3 Apollo Saved Search Recipes for Solo Agency Owners to Land High-Paying Clients

If you run a one-person B2B service business, the toughest part usually isn't the work itself - it's keeping a predictable pipeline of great clients who can actually pay your rates. This guide gives you three copy-and-paste Apollo.io saved search examples designed for solo agencies. Each "recipe" helps you tap into advanced filters so you can quickly surface quality leads without drowning in noise.

Why Apollo is ideal for solo agencies (quick refresher)

• Massive, actionable data: Apollo has 275 million+ contacts across 70 million companies. That kind of reach means a solo operator can punch way above their weight with verified emails and numbers you can use right away. See the full dataset scale here: over 275M contacts and 70M companies.
• Pinpoint targeting: With Apollo's deep filters - like funding rounds, revenue, job postings, and tech stack - you don't just create a list, you zero in on buyers who already look hungry for your offer. This advanced filtering is available on paid plans.
• Saved searches that do the work for you: Once you get filters dialed in, save the search. Subscribe to alerts and you'll have new leads delivered automatically. Here's how to create and subscribe to saved searches.

Recipe 1: "Just Funded & Ready to Spend"

Goal:

Spot companies in your niche that recently raised capital (a strong sign of budget), then pull up the right decision-makers.

Filters to set in Apollo:

1. Company Industry or Keywords (Company tab)
   • Match your niche (Software, E-commerce, Healthcare).
   • Add relevant keywords: "SaaS," "Fintech," or niche-specific terms.
2. Funding (Company tab)
   • Recently raised funding: Series A–C within past 6–12 months.
   • No funding filter? Use Annual Revenue instead as a proxy.
3. Company Size (Company tab)
   • 11–50 or 51–200 employees is a solid sweet spot. Big enough to pay, lean enough to outsource.
   • Alternatively, filter by revenue that aligns with your deal size.
4. Geography (Company tab, optional)
   • Choose regions you serve or where Apollo's data coverage is best.
5. Decision-makers (People tab)
   • Small firms: Founder or CEO.
   • Mid-size: VP, Head, or Director in the relevant department.
   • Department + Seniority filters (like Marketing + Director/VP) broaden the net while staying relevant.

Why it works:

Funding is one of the clearest "we have money and want to grow" signals. Combine that with role filters and you're reaching prospects who both need and can afford your services.

Save it and set alerts:

• Save with a clear name like "Fintech – Series A/B last 12 mo – 50–200 – Head of Product/CEO."
• Subscribe to alerts so you're notified each time a new round of funding hits your segment. Here's how.

Recipe 2: "Tech Stack Targeter"

Goal:

Find companies already paying for a platform connected to your service, then contact the people responsible for running it.

Filters to set in Apollo:

1. Technologies Used (Company tab)
   • Pick tools/platforms you serve (Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce, AWS, WordPress).
   • Personalization becomes easy: "You're using X, I help teams like yours get better results from it."
2. Industry or Keywords (optional)
   • Adds context, like E-commerce for Shopify or Healthcare for Salesforce.
3. Company Size or Revenue
   • Aim for your best-fit zones: 11–200 employees for marketing services, <1,000 for CRM implementations.
4. Geography (optional)
   • Useful for time zones or delivery logistics.
5. Decision-makers (People tab)
   • Marketing tech: Director, VP, or Head of Marketing, Growth, or Digital.
   • CRM/RevOps: RevOps, Sales Ops, CTO (smaller firms).
   • Cloud/DevOps: DevOps Manager, IT Director, CTO.

Why it works:

Tech filters mean you're not guessing—they're already paying for the tool. That relevance boosts reply rates because you're solving an obvious problem. See more advanced filtering options here.

Save it and set alerts:

• Save with names like "US Companies using HubSpot – 11–200 – Mktg Director+."
• Subscribe for updates on new tool adopters.

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Recipe 3: "Hiring Now (Low-Hanging Fruit)"

Goal:

Turn active job postings in your specialty into fast, warm conversations.

Filters to set in Apollo:

1. Job Postings (Company tab)
   • Job Title contains your service (e.g. "Copywriter," "UX Designer," "Security Analyst").
   • Filter by postings in the last 30 days for urgent needs.
2. Industry (optional)
   • Stick to niches where you have credibility.
3. Company Size (optional)
   • 20–200 employees often strike the best balance for solo work.
4. Geography (optional)
   • Select regions based on time zones or language fit.
5. Hiring manager persona (People tab)
   • Likely role in charge of the hire (Head of Marketing, Engineering Manager, CTO).
   • In smaller firms, target Founder/CEO directly.

Why it works:

A job posting is a bright "we have a gap now" sign. Offer contract support while they hire full time, or a more flexible alternative. Fast timing often leads to quick conversations.

Save it and set alerts:

• Save as "Hiring Graphic Designer – 20–200 – last 30 days."
• Subscribe so new openings land right into your pipeline. Steps here.

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Pro tips for solo operators

• Start with one recipe a week. Quality outreach beats blasting volume.
• Keep filters simple. Two or three meaningful ones work better than eight that cut your market too thin.
• Use Apollo's Chrome extension to snag perfect-fit leads on LinkedIn or company sites.
• When a recipe produces results, clone it into variants by region, industry, or job seniority.

How to save a search in Apollo (quick tutorial)

• After applying filters, click Save Search in the filter panel.
• Give it a descriptive name and confirm.
• Open your Saved Searches and subscribe to alerts so new matches are emailed to you. Follow this guide for full steps.

FAQs (fast answers for searchers)

What is Apollo used for?

Apollo is a B2B prospecting and engagement platform. It helps you discover companies and contacts, grab verified details, and run outreach campaigns all in one spot. The data scale: 275M+ contacts, 70M+ companies.

Does Apollo have advanced filters?

Yes. On paid plans, you get advanced filters like technologies used, funding, revenue, job postings, and department size. This makes spotting high-fit accounts much easier. Details here: advanced filtering overview.

Can I get alerts when new leads match my saved search?

Yes. Save your search and subscribe to auto-alerts. Apollo will email you whenever new companies or contacts fit your criteria. Full tutorial here.

Sources

• UpLead: Apollo dataset overview (275M contacts, 70M+ companies)
• Apollo Advanced Filtering
• Apollo Knowledge Base: How to subscribe to saved searches

Affiliate disclosure: This guide mentions Apollo.io because it is directly relevant to these saved search recipes. Links to Apollo use our affiliate URL.