Step 2: Connect Google Sheets and Initialize the Search Index

Set the initial pagination index and prepare your spreadsheet for incoming leads.

1. In Initialize Index, set currentStartIndex to 1.
2. Open Append to Spreadsheet and set Operation to append.
3. Map the columns in Append to Spreadsheet: Name to {{ $json.name }}, title to {{ $json.position }}, and profile_url to {{ $json.link }}.
4. Select the target spreadsheet in Document (e.g., [YOUR_ID]) and Sheet (e.g., Sheet1).

Credential Required: Connect your Google Sheets credentials in Append to Spreadsheet.

Credential Required: Connect your Google Sheets credentials in Update Lead Sheet (configured later).

Step 3: Configure Web Search and Pagination Loop

Build the search request, parse the results, and loop through pagination.

1. In Web Search Request, set URL to https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch/v1 and enable Send Query.
2. Set query parameters in Web Search Request: key to [CONFIGURE_YOUR_API_KEY], cx to [CONFIGURE_YOUR_API_KEY], q to ("solo practitioner" OR "founder" OR "managing partner") lawyer "law firm" site:linkedin.com/in -government -gov -biglaw, and start to {{ $json.startIndex || 1 }}.
3. Confirm Parse Search Results uses the provided JavaScript to extract name, position, link, and pagination fields (startIndex, hasMoreResults).
4. Verify Parse Search Results outputs to both Append to Spreadsheet and Pagination Control in parallel.
5. In Pagination Control, keep the JavaScript that returns continueLoop and startIndex.
6. In Pagination Gate, set the condition to true when {{ $('Pagination Control').item.json.continueLoop }} is true.
7. Connect Pagination Gate back to Web Search Request to continue pagination.

⚠️ Common Pitfall: If your Google Custom Search API key or CX is missing, Web Search Request will return empty results and pagination may loop without data.

Step 4: Set Up AI Research and Outreach Generation

Use the research agent and AI model to generate personalized outreach lines.

1. In Research Insight Agent, keep Text as Name: {{ $json.name }} Title: {{ $json.title }} About: {{ $json.about }}.
2. Review the System Message inside Research Insight Agent to ensure it aligns with your outreach goals.
3. Confirm OpenRouter Chat Engine is connected as the language model for Research Insight Agent and set Model to perplexity/sonar-pro.
4. In Generate Outreach Line, use the system message and ensure the user content references: {{ $('Parse Search Results').all()[ $itemIndex ].json.name }}, {{ $('Parse Search Results').all()[ $itemIndex ].json.position }}, and {{ $('Parse Search Results').all()[ $itemIndex ].json.about }}.

Credential Required: Connect your OpenRouter credentials in OpenRouter Chat Engine (credentials are applied at the parent node level, not the agent).

Credential Required: Connect your OpenAI credentials in Generate Outreach Line.

Step 5: Configure Lead Sheet Updates

Write the generated outreach line back to the spreadsheet and match on the lead’s name.

1. Open Update Lead Sheet and set Operation to appendOrUpdate.
2. Map name to {{ $('Parse Search Results').all()[ $itemIndex ].json.name }} and outreach message 1 to {{ $json.message.content }}.
3. Set Matching Columns to name to update the correct lead row.
4. Select the same Document and Sheet used in Append to Spreadsheet (e.g., [YOUR_ID] and Sheet1).

⚠️ Common Pitfall: If the name column is empty or inconsistent, Update Lead Sheet may append duplicates instead of updating existing rows.

Step 6: Test and Activate Your Workflow

Run a test to ensure the search, AI generation, and sheet updates complete successfully.

1. Click Execute Workflow to run Scheduled Start manually.
2. Verify that Append to Spreadsheet adds new rows with Name, title, and profile_url.
3. Confirm Generate Outreach Line returns a short personalized line and Update Lead Sheet writes it to outreach message 1.
4. Turn on the workflow by toggling Active to enable scheduled production runs.