# Analyzing Youtube Competitor Channel Strategy

> Analyzes competitor YouTube channel strategy and content performance using apidojo's YouTube scraper. Triggers when the user asks to: analyze a competitor's YouTube channel strategy, understand what makes a competitor YouTube channel successful, benchmark a YouTube channel against a competitor, find patterns in a competitor's YouTube content that drive growth, analyze the content mix and publishing cadence of a competitor channel, understand a competitor's YouTube audience and engagement, or reverse-engineer what a competitor is doing well on YouTube. Returns content mix, format performance, publishing cadence, engagement benchmarks, and strategic insights. Ideal for YouTube content strategists, brand video teams, and competitive intelligence analysts.

- Skill: `apidojo-io/analyzing-youtube-competitor-channel-strategy` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add apidojo-io/analyzing-youtube-competitor-channel-strategy`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/apidojo-io/analyzing-youtube-competitor-channel-strategy/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Marketing & Growth
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: apidojo-io (https://skillmd.com/u/apidojo-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/apidojo-io/analyzing-youtube-competitor-channel-strategy

---


# Analyzing Youtube Competitor Channel Strategy

Executes analyzing youtube competitor channel strategy using apidojo scrapers. Part of the apidojo intelligence skills library.

## Prerequisites

- `APIFY_TOKEN` environment variable set
- Optional: Apify MCP server installed

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
|-----------|------|----------|---------|-------|
| `startUrls` | array | Optional | `[]` | YouTube URLs — channels, playlists, Shorts, search results |
| `youtubeHandles` | array | Optional | `[]` | YouTube channel handles (e.g. `@kurzgesagt`) |
| `getTrending` | boolean | Optional | `false` | Retrieve trending videos |
| `keywords` | array | Optional | `[]` | Search keywords |
| `gl` | string | Optional | `us` | Country code for results (e.g. `US`, `GB`) |
| `hl` | string | Optional | `en` | Language code (e.g. `en`, `de`) |
| `uploadDate` | string | Optional | `all` | Upload date filter: `any`, `hour`, `today`, `week`, `month`, `year` |
| `duration` | string | Optional | `all` | Duration filter: `any`, `short`, `long` |
| `features` | string | Optional | `all` | Feature filter: `4k`, `hd`, `live`, `cc`, `3d`, `hdr`, etc. |
| `sort` | string | Optional | `r` | Sort order for search results |
| `maxItems` | number | Optional | Unlimited | Maximum videos to return |
| `customMapFunction` | string | Optional | — | JavaScript function to transform each output object |

## Workflow

```
Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Define parameters
- [ ] Step 2: Run youtube-scraper
- [ ] Step 3: Filter and classify results
- [ ] Step 4: Score by quality and relevance
- [ ] Step 5: Deliver output
```

### Step 2: Run the Actor


**Recommended — run_actor.js (handles waiting, output, and file saving automatically):**
```bash
# Quick answer (prints table to chat)
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~youtube-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}'

# Save as CSV
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~youtube-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_results.csv --format csv

# Save as JSON
node scripts/run_actor.js \
  --actor "apidojo~youtube-scraper" \
  --input '{"param": "value"}' \
  --output YYYY-MM-DD_results.json --format json
```
> `APIFY_TOKEN` must be set in environment or `.env` file.

**If Apify MCP is available:**
```
Tool: apify:run-actor
Actor: "apidojo~youtube-scraper"
Input:
{
  "searchTerms": "https://www.youtube.com/@[COMPETITOR_CHANNEL]",
  "maxItems": 100
}
```

**REST API fallback:**
```bash
curl -X POST \
  "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/apidojo~youtube-scraper/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"searchTerms": "https://www.youtube.com/@[COMPETITOR_CHANNEL]", "maxItems": 100}'
```

Wait for `SUCCEEDED`. Fetch dataset:
```bash
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/$RUN_ID/dataset/items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN"
```

### Step 3: Classify Results

```
classification: GROWING (view rate > 20%) | HEALTHY (10-20%) | PLATEAU (5-10%) | DECLINING (< 5%)
```

### Step 4: Score Each Result

```
score = channel_health = avg_views/subscriber_count * 100  # view rate; healthy > 10%
```

### Step 5: Edge Cases

- **Channels with old viral videos have inflated subscriber counts relative to current performance — use median views from last 20 videos as the current health indicator**

Additional fallbacks:
- **< 20 results**: Broaden search terms; remove secondary filters
- **No results**: Verify the search terms are correct; try alternate phrasings
- **Data quality issues**: Remove entries with missing key fields; note count in output

## Output Format

```
# Analyzing Youtube Competitor Channel Strategy
Results: [N] | Date: [DATE]

| # | [Key Field] | [Metric 1] | [Metric 2] | [Classification] | [Score] |
|---|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------------|---------|
| 1 | [value] | [value] | [value] | [type] | [0.XX] |

## Summary
Top result: [description]
Key finding: [insight]
```

## Troubleshooting

**Too few results:** Broaden the primary search term; remove restrictive filters.
**Low quality results:** Apply minimum score threshold (≥ 0.50) to filter noise.
**Actor fails to run:** Verify API key; check actor status at apify.com/apidojo.