Thumbtack Category Scraper

Introduction

The Thumbtack Category Scraper is a powerful Apify Actor designed to extract detailed service listings and category information from Thumbtack.com. It automates the process of gathering data on local services, providers, and pricing, enabling users to collect structured insights from search results efficiently. This tool is ideal for businesses, researchers, and developers seeking reliable data for market analysis, competitive intelligence, or integration into applications.

Features

• Comprehensive Data Extraction: Scrapes service categories, provider details, ratings, pricing, and contact information from Thumbtack search results.
• High Reliability: Built on PlaywrightCrawler for robust handling of dynamic web content, ensuring accurate data capture even with JavaScript-heavy pages.
• Customizable Inputs: Supports multiple start URLs for targeted scraping of specific categories, locations, or keywords.
• Scalable Performance: Processes large volumes of data quickly, with built-in concurrency controls to optimize speed and avoid rate limits.
• Structured Output: Delivers clean, JSON-formatted data ready for analysis, export, or integration with other tools.
• Error-Resilient: Includes retry mechanisms and logging for seamless operation, minimizing failures during scraping.
• Apify Integration: Fully compatible with Apify's ecosystem, allowing easy scheduling, monitoring, and result storage.

Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description	Example
startUrls	array	Yes	An array of URLs to start the scraping process. Each URL should be a full Thumbtack search result page, including parameters like keywords and zip codes for precise targeting.	[{"url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH"}]

Example Usage

Input JSON

{
  "startUrls": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH"
    }
  ]
}

Output JSON

[
  {
    "category": "Plumbing",
    "providerName": "John's Plumbing Services",
    "rating": 4.8,
    "reviewCount": 125,
    "priceRange": "$50 - $200",
    "location": "Yonkers, NY",
    "description": "Expert plumbing repairs and installations.",
    "contact": "https://www.thumbtack.com/profile/johns-plumbing",
    "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/...",
    "scrapedAt": "2023-10-01T12:00:00Z"
  }
]

Use Cases

• Market Research: Analyze service demand and pricing trends across different categories and locations.
• Competitive Intelligence: Monitor competitors' offerings, ratings, and customer feedback to inform business strategies.
• Price Monitoring: Track pricing fluctuations for services to optimize budgeting or pricing models.
• Content Aggregation: Build databases of local service providers for directories or recommendation engines.
• Academic Research: Gather data on service industries for studies in economics, sociology, or urban planning.
• Business Automation: Integrate scraped data into CRM systems or dashboards for automated reporting and decision-making.

Installation and Usage

1. Search for "Thumbtack Category Scraper" in the Apify Store.
2. Click "Try for free" or "Run".
3. Configure input parameters, such as adding your desired start URLs.
4. Click "Start" to begin extraction.
5. Monitor progress in the log.
6. Export results in your preferred format (JSON, CSV, Excel).

Output Format

The Actor outputs data in JSON format, with each item representing a scraped service listing. Key fields include:

• category: The service category (e.g., "Plumbing").
• providerName: Name of the service provider.
• rating: Average customer rating (e.g., 4.8).
• reviewCount: Number of reviews.
• priceRange: Estimated price range.
• location: Geographic location of the provider.
• description: Brief service description.
• contact: Link to the provider's profile.
• url: Original scraped URL.
• scrapedAt: Timestamp of scraping.

Data is structured as an array of objects, making it easy to parse and analyze.

Support

For custom/simplified outputs or bug reports, please contact:

• Email: support@getdataforme.com
• Subject line: "custom support"
• Contact form: https://getdataforme.com/contact/

We're here to help you get the most out of this Actor!

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