Scan social platforms for top-performing content by engagement before you create anything. Use this skill when the user wants to see what content is winning in a niche, find viral content patterns, research what's working on YouTube/TikTok/X/Reddit, benchmark engagement, discover content gaps, or says "what content is working for [topic]", "show me top performing content about [keyword]", "what's trending in [niche]", "find viral content about [product]", "content research for [keyword]", "what gets views in [niche]", "engagement analysis for [topic]", "scout the competition", "what videos are getting the most views about [keyword]", "social listening for [topic]", "trending content in [niche]", "top content analysis", "what hooks work for [keyword]", "content intelligence", "find winning formats".
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SKILL.md
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name
trending-content-scout
description
Scan social platforms for top-performing content by engagement before you create anything. Use this skill when the user wants to see what content is winning in a niche, find viral content patterns, research what's working on YouTube/TikTok/X/Reddit, benchmark engagement, discover content gaps, or says "what content is working for [topic]", "show me top performing content about [keyword]", "what's trending in [niche]", "find viral content about [product]", "content research for [keyword]", "what gets views in [niche]", "engagement analysis for [topic]", "scout the competition", "what videos are getting the most views about [keyword]", "social listening for [topic]", "trending content in [niche]", "top content analysis", "what hooks work for [keyword]", "content intelligence", "find winning formats".
Scan YouTube, TikTok, X, and Reddit for top-performing content by real engagement data.
Find winning formats, hooks, and content gaps — before you create anything. Stop
guessing what works. See what's already winning, then build on proven patterns.
This skill is the data foundation for the entire content pipeline. Run it first,
then feed its output into content-angle-ranker, viral-post-writer, tiktok-script-writer,
or any S2/S3 content skill.
Stage
This skill belongs to Stage S1: Research
When to Use
Before creating any content for a keyword or niche
When entering a new niche and need to understand what content works
When comparing engagement across platforms for a topic
When looking for content gaps competitors haven't filled
When benchmarking your existing content against what's performing
As the first step in any content creation workflow (before S2 skills)
Input Schema
keyword:string# (required) Search keyword — "AI video tools", "email marketing tips"platforms:string[]# (optional, default: ["youtube", "tiktok"])# Options: "youtube" | "tiktok" | "x" | "reddit"sort_by:string# (optional, default: "engagement_score")# Options: "views" | "likes" | "engagement_score" | "recency"time_range:string# (optional, default: "30d") "7d" | "30d" | "90d" | "all"limit:number# (optional, default: 20) Max content pieces to analyzeproduct:object# (optional) Specific product to focus onname:string# "HeyGen"url:
string
# "https://heygen.com"
No api_config needed in input — skills auto-detect configuration from conversation
context, project settings, or CLAUDE.md. See shared/references/social-data-providers.md
for setup instructions.
Workflow
Step 1: Determine Data Source
Check if the user has API configuration available:
IF social_data_config exists in context/settings for a platform:
→ Use configured API for that platform
→ Structured data: exact views, likes, comments, shares
ELSE (default — no API):
→ Use web_search + web_fetch
→ Still effective — see fallback methods below
API mode (when configured):
For each platform in platforms:
YouTube: Search API → get video list → Details API → get statistics (views, likes, comments)
TikTok: Search API → get video list with stats (playCount, diggCount, commentCount, shareCount)
X: Search API → get tweets with public_metrics (impressions, likes, retweets, replies)
Reddit: Search API → get posts with score and comment count
See shared/references/social-data-providers.md for specific API endpoints and config.
web_search fallback (no API — default):
For YouTube:
web_search "[keyword] site:youtube.com" → top 10-15 video results
For each result: extract title, channel, view count from search snippet
Optional: web_fetch individual video pages for likes/comments (slower)
For TikTok:
web_search "[keyword] tiktok" → find popular TikTok content
web_search "[keyword] site:tiktok.com" → direct TikTok results
Extract: titles, creators, approximate view counts from snippets
For X:
web_search "[keyword] site:x.com" OR "[keyword] site:twitter.com" → top tweets
Extract: tweet text, author, engagement signals from snippets
For Reddit:
web_search "[keyword] site:reddit.com" → top Reddit discussions
web_fetch top results → extract upvotes, comments from page
web_search "reddit [keyword] top upvoted" → find popular threads
Note which data source was used — include in output for transparency.
