Definition
Content gap analysis is a strategic SEO technique that identifies the keywords, topics, and search intents covered by your competitors but absent from your own site. This analysis reveals untapped content opportunities that could generate additional organic traffic. The method involves comparing your keyword profile with that of 3 to 5 direct competitors to find queries where they appear in the top 10 but you do not. Tools like Ahrefs (Content Gap), Semrush (Keyword Gap), and SE Ranking facilitate this analysis. Content gap analysis is also applicable at the page level (which subtopics are missing from an existing article) and at the conversion funnel level (which content is missing at each stage of the customer journey).
Key Points
- Identifies keywords and topics covered by competitors but not by your site
- Tools: Ahrefs Content Gap, Semrush Keyword Gap, SE Ranking
- Applicable at the site, page, and conversion funnel level
Practical Examples
Competitive analysis
Comparing your site with 3 competitors in Ahrefs Content Gap, you discover 50 keywords where they all rank but you do not. These keywords represent priority content creation opportunities.
Article enrichment
A page-level content gap analysis reveals your link building article does not cover subtopics like 'link farms,' 'link disavow,' and 'link velocity,' while competing articles cover them all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally every quarter. The competitive landscape evolves, new content is published, and search intents change. A quarterly audit helps you quickly identify new opportunities.
No, prioritize based on search volume, keyword difficulty, business relevance, and search intent. Not every gap warrants a content investment.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07