Competitor Analysis Affiliate Marketing Strategy That Actually Works

Affiliate marketing is booming. Today, over 80% of brands run affiliate campaigns. Why? Because it works. In fact, the industry is expected to cross $21 billion globally this year.

But here’s the catch—more growth means more competition. If you’re an affiliate, you already know it’s crowded out there. Everyone’s fighting for those top Google spots, trying to get the same clicks and sales you want.

So, how do you stay ahead?

That’s where competitor analysis affiliate marketing comes in.

It’s not just smart—it’s necessary. By looking at what others are doing, you can spot gaps, learn proven strategies, and do it all better.

In this guide, we’ll walk through a simple, no-fluff strategy that actually works. This isn’t theory. It’s practical, step-by-step advice you can start using today.

Let’s go.

Why You Should Analyze competitor analysis affiliate marketing

Let’s be honest. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, learn from those already winning.

Your competitors are showing you what works and what flops. You just need to pay attention.

Think of it like this: if you were hiking up a mountain, would you follow someone who’s already at the top? Or would you make your own path and hope for the best?

Exactly.

Studying competitor analysis affiliate marketing helps you:

• Save time by avoiding dead-end tactics
• Spot easy keywords they missed
• Discover untapped traffic sources
• Find better affiliate offers

The best part? You’re not copying. You’re learning, adapting, and improving.

So let’s break it down.

Step 1: Find Out Who You’re Competing With

Before you can beat them, you need to know who “they” are.

These are sites targeting the same audience and products as you. If you blog about fitness tech, your competition is other blogs reviewing smartwatches, fitness trackers, and gym gear.

How to find them:

• Google your main keywords. Look at who ranks on page one.
• Use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to see who ranks for the same keywords.
• Check affiliate forums or Facebook groups. Who’s active and sharing results?

Write down 5–10 competitor sites. These are your targets.

Step 2: Look at Their Keywords and Rankings

This is where it gets juicy.

Visit each site and browse their blog. Look at article titles. Are they writing about “Best [Product] 2025” or “[Product] Review”? Good—those are buyer keywords.

Now go deeper.

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. Type in their domain. Look at:

• Top organic keywords
• Estimated traffic
• Keyword difficulty

You’re looking for low-hanging fruit—keywords with good volume but low competition.

Here’s an example:

• Keyword: “Best portable solar charger”
• Volume: 2,000
• Difficulty: Low

If your competitor ranks for that and you don’t, it’s time to write something better.

Also check the SERPs. What kind of pages rank for those keywords? Are they blog posts, product pages, or comparison lists?

This tells you what Google wants. Give it that.

Step 3: Study Their Content Style and Structure

Great now let’s look at how they write.

Go to their top pages. Read them like a customer.

Ask yourself:

• Is it easy to read?
• Do they use images or product tables?
• Are affiliate links used early or only at the end?

Common content types:

• Product reviews
• Top 10 lists
• How-to guides
• Comparison posts

You don’t need to copy the format. Just understand what works. If every competitor has a “Best Of” list, maybe you should too—but yours should be cleaner, clearer, and more useful.

Also check for freshness. Are they updating content? If not, that’s your chance to outrank them with a newer post.

You may also like: spy on competitors ads

Step 4: Check Where They Get Their Traffic

Now we figure out how people find them.

Use a tool like SimilarWeb. It shows where a site’s traffic comes from:

• Organic search
• Social media
• Referral links
• Email

If 80% comes from Google, focus on SEO. If a lot comes from Pinterest or YouTube, maybe it’s time to diversify.

Here’s what else to check:

• Do they run paid ads? Use SpyFu to find out.
• Are they active on social? Check Facebook, Insta, or YouTube.
• Do they use email marketing? Join their newsletter and see what they send.

All this shows you where they’re winning—and what you’re missing.

Step 5: See How They Make Money

We’re in this to earn, right?

So let’s figure out how they monetize.

Click their affiliate links (or hover to inspect). You’ll notice:

• Amazon links
• ShareASale or CJ links
• Direct brand partnerships

Also check if they use:

• Display ads (Google AdSense)
• Sponsored posts
• Their own products (like eBooks or courses)

Use Ahrefs to explore outgoing links or backlinks that hint at affiliate programs.

If a site promotes the same affiliate offer 5 times in different posts, it’s probably converting well. You might want to test it too.

Step 6: Take Action

Now comes the fun part.

Use what you learned and make changes. Start with quick wins:

• Write a better article for a keyword they rank for.
• Join a new affiliate program they promote.
• Create a better product table or comparison chart.

Then work on:

• Fixing weak pages on your site
• Adding new traffic sources (Pinterest? YouTube?)
• Refreshing old content

Always ask: What can I do better than them?

Don’t copy. Compete smart. Stand out with value.

Track your progress. Watch rankings. Watch clicks. See what works.

Then repeat. Competitor analysis is not a one-time job. Make it part of your monthly routine.

Best Tools for competitor analysis affiliate marketing

Here are some tools to help:

• Ahrefs – Great for keyword and backlink research
• SEMrush – Strong for keyword gaps and PPC insights
• SpyFu – Good for paid ads research
• SimilarWeb – Traffic breakdown by source
• BuzzSumo – See what content goes viral
• AdSpy – Advanced ad tracking (Facebook/Instagram)
• Google Alerts – Get notified of new competitor content

Pick the one that fits your budget and needs.

Final Thoughts

competitor analysis affiliate marketing is competitive, but you don’t need to fight blindly. Use competitor analysis to work smarter. It gives you ideas, reveals gaps, and shows what’s already working.

Then go do it—better. You’ve got the map now. Use it to build content, drive traffic, and grow your affiliate income. Stick with it. Learn. Adjust. Win. You’ve got this.