24/7 Lead Nurture Sequences with OpenClaw: Build an Always-On Follow-Up System [2026]
Your leads don't sleep. Neither should your follow-up.
The average B2B buyer needs 8-12 touches before they're ready to talk to sales. But here's the problem: your SDR team works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. That's 40 hours out of 168.
76% of the week, your leads are getting zero attention.
OpenClaw changes this. It's a free, self-hosted gateway that runs AI agents 24/7 with memory, scheduling, and multi-channel reach. Here's how to build lead nurture sequences that never stop working.

Why Traditional Sequences Fail
Before building the solution, let's understand what's broken:
The "Set and Forget" Problem
Most email sequences are dumb pipes:
- Day 1: Send email A
- Day 3: Send email B
- Day 7: Send email C
No awareness of:
- Did they open previous emails?
- Did they visit your website?
- Did they engage on LinkedIn?
- Did their company just raise funding?
- Is their competitor in the news?
The Personalization Paradox
Generic sequences get ignored. But truly personalized sequences at scale require:
- Research time per lead (15-30 minutes)
- Customization time per email (5-10 minutes)
- Monitoring for engagement signals
- Adjusting based on response
That math doesn't work for SDR teams handling 200+ leads.
The Timing Trap
Your sequence says "send at 9 AM" but:
- The lead is in a different time zone
- They're in meetings all morning
- They check email at 6 AM before the chaos starts
- They're on PTO this week
Static timing = missed opportunities.
The OpenClaw Nurture Architecture
Here's what we're building:
Lead Enters Sequence → OpenClaw Agent → Intelligent Nurture
↓
[Continuously monitors:]
- Email engagement
- Website visits
- Social activity
- Intent signals
- Competitor moves
↓
[Adapts:]
- Message content
- Send timing
- Channel selection
- Escalation triggers

Setting Up Your Nurture Agent
Step 1: Install OpenClaw
npm install -g @anthropic/openclaw
openclaw init
OpenClaw provides:
- Persistent memory - Your agent remembers every interaction
- Cron scheduling - Trigger actions at any time
- Multi-channel - Email, Slack, WhatsApp, SMS
- Browser control - Monitor websites, scrape signals
- Free & self-hosted - No per-seat pricing
Step 2: Define Your Nurture Sequences
Create a sequence configuration:
# sequences/inbound-demo-request.yml
name: "Inbound Demo Request"
trigger: "demo_request_form"
duration: 21 # days
stages:
- name: "immediate_response"
timing: "+5m" # 5 minutes after trigger
channel: "email"
template: "demo_confirmation"
- name: "value_add_1"
timing: "+2d"
channel: "email"
template: "case_study_relevant"
condition: "not:demo_scheduled"
- name: "social_touch"
timing: "+3d"
channel: "linkedin"
action: "view_profile"
condition: "email_opened:value_add_1"
- name: "breakup_soft"
timing: "+7d"
channel: "email"
template: "still_interested"
condition: "not:replied AND not:demo_scheduled"
- name: "final_attempt"
timing: "+14d"
channel: "email"
template: "breakup"
condition: "not:any_engagement"
escalation:
- trigger: "pricing_page_visit"
action: "alert_sdr"
priority: "high"
- trigger: "competitor_mention"
action: "send_comparison"
- trigger: "reply_received"
action: "pause_sequence"
Step 3: Build the Nurture Agent
// agents/nurture-agent.js
const { OpenClaw } = require('@anthropic/openclaw');
const nurtureAgent = new OpenClaw.Agent({
name: 'NurtureBot',
memory: 'persistent',
async onNewLead(lead) {
// Store lead context
await this.memory.set(`lead:${lead.id}`, {
company: lead.company,
role: lead.role,
source: lead.source,
entered_sequence: new Date(),
engagement: []
});
// Start appropriate sequence
const sequence = this.selectSequence(lead);
await this.startSequence(lead.id, sequence);
},
