How I scrape leads for just $1.20/1,000 leads from Apollo

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to learn how I built an automated lead personalization system that allowed me:

• scrape leads for just $1.20/1,000 leads from Apollo

• create 1,000s of personalized outreach messages by scraping the leads website content and LinkedIn bio.

• to generate 1,000s of personalized connection request messages to send to prospects.

What You’re Going to Need

• An Apify account

• RapidAPI account

• OpenAI account

• Apollo.io account (free)

• Make.com

• Google Sheets

This automation is a Make Blueprint file that you can import and it contains all my prompts and connections to the scenario.

If you haven’t used Make before, here is a guide on importing a scenario.

1. Register with Make.com

2. Create a new Scenario.

3. Click on the 3 buttons on the bottom bar and click “Import Blueprint”

4. Then upload this .JSON file there:

Step 1: Scraping and Enriching Leads

1.1/ Preparation (if you haven’t already):

• Create an Apify account (https://apify.com/)

• Create a RapidAPI account (https://rapidapi.com/)

• Create an OpenAI account and API keys (https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/api-keys) and Organization ID (https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/general)

• Create a Perplexity account for API keys (https://www.perplexity.ai/settings/api)

1.2/ Scraping Leads:

• Create an free account in Apollo

• Go to Lists, and use the filters to create a list of leads fit your target client profile

• Copy the URL and go to https://console.apify.com/actors/jljBwyyQakqrL1wae/input

• Enter the URL from Apollo as the input

• Create a task and name it “Apollo Scraper” or similar

1.3/ Setting Up Spreadsheet:

• Create a Google sheet with the following columns (or make a copy of the file here):

  • firstName

  • lastName

  • email

  • title

  • companyName

  • website_url

  • linkedinURL_company

  • linkedinURL_personal

  • headline

  • phoneNumbers (optional)

  • city

  • country

  • linkedinSummary

  • websiteSummary

  • icebreaker

  • connectionRequest

  • servicesOffered (optional - for Phase 3 below)

  • targetAudience (optional - for Phase 3 below)

  • expertise (optional - for Phase 3 below)

• Update Access as follows

1.4/ Integrate Apify with Google Sheets

• Option 1: Automatically set the automation to run the task everyday.

• Option 2: Manually run the task, and feed the Dataset ID to the scenario.

Note: The blueprint follows Option 1. You will need to remove the first module if you choose option 2.

• Connect your Apify account on Make.com

• Ensure you configure the task you created on Step 1.2

Step 2: Enriching the Leads

This phase is about generating a personalized ice breaker and a connection request for each lead that can then be used in your cold outreach.

2.1/ Set Up LinkedIn Profile Scraper

Access your RapidAPI account and subscribe to LinkedIn Data Scraper by RockSolid APIs. There are many options to choose from but the one I went ahead with.

2.2/ Configure the LinkedIn Scraper Module in Make.com

Note:

• Configure the GPT module prompt to personalize it the way you would send out your messages.

• Add the Spreadsheet ID from the Google Sheet created in Step 1.3

• Copy the API key (from Step 2.1) and paste it in the HTTP module in the blueprint.

2.3/ Run the Automation

• Configure the Watch New Rows limit to 2 for the test run (set by default in the blueprint).

  • During the test, ensure you’re happy with the output.

  • If you are, re-set the limit back to 40 - 50.