Having trouble with competitor discovery? Here's how to resolve common issues.
**Note:** Competitor tracking is a Pro/Business feature.
Common Issues
1. "Discover Competitors" Not Working
**Symptom:** Button does nothing or shows error
**Possible causes:**
Not enough keyword data yetNo GSC connectionFree plan (feature not included)Temporary API issue**Solutions:**
**Check plan:**
Go to Settings → BillingVerify you have Pro or Business planUpgrade if needed**Verify GSC connected:**
Settings → Integrations → GSCMust be connected to discover competitorsNeed keyword data to analyze**Ensure enough data:**
Need at least 20-30 keywords rankingWait 2-4 weeks after GSC connectionMore keywords = better competitor discovery**Try again later:**
If temporary issue, wait 1 hourClear browser cacheTry different browser2. No Competitors Found
**Symptom:** Discovery runs but finds 0 competitors
**Possible causes:**
Very niche marketBrand new websiteLimited keyword dataVery unique business**Solutions:**
**Build keyword base:**
Wait until you rank for 50+ keywordsMore keywords = more competitor overlap detectedTakes time for new sites**Check niche:**
Very specialized niches may have few competitorsLocal businesses may not have online competitorsThis is sometimes normal**Manual addition:**
If you know competitors, add them manuallyEnter their domain in "Add Competitor" fieldWeeklySEO will still track them3. Irrelevant Competitors Suggested
**Symptom:** Discovered competitors aren't real competitors
**Why this happens:**
Keyword overlap doesn't mean business competitionInformational content may overlapIndustry publications rank for same terms**Solutions:**
**Check relevance score:**
Only accept 70%+ relevanceReview their actual businessDismiss if not true competitor**Add manually:**
Better to manually add known competitorsMore accurate trackingFocus on what matters4. Missing Known Competitors
**Symptom:** Your competitor isn't in discovered list
**Possible causes:**
They rank for different keywordsLimited overlap in current rankingsThey target different search termsAlgorithm missed them**Solution:**
**Add manually** - This is the best approachGo to Competitors pageClick "Add Competitor"Enter their domainTrack them regardless of discovery5. Competitor Data Not Syncing
**Symptom:** Added competitor but no data showing
**Check:**
Added within last 24 hours? (wait for next analysis)Domain entered correctly?Competitor has SEO presence?**Solutions:**
**Wait for analysis:**
Data populates on next weekly analysis (Monday)Or trigger manual analysis (Pro/Business)**Verify domain:**
Use root domain: competitor.comNot: https://www.competitor.comNot subdomains unless tracking those specifically**Check their SEO:**
Do they actually rank for keywords?Visit their site to verify it's liveCheck in GSC if they have search presence6. Hit Competitor Limit
**Symptom:** Can't add more competitors
**Limits:**
**Pro:** 5 competitors per website**Business:** 15 competitors per website**Solutions:**
Remove less important competitorsUpgrade to Business for moreFocus on top competitors7. Competitor Rankings Look Wrong
**Symptom:** Positions don't match manual checks
**Normal reasons:**
Personalized search results differLocation-based rankings varyRankings fluctuate dailyWe show average positions**Verification:**
Use incognito mode for manual checksCheck from same locationCompare over time, not single dayTrust aggregated data over individual checksDiagnostic Steps
Step 1: Verify Feature Access
Check your plan includes competitor trackingEnsure GSC is connectedVerify you have keyword dataCheck competitor limit not reachedStep 2: Check Data Requirements
Minimum requirements:
✅ Pro or Business plan✅ GSC connected✅ 20+ keywords ranking✅ 2+ weeks of dataStep 3: Try Discovery
Go to Competitors pageClick "Discover Competitors"Wait 30-60 secondsReview suggestionsStep 4: Manual Addition
If discovery doesn't work:
Add known competitors manuallyEnter exact domainWait for next analysisCheck data appearsBest Practices
✅ **Add manually when known** - More reliable
✅ **Focus on real competitors** - Not just keyword overlap
✅ **Check relevance scores** - 70%+ recommended
✅ **Review regularly** - Remove irrelevant ones
✅ **Be patient** - Data takes time to populate
❌ **Don't expect instant data** - Wait for analysis
❌ **Don't track too many** - Focus on top 3-5
❌ **Don't rely solely on discovery** - Manual is better
❌ **Don't compare single-day rankings** - Look at trends
Alternative Approaches
If Discovery Isn't Working:
**1. Manual Research**
Google your target keywordsNote who consistently ranksAdd those domains manually**2. Industry Knowledge**
Add known business competitorsThey're your real competitorsBetter than algorithmic discovery**3. GSC Analysis**
Check "similar sites" in GSCGoogle suggests competitorsAdd them to WeeklySEO**4. Third-party Tools**
Use Ahrefs/SEMrush for discoveryImport competitor listTrack in WeeklySEOVerification
After troubleshooting:
**Check competitor list** - Shows added competitors**Wait for analysis** - Monday or manual trigger**View competitor card** - Should show metrics**Check ranking overlap** - Data should populate**Review activity log** - Competitor events loggedStill Having Issues?
Contact support with:
Your plan typeWebsite URLNumber of keywords you rank forScreenshots of competitor pageSpecific error messagesCompetitors you're trying to trackNext Steps
[Competitor Keyword Tracking](/help/articles/competitor-keyword-tracking)[Understanding Relevance Scores](/help/articles/faq-competitor-relevance)[Keyword Research](/help/articles/keyword-research-guide)