Search business prospects with natural language using Claude AI and Explorium MCP

Explorium Prospects Search Chatbot

Template

Download the following json file and import it to a new n8n workflow:

mcp_to_prospects_to_csv.json

Overview

This n8n workflow creates a chatbot that understands natural language requests for finding business prospects and automatically:

• Interprets your query using AI (Claude Sonnet 3.7)
• Converts it to proper Explorium API filters
• Validates the API request structure
• Fetches prospect data from Explorium
• Exports results as a downloadable CSV file

Perfect for sales teams, recruiters, and business development professionals who need to quickly find and export targeted prospect lists without learning complex API syntax.

Key Features

• Natural Language Interface: Simply describe who you're looking for in plain English
• Smart Query Translation: AI converts your request to valid API parameters
• Built-in Validation: Ensures API calls meet Explorium's requirements
• Error Recovery: Automatically retries with corrections if validation fails
• Pagination Support: Handles large result sets automatically
• CSV Export: Clean, formatted output ready for CRM import
• Conversation Memory: Maintains context for follow-up queries

Example Queries

The chatbot understands queries like:

• "Find marketing directors at SaaS companies in New York with 50-200 employees"
• "Get me CTOs from fintech startups in California"
• "Show me sales managers at healthcare companies with revenue over $10M"
• "Find engineers at Microsoft with 3-5 years experience"
• "Get customer service leads from e-commerce companies in Europe"

Prerequisites

Before setting up this workflow, ensure you have:

1. n8n instance with chat interface enabled
2. Anthropic API key for Claude
3. Explorium API credentials (Bearer token) - Get explorium api key
4. Basic understanding of n8n chat workflows

Supported Filters

The chatbot can search using these criteria:

Company Filters

• Size: 1-10, 11-50, 51-200, 201-500, 501-1000, 1001-5000, 5001-10000, 10001+ employees
• Revenue: Ranges from $0-500K up to $10T+
• Age: 0-3, 3-6, 6-10, 10-20, 20+ years
• Location: Countries, regions, cities
• Industry: Google categories, NAICS codes, LinkedIn categories
• Name: Specific company names

Prospect Filters

• Job Level: CXO, VP, Director, Manager, Senior, Entry, etc.
• Department: Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Finance, HR, etc.
• Experience: Total months and current role duration
• Location: Country and region codes
• Contact Info: Filter by email/phone availability

Installation & Setup

Step 1: Import the Workflow

1. Copy the workflow JSON from the template
2. In n8n: Workflows → Add Workflow → Import from File
3. Paste the JSON and click Import

Step 2: Configure Anthropic Credentials

1. Click on the Anthropic Chat Model1 node
2. Under Credentials, click Create New
3. Add your Anthropic API key
4. Name: "Anthropic API"
5. Save credentials

Step 3: Configure Explorium Credentials

You'll need to set up Explorium credentials in two places:

For MCP Client:

1. Click on the MCP Client node
2. Under Credentials, create new Header Auth
3. Add your authentication header (usually Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN)
4. Save credentials

For API Calls:

1. Click on the Prospects API Call node
2. Use the same Header Auth credentials created above
3. Verify the API endpoint is correct

Step 4: Activate the Workflow

1. Save the workflow
2. Click the Active toggle to enable it
3. The chat interface will now be available

Step 5: Access the Chat Interface

1. Click on the When chat message received node
2. Copy the webhook URL
3. Access this URL in your browser to start chatting

How It Works

Workflow Architecture

1. Chat Trigger: Receives natural language queries from users
2. Memory Buffer: Maintains conversation context
3. AI Agent: Interprets queries and generates API parameters
4. Validation: Checks API structure against Explorium requirements
5. API Call: Fetches prospect data with pagination
6. Data Processing: Formats results for CSV export
7. File Conversion: Creates downloadable CSV file

Processing Flow

User Query → AI Interpretation → Validation → API Call → CSV Export
     ↑                                  ↓
     └──── Error Correction Loop ←──────┘

Validation Rules

The workflow validates:

• Filter keys are allowed by Explorium API
• Values match expected formats (e.g., valid country codes)
• Range filters have proper gte/lte values
• No duplicate values in arrays
• Required structure is maintained

Usage Guide

Basic Conversation Flow

1. Start with your query:

   "Find me VPs of Sales at software companies in the US"
   

2. Bot processes and responds:

   • Generates API filters
   • Validates the structure
   • Fetches data
   • Returns CSV download link

3. Refine if needed:

   "Can you also include directors and filter for companies with 100+ employees?"
   

Query Tips

• Be specific: Include job titles, departments, company details
• Use standard terms: "CTO" instead of "Chief Technology Officer"
• Specify locations: Use country names or standard codes
• Include size/revenue: Helps narrow results effectively

Advanced Queries

Combine multiple criteria:

"Find engineering managers and senior engineers at B2B SaaS companies 
in New York and California with 50-500 employees and revenue over $5M 
who have been in their role for at least 1 year"

Output Format

The CSV file includes:

• Prospect ID
• Name (first, last, full)
• Location (country, region, city)
• LinkedIn profile
• Experience summary
• Skills and interests
• Company details
• Job information
• Business ID

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

"Validation failed" errors

• Check that your query uses supported filter values
• Ensure location names are spelled correctly
• Verify company sizes/revenues match allowed ranges

No results returned

• Broaden your search criteria
• Check if the company exists in Explorium's database
• Verify filter combinations aren't too restrictive

Chat not responding

• Ensure workflow is activated
• Check all credentials are properly configured
• Verify webhook URL is accessible

Large result sets timing out

• Try adding more specific filters
• Limit results by location or company size
• Use the size parameter (max 10,000)

Error Messages

The bot provides clear feedback:

• Invalid filters: Shows which filters aren't supported
• Value errors: Lists correct options for each field
• API failures: Explains connection or authentication issues

Performance Optimization

Best Practices

1. Start broad, then narrow: Begin with basic criteria and add filters
2. Use business IDs: When targeting specific companies
3. Limit by contact info: Add has_email: true for actionable leads
4. Batch by location: Process regions separately for large searches

API Limits

• Maximum 10,000 results per search
• Pagination handles up to 100 records per page
• Rate limits apply based on your Explorium subscription

Customization Options

Modify AI Behavior

Edit the AI Agent system message to:

• Change response format
• Add custom filters
• Adjust interpretation logic
• Include additional instructions

Extend Functionality

Add nodes to:

• Send results via email
• Import directly to CRM
• Schedule recurring searches
• Create custom reports

Integration Ideas

• Connect to Slack for team queries
• Add to CRM workflows
• Create lead scoring systems
• Build automated outreach campaigns

Security Considerations

• API credentials are stored securely in n8n
• Chat sessions are isolated
• No prospect data is stored permanently
• CSV files are generated on-demand

Support Resources

For issues with:

• n8n platform: Check n8n documentation
• Explorium API: Contact Explorium support
• Anthropic/Claude: Refer to Anthropic docs
• Workflow logic: Review node configurations