If you're trying to rank #1 on Google in your industry, here's one of the most underrated yet brutally effective strategies: analyzing your competitor's sitemap and closing the content gap.
We did exactly that. Below is a real-world SEO teardown of two plumbing companies competing for the top spot in Los Angeles.
And we’re giving you the exact prompt we used so you can run this play for your own business.
TL;DR (Key Summary):
- Compare your sitemap against your competitor’s to find missing pages.
- Identify service and blog keywords they’re ranking for that you’re not.
- Create better, more helpful versions of their top-performing content.
- Use this exact prompt to ask ChatGPT:
Here’s the actual sitemap from the top-ranked "[industry + city]": [competitor’s sitemap link] Here’s my sitemap: [your sitemap link] Break down: 1. What pages they have that I don’t 2. What keywords they’re targeting 3. How I can close the content gap and outrank them
Let’s walk through the example that started it all.
The Competitor: RooterHero.com (Example)
Rooter Hero ranks #1 for "Plumber in Los Angeles." They’re a behemoth in the space.
Their sitemap: https://rooterhero.com/sitemap.xml
Our Site: MonkeyWrenchPlumbers.com (Example)
Our sitemap: https://www.monkeywrenchplumbers.com/sitemap_index.xml
We ran the prompt. Here’s what we found.
1. Pages They Have That You Don’t
Rooter Hero has:
- Individual service pages for every plumbing service imaginable (e.g., slab leaks, hydro jetting, trenchless sewer repair, gas line installation).
- HVAC service pages (AC install, furnace repair, duct cleaning).
- Localized pages for each city they serve.
- A detailed career section, contact locations, club membership, and monthly coupon page.
- An active blog publishing how-tos, FAQs, and seasonal tips.
If you don’t have these? You’re not in the same weight class.
2. Keywords They’re Targeting
Rooter Hero uses their sitemap content to target:
- [Service intent] “emergency drain cleaning,” “hydro jetting in Los Angeles,” “water heater replacement.”
- [Local SEO] “plumber in Glendale,” “sewer repair Burbank,” “AC service in Pasadena.”
- [Informational] “how to tell if a pipe is leaking underground,” “what is hydro jetting,” “DIY drain cleaning tips.”
They’ve built topical authority across dozens of subtopics.
3. How to Close the Gap and Outrank Them
Here’s how you flip the script:
A. Expand Your Services Section
- Break out every single service into its own page.
- Use keyword-rich H1s like: “Trenchless Sewer Repair in Los Angeles.”
- Answer questions with schema markup and FAQs.
B. Build Local Pages
- Make individual landing pages for every town/city you serve.
- Include maps, testimonials, and local photos.
C. Start a Blog (Not Just for SEO)
- Write helpful posts that real customers care about.
- Examples: “5 signs you have a slab leak,” “How to maintain your tankless water heater.”
D. Add Conversion Drivers
- Promotions page (even if it’s just a $25 off coupon).
- Membership plan with recurring services and benefits.
- Careers page to attract team members and build trust.
Use the Prompt to Run Your Own Audit
Here’s the exact ChatGPT prompt to analyze your own sitemap and beat the competition:
Here’s the actual sitemap from the top-ranked "[industry + city]": [competitor’s sitemap link] Here’s my sitemap: [your sitemap link] Break down: 1. What pages they have that I don’t 2. What keywords they’re targeting 3. How I can close the content gap and outrank them
Replace the URLs with your own, and let the AI do the first draft of your strategy.
How to find your XML Sitemal URL
Read this: How to find your XML Sitemap URL
If you’re not sure where to find your sitemap, try adding /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml to the end of your homepage URL (for example: yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml). If that doesn’t work, check your website’s robots.txt file by visiting yourwebsite.com/robots.txt — it often includes a direct link to your sitemap. If you still can’t find it, and you use WordPress with an SEO plugin like Yoast or RankMath, your sitemap is automatically generated and can usually be found at one of those two URLs.
Final Thought: SEO Isn’t Magic, It’s Math
Rooter Hero isn’t winning because they’re lucky. They’ve done the work. Their sitemap reflects a mature content strategy built on depth, coverage, and location-specific relevance.
If you want to beat them, start where they did: by building a better, more helpful, more complete site.
It’s not about hacking the algorithm. It’s about out-serving the customer.
Let the sitemap show you how! If you need help with SEO Services, get a quote!