Step 2: Collect and Normalize Data
For each content piece found, extract and normalize into a standard schema:
ContentItem:title:string# Video title, tweet text (first line), post titleurl:string# Direct link to contentplatform:string# "youtube" | "tiktok" | "x" | "reddit"creator:string# Channel name, @handle, usernameviews:number# View/impression count (0 if unavailable)likes:number# Like/upvote count (0 if unavailable)comments:number# Comment/reply count (0 if unavailable)shares:number# Share/retweet count (0 if unavailable)published_date:string# ISO date or relative ("3 days ago")duration:string# Video duration ("2:34") — video onlyengagement_score:number# Calculated — see formula belowcontent_format:string# Detected format (see classification below)hook_type:string# Detected hook style (see classification below)
Engagement Score Formula (consistent across all Affitor skills):
contrarian: "Stop using X", "X is overrated", against conventional wisdom
Step 3: Sort and Rank
Sort all collected content by the chosen sort_by parameter:
engagement_score (default): Best for finding content that resonates regardless of creator size
views: Best for finding content with broadest reach
likes: Best for finding content people actively endorse
recency: Best for finding what's working RIGHT NOW
Take top limit results after sorting.
Step 4: Analyze Patterns
From the top content, extract actionable patterns:
Format Analysis:
For each content_format in top results:
count: how many of top 20 use this format
avg_engagement: average engagement_score for this format
best_example: highest engagement content in this format
Hook Analysis:
For each hook_type in top results:
count: how many use this hook
avg_engagement: average engagement_score
best_example: highest engagement content with this hook
Duration Analysis (video platforms only):
Group videos by duration buckets:
<30s, 30-60s, 60-120s, 2-5min, 5-10min, 10-20min, 20min+
For each bucket: count and average engagement
→ Identify optimal duration range
Creator Analysis:
For each unique creator in top results:
content_count: how many pieces in top results
avg_engagement: average engagement score
platforms: which platforms they're on
dominant_format: their most-used format
Gap Analysis:
This is the most strategically valuable output. Look for:
Format gaps: If 90% of top content is reviews, comparisons are underserved
Platform gaps: If YouTube is saturated but TikTok has few results → TikTok opportunity
Angle gaps: Common user questions (visible in comments/replies) that no top content addresses
Audience gaps: All content targets advanced users → beginner content is a gap
Recency gaps: Top content is 6+ months old → fresh take on same topic is an opportunity
Honesty gaps: All content is positive/promotional → honest cons/limitations review is a gap
For gap analysis with web_search fallback:
web_search "[keyword] reddit questions" → find unanswered user questions
Set benchmark ranges so user knows what "good" looks like:
engagement_benchmark:sample_size:number# how many content pieces analyzedmedian_views:number# 50th percentile viewsmedian_engagement_score:numbertop_10_percent_threshold:views:number# views needed to be in top 10%engagement_score:number# engagement_score needed for top 10%platform_averages:# per-platform breakdownyoutube:median_views:numbermedian_engagement:numbertiktok:median_views:numbermedian_engagement:number
Step 6: Self-Validation
Before presenting output, verify:
Data source is clearly stated (API vs web_search)
Engagement scores are calculated consistently using the standard formula
Content format and hook classifications are based on actual title/description analysis, not guesses
Gap analysis includes at least 3 specific, actionable gaps
Benchmark numbers are derived from actual data, not made up
Recommendations connect to specific downstream skills
If any check fails, fix the output before delivering. Do not flag the checklist to the user.
