Docs · Apollo

Check leads before they enter an Apollo sequence

Apollo starts sending as soon as a contact joins an active sequence. Put a Precleared check in front of it and only contacts who are ok to cold email get added, each with a signed receipt you keep alongside.

Pick your builder

Builder	How
Clay	An HTTP API column, then two HTTP API columns to Apollo, only run if the verdict is ok_to_email
Make	An HTTP module, a router, then two HTTP modules to Apollo
Zapier	Webhooks by Zapier, a filter, then Apollo → Find or Create Contact and an API Request
n8n	Download the Apollo workflow

Calling the APIs yourself

Check the address.

curl https://precleared.dev/api/v1/check \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer pc_live_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"recipient_email":"jane@acme.co.uk","address_source":"published","sender_country":"GB","pitch":"route-planning software"}'

Only if verdict is ok_to_email, create or match the contact. The new contact's id is at contact.id in the answer.

curl https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/contacts \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_APOLLO_MASTER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email":"jane@acme.co.uk","first_name":"Jane","organization_name":"Acme Ltd","run_dedupe":true}'

Add the contact to the sequence.

curl https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/emailer_campaigns/YOUR_SEQUENCE_ID/add_contact_ids \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_APOLLO_MASTER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "emailer_campaign_id": "YOUR_SEQUENCE_ID",
    "contact_ids": ["CONTACT_ID"],
    "send_email_from_email_account_id": "YOUR_MAILBOX_ID"
  }'

Adding contacts to a sequence needs an Apollo master API key. Your sequence id is in the sequence's URL in Apollo, and GET https://api.apollo.io/api/v1/email_accounts lists your mailbox ids. run_dedupe updates a matching contact instead of creating a second one. Test with a paused sequence first.

Before you send

Make sure your Apollo sequence covers what footer_text describes, usually who you are, a postal address and a simple way to opt out. Keep the receipt id with the contact, in your sheet or an Apollo custom field: precleared.dev/r/ followed by the id shows why the email was allowed.

All recipes

Decision support with sources, not legal advice.