In this episode, I’m going to show you how to check your YouTube competition score and SEO ranking in a way that actually works. We’ll first look at how most people assess competition, and then I’ll reveal my own method—trust me, it’s drastically different.
Now, I’m not trying to call anyone out here, but the ranking tools and methods most people rely on just don’t work. These scores are often misleading. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to properly assess your SEO score and rank your videos at the top of YouTube.
1. The Traditional Way People Check Competition
Let’s begin by looking at how others typically check competition. One tool I use and absolutely love is the Keyword Magic Tool. For this example, I’ll type in “real estate investor” and show you all the data it provides. It’s packed with information—everything from search volume to keyword difficulty. However, there’s one major issue: Google, the search engine we rely on, isn’t the same anymore.
Google used to be all about website searches, but now it’s a content search engine. This change has huge implications for how we approach SEO. The first thing I always look for is search volume. You want consistent traffic to your content, and this is one of the easiest ways to ensure your content gets noticed.
2. Forget the Traditional SEO Metrics
There are also other factors that don’t matter when it comes to ranking your content. Let’s talk about intent. Most SEO tools categorize keywords into intent types, like informational, navigational, or transactional. While this is helpful for paid advertising, when it comes to organic SEO, you can ignore it.
For instance, if you see the letter “I” (for informational) next to a keyword, that’s actually a goldmine for ranking because it means people are searching for information, not products. This makes it way easier to rank for those phrases.
I also ignore keyword difficulty scores. These are based on algorithms that don’t necessarily align with real-world results. You might find a score that says your keyword is “highly competitive,” but when you post your video, it shoots up to the top of YouTube rankings in just a couple of days. That’s the difference between theory and reality.
Cost per click (CPC) and competitive density? Don’t need ‘em. These are paid advertising metrics, not SEO indicators. And SERP features (those little extras that show up in search results) just distract you from what matters most—actual content ranking.
3. The Right Way to Check SEO Scores
So, what’s the right way to assess SEO and competition? I look at things from a different angle. Instead of focusing on individual keyword difficulty or CPC, I assess the overall competitiveness of a “branch” of keywords.
Let’s break it down using an example. One of my clients, Noelle Randall, teaches real estate investing—specifically vacation rentals like Airbnb. We found a branch of keywords around “Real Estate Investor Become.” These keywords all share the same four words and are highly relevant to her content.
Once we identified the branch, we tracked her video rankings over time. For instance, in early 2024, her videos began ranking higher and higher, with scores steadily increasing. By the time we checked in July, she was solidly ranking at the top. These metrics give a far better picture of how she’s performing than the traditional keyword difficulty score ever could.
4. Analyzing the Competition
Checking your competition’s ranking is crucial. One of Noelle’s competitors is BiggerPockets, a big player in the real estate niche. We can search for their rankings using the same keyword branch and see that they have a score of 10. But here’s the kicker—Noelle’s ranking for those same keywords is much higher.
This is the power of analyzing competition the right way. Instead of relying on tools like TubeBuddy or VidIQ, I focus on understanding where competitors rank and how they show up in search results. That’s the real measure of SEO success.
5. Real-Life Example: Jason Schroeder’s Dominance
Let me show you another example with one of my clients, Jason Schroeder. He specializes in construction management, and we discovered a high-performing branch of keywords around “Construction Management Become.” Jason’s content has been ranking consistently at the top, with a perfect score of 15 out of 15 for all his videos.
We can also compare his rankings to other competitors in the space. When we search for specific questions within his branch, Jason’s videos pop up in positions 1 and 2. We can then go through and see how other competitors perform—what’s their score? Where are they ranking for each question? This level of analysis is what will truly set you apart from the competition.
6. Turning Your Scores Into Success
The goal is to turn your SEO score from “starting” to “yes,” meaning your videos are ranking at the top. With the right strategy, this is entirely achievable. You just have to approach SEO the right way—stop relying on misleading scores and focus on content-driven results.
I know this process might sound complex, but once you understand the strategy, it’s game-changing. I’ve created a video called YouTube SEO: The LEAF Strategy that dives even deeper into how to make your content work for you. Be sure to watch that video next to learn more about this powerful strategy.
Conclusion
If you want to dominate YouTube, stop relying on outdated SEO tools and ranking scores. Instead, focus on tracking and understanding your competition through real-world ranking data. This will help you consistently produce content that ranks high and attracts viewers. Keep refining your strategy, and soon enough, you’ll be the one at the top of the YouTube rankings.