Output Schema
Other skills can consume these fields from conversation context:
output_schema_version:"1.0.0"keyword:stringplatforms_scanned:string[]data_source:"api"|"web_search"|"mixed"# transparencytotal_content_analyzed:numbertop_content:ContentItem[]# top results sorted by sort_bypattern_analysis:winning_formats:-format:string# "comparison"count:number# 9percentage:number# 45avg_engagement:number# 35.2best_example:title:stringurl:stringengagement_score:numberwinning_hooks:-hook_type:stringcount:numberavg_engagement:numberbest_example:title:stringurl:stringoptimal_duration:range:string# "45-60 seconds"platform:string# "tiktok"avg_engagement:numbertop_creators:-name:stringplatform:stringcontent_count:numberavg_engagement:numberdominant_format:stringcontent_gaps:string[]# specific, actionable gapsengagement_benchmark:sample_size:numbermedian_views:numbermedian_engagement_score:numbertop_10_percent_threshold:views:numberengagement_score:numberplatform_averages:objectrecommended_angles:string[]# top 3 content angles based on gaps + engagementrecommended_next_skill:string# "content-angle-ranker"
Output Format
## Trending Content Scout: [Keyword]### Data Source
📊 **[API: YouTube Data API + RapidAPI TikTok | web_search (no API configured)]**
Scanned: [X] content pieces across [Y] platforms
Time range: [30 days]
---
### 🏆 Top Performing Content
| # | Title | Platform | Creator | Views | Eng. Score | Format | Hook |
|---|-------|----------|---------|-------|------------|--------|------|
| 1 | [Title] | YouTube | @creator | 150K | 42.3 | comparison | bold_claim |
| 2 | [Title] | TikTok | @creator | 800K | 38.1 | demo | demo_first |
| 3 | [Title] | YouTube | @creator | 95K | 35.7 | tutorial | question |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
---
### 📈 Pattern Analysis
**Winning Formats:**
| Format | Count | % of Top 20 | Avg Engagement | Verdict |
|--------|-------|-------------|----------------|---------|
| Comparison | 9 | 45% | 35.2 | 🔥 Dominant — proven winner |
| Tutorial | 5 | 25% | 28.4 | ✅ Solid performer |
| Review | 4 | 20% | 22.1 | ⚡ Works but competitive |
| Listicle | 2 | 10% | 18.5 | ➖ Below average |
**Best Hooks:**
1. 🥇 **Bold claim** — "This tool replaced my $5K/mo agency" (avg engagement: 41.3)
2. 🥈 **Demo first** — Show end result in first 3 seconds (avg: 36.8)
3. 🥉 **Contrarian** — "Stop using X, use this instead" (avg: 33.2)
**Duration Sweet Spot:**
- TikTok: 45-60 seconds (avg engagement: 34.2)
- YouTube: 8-12 minutes (avg engagement: 31.5)
**Top Creators in This Space:**
| Creator | Platform | Pieces in Top 20 | Avg Engagement | Style |
|---------|----------|-------------------|----------------|-------|
| @creator1 | YouTube | 4 | 38.5 | In-depth comparisons |
| @creator2 | TikTok | 3 | 35.2 | Quick demos |
---
### 🕳️ Content Gaps (Opportunities)
1. **[Gap 1]:** Nobody comparing [Product A] vs [Product B] on TikTok — YouTube has 5 comparisons, TikTok has zero
2. **[Gap 2]:** No "honest cons" content — all top content is positive. Authentic negative review = differentiation
3. **[Gap 3]:** Missing "[keyword] for [specific audience]" — all content targets general audience
4. **[Gap 4]:** Top content is 4-6 months old — fresh 2024 take is an opportunity
5. **[Gap 5]:** Reddit has high engagement (avg score: 450) but no affiliate content → underserved platform
---
### 📏 Engagement Benchmark
| Metric | Median | Top 10% Threshold | Your Target |
|--------|--------|-------------------|-------------|
| Views | 12,000 | 85,000 | Beat median to start |
| Engagement Score | 18.5 | 45.0 | Aim for top 10% |
**Per Platform:**
| Platform | Median Views | Median Engagement |
|----------|-------------|-------------------|
| YouTube | 25,000 | 22.3 |
| TikTok | 45,000 | 16.8 |
---
### 🎯 Recommended Next Steps
Based on this data, the highest-opportunity path is:
1. **Run `content-angle-ranker`** — rank specific angles for [best platform]
2. **Create a [winning format]** using a [best hook] hook
→ Skill: `viral-post-writer` (format: [format], hook: [hook])
3. **Fill [Gap 1]** — this is the lowest-competition, highest-potential opportunity
→ Skill: `tiktok-script-writer` (if TikTok) or `comparison-post-writer` (if blog)
Error Handling
No API configured: Fall back to web_search. Include note: "Data from web_search is approximate. For exact engagement metrics, configure an API provider — see shared/references/social-data-providers.md"
API rate limited: Fall back to web_search for remaining platforms. Note which platforms used API vs web_search in output.