async onEngagementSignal(leadId, signal) {
// Update lead context
const lead = await this.memory.get(`lead:${leadId}`);
lead.engagement.push({
type: signal.type,
timestamp: new Date(),
details: signal.details
});
await this.memory.set(`lead:${leadId}`, lead);
// Check for escalation triggers
await this.checkEscalations(leadId, signal);
// Adapt sequence if needed
await this.adaptSequence(leadId, signal);
},
selectSequence(lead) {
if (lead.source === 'demo_request') return 'inbound-demo-request';
if (lead.source === 'content_download') return 'content-nurture';
if (lead.source === 'website_visit') return 'awareness-nurture';
return 'general-nurture';
},
async adaptSequence(leadId, signal) {
const lead = await this.memory.get(`lead:${leadId}`);
// High engagement → accelerate
if (this.isHighEngagement(lead.engagement)) {
await this.accelerateSequence(leadId);
}
// No engagement → adjust channel
if (this.isLowEngagement(lead.engagement)) {
await this.tryAlternateChannel(leadId);
}
// Competitor research → send battlecard
if (signal.type === 'competitor_page_visit') {
await this.injectCompetitorResponse(leadId, signal.competitor);
}
}
});
Step 4: Configure Intelligent Timing
// Optimal send time calculation
async function calculateOptimalSendTime(lead) {
const timezone = await detectTimezone(lead.company);
const historicalOpens = await getHistoricalEngagement(lead.industry);
const calendarBusyness = await estimateScheduleBusyness(lead.role);
// Base: business hours in their timezone
let optimalHour = historicalOpens.peakHour || 9;
// Adjust for role patterns
if (lead.role.includes('CEO') || lead.role.includes('Founder')) {
optimalHour = 6; // Executives check email early
}
if (lead.role.includes('Engineer') || lead.role.includes('Developer')) {
optimalHour = 10; // After morning standup
}
// Avoid meeting-heavy times
if (calendarBusyness[optimalHour] > 0.7) {
optimalHour = findLowBusynessHour(calendarBusyness);
}
return convertToTimezone(optimalHour, timezone);
}
Personalization at Scale
Dynamic Content Generation
OpenClaw agents can generate personalized content for each lead:
async function generateNurtureEmail(lead, stage) {
const context = await gatherLeadContext(lead);
const prompt = `
Generate a nurture email for:
- Company: ${context.company}
- Role: ${context.role}
- Industry: ${context.industry}
- Recent activity: ${context.recentActivity}
- Sequence stage: ${stage.name}
Previous emails sent:
${context.previousEmails.map(e => `- ${e.subject}: ${e.opened ? 'Opened' : 'Not opened'}`).join('\n')}
Requirements:
- 50-100 words
- One clear CTA
- Reference something specific to their situation
- Don't repeat angles from previous emails
- Match their communication style (formal/casual based on industry)
`;
return await claude.generate(prompt);
}
Context Gathering
The agent continuously gathers signals:
async function gatherLeadContext(lead) {
return {
// Company research
company: await fetchCompanyInfo(lead.company),
recentNews: await searchNews(lead.company, { days: 30 }),
funding: await checkFundingEvents(lead.company),
hiring: await checkJobPostings(lead.company),
// Person research
linkedin: await fetchLinkedInProfile(lead.email),
publications: await searchPublications(lead.name),
socialActivity: await monitorSocialMentions(lead.name),
// Engagement data
emailHistory: await getEmailHistory(lead.id),
websiteVisits: await getWebsiteVisits(lead.email),
contentDownloads: await getContentDownloads(lead.email),
// Competitive intel
competitorMentions: await checkCompetitorActivity(lead.company)
};
}
Multi-Channel Orchestration
Channel Selection Logic
async function selectChannel(lead, stage) {
const channels = {
email: await getEmailDeliverability(lead.email),
linkedin: await getLinkedInConnectivity(lead),
