> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getsmelt.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Cold Email Workflow

> Where Smelt fits in your cold email tech stack

Smelt is **Stage 3** in the cold email workflow. Here's how it fits with your other tools.

## The 4-Stage Workflow

```
┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐
│  STAGE 1    │    │  STAGE 2    │    │  STAGE 3    │    │  STAGE 4    │
│  Find Leads │ → │ Enrich Data │ → │   Generate  │ → │ Send Emails │
│             │    │             │    │    Copy     │    │             │
└─────────────┘    └─────────────┘    └─────────────┘    └─────────────┘
     Apollo            Clay              SMELT            Instantly
     ListKit           Clearbit          ← YOU ARE        Lemlist
     ZoomInfo          Apollo             HERE            Smartlead
     LinkedIn          enrichment
```

## Stage-by-Stage

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stage 1: Find Leads">
    Build your lead list with contact data.

    **Tools:** Apollo, ListKit, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator

    **Output:** CSV with names, emails, companies, titles
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stage 2: Enrich Data">
    Add more data points to your leads.

    **Tools:** Clay, Clearbit, Apollo enrichment

    **Output:** CSV with additional fields (industry, revenue, tech stack, funding, etc.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stage 3: Generate Copy (Smelt)">
    Turn your enriched data into personalized copy.

    **Tool:** Smelt

    **Output:** CSV with new AI-generated columns (hooks, pain points, CTAs)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stage 4: Send Emails">
    Import your personalized CSV and send.

    **Tools:** Instantly, Lemlist, Smartlead, Apollo sequences

    **Output:** Emails in inboxes → Replies → Revenue
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Integration Examples

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Apollo → Smelt → Instantly">
    **Simple flow without enrichment:**

    1. Export leads from Apollo as CSV
    2. Upload to Smelt
    3. Generate personalized hooks and pain points
    4. Export from Smelt
    5. Import to Instantly with personalization columns
    6. Send campaigns
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ListKit → Clay → Smelt → Lemlist">
    **Full enrichment flow:**

    1. Buy leads from ListKit
    2. Enrich in Clay (add company data, tech stack, funding)
    3. Export Clay CSV to Smelt
    4. Generate personalized copy
    5. Export from Smelt
    6. Import to Lemlist
    7. Send sequences
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ZoomInfo → Smelt → Smartlead">
    **Enterprise data flow:**

    1. Export contacts from ZoomInfo (already enriched)
    2. Upload directly to Smelt
    3. Generate hooks, pain points, CTAs
    4. Export from Smelt
    5. Import to Smartlead
    6. Send campaigns
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## CSV Column Mapping

Your sending tool uses Smelt's output columns as personalization variables:

| Smelt Output Column | In Instantly     | In Lemlist       | In Smartlead     |
| ------------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |
| `Hook`              | `{{Hook}}`       | `{{Hook}}`       | `{{Hook}}`       |
| `Pain_Point`        | `{{Pain_Point}}` | `{{Pain_Point}}` | `{{Pain_Point}}` |
| `CTA`               | `{{CTA}}`        | `{{CTA}}`        | `{{CTA}}`        |
| `First_Line`        | `{{First_Line}}` | `{{First_Line}}` | `{{First_Line}}` |

<Tip>
  Name your output columns clearly—they become the personalization variables in your sending tool!
</Tip>

## Why Smelt vs. Built-In AI?

Many sending tools have built-in AI personalization. Here's why Smelt is different:

| Feature                   | Smelt                       | Built-in AI (Instantly, Lemlist) |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| **Pricing**               | BYOK (10-50x cheaper)       | Per-credit                       |
| **Custom prompts**        | Fully customizable          | Limited options                  |
| **Quality scoring**       | 11 quality flags + auto-fix | Basic or none                    |
| **Template chaining**     | ✅ Multi-step workflows      | ❌                                |
| **Template library**      | 17 pre-built templates      | Varies                           |
| **Batch testing**         | ✅ Before full runs          | Limited                          |
| **Works with any sender** | ✅ CSV export                | Locked into platform             |
| **Cost transparency**     | See exact API costs         | Hidden in credits                |

## The Cost Advantage

**Example: 50,000 leads/month with 2 templates = 100,000 AI generations**

| Method               | Cost             |
| -------------------- | ---------------- |
| Clay AI credits      | $2,000 - $10,000 |
| Instantly AI credits | $500 - $2,000    |
| **Smelt BYOK**       | **$100 - $200**  |

<Note>
  Smelt isn't replacing your sending tool—it's giving you better personalization before you send.
</Note>

## What If I Don't Have Enriched Data?

Smelt works with whatever data you have:

| Your Data                 | What Smelt Can Do                   |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Just name, email, company | Generate basic personalization      |
| + Job title, industry     | Generate role-specific messaging    |
| + Location, company size  | Add regional/scale context          |
| + Tech stack, funding     | Deep personalization with specifics |

<Tip>
  More data = better personalization. But even basic fields (name, company, title) create significantly better results than generic templates.
</Tip>

## Recommended Stacks

### Budget-Friendly

**Apollo** (find + light enrich) → **Smelt** (generate) → **Instantly** (send)

### High Volume

**ListKit** (find) → **Clay** (enrich) → **Smelt** (generate) → **Smartlead** (send)

### Enterprise

**ZoomInfo** (find + enrich) → **Smelt** (generate) → **Outreach/Salesloft** (send)