apollo-core-workflow-b skill

---
name: apollo-core-workflow-b
description: |
  Implement Apollo.io email sequences and outreach workflow.
  Use when building automated email campaigns, creating sequences,
  or managing outreach through Apollo.
  Trigger with phrases like "apollo email sequence", "apollo outreach",
  "apollo campaign", "apollo sequences", "apollo automated emails".
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(npm:*), Bash(pip:*), Grep
version: 1.0.0
license: MIT
author: Jeremy Longshore <[email protected]>
---

# Apollo Core Workflow B: Email Sequences & Outreach

## Overview
Implement Apollo.io's email sequencing and outreach automation capabilities for B2B sales campaigns.

## Prerequisites
- Completed `apollo-core-workflow-a` (lead search)
- Apollo account with Sequences feature enabled
- Connected email account in Apollo

## Workflow Components

### 1. List Existing Sequences

```typescript
// src/services/apollo/sequences.ts
import { apollo } from '../../lib/apollo/client';

export async function listSequences() {
  const response = await apollo.request({
    method: 'GET',
    url: '/emailer_campaigns',
  });

  return response.emailer_campaigns.map((campaign: any) => ({
    id: campaign.id,
    name: campaign.name,
    status: campaign.active ? 'active' : 'paused',
    stepsCount: campaign.num_steps,
    contactsCount: campaign.contact_count,
    createdAt: campaign.created_at,
    stats: {
      sent: campaign.emails_sent_count,
      opened: campaign.emails_opened_count,
      replied: campaign.emails_replied_count,
      bounced: campaign.emails_bounced_count,
    },
  }));
}
```

### 2. Create Email Sequence

```typescript
// src/services/apollo/create-sequence.ts
interface SequenceStep {
  type: 'auto_email' | 'manual_email' | 'call' | 'task';
  subject?: string;
  body?: string;
  waitDays: number;
}

interface CreateSequenceParams {
  name: string;
  steps: SequenceStep[];
  sendingSchedule?: {
    timezone: string;
    days: string[];
    startHour: number;
    endHour: number;
  };
}

export async function createSequence(params: CreateSequenceParams) {
  const sequence = await apollo.request({
    method: 'POST',
    url: '/emailer_campaigns',
    data: {
      name: params.name,
      permissions: 'team',
      active: false, // Start paused
      emailer_schedule: params.sendingSchedule ? {
        timezone: params.sendingSchedule.timezone,
        days_of_week: params.sendingSchedule.days,
        start_hour: params.sendingSchedule.startHour,
        end_hour: params.sendingSchedule.endHour,
      } : undefined,
    },
  });

  // Add steps to sequence
  for (const step of params.steps) {
    await addSequenceStep(sequence.emailer_campaign.id, step);
  }

  return sequence.emailer_campaign;
}

async function addSequenceStep(sequenceId: string, step: SequenceStep) {
  return apollo.request({
    method: 'POST',
    url: `/emailer_campaigns/${sequenceId}/emailer_steps`,
    data: {
      emailer_step: {
        type: step.type,
        wait_time: step.waitDays * 24 * 60, // Convert to minutes
        email_template: step.subject ? {
          subject: step.subject,
          body_html: step.body,
        } : undefined,
      },
    },
  });
}
```

### 3. Add Contacts to Sequence

```typescript
// src/services/apollo/sequence-contacts.ts
interface AddToSequenceParams {
  sequenceId: string;
  contactIds: string[];
  sendEmailFromId?: string;
}

export async function addContactsToSequence(params: AddToSequenceParams) {
  const results = await Promise.allSettled(
    params.contactIds.map(async (contactId) => {
      return apollo.request({
        method: 'POST',
        url: '/emailer_campaigns/add_contact_ids',
        data: {
          emailer_campaign_id: params.sequenceId,
          contact_ids: [contactId],
          send_email_from_user_id: params.sendEmailFromId,
        },
      });
    })
  );

  const succeeded = results.filter(r => r.status === 'fulfilled').length;
  const failed = results.filter(r => r.status === 'rejected').length;

  return {
    added: succeeded,
    failed,
    total: params.contactIds.length,
  };
}

export async function removeContactFromSequence(
  sequenceId: string,
  contactId: string
) {
  return apollo.request({
    method: 'POST',
    url: '/emailer_campaigns/remove_contact_ids',
    data: {
      emailer_campaign_id: sequenceId,
      contact_ids: [contactId],
    },
  });
}
```

