How to Better Understand Competitor's Clients Outside Brick and Mortar

Suppose you don't have competitors with physical locations.  Are there ways to learn more about their clients?  It's not very easy, but there are now tools to help.

• Read your competitor's blog, if it exists.  The author may discuss recent clients or talk about their best leads.
• Follow competitors' social media properties, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  Clients may post comments, giving you a look at their situations and demographics.
• Read reviews on sites such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and Yelp.  The postings may also provide clues to the competitor's client list.
• Are competitors attending and networking at leads groups?  Listen to their "commercials" for mentions of good qualified leads.
• Finally, search for your competitor with Google or Bing, especially for articles where the competitor's business is discussed.  

Take good notes of what you find.  Over time a composite image will be revealed of your competitor's clients.  And analysts like me can help identify trends and patterns.