Influencer Discovery
Discover and analyze influencers across multiple platforms using Apify Actors.
Prerequisites
(No need to check it upfront)
.envfile withAPIFY_TOKEN- Node.js 20.6+ (for native
--env-filesupport) mcpcCLI tool:npm install -g @apify/mcpc
Workflow
Copy this checklist and track progress:
Task Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Determine discovery source (select Actor)
- [ ] Step 2: Fetch Actor schema via mcpc
- [ ] Step 3: Ask user preferences (format, filename)
- [ ] Step 4: Run the discovery script
- [ ] Step 5: Summarize results
Step 1: Determine Discovery Source
Select the appropriate Actor based on user needs:
| User Need | Actor ID | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Influencer profiles | apify/instagram-profile-scraper | Profile metrics, bio, follower counts |
| Find by hashtag | apify/instagram-hashtag-scraper | Discover influencers using specific hashtags |
| Reel engagement | apify/instagram-reel-scraper | Analyze reel performance and engagement |
| Discovery by niche | apify/instagram-search-scraper | Search for influencers by keyword/niche |
| Brand mentions | apify/instagram-tagged-scraper | Track who tags brands/products |
| Comprehensive data | apify/instagram-scraper | Full profile, posts, comments analysis |
| API-based discovery | apify/instagram-api-scraper | Fast API-based data extraction |
| Engagement analysis | apify/export-instagram-comments-posts | Export comments for sentiment analysis |
| Facebook content | apify/facebook-posts-scraper | Analyze Facebook post performance |
| Micro-influencers | apify/facebook-groups-scraper | Find influencers in niche groups |
| Influential pages | apify/facebook-search-scraper | Search for influential pages |
| YouTube creators | streamers/youtube-channel-scraper | Channel metrics and subscriber data |
| TikTok influencers | clockworks/tiktok-scraper | Comprehensive TikTok data extraction |
| TikTok (free) | clockworks/free-tiktok-scraper | Free TikTok data extractor |
| Live streamers | clockworks/tiktok-live-scraper | Discover live streaming influencers |
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-profile-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 Results
After completion, report:
- Number of influencers found
- File location and name
- Key metrics available (followers, engagement rate, etc.)
- Suggested next steps (filtering, outreach, deeper analysis)
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