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apify-trend-analysis skill

/skills/apify-trend-analysis

This skill helps you track emerging trends across Google Trends, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook to inform content strategy.

npx playbooks add skill apify/agent-skills --skill apify-trend-analysis

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

Files (2)
SKILL.md
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---
name: apify-trend-analysis
description: Discover and track emerging trends across Google Trends, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to inform content strategy.
---

# Trend Analysis

Discover and track emerging trends using Apify Actors to extract data from multiple platforms.

## Prerequisites
(No need to check it upfront)

- `.env` file with `APIFY_TOKEN`
- Node.js 20.6+ (for native `--env-file` support)
- `mcpc` CLI tool (for fetching Actor schemas)

## Workflow

Copy this checklist and track progress:

```
Task Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Identify trend type (select Actor)
- [ ] Step 2: Fetch Actor schema via mcpc
- [ ] Step 3: Ask user preferences (format, filename)
- [ ] Step 4: Run the analysis script
- [ ] Step 5: Summarize findings
```

### Step 1: Identify Trend Type

Select the appropriate Actor based on research needs:

| User Need | Actor ID | Best For |
|-----------|----------|----------|
| Search trends | `apify/google-trends-scraper` | Google Trends data |
| Hashtag tracking | `apify/instagram-hashtag-scraper` | Hashtag content |
| Hashtag metrics | `apify/instagram-hashtag-stats` | Performance stats |
| Visual trends | `apify/instagram-post-scraper` | Post analysis |
| Trending discovery | `apify/instagram-search-scraper` | Search trends |
| Comprehensive tracking | `apify/instagram-scraper` | Full data |
| API-based trends | `apify/instagram-api-scraper` | API access |
| Engagement trends | `apify/export-instagram-comments-posts` | Comment tracking |
| Product trends | `apify/facebook-marketplace-scraper` | Marketplace data |
| Visual analysis | `apify/facebook-photos-scraper` | Photo trends |
| Community trends | `apify/facebook-groups-scraper` | Group monitoring |
| YouTube Shorts | `streamers/youtube-shorts-scraper` | Short-form trends |
| YouTube hashtags | `streamers/youtube-video-scraper-by-hashtag` | Hashtag videos |
| TikTok hashtags | `clockworks/tiktok-hashtag-scraper` | Hashtag content |
| Trending sounds | `clockworks/tiktok-sound-scraper` | Audio trends |
| TikTok ads | `clockworks/tiktok-ads-scraper` | Ad trends |
| Discover page | `clockworks/tiktok-discover-scraper` | Discover trends |
| Explore trends | `clockworks/tiktok-explore-scraper` | Explore content |
| Trending content | `clockworks/tiktok-trends-scraper` | Viral content |

### Step 2: Fetch Actor Schema

Fetch the Actor's input schema and details dynamically using mcpc:

```bash
export $(grep APIFY_TOKEN .env | xargs) && mcpc --json mcp.apify.com --header "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" tools-call fetch-actor-details actor:="ACTOR_ID" | jq -r ".content"
```

Replace `ACTOR_ID` with the selected Actor (e.g., `apify/google-trends-scraper`).

This returns:
- Actor description and README
- Required and optional input parameters
- Output fields (if available)

### Step 3: Ask User Preferences

Before running, ask:
1. **Output format**:
   - **Quick answer** - Display top few results in chat (no file saved)
   - **CSV** - Full export with all fields
   - **JSON** - Full export in JSON format
2. **Number of results**: Based on character of use case

### Step 4: Run the Script

**Quick answer (display in chat, no file):**
```bash
node --env-file=.env ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/reference/scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "ACTOR_ID" \
  --input 'JSON_INPUT'
```

**CSV:**
```bash
node --env-file=.env ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/reference/scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "ACTOR_ID" \
  --input 'JSON_INPUT' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_OUTPUT_FILE.csv \
  --format csv
```

**JSON:**
```bash
node --env-file=.env ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/reference/scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "ACTOR_ID" \
  --input 'JSON_INPUT' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_OUTPUT_FILE.json \
  --format json
```

### Step 5: Summarize Findings

After completion, report:
- Number of results found
- File location and name
- Key trend insights
- Suggested next steps (deeper analysis, content opportunities)


## Error Handling

`APIFY_TOKEN not found` - Ask user to create `.env` with `APIFY_TOKEN=your_token`
`mcpc not found` - Ask user to install `npm install -g @apify/mcpc`
`Actor not found` - Check Actor ID spelling
`Run FAILED` - Ask user to check Apify console link in error output
`Timeout` - Reduce input size or increase `--timeout`

Overview

This skill helps discover and track emerging trends across Google Trends, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to inform content strategy. It orchestrates Apify Actors to fetch platform-specific signals, normalize results, and export summaries in quick, CSV, or JSON formats. Designed for content strategists, social managers, and researchers who need repeatable trend extraction and exportable results.

How this skill works

Select the appropriate Actor for the platform and trend type, fetch the Actor input schema with mcpc, then run the included script to execute the Actor with your chosen input. The workflow supports three output modes: quick chat summary, CSV export, or JSON export, and returns both raw results and a short summary of key insights. Error messages guide you to fix missing tokens, missing tools, or Actor issues.

When to use it

  • When you need fast validation of a content idea across multiple social platforms
  • When building weekly trend reports or content briefs from platform data
  • When tracking specific hashtags, sounds, or marketplace/product trends
  • When you need exportable datasets (CSV/JSON) for downstream analysis
  • When monitoring short-form or discovery-driven content (Reels, Shorts, TikTok)

Best practices

  • Identify the specific trend type first and choose the matching Actor from the checklist
  • Fetch the Actor input schema with mcpc to know required parameters before running
  • Use the quick answer mode for exploratory checks and CSV/JSON for archival analysis
  • Limit input scope to avoid timeouts; increase timeout or split jobs for large crawls
  • Keep your .env with APIFY_TOKEN secure and install mcpc globally (npm install -g @apify/mcpc)

Example use cases

  • Run Google Trends Actor to compare search interest for two competing product names and export CSV for team analysis
  • Track a TikTok sound and hashtag combo weekly to identify rising creators and reuse opportunities
  • Scrape Instagram hashtag post metadata to quantify visual trends and top-performing captions
  • Monitor Facebook Marketplace listings for emerging product demand signals
  • Collect YouTube Shorts trending videos by hashtag to inform short-form content briefs

FAQ

What do I need before running the skill?

Create a .env with APIFY_TOKEN, install Node.js 20.6+ and mcpc (npm install -g @apify/mcpc).

How do I avoid timeouts on large jobs?

Reduce input size, split the job into smaller batches, or increase the Actor timeout parameter when available.

What if an Actor ID returns "Actor not found"?

Double-check the Actor ID spelling and ensure the Actor is public or available in your Apify account.