youtube-research

Q: How do I install youtube-research?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/manojbajaj95/claude-gtm-plugin --skill youtube-research in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/youtube-research/ (personal) or .claude/skills/youtube-research/ (project).

by manojbajaj95Productivity & Automation

Research YouTube topics, analyze competitor videos, deconstruct viral content, and query the YouTube Data API. Use when researching a video topic before planning, analyzing video transcripts for viral patterns, searching competitor channels, or fetching video and channel stats via the YouTube Data API v3.

Installs: 192
Last 24h: —
Trending rank: —
Security: Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/manojbajaj95/claude-gtm-plugin --skill youtube-research

01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads youtube-research automatically when relevant.
03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

YouTube Research

Workspace Context

Read bootstrap context before asking questions: strategy/brand.md for brand, audience, offer, channels, tools, constraints, and metrics; about/me.md for personal voice; content/ideas.md and content/calendar.md for content planning. Use legacy product-marketing context files only as fallback. Save generated drafts to content/<platform>/drafts/YYYY-MM-DD_short-topic-slug.md, and route durable learnings back to strategy/brand.md, about/me.md, or content/ideas.md.

Operating Contract

This skill is self-contained for its frontmatter scope: use its local instructions, references, scripts, and assets as the playbook; ask only for missing task-specific inputs; hand off to adjacent skills instead of expanding scope; and return an actionable artifact, decision, plan, draft, or diagnostic.

Three modes in one skill:

Topic Research — competitive landscape, content gaps, strategic insights before planning a video
Video Analysis — forensic deconstruction of transcripts to extract viral formulas and retention mechanics
API Queries — direct YouTube Data API v3 access for search, stats, comments, and channel info

When to Use

Researching a video topic before planning production
Analyzing a competitor video to extract what makes it work
Fetching channel stats, video metrics, or comments via the API
Identifying content gaps and opportunities in a niche

YouTube Data API Setup

1. Get an API Key

Go to Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → Library
Enable YouTube Data API v3
Create Credentials → API Key

export YOUTUBE_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

Important: When piping curl output, wrap the command in bash -c '...' to preserve env vars:
bash -c 'curl -s "https://..." -H "..." | jq .'

2. Key API Commands

Search Videos:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/search?part=snippet&q=YOUR_QUERY&type=video&maxResults=10&order=viewCount&key=${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {videoId: .id.videoId, title: .snippet.title, channel: .snippet.channelTitle}'

Get Video Details (stats, duration):

bash -c 'curl -s "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics,contentDetails&id=VIDEO_ID&key=${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[0] | {title: .snippet.title, views: .statistics.viewCount, likes: .statistics.likeCount, duration: .contentDetails.duration}'

Get Channel by Handle:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/channels?part=snippet,statistics&forHandle=@HANDLE&key=${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[0] | {id: .id, title: .snippet.title, subscribers: .statistics.subscriberCount, videos: .statistics.videoCount}'

Get Video Comments:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/commentThreads?part=snippet&videoId=VIDEO_ID&maxResults=20&order=relevance&key=${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {author: .snippet.topLevelComment.snippet.authorDisplayName, text: .snippet.topLevelComment.snippet.textDisplay, likes: .snippet.topLevelComment.snippet.likeCount}'

Get Trending Videos:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/videos?part=snippet,statistics&chart=mostPopular&regionCode=US&maxResults=10&key=${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {title: .snippet.title, channel: .snippet.channelTitle, views: .statistics.viewCount}'

Quota: 10,000 units/day. Search = 100 units. Most others = 1 unit.

See YouTube Data API docs for full reference.

Mode 1: Topic Research

Conduct research before planning a new video. Focus on insights and big levers — not data dumping.

Workflow

Step 0: Create research file

Save all research to: ./youtube/episode/[episode_number]_[topic_short_name]/research.md

If it already exists, read it and continue from where it left off.

Step 1: Understand the topic

What problem does this video solve?
Why would someone click on it?
What makes it relevant now?

