reddit-insights

# Reddit Insights MCP

Semantic search across millions of Reddit posts. Unlike keyword search, this understands intent and meaning.

## Mode

Detect from context or ask: *"Quick pulse, full research, or strategic intelligence report?"*

| Mode | What you get | Best for |
|------|-------------|----------|
| `quick` | 1 query, top 5 insights, no synthesis | Fast pain point check, content spark |
| `standard` | 3–5 queries, full synthesis with themes and patterns | Product validation, content research |
| `deep` | Multi-angle research + sentiment analysis + content angles + competitive intelligence | Business decisions, campaign strategy |

**Default: `standard`** — use `quick` for a fast read. Use `deep` if they're validating a product idea or building a content strategy.

---

## Why This vs ChatGPT?

**Problem with ChatGPT:** It has no real-time Reddit access. It can't search current discussions, can't filter by engagement, and can't show you what people are saying RIGHT NOW about your topic.

**This skill provides:**
1. **Live semantic search** - Searches millions of Reddit posts with AI-powered intent matching (not just keywords)
2. **Engagement filtering** - Sort by upvotes/comments to find validated pain points
3. **Sentiment analysis** - Automatically tags posts as Discussion/Q&A/Story/News
4. **Relevance scoring** - Shows 0-1 match score so you know which results matter
5. **Subreddit intelligence** - Browse communities, see trending topics, get recent posts
6. **Direct links** - Every result includes Reddit URL for full context

**You can replicate this** by manually browsing Reddit, searching multiple subreddits, reading hundreds of posts, taking notes, and synthesizing patterns. Takes 1-2 hours per research query. This skill does it in 15-20 seconds.

## Setup

### 1. Get API Key (free tier available)
1. Sign up at https://reddit-insights.com
2. Go to Settings → API
3. Copy your API key

### 2. Install MCP Server

**For Claude Desktop** - add to `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "reddit-insights": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "reddit-insights-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "REDDIT_INSIGHTS_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**For Clawdbot** - add to `config/mcporter.json`:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "reddit-insights": {
      "command": "npx reddit-insights-mcp",
      "env": {
        "REDDIT_INSIGHTS_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Verify installation:**
```bash
mcporter list reddit-insights
```

## Available Tools

| Tool | Purpose | Key Params |
|------|---------|------------|
| `reddit_search` | Semantic search across posts | `query` (natural language), `limit` (1-100) |
| `reddit_list_subreddits` | Browse available subreddits | `page`, `limit`, `search` |
| `reddit_get_subreddit` | Get subreddit details + recent posts | `subreddit` (without r/) |
| `reddit_get_trends` | Get trending topics | `filter` (latest/today/week/month), `category` |

## Performance Notes

- **Response time:** 12-25 seconds (varies by query complexity)
  - Simple queries: ~12-15s
  - Complex semantic queries: ~17-20s
  - Heavy load periods: up to 25s
- **Best results:** Specific products, emotional language, comparison questions
- **Weaker results:** Abstract concepts, non-English queries, generic business terms
- **Sweet spot:** Questions a real person would ask on Reddit

## Best Use Cases (Tested)

| Use Case | Effectiveness | Why |
|----------|--------------|-----|
| Product comparisons (A vs B) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Reddit loves debates |
| Tool/app recommendations | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | High-intent discussions |
| Side hustle/money topics | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Engaged communities |
| Pain point discovery | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Emotional posts rank well |
| Health questions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Active health subreddits |
| Technical how-to | ⭐⭐⭐ | Better to search specific subreddits |
| Abstract market research | ⭐⭐ | Too vague for semantic search |
| Non-English queries | ⭐ | Reddit is English-dominant |

## Query Strategies (Tested with Real Data)

### ✅ Excellent Queries (relevance 0.70+)

**Product Comparisons** (best results!):
```
"Notion vs Obsidian for note taking which one should I use"
→ Relevance: 0.72-0.81 | Found: Detailed comparison discussions, user experiences

"why I switched from Salesforce to HubSpot honest experience"  
→ Relevance: 0.70-0.73 | Found: Migration stories, feature comparisons
```

**Side Hustle/Money Topics:**
```
"side hustle ideas that actually make money not scams"
→ Relevance: 0.70-0.77 | Found: Real experiences, specific suggestions
```

**Niche App Research:**
```
"daily horoscope apps which one is accurate and why"
→ Relevance: 0.67-0.72 | Found: App recommendations, feature requests
```

### ✅ Good Queries (relevance 0.60-0.69)

**Pain Point Discovery:**
```
"I hate my current CRM it is so frustrating"
→ Relevance: 0.60-0.64 | Found: Specific CRM complaints, feature wishlists

"cant sleep at night tried everything what actually works"
→ Relevance: 0.60-0.63 | Found: Sleep remedies discussions, medical advice seeking
```

**Tool Evaluation:**
```
"AI tools that actually save time not just hype"
→ Relevance: 0.64-0.65 | Found: Real productivity gains, tool recommendations
```

### ❌ Weak Queries (avoid these patterns)

**Too Abstract:**
```
"business opportunity growth potential"
→ Relevance: 0.52-0.58 | Returns unrelated generic posts
```

**Non-English:**
```
"学习编程最好的方法" (Chinese)
→ Relevance: 0.45-0.51 | Reddit is English-dominant, poor cross-lingual results
```

### Query Formula Cheat Sheet

| Goal | Pattern | Relevance |
|------|---------|-----------|
| Compare products | "[Product A] vs [Product B] which should I use" | 0.70-0.81 |
| Find switchers | "why I switched from [A] to [B]" | 0.70-0.73 |
| Money/hustle topics | "[topic] that actually [works/makes money] not [scam/hype]" | 0.70-0.77 |
| App recommendations | "[category] apps which one is [accurate/best] and why" | 0.67-0.72 |
| Pain points | "I hate my curre