No content found for keyword: The keyword may be too niche or too new.
Try broadening: "[keyword]" → "[parent category]"
Try removing platform filter: search across all platforms
If still empty, this is itself a signal — could be a gap opportunity. Report: "No existing content found — this keyword is either too new or too niche. This could be a first-mover opportunity."
Platform blocked/unavailable: Skip that platform, continue with others. Note: "[Platform] was unavailable. Results are from [remaining platforms] only."
web_search returns only a few results: Present what's available. Note: "Limited data available ([X] results). Patterns may not be representative. Consider configuring an API for better coverage."
Engagement data partially available: If only views are available (no likes/comments), sort by views and estimate engagement. Note: "Engagement scores are estimated — only view counts were available."
Examples
Example 1:
User: "What content is working about HeyGen on TikTok?"
→ keyword: "HeyGen", platforms: ["tiktok"]
→ web_search "HeyGen tiktok" + "HeyGen site:tiktok.com" + "HeyGen TikTok viral"
→ Find 15 TikTok videos, extract view counts and creators
→ Pattern: demo_first hooks dominate (60%), 30-45s duration optimal
→ Gap: nobody doing "HeyGen for [specific profession]" content
→ Recommend: tiktok-script-writer with demo_first hook, 30s, angle: "HeyGen for real estate agents"
Example 2:
User: "I want to create content about email marketing tools. What's performing well?"
→ keyword: "email marketing tools", platforms: ["youtube", "tiktok", "reddit"]
→ Scout all 3 platforms
→ YouTube: dominated by listicles ("Top 10 email marketing tools 2024") — avg 45K views
→ TikTok: very few results — gap opportunity
→ Reddit: high engagement on comparison threads in r/emailmarketing
→ Recommend: Fill TikTok gap with comparison format, or target Reddit with authentic discussion
Example 3:
User: "Scout trending content about AI writing tools, I have RapidAPI configured"
→ Use configured APIs for YouTube + TikTok
→ Get exact engagement data: views, likes, comments, shares
→ Engagement scores calculated precisely
→ Pattern: "I replaced my copywriter with AI" hook has 3x average engagement
→ Output includes exact benchmark: median 18K views, top 10% needs 120K+
→ Recommend: content-angle-ranker to pick best angle, then viral-post-writer
Feedback & Issue Reporting
When this skill produces unexpected, incomplete, or incorrect output, generate a
skill_feedback block (see shared/references/feedback-protocol.md for full schema).
Skill-specific failure modes:
Empty results on all platforms: Keyword too niche or all APIs/web_search returned nothing. Report as data_quality with the keyword used.
Engagement scores all zero: Metrics unavailable — only titles retrieved. Report as data_quality, note which platforms had no metrics.
Format/hook classification wrong: Agent classified a tutorial as a review. Report as wrong_output with the misclassified content.
Auto-detect triggers:
top_content array has <5 items after scanning all platforms
engagement_benchmark.sample_size < 10
50% of content_gaps are generic rather than specific
tiktok-script-writer (S2) — top TikTok content + engagement data
twitter-thread-writer (S2) — top X threads + engagement data
reddit-post-writer (S2) — top Reddit posts + engagement data
content-pillar-atomizer (S2) — platform performance data for allocation
competitor-spy (S1) — top_creators data (who's dominating this keyword)
keyword-cluster-architect (S3) — engagement data per keyword for cluster prioritization
affiliate-blog-builder (S3) — winning formats and gaps for blog content angles
Fed By
competitor-spy (S1) — competitor URLs/channels to analyze specifically
niche-opportunity-finder (S1) — niche keywords to scout
performance-report (S6) — your content metrics to compare against benchmark
Feedback Loop
S6 performance-report provides your actual content metrics → compare against engagement_benchmark from this skill → identify where you're beating or trailing the benchmark → refine content strategy in the next scout run