Step 2: Research your own channel

Use the API to find related videos you've already published. Document:

Related videos (title, video ID, URL, key metrics)
What's already been covered and how to differentiate

Step 3: Competitor research

Search for 5–8 top videos on the topic. For each:

Get video details (views, likes, duration)
Note the title, angle, and what makes it successful
Synthesize common patterns and approaches

Step 4: Content gap analysis

Document:

What's saturated — 3–5 over-covered angles
Gaps (Opportunities) — rated ⭐⭐⭐ high / ⭐⭐ medium / ⭐ low
Recommended focus — specific angle + unique value proposition

Rating criteria:

⭐⭐⭐ High: Significant gap, strong demand, clear differentiation
⭐⭐ Medium: Moderate gap, some competition, good potential
⭐ Low: Minor gap, heavily competed

Research File Template

# [Episode]: [Topic] - Research

## Episode Overview
**Topic**: [Brief description]
**Target Audience**: [Who this is for]
**Goal**: [What viewers will learn/gain]

## YouTube Research
### Your Previous Videos
[Related videos with metrics]

### Top Competing Videos
[5-8 videos: title, channel, views, angle, what works]

### Key Insights
[Patterns and findings synthesized]

## Content Gap Analysis
### What's Already Well-Covered
[List]

### Content Gaps (Opportunities)
[Rated list with ⭐ ratings]

### Recommended Focus
[Specific angle and unique value proposition]

## Production Notes
**Status**: Research Complete
**Created**: [Date]

Parallel Research

If the host environment supports parallel research, split focused tasks such as competitor search, own-channel review, and comment mining. Otherwise, do them sequentially and synthesize findings after each section.

Pitfalls

Data dumping — Limit to 5–8 competitors, synthesize patterns instead of listing every video
Vague gaps — "Not much content on this" → identify the specific missing angle
Long reports — Focus on insights and big levers

Next step: Use youtube-content skill to plan the video based on this research.

Mode 2: Video Analysis

Forensic deconstruction of video transcripts to extract viral formulas, hooks, and retention mechanics.

Getting the Transcript

Auto-fetch:

python skills/youtube-research/scripts/fetch_transcript.py "YOUTUBE_URL_OR_VIDEO_ID"

Manual paste: YouTube's built-in transcript (click "..." → "Show transcript") or ytscribe.ai.

Analysis Framework

Approach the transcript like a crime scene — extract everything systematically. See reference/analysis-framework.md for the full checklist and templates.

Analyze these 11 dimensions:

Hook Architecture — Primary hook (first 3–8s), hook type, secondary hooks, fill-in-blank templates
Structural Blueprint — Content framework (PAS, Story-Lesson-CTA, List-Depth-Summary), beat map, pacing
Retention Mechanics — Open loops, pattern interrupts, curiosity gaps, payoff points
Emotional Engineering — Emotional arc, trigger words, identity hooks, Us vs. Them dynamics
Storytelling Elements — Narrative framework, character positioning, conflict/stakes, specificity
Linguistic Patterns — Power phrases, sentence rhythm, repetition, conversational triggers
Algorithm Signals — Watch time optimizers, engagement bait, share/save triggers
CTA Architecture — Primary CTA, soft CTAs, timing, value exchange
Viral Coefficient — Shareability score (1–10), comment bait density, crossover potential
Reusable Templates — Fill-in-blank opening hooks (3 variations), section templates, transition library
Implementation Playbook — Top 10 steal-this elements, niche adaptation, A/B test suggestions

Before Analysis, Collect Context

Your niche/topic
Your content style (casual, educational, hype, etc.)
Target platform and video length goal

Output Format

Structure output with all 11 sections. End with a Quick Reference Cheatsheet — one-page summary of all extracted patterns for rapid implementation.

Tools

YouTube API: bash -c 'curl ...' with $YOUTUBE_API_KEY
MCP (if available): mcp__plugin_yt-content-strategist_youtube-analytics__search_videos, get_video_details, get_channel_details
Web: WebSearch and WebFetch for industry trends and context

FAQ

What does the youtube-research skill do?

How do I install youtube-research?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/manojbajaj95/claude-gtm-plugin --skill youtube-research in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/youtube-research/ (personal) or .claude/skills/youtube-research/ (project).

Which AI agents can use youtube-research?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is youtube-research safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains youtube-research?

It is published by manojbajaj95 in manojbajaj95/claude-gtm-plugin. It has 192 recorded installs.