# SERP Search Scout — Who Ranks & Competitor Density (`agency-shift/serp-search-scout`) Actor

Search Google SERP and analyze competitor density. Extract organic results, featured snippets, and ranking data. Lightweight alternative for quick market validation checks.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/agency-shift/serp-search-scout.md
- **Developed by:** [Valdeir Lima](https://apify.com/agency-shift) (community)
- **Categories:** SEO tools, Developer tools, AI
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$0.05 / actor start

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## Google SERP Scraper — Search Results & Rank Tracking

**Scrape search engine results pages (SERP)** from Google and DuckDuckGo. For any query you get the **organic results: title, URL, snippet and rank position**. Use it for **rank tracking, competitor density analysis, keyword research and commercial-intent discovery**.

### What this SERP scraper does

- Runs any list of search queries
- Returns **organic results** with **position, title, URL and snippet**
- **DuckDuckGo** engine by default (reliable, no proxy needed)
- Optional **Google** engine (via residential Apify Proxy)
- Localize results by region/country

### Use cases

- **Rank tracking** — see who ranks for your target keywords
- **Competitor density** — measure how crowded a keyword's first page is
- **SEO research** — collect titles and snippets for content gap analysis
- **Lead & market research** — find the players in any niche or geo
- **Commercial intent** — spot "best X", "X alternative", "X pricing" queries

### Input

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `queries` | array | — | Search queries |
| `engine` | string | `duckduckgo` | `duckduckgo` (reliable) or `google` (needs proxy) |
| `maxResults` | integer | `20` | Max results per query |
| `region` | string | `us-en` | Locale, e.g. `us-en`, `de-de`, `fr-fr` |
| `useProxy` | boolean | `false` | Residential proxy (required for Google) |

#### Example input

```json
{
  "queries": ["best marketing automation for agencies"],
  "engine": "duckduckgo",
  "maxResults": 20,
  "region": "us-en"
}
```

### Output

```json
{
  "position": 3,
  "title": "15+ Best Marketing Automation Tools for Agencies",
  "url": "https://example.com/blog/best-marketing-automation",
  "snippet": "Compare the top marketing automation platforms...",
  "query": "best marketing automation for agencies",
  "engine": "duckduckgo"
}
```

### FAQ

**Which engine should I use?** DuckDuckGo is reliable with no proxy. Use Google when you specifically need Google's ranking (enable `useProxy`).

**Can I track rankings over time?** Yes — schedule the actor and store positions per query.

**Does it support other countries?** Yes — set `region` (e.g. `de-de`, `fr-fr`).

# Actor input Schema

## `queries` (type: `array`):

Search queries (e.g. 'best invoicing app for freelancers').

## `engine` (type: `string`):

duckduckgo = reliable, no proxy needed. google = needs residential proxy, may be blocked.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Maximum organic results to return per query.

## `region` (type: `string`):

e.g. 'us-en', 'de-de', 'fr-fr' (DuckDuckGo) or country for Google.

## `useProxy` (type: `boolean`):

Required for Google; recommended at volume. Uses residential credit.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "queries": [
    "best habit tracker app"
  ],
  "engine": "duckduckgo",
  "maxResults": 20,
  "region": "us-en",
  "useProxy": false
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "queries": [
        "best habit tracker app"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("agency-shift/serp-search-scout").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "queries": ["best habit tracker app"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("agency-shift/serp-search-scout").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "queries": [
    "best habit tracker app"
  ]
}' |
apify call agency-shift/serp-search-scout --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,agency-shift/serp-search-scout"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/QbhCSc1sZpEgpgaXe/builds/Ci9edlogUKj2O58uj/openapi.json