaps side by side for 3 rivals in 1 market. A person checks every finding before the plan is written, so you are not handed a raw tool export. The 90-day plan ranks each gap by effort and likely impact. You can act on it yourself, or hand it to On-Page SEO Pack or Growth SEO. Rankings are never promised, because search engines decide.
Problems this solves
The same competitors keep outranking you and nobody can say why
We compare keywords, content and linking sites for 3 rivals you name. Every finding is checked by a person, so the reasons are clear.
Content budget goes on topics that never bring in buyers
The content gap list shows the topics and pages competitors rank for that you lack. Each one comes with a suggested new or improved page.
Rivals appear in AI answers and search features while you are missing
We check 20 buyer questions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes and local results are reviewed too.
You have plenty of ideas but no order to tackle them in
The 90-day plan ranks every gap by effort and likely impact. A written walkthrough explains each step.
A good fit if
The same two or three competitors keep appearing above you for searches that matter to your sales.
You want evidence of why they win before spending more on content or links.
You can name the 3 competitors you most want to beat and one main market.
Your team or another supplier can act on a ranked plan once you have it.
Not the right fit if
You want a full health check of your own site's technical issues and structure. See SEO Audit and Roadmap.
You want the gaps closed for you each month with articles, fixes and links. See Growth SEO.
Your main question is how AI assistants describe your brand, across more buyer questions. See AI Search Visibility Audit.
You need the links themselves, not a list of where competitors get theirs. See Link Building.
How it works
- You name the 3 competitors you most want to beat, share your main services, markets and customers, and invite us to Search Console and Analytics.
- We compare keywords in your market and list the searches where rivals rank and you do not, or where you trail.
- We map content gaps with suggested new and improved pages, and list up to 100 sites that link to rivals but not to you.
- We ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity 20 buyer questions, and review featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes and local results.
- A person checks every finding, then we write the 90-day plan and a written walkthrough of the findings.
What you provide within 72 hours
Your portal lists these the moment you order. Delivery starts the working day after everything is in and your access is checked.
- Search Console and Analytics access, shared by invite.
- The names and websites of the 3 competitors you most want to beat.
- Your main services, the market you sell in and who your target customers are.
- One person to receive and review the findings.
The 72-hour rule. Send everything on your checklist, including access, within 72 hours of ordering so your build starts on time.
Timeline
Start
Order placed. Competitor names, market details and Search Console and Analytics access are due within 72 hours.
Week 1
Keyword gap compared across your site and the 3 competitors.
Weeks 1–2
Content gaps mapped and the backlink gap list built.
Week 2
AI answer check for 20 buyer questions and the search feature review.
Week 2
Findings checked by a person, the 90-day plan and written walkthrough delivered.
After delivery
One round of revisions to the plan if any part needs clarifying.
| Option | Delivery time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10–20 working days | $1,425 |
What you receive at handover
- Keyword gap analysis for up to 3 competitors
- A content gap list with suggested new and improved pages
- A backlink gap list of up to 100 linking sites
- An AI answer check for 20 buyer questions and a search feature review
- A 90-day action plan ranked by effort and likely impact
- A written walkthrough of the findings
Expected benefits and how to measure them
- Shows where your time and budget can close the biggest gaps
- Helps you stop guessing why competitors rank above you
- Gives any supplier a clear, ranked brief to work from
- Keyword gap
- Re-run the keyword comparison against the same 3 competitors once the plan has run its course.
- Search clicks
- Track clicks and impressions in Search Console for the queries named in the plan.
- AI mentions
- Ask the same 20 buyer questions again a few months later and note who is mentioned.
Before you start: Keep the delivered gap lists and AI answer check as your starting point. Export your current Search Console queries before work on the plan begins.
These are things to track, not promised results. Outcomes depend on your data, your team and your market.
Running costs
There are no running costs. The research tools we use are on our side, and nothing is bought or installed on your site. If you act on the plan later, any content, link or fix work is priced separately and shown before you commit.
Ask about running costsCustom requirements
Add a note at checkout if you need something specific. If it fits within the Scope Card it is simply included. If it goes beyond it, you get a written Change Quote within two working days, and that work starts only once you accept it, with its time added to your delivery date.
Request a custom versionKeep it running
This is a one-time analysis, so there is nothing to keep running. The plan is yours to act on in-house or with any supplier. If you want us to close the gaps, On-Page SEO Pack improves 10 key pages once, and Growth SEO works through the plan each month.
How this compares
| Do it yourself | Hire a traditional agency | Upmark Labs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | A monthly tool subscription plus hours of your own analysis | Often bundled into a retainer or a larger audit | One fixed price for 3 competitors, shown before you buy |
| Findings | Raw keyword and link exports to sort through | Depends on the analyst | Every finding checked by a person before the plan |
| AI answers | Usually not covered | Sometimes, as an extra | 20 buyer questions checked in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity |
| Next steps | You decide what matters | A proposal for more work | A 90-day plan ranked by effort and likely impact |
Questions about this product
Which competitors should I choose for an SEO gap analysis?
Choose the 3 sites that most often appear above you for searches that bring you sales. They may not be your biggest business rivals. A small specialist site can outrank a large brand on the searches that matter. If you are unsure, we can suggest candidates from your Search Console data at intake.
Do you make the changes after the competitor gap analysis?
No. This service finds and ranks the gaps, and it stops at the plan. Writing content, building links and changing pages are not included. You can act on the plan yourself, or order On-Page SEO Pack to improve 10 key pages once, Link Building for links, or Growth SEO to work through it every month.
Can you analyze more than three competitors or a second market?
Yes, through a Change Quote. The standard scope covers 3 competitors in 1 market and 1 language, which keeps the findings focused. If you compete in several countries or against a wider field, add a note at checkout. We send a written quote for the extra work, and it starts only if you accept it.
What is the AI answer check in the competitor analysis?
It is a test of 20 buyer questions in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. We record which of you and your 3 competitors get mentioned or cited, and which sources the answers draw on. It is a snapshot, because AI answers change often. For a deeper study of 25 questions, see AI Search Visibility Audit.
Will closing the gaps in the plan get me above my competitors?
Nobody can promise that. Search engines and AI assistants decide what to show, and competitors keep working too. The plan gives you the gaps most likely to matter, ranked by effort and likely impact, so your time goes where it counts. Results depend on how well and how steadily the plan is carried out.
How is a competitor gap analysis different from an SEO audit?
An SEO audit looks inward, at your own site's technical health, structure and keywords. A gap analysis looks outward, at what 3 rivals do that you do not. SEO Audit and Roadmap suits sites with problems of their own to diagnose. This analysis suits sites that are healthy but keep losing to the same competitors.
What do I keep after the gap analysis walkthrough?
You keep everything. That includes the keyword, content and backlink gap lists, the AI answer check, the search feature review, the 90-day plan and the written walkthrough. Access to your Search Console and Analytics can be removed straight after. One round of revisions is included if any part of the plan needs clarifying.
Guides on this topic
All guides Find out why they rank above you
Order the Competitor SEO Gap Analysis and see the keywords, pages, links and AI answers your 3 main rivals own, ranked into a 90-day plan.
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