Integration guide

LeadMerlin + Claude Code

Claude Code can load skills from markdown files in your project. Add the LeadMerlin skill once and Claude can search Google Maps, enrich every business and write a CSV whenever you ask for leads.

Before you start

• Claude Code installed and working in a project folder.
• A LeadMerlin API key (starts with lm_) from the dashboard — the first 100 leads are free.

Setup

1. 1

   Store your API key in the environment

   Add the key to your shell profile so it never ends up in your repo.

   echo 'export LEADMERLIN_API_KEY="lm_your_key"' >> ~/.zshrc
   source ~/.zshrc

2. 2

   Create the skill file

   Create .claude/skills/leadmerlin/SKILL.md. Start it with this frontmatter so Claude knows when to use it, then paste the skill text from the docs page (Docs → Agent Skill → Copy skill) below it.

   ---
   name: leadmerlin
   description: Search local businesses by niche and city with the LeadMerlin API, enrich them (owner names, verified emails, phone line types, tech stack) and export CSV. Use for lead generation and prospect lists.
   ---
   
   <paste the LeadMerlin skill from leadmerlin.com/docs here>
   
   ## Auth
   Read the API key from the LEADMERLIN_API_KEY environment variable and send it
   as the x-api-key header. Never write the key into files or code.

3. 3

   Test on demo data first

   Ask Claude to run the workflow against the demo endpoints. They need no key and cost nothing.

   > Use the leadmerlin skill against the demo endpoints and show me the first 3 results.

4. 4

   Run a real search

   Ask for what you want in plain English. Claude resolves the city, starts the job, polls it and pages through results.

   > Find roofing contractors in Tampa, keep only leads with a verified email,
   > and export them to roofers-tampa-leads.csv

Location codes in these examples are placeholders — always look yours up with GET /v2/locations first.

Tips

• If your niche is a single generic word, ask Claude to call /v2/suggest first to pick a sharper keyword.
• Ask Claude to report off_niche_count and category_facets so you can see what was filtered.
• Claude Code will ask permission before running network commands unless you allow them.

API at a glance

All calls use the x-api-key header except the demo endpoints. Base URL: https://api.leadmerlin.com/api

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