Track and analyze content performance using Apify Actors to extract engagement metrics from multiple platforms.
Prerequisites
(No need to check it upfront)
-
.envfile withAPIFY_TOKEN -
Node.js 20.6+ (for native
--env-filesupport) -
mcpcCLI tool (for fetching Actor schemas)
Workflow
Copy this checklist and track progress:
Task Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Identify content analytics type (select Actor)
- [ ] Step 2: Fetch Actor schema via mcpc
- [ ] Step 3: Ask user preferences (format, filename)
- [ ] Step 4: Run the analytics script
- [ ] Step 5: Summarize findings
Step 1: Identify Content Analytics Type
Select the appropriate Actor based on analytics needs:
| Post engagement metrics
| apify/instagram-post-scraper
| Post performance
| Reel performance
| apify/instagram-reel-scraper
| Reel analytics
| Follower growth tracking
| apify/instagram-followers-count-scraper
| Growth metrics
| Comment engagement
| apify/instagram-comment-scraper
| Comment analysis
| Hashtag performance
| apify/instagram-hashtag-scraper
| Branded hashtags
| Mention tracking
| apify/instagram-tagged-scraper
| Tag tracking
| Comprehensive metrics
| apify/instagram-scraper
| Full data
| API-based analytics
| apify/instagram-api-scraper
| API access
| Facebook post performance
| apify/facebook-posts-scraper
| Post metrics
| Reaction analysis
| apify/facebook-likes-scraper
| Engagement types
| Facebook Reels metrics
| apify/facebook-reels-scraper
| Reels performance
| Ad performance tracking
| apify/facebook-ads-scraper
| Ad analytics
| Facebook comment analysis
| apify/facebook-comments-scraper
| Comment engagement
| Page performance audit
| apify/facebook-pages-scraper
| Page metrics
| YouTube video metrics
| streamers/youtube-scraper
| Video performance
| YouTube Shorts analytics
| streamers/youtube-shorts-scraper
| Shorts performance
| TikTok content metrics
| clockworks/tiktok-scraper
| TikTok analytics
Step 2: Fetch Actor Schema
Fetch the Actor's input schema and details dynamically using mcpc:
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/instagram-post-scraper).
This returns:
-
Actor description and README
-
Required and optional input parameters
-
Output fields (if available)
Step 3: Ask User Preferences
Before running, ask:
- 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
-
Number of results: Based on character of use case
Step 4: Run the Script
Quick answer (display in chat, no file):
node --env-file=.env ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/reference/scripts/run_actor.js \
--actor "ACTOR_ID" \
--input 'JSON_INPUT'
CSV:
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:
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 content pieces analyzed
-
File location and name
-
Key performance insights
-
Suggested next steps (deeper analysis, content optimization)
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