In partnership with
The Day I Stopped Fearing Competitors—and Started Using Them as a Map
I used to avoid looking at competitors. Every time I did, it left me feeling smaller. Someone was always posting more, sounding smarter, or claiming better results. It felt like the market was already crowded and there was no space left for me.
That mindset kept me stuck for a long time.
Everything changed the day I realized this simple truth: competitors are not threats; they are evidence. Evidence that money is being made, problems are real, and demand already exists. Once I stopped seeing competitors as rivals and started seeing them as data, growth became easier.
Competitor research in 2026 isn’t about copying. It’s about observing patterns, listening closely, and noticing what others are not saying.
I remember analyzing a popular digital marketing page with thousands of followers. Their content was polished, consistent, and informative—but the comments told a different story. People kept asking beginner questions that were never answered. The creator was talking at the audience, not with them.
That gap was invisible at first glance, but once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.
Market gaps usually don’t look dramatic. They appear quietly, in comment sections, unanswered questions, confused replies, and frustrated reviews. The best free research tool you’ll ever use isn’t software—it’s attention.
When you visit a competitor’s content, don’t focus on how good it looks. Focus on how people react. Are they confused? Are they asking for clarification? Are they saying “this doesn’t work for me”? Those moments are signals. They show you where the market is underserved. ( Follow Now )
This newsletter you couldn’t wait to open? It runs on beehiiv — the absolute best platform for email newsletters.
Our editor makes your content look like Picasso in the inbox. Your website? Beautiful and ready to capture subscribers on day one.
And when it’s time to monetize, you don’t need to duct-tape a dozen tools together. Paid subscriptions, referrals, and a (super easy-to-use) global ad network — it’s all built in.
beehiiv isn’t just the best choice. It’s the only choice that makes sense.
Another habit that changed my approach was reading negative reviews—not of competitors, but of tools, courses, and services in the same space. People are incredibly honest when they’re disappointed. They’ll tell you exactly what was missing, what felt misleading, and what they wished existed instead.
That’s market research handed to you for free.
In 2026, the biggest mistake beginners make is trying to be different before being useful. Differentiation doesn’t come from being louder or smarter. It comes from being clearer. If ten people explain the same topic in complicated ways, the person who explains it simply becomes the gap.
You don’t need to invent something new. You need to explain something familiar in a way that finally makes sense. (Don’t Miss Out)
This is why frameworks matter—not rigid systems, but ways of thinking. One framework I return to often is asking myself three quiet questions: What is everyone talking about? What are people still confused about? What is nobody explaining well?
The overlap between those answers is where opportunity lives.
When you approach competitor research this way, fear disappears. Comparison fades. Confidence grows. You stop wondering if there’s space for you and start seeing exactly where you fit.
The market doesn’t reward perfection. It rewards relevance.
If you can spot confusion and replace it with clarity, you will always have an audience. If you can notice frustration and offer relief, you will always have demand.
Next week, we’ll talk about the three growth models that actually work in 2026—and why most people pick the wrong one at the start.
Until then, don’t avoid your competitors. Study them quietly. They’re already showing you the path forward - Visit Now