Our Competitor Analysis Process
How Helping Painters Builds the Game Plan That Moves Painters Into the Map Pack
HelpingPainters.com does not guess, recycle templates, or apply generic SEO tactics.
Every service description we write and every posting system we create is based on direct analysis of the Top 3 Google Map Pack competitors in your market.
This page explains our internal process — the framework we use to define the exact strategy behind your content.
Why Competitor Analysis Comes First
Google Business Profile rankings are comparative.
Google does not ask:
“Is this business good?”
Google asks:
“Is this business stronger than the others competing for this search?”
Before we write a single word, we identify:
Why the current Map Pack businesses are ranking
Which signals Google is responding to
Where competitors are weak, inactive, or exposed
This is how strategy is built — not assumed.
Step 1: Identifying the Current Map Pack Leaders
We start by identifying the Top 3 Map Pack listings for your primary keyword and service area.
This establishes:
The ranking benchmark
The activity level Google is rewarding
The minimum signals required to compete
We don’t analyze outdated results.
We analyze what Google is showing right now.
Step 2: Relevance Analysis (Services & Service Descriptions)
Google cannot rank services it does not clearly understand.
We analyze competitors for:
Number of services listed
Which services are emphasized
Which services are missing
Description depth and clarity
This tells us:
How much relevance is required
Which services need to be added or expanded
Where your listing must exceed competitors
Your GBP service descriptions are written directly from this analysis, not guesswork.
Step 3: Prominence Analysis (Posting & Activity)
Prominence is measured through ongoing activity, not business age or popularity.
We examine competitors’:
Posting frequency
Posting consistency
Content type (service-focused vs generic)
Periods of inactivity
Most Map Pack competitors are inconsistent — even while ranking.
Your posting content and cadence are designed to outpace this behavior, applying pressure over time.
Step 4: Review Velocity Patterns
We do not chase review totals.
We analyze:
Review recency
Review frequency
Activity trends over time
This allows us to:
Define a natural activity range
Avoid risky spikes
Support Google’s confidence signals
Our guidance focuses on ongoing activity, not manipulation.
Step 5: Photo Activity & Visual Freshness
Google evaluates whether a listing appears visibly active.
We analyze:
How often competitors upload photos
Whether their photos are recent or stale
Signs of neglect or inactivity
This informs:
Photo upload cadence
Freshness requirements
Visual activity guidance included in your plan
Photos support prominence — they do not replace posting or service clarity.
Step 6: GBP Structure & Completeness
We evaluate:
Category usage
Attributes enabled
Missing fields
Structural gaps
Many competitors leave ranking signals unused.
These gaps are incorporated into:
Your service descriptions
Your posting themes
Your overall execution plan
How This Analysis Becomes Your Game Plan
This internal analysis directly powers:
The services we include and expand
The language used in service descriptions
The posting cadence we prescribe
The content themes we write
The timeline we expect ranking movement
The signals we prioritize first
Nothing is random.
Why This Process Works
Most SEO fails because it is:
Generic
Template-based
Detached from competitors
Focused on effort instead of comparison
Our process works because it:
Mirrors how Google evaluates listings
Targets visible weaknesses
Applies sustained pressure
Builds stronger signals than incumbents
Google doesn’t reward activity.
It rewards comparative strength.
What This Means for HelpingPainters Clients
When you work with HelpingPainters.com:
You are not getting generic content
You are not copying competitors blindly
You are executing a defined plan built from live Map Pack data
Your service descriptions and posts are written to replace, not participate.
Strategy Before Execution
Content without direction is wasted effort.
Competitor analysis defines:
What matters
What doesn’t
What moves first
What sustains rankings
This is the foundation behind every service we provide.