finding-youtube-channels-by-growth-rate — Claude Code skill

---
name: finding-youtube-channels-by-growth-rate
description: >
  Finds YouTube channels with high growth rates in a niche using apidojo's YouTube scraper. Triggers when the user asks to: find fast-growing YouTube channels in a niche, discover YouTube channels with high momentum, identify YouTube creators gaining subscribers quickly, find rising YouTube channels before they get big, discover YouTube channel growth trends in an industry, find channels to partner with early while still growing, or research which YouTube channels are gaining traction in a topic area.
  Returns channel name, subscriber count, growth signals, view momentum, upload frequency, and growth tier.
  Ideal for brand partnership managers, talent scouts, and early-stage sponsorship teams.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: apidojo
  version: "1.0"
  apify-actor: apidojo/youtube-scraper
---

# Finding Youtube Channels By Growth Rate

Executes finding youtube channels by growth rate 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": "[NICHE] channel", "[NICHE] YouTube",
  "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": "[NICHE] channel", "[NICHE] YouTube", "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: ACCELERATING (growth > 50% MoM) | GROWING (10-50% MoM) | STEADY (0-10%) | DECLINING (negative)
```

### Step 4: Score Each Result

```
score = growth_signal = (recent_views_avg / older_views_avg) - 1  # momentum ratio; > 0 = accelerating
```

### Step 5: Edge Cases

- **Subscriber count is a lagging indicator — use view velocity (views per day on recent videos) as the leading indicator of current growth**

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

```
# Finding Youtube Channels By Growth Rate
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.