### 4. Sequence Analytics

```typescript
// src/services/apollo/sequence-analytics.ts
export async function getSequenceAnalytics(sequenceId: string) {
  const response = await apollo.request({
    method: 'GET',
    url: `/emailer_campaigns/${sequenceId}`,
  });

  const campaign = response.emailer_campaign;

  return {
    id: campaign.id,
    name: campaign.name,
    metrics: {
      totalContacts: campaign.contact_count,
      activeContacts: campaign.active_contact_count,
      completedContacts: campaign.finished_contact_count,
    },
    emailMetrics: {
      sent: campaign.emails_sent_count,
      delivered: campaign.emails_sent_count - campaign.emails_bounced_count,
      opened: campaign.emails_opened_count,
      clicked: campaign.emails_clicked_count,
      replied: campaign.emails_replied_count,
      bounced: campaign.emails_bounced_count,
    },
    rates: {
      deliveryRate: calculateRate(
        campaign.emails_sent_count - campaign.emails_bounced_count,
        campaign.emails_sent_count
      ),
      openRate: calculateRate(
        campaign.emails_opened_count,
        campaign.emails_sent_count
      ),
      clickRate: calculateRate(
        campaign.emails_clicked_count,
        campaign.emails_opened_count
      ),
      replyRate: calculateRate(
        campaign.emails_replied_count,
        campaign.emails_sent_count
      ),
    },
  };
}

function calculateRate(numerator: number, denominator: number): number {
  if (denominator === 0) return 0;
  return Math.round((numerator / denominator) * 100 * 10) / 10;
}
```

### 5. Complete Outreach Pipeline

```typescript
// src/services/apollo/outreach-pipeline.ts
import { searchPeople } from './people-search';
import { createSequence } from './create-sequence';
import { addContactsToSequence } from './sequence-contacts';

interface OutreachCampaign {
  name: string;
  targetCriteria: {
    domains: string[];
    titles: string[];
  };
  emailSteps: Array<{
    subject: string;
    body: string;
    waitDays: number;
  }>;
}

export async function launchOutreachCampaign(campaign: OutreachCampaign) {
  // Step 1: Find matching leads
  const leads = await searchPeople({
    domains: campaign.targetCriteria.domains,
    titles: campaign.targetCriteria.titles,
    perPage: 100,
  });

  console.log(`Found ${leads.contacts.length} matching contacts`);

  // Step 2: Create sequence
  const sequence = await createSequence({
    name: campaign.name,
    steps: campaign.emailSteps.map((step, index) => ({
      type: 'auto_email' as const,
      subject: step.subject,
      body: step.body,
      waitDays: index === 0 ? 0 : step.waitDays,
    })),
    sendingSchedule: {
      timezone: 'America/New_York',
      days: ['monday', 'tuesday', 'wednesday', 'thursday', 'friday'],
      startHour: 9,
      endHour: 17,
    },
  });

  console.log(`Created sequence: ${sequence.id}`);

  // Step 3: Add contacts to sequence
  const contactIds = leads.contacts.map(c => c.id);
  const result = await addContactsToSequence({
    sequenceId: sequence.id,
    contactIds,
  });

  console.log(`Added ${result.added} contacts to sequence`);

  return {
    sequenceId: sequence.id,
    contactsAdded: result.added,
    contactsFailed: result.failed,
  };
}
```

## Usage Example

```typescript
// Launch a cold outreach campaign
const result = await launchOutreachCampaign({
  name: 'Q1 2025 Engineering Leaders Outreach',
  targetCriteria: {
    domains: ['stripe.com', 'plaid.com', 'square.com'],
    titles: ['VP Engineering', 'Director of Engineering'],
  },
  emailSteps: [
    {
      subject: 'Quick question about {{company}}',
      body: 'Hi {{first_name}}, ...',
      waitDays: 0,
    },
    {
      subject: 'Following up',
      body: 'Hi {{first_name}}, wanted to follow up...',
      waitDays: 3,
    },
    {
      subject: 'Last attempt',
      body: 'Hi {{first_name}}, one last note...',
      waitDays: 5,
    },
  ],
});
```

## Output
- List of available sequences with stats
- New sequence creation with steps
- Contacts added to sequences
- Campaign analytics and metrics

## Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| Email Not Connected | No sending account | Connect email in Apollo UI |
| Contact Already in Sequence | Duplicate enrollment | Check before adding |
| Invalid Email Template | Missing variables | Validate template syntax |
| Sequence Limit Reached | Plan limits | Upgrade plan or archive sequences |

## Resources
- [Apollo Sequences API](https://apolloio.github.io/apollo-api-docs/#emailer-campaigns)
- [Apollo Email Templates](https://knowledge.apollo.io/hc/en-us/articles/4415154183053)
- [Sequence Best Practices](https://knowledge.apollo.io/hc/en-us/articles/4405955284621)

## Next Steps
Proceed to `apollo-common-errors` for error handling patterns.