Monitor Instagram Competitor Trends with Claude 3.5 & Multi-Channel Alerts

This enterprise-grade n8n workflow automates competitor monitoring on Instagram — from post fetching to AI-driven strategy alerts — using Claude AI, Instagram API, and multi-channel notifications. It tracks trends, analyzes performance, and delivers actionable insights via WhatsApp and email, keeping your team ahead with zero manual effort.

Key Features

Daily competitor scanning** from Google Sheets Post performance metrics** (engagement rate, trends) calculated automatically AI-powered insights* using Claude 3.5 Sonnet* for content and engagement strategies Dual-channel alerts:** WhatsApp (Twilio) and email for instant delivery Audit logs** in Google Sheets for historical trends Scalable triggers:** Daily schedule or webhook for ad-hoc checks

Workflow Process

| Step | Node | Description | | ---- | ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | Schedule Trigger | Runs daily at 10 AM or via webhook (/competitor-alert) | | 2 | Get Competitor List | Loads competitors from Competitors sheet | | 3 | Loop Over Competitors | Processes each competitor to avoid API limits | | 4 | Get Competitor Posts | Fetches last 10 posts via Instagram Graph API | | 5 | Calculate Performance Metrics | Computes avg engagement and trend using Code node | | 6 | Generate AI Insights (Claude AI)| Analyzes data for 3 strategic bullet-point insights | | 7 | Send Email Alert | Emails detailed report to team | | 8 | Send WhatsApp Alert (Twilio) | Sends concise alert via WhatsApp | | 9 | Log Alert | Records metrics and insights in AlertsLog sheet | | 10 | End Workflow | Terminates execution |

Setup Instructions

1. Import Workflow

Open n8n → Workflows → Import from Clipboard Paste the JSON workflow

2. Configure Credentials

| Integration | Details | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | Google Sheets | Service account with spreadsheet access | | Instagram API | Business access token for media fetching | | Claude AI | Anthropic API key for claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 | | Twilio | Credentials for WhatsApp messaging | | SMTP/Email | SMTP or Gmail for email alerts |

3. Update Spreadsheet IDs

Ensure your Google Sheets include:

Competitors AlertsLog

4. Set Triggers

Webhook:** /webhook/competitor-alert (for on-demand runs) Schedule:** Daily at 10:00 AM

5. Run a Test

Use manual execution to confirm:

Post fetching and metrics calculation AI insights generation WhatsApp/email delivery and sheet logging

Google Sheets Structure

Competitors

| competitorName | competitorUserId | industryFocus | |----------------|------------------|---------------| | BrandX | 1234567890 | Fashion |

AlertsLog

| competitor | avgEngagement | trend | insights | timestamp | |---------------|----------------|--------|-----------------------------------|--------------------| | BrandX | 75.5 | Rising | - Bullet 1... | 2023-10-01T12:00:00Z |

System Requirements

| Requirement | Version/Access | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | n8n | v1.50+ (AI and messaging integrations supported)| | Claude AI API | claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 | | Instagram Graph API| Business account access token | | Twilio API | WhatsApp-enabled phone number | | Google Sheets API | https://www.googleapis.com/auth/spreadsheets | | SMTP | For email (e.g., Gmail OAuth) |

Optional Enhancements

Add visual charts (e.g., engagement trends via Google Charts) Integrate Slack for team-wide alerts Use advanced metrics like reach/impressions via Instagram Insights API Connect CRM (HubSpot) to tag competitors Enable multi-platform monitoring (e.g., TikTok) Add threshold-based alerts (e.g., only if engagement >20% increase) Export insights to Notion or Airtable for strategy docs

Result: A single automated system that monitors competitors, uncovers trends, and arms your team with AI strategies — delivered via WhatsApp and email with zero manual work.

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