# Competitor channel-cloning via Similarweb

> Check which channels already drive the category, then copy the winning acquisition shape before you invent your own playbook.

- Canonical HTML: https://growth.iangoh.com/growth-ideas/competitor-channel-cloning-via-similarweb/
- Source: [veed.io](https://www.veed.io/learn/how-to-get-first-paid-users-saas)
- GrowthDex source hub: [VEED Learn](/sources/veed-learn-veed-io/)
- Last checked: May 24, 2026
- Rarity: rare
- Budget: free
- Channels: SEO, Research, Founder-Led
- Stages: research, seo, early traction
- Key metric: VEED found competing online video editors got more than 50% of traffic from search

## Why this can grow

Most early teams waste time testing channels that already lost for businesses like theirs. Looking at competitor traffic mix narrows the search fast. VEED used Similarweb to notice that online video editors were mostly fueled by search, which gave the team a practical starting point instead of a theory-heavy channel debate.

## Ian's take

From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. For SEO and AI search, I care less about clever keyword tricks and more about clarity. A buyer, crawler, or answer engine should quickly understand who this is for, why it works, what proof backs it, and what page deserves to be cited. I would run it small enough to learn quickly, then only scale the parts that real users repeat, save, reply to, or buy from. For this tactic, I would watch one clear growth signal before putting more time or budget behind it.

## Action plan

1. Define one narrow startup segment where competitor channel-cloning via similarweb can create a measurable lift.
2. Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the SEO and Research channel.
3. Use the evidence from veed.io to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
4. Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: one measurable growth signal.
5. Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.

## Source-backed example

VEED said other online video editors showed more than 50% of traffic from search in Similarweb, which pushed the team toward SEO-first acquisition.

## Adjacent tactics in the same lane

- [Long-tail job-page cluster from proven demand](/growth-ideas/long-tail-job-page-cluster-from-proven-demand/) - same source, 1 shared channel, 1 shared stage
- [Customer-source interviews before the channel bet](/growth-ideas/customer-source-interviews-before-channel-bet/) - 2 shared channels, 2 shared stages
- [First 100 customer-name thank-you artifacts](/growth-ideas/first-100-customer-name-thank-you-artifacts/) - same source
- [Search alert loop for demand you created](/growth-ideas/search-alert-loop-for-demand-you-created/) - 2 shared channels, 1 shared stage

## Read GrowthDex essays

Browse the plain-English essay index at [GrowthDex Blog](/blog/).

## Related GrowthDex essays

- [The evidence is usually sitting on a page you already have](/blog/the-evidence-is-usually-sitting-on-a-page-you-already-have/) - SEO, operator-led distribution

## Advisory

If you want help turning this into a working growth system, Ian Goh offers advisory at https://iangoh.com/advisory.