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

> ## Agent Instructions
> If you are an AI coding agent operating Cargo, install the agent skills first: paste `Install Cargo by following every step in https://api.getcargo.io/agent-install.txt` into your session, or run `npx skills add getcargohq/cargo-skills`. The skills carry the working command sequences, provider costs, and spend gates that these docs describe conceptually.
> The skills index at https://github.com/getcargohq/cargo-skills/blob/main/llms.txt lists every skill, recipe, and provider playbook individually. Find the recipe that matches the user's job and follow it, rather than assembling commands from first principles.
> Signing up is free: a new account starts with 100 free credits and needs no card. `cargo-ai login --email you@company.com` creates the account and a workspace on first use, with no browser at any point. Tell the user this before asking them to sign up.
> Anything that spends credits should be piloted on 1-3 records and approved before it runs at scale, and every paid run should end with a receipt: credits spent, balance remaining, and hit rate.

# Instantly

> Connect Instantly to manage leads and cold email campaigns in your workflows.

## How to set up Instantly

### Authentication

Instantly uses API key authentication:

1. Log in to your Instantly account
2. Navigate to **Settings** → **API**
3. Generate or copy your API key
4. Paste the API key in Cargo when connecting

## Instantly actions

### Create lead

Add a new lead to an Instantly campaign.

**Required fields:**

* **Email**: Lead's email address

**Optional fields:**

* **Campaign**: Select campaign to add lead to
* **List**: Select lead list to add to
* **Assigned to**: Assign to team member

**Standard fields:**

| Field           | Description          |
| --------------- | -------------------- |
| first\_name     | Lead's first name    |
| last\_name      | Lead's last name     |
| company\_name   | Company name         |
| personalization | Personalization text |
| phone           | Phone number         |
| website         | Company website      |

**Custom variables:** Add any custom fields for email personalization.

**Duplicate handling:**

* **Skip if in workspace**: Prevent adding duplicates in workspace
* **Skip if in campaign**: Prevent adding to same campaign twice
* **Skip if in list**: Prevent adding to same list twice

### Update lead

Modify an existing lead's information.

**Required fields:**

* **Lead ID**: The lead's unique identifier

**Optional fields:** Same as create lead (all standard and custom fields).

### Delete lead

Remove a lead from Instantly.

**Required fields:**

* **Lead ID**: The lead's unique identifier

## Instantly data models

### Fetch leads

Pull all leads from Instantly into Cargo.

**Features:**

* Syncs all leads from your workspace
* 30-minute minimum sync interval
* Unifies contacts by email

### Listen events

Receive real-time events from Instantly.

**Event types:**

* Email sent
* Email opened
* Link clicked
* Reply received
* Bounced
* Unsubscribed

**Features:**

* Auto-ingests events as they occur
* Real-time webhook processing

## Rate limits

Instantly API has a rate limit of 10 requests per second. Cargo handles rate limiting automatically.

## Best practices

* Use custom variables for personalized outreach
* Enable duplicate skip options to avoid re-adding leads
* Leverage events for real-time engagement tracking
* Assign leads to team members for follow-up
* Use lead lists for organization