> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://storescribe.gitbook.io/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://storescribe.gitbook.io/docs/the-watchdog/insights.md).

# Local Competitors

Once you've added local competitors, The Watchdog provides a rich set of data and insights. Here's how to read and use them effectively.

## The Watchdog Overview

When you open The Watchdog, you'll see several sections for your local competitors:

### Market Position Card

At the top, a "Your Market Position" card shows how you rank against tracked competitors:

* **Google Rating** - Your star rating compared to competitors, with your rank (e.g., #1 of 4)
* **Review Count** - How your total reviews compare, with your rank

{% hint style="success" %}
**Goal:** Aim to be #1 in both rating and review count in your local market.
{% endhint %}

### Compare All Leaderboard

Click **Compare All** to see a sortable leaderboard table with all tracked competitors and your business:

* Sort by business name, rating, or review count
* Your business is highlighted in blue with a "You" badge
* The leader in each column gets a medal icon

### Interactive Map

If competitors have location data, an interactive map shows:

* Your business location (highlighted)
* Each competitor's location with a color-coded marker
* Click any marker to go to that competitor's detail page

### Competitor Cards

Each tracked competitor gets a card showing:

| Field         | Description                                      |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Business Name | The competitor's name with avatar                |
| Website Link  | Click to visit their website                     |
| Address       | Their street address and city                    |
| Rating        | Google Maps star rating and review count         |
| Last Crawl    | When their website was last analyzed             |
| My Notes      | Your personal notes about this competitor        |
| Status        | Active or Pending (while data is being gathered) |

## Competitor Detail Page

Click on any competitor card to see their full detail page, which includes:

### Overview Tab

* Full business information (name, address, website)
* Google Maps rating and reviews
* Website crawl history

### Analysis Tab

* AI-generated competitive analysis
* SWOT-style insights (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
* Strategic recommendations based on comparison with your business

Click **View Analysis** or **Create Analysis** on a competitor card to jump directly to the analysis tab.

## Reading the Data

### Activity Status Badges

| Badge   | Meaning                                           |
| ------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Active  | Competitor is being tracked and updated regularly |
| Pending | Data is still being gathered (new competitor)     |

### Rating and Reviews

* Ratings are pulled from Google Maps (1-5 stars)
* Review counts show total Google reviews
* "N/A" means the business doesn't have a Google Maps listing yet

### Last Crawl Date

Shows when Storescribe last analyzed the competitor's website. More recent dates mean fresher data.

## Tips for Using Local Competitor Data

{% hint style="success" %}
**Check rankings weekly.** Track whether you're gaining or losing ground on ratings and reviews.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
**Read analyses carefully.** The AI-generated competitive analysis highlights specific strengths and weaknesses you can act on.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Don't just copy.** Use competitor insights for inspiration, but develop your own unique approach.
{% endhint %}

## Related Articles

* [Getting Started with The Watchdog](/docs/the-watchdog/adding-competitors.md)
* [Corporate Competitors](/docs/the-watchdog/analysis.md)
* [Using Competitor Data](/docs/the-watchdog/strategy.md)