How to Use SimilarWeb

Getting started with SimilarWeb

In this guide, you’ll learn how to access and use SimilarWeb to analyse website traffic, audience demographics, and marketing channels. By the end, you’ll be able to gather insights on your own site and your competitors’.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to SimilarWeb.
2. Click on the Sign Up button located in the top right corner.
3. Fill in your details or sign up using Google or LinkedIn.
4. Once registered, you’ll be taken to the dashboard where you can explore the free features.

Step 2: Your first analysis

1. On the dashboard, locate the search bar at the top.
2. Enter the URL of the website you want to analyse (e.g., "example.com").
3. Click on the search icon or press Enter.
4. You’ll see an overview of the website, including total visits, traffic sources, and audience demographics.
5. Explore tabs like Traffic Sources and Audience to get deeper insights into where the traffic comes from and who the visitors are.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the Compare feature by clicking on Compare in the left sidebar.
2. Enter another website's URL to see side-by-side comparisons of traffic and engagement metrics.
3. Navigate to the Industry Analysis section for insights into your sector; this helps you understand trends and benchmarks.
4. Regularly check the Trends section to monitor changes over time for any particular website.

Pro tip

Use the browser extension for SimilarWeb. This allows you to quickly get website insights without leaving the page you’re on, saving you time on repetitive searches.

Common mistake to avoid

Don’t rely solely on the free tier for comprehensive data. The free version has limitations on the depth of analytics available. Consider upgrading if you need more detailed insights for competitive analysis.