Tear down a competitor page in 30 minutes: pick 3 kinds of page, log frequency, post type and reaction, read the comments, find gaps you can fill and end with 5 ideas, without copying or faking anything.
You want to know what other pages in your field are doing, but every time you look it ends in half an hour of scrolling with nothing to show. This article gives a 30-minute worksheet: go step by step, log it in a table and end with 5 ideas you can use on your own page, without copying anyone.
Key takeaways
- Pick 3 kinds of page: similar size, bigger and from a different field
- Log the latest 10 to 12 posts in a table, then read the comments to find what people want but nobody answers
- End with 5 ideas done in your own way, with no copied images, text or impersonation
NoteChecked Oct 2026
This article uses only data pages make public, such as posts, comments and ads shown in the Meta Ad Library, which lets people view ads currently running. Menu names, filters and displayed data may change; check Meta's Ad Library page before use. We show no revenue or sales numbers of other pages, because public data does not reveal them.
All examples are invented pages and refer to no real brand.
Pick 3 kinds of page to study
Studying one page gives a lopsided picture. Choose three pages that teach different lessons.
3 kinds of page
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
TipStudy pages your customers also follow
Ask customers, or check your comments, which other pages they follow. Those pages compete with you for your customers' time, even if they sell something else.
The log: frequency, type, reaction
Time-box 8 to 10 minutes per page. Look at the latest 10 to 12 posts and log the fields below. Do not guess numbers you cannot see; use only what is on screen.
Open the page and count frequency
Check the dates of the latest 10 to 12 posts and count how many go out per week and on which days.
Sort the post types
Note whether each is a short video, single image, carousel, text or live, and count the rough split.
Log the visible reactions
Note the likes, comments and shares shown. If the platform hides a number, skip that field.
Log topic and first line
Write a short topic and the first sentence of the posts with the highest and lowest reactions.
Post log (fill in yourself)
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
WarningHigh reaction is not high sales
Visible likes and comments do not tell you that page's sales or profit. Some pages get plenty of playful engagement and little buying. Use reactions as a hint about topics, not as proof the business is doing well.
What the comments tell you
Comments under someone else's post are the best data on what customers want to know. Read 20 to 30 and sort them into groups.
Reading the comments
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
Before reading comments, decide that you will note content only, not commenters' names or photos, in your file. That information is personal data.
Gaps your own page can fill
With the log and comments in hand, ask three things: what do all three pages not do, what do customers ask that nobody answers, and what can we do better without extra spend.
Find the gaps
Done 0/7
From data to 5 ideas
Turn what you saw into sentences you can act on. Every idea needs a topic, a format and something to measure.
One idea
ExampleInvented example: a fresh coffee stand
What was seen: all three pages post pretty cups, but comments keep asking how the bean types differ. Idea: a short video comparing 2 beans, posted Wednesday, then check saves after 7 days. The shop and observations are invented.
Do this for 5 ideas, then pick only 1 or 2 to run first. The result is easier to read than trying five things at once. For reading weekly numbers, see read social analytics to decide where to invest.
Ethics: no copying, no faking
Do
Fine: look at topics, formats and frequency, then make your own in your own voice and data
Fine: use public data such as posts, comments and ads open to view
Don't
Do not: copy another page's images, videos or text to post
Do not: create a fake account to enter a closed group or pull data they did not make public
Learning from competitors versus copying them
WarningDo not publish other people's data
Do not screenshot comments showing customers' names and photos to post or forward, and do not write attacks in another page's comments. If you are unsure about copyright or personal data, ask a professional. This article is not legal advice.
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How many pages should I study
Three pages is enough for one teardown. More wastes time and makes decisions harder.
How often should I do it
Once a quarter, or when your own numbers shift unexpectedly.
How much of a competitor's numbers can I see
Only what the page makes public, such as likes, comments and posts. Reach and sales are not available.
Can I see a competitor's ads
You can view ads currently running on Facebook and Instagram in the Meta Ad Library, which is public. Check Meta's page for the latest details.
If my page is much smaller, should I follow the big page
You need not follow everything. Look at direction and customer questions, then pick what you can do with your time and budget.
Summary
Pick three pages that teach different lessons, log what you really see, read the comments for gaps and end with 5 ideas done your own way. Run this worksheet every quarter and you will know where the field is heading without copying anyone.
