YouTube Research

1. Topic Research — competitive landscape, content gaps, strategic insights before planning a video
2. Video Analysis — forensic deconstruction of transcripts to extract viral formulas and retention mechanics
3. 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

1. Go to Google Cloud Console → APIs & Services → Library
2. Enable YouTube Data API v3
3. 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

bash -c 'curl -s "https://..." -H "..." | jq .'

2. Key API Commands

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}'

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}'

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}'

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}'

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}'

Mode 1: Topic Research

Workflow

./youtube/episode/[episode_number]_[topic_short_name]/research.md

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

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

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

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

• ⭐⭐⭐ 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]

Subagents for Parallel Research

Task

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

youtube-content

Mode 2: Video Analysis

Getting the Transcript

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

Analysis Framework

reference/analysis-framework.md

1. Hook Architecture — Primary hook (first 3–8s), hook type, secondary hooks, fill-in-blank templates
2. Structural Blueprint — Content framework (PAS, Story-Lesson-CTA, List-Depth-Summary), beat map, pacing
3. Retention Mechanics — Open loops, pattern interrupts, curiosity gaps, payoff points
4. Emotional Engineering — Emotional arc, trigger words, identity hooks, Us vs. Them dynamics
5. Storytelling Elements — Narrative framework, character positioning, conflict/stakes, specificity
6. Linguistic Patterns — Power phrases, sentence rhythm, repetition, conversational triggers
7. Algorithm Signals — Watch time optimizers, engagement bait, share/save triggers
8. CTA Architecture — Primary CTA, soft CTAs, timing, value exchange
9. Viral Coefficient — Shareability score (1–10), comment bait density, crossover potential
10. Reusable Templates — Fill-in-blank opening hooks (3 variations), section templates, transition library
11. 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

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