phone: await getPhoneViability(lead.phone),
sms: await getSmsConsent(lead)
};
// Primary channel preference
if (stage.channel && channels[stage.channel].viable) {
return stage.channel;
}
// Fallback based on engagement
if (channels.email.opens < 0.1) {
// Low email engagement → try LinkedIn
if (channels.linkedin.connected) return 'linkedin';
if (channels.linkedin.canConnect) return 'linkedin_request';
}
// High intent → phone
if (lead.intentScore > 80 && channels.phone.viable) {
return 'phone';
}
return 'email'; // Default
}
Coordinated Touches
// Avoid overwhelming the lead
async function scheduleCoordinatedTouch(lead, channel, content) {
const recentTouches = await getTouchesInWindow(lead.id, { days: 3 });
// Max 2 touches per 3-day window
if (recentTouches.length >= 2) {
return scheduleForLater(lead.id, channel, content, { days: 2 });
}
// Avoid same-channel back-to-back
const lastTouch = recentTouches[recentTouches.length - 1];
if (lastTouch?.channel === channel) {
return scheduleWithChannelSwitch(lead.id, content);
}
// Good to send
return sendNow(lead.id, channel, content);
}
Escalation & Handoff
Intent Signal Detection
const escalationRules = [
{
signal: 'pricing_page_visit',
action: 'alert_sdr',
message: '🔥 Hot lead alert: ${lead.company} viewing pricing',
priority: 'immediate'
},
{
signal: 'demo_video_watched',
condition: 'watched > 50%',
action: 'schedule_sdr_call',
message: 'Demo video engagement - time to reach out'
},
{
signal: 'competitor_comparison_view',
action: 'send_battlecard',
followUp: 'sdr_call_in_24h'
},
{
signal: 'multiple_stakeholders',
condition: 'unique_visitors >= 3',
action: 'alert_sdr',
message: 'Buying committee forming at ${lead.company}'
},
{
signal: 'reply_positive',
action: 'pause_sequence',
handoff: 'sdr_immediate'
}
];
Smooth SDR Handoff
async function handoffToSDR(lead, trigger) {
// Compile complete context
const briefing = await generateSDRBriefing(lead);
// Alert via Slack
await slack.send({
channel: '#sdr-alerts',
blocks: [
{
type: 'header',
text: '🎯 Lead Ready for Human Touch'
},
{
type: 'section',
text: `*${lead.company}* - ${lead.name}\n*Trigger:* ${trigger}`
},
{
type: 'section',
text: `*Briefing:*\n${briefing.summary}`
},
{
type: 'context',
text: `Emails sent: ${briefing.emailCount} | Opens: ${briefing.opens} | Last activity: ${briefing.lastActivity}`
}
]
});
// Assign in CRM
await crm.assignLead(lead.id, await selectAvailableSDR());
// Pause automation
await pauseSequence(lead.id);
}
Monitoring Your Sequences
Key Metrics Dashboard
| Metric | Target | Alert Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence completion rate | 85%+ | < 70% |
| Average touches to conversion | 6-8 | > 12 |
| Email open rate | 30%+ | < 15% |
| Reply rate | 5%+ | < 2% |
| Escalation-to-meeting rate | 40%+ | < 25% |
| Time to first response | < 5 min | > 30 min |
Continuous Optimization
// Weekly sequence optimization
cron.schedule('0 9 * * MON', async () => {
const metrics = await analyzeSequencePerformance({ weeks: 4 });
for (const sequence of metrics.sequences) {
// Identify underperforming stages
const weakStages = sequence.stages.filter(s => s.engagement < 0.15);
for (const stage of weakStages) {
// Generate improved variant
const improvement = await generateImprovedStage(stage);
await createABTest(sequence.id, stage.id, improvement);
}
}
// Report to Slack
await slack.send('#marketing-ops', formatOptimizationReport(metrics));
});
Results to Expect
Teams running OpenClaw nurture sequences typically see:
| Metric | Before | After | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead response rate | 8% | 23% | 3x improvement |
| Touches to meeting | 14 | 7 | 50% fewer |
| SDR time per lead | 45 min | 8 min | 82% saved |
| After-hours conversions | 5% | 18% | 3.6x more |
| Sequence completion | 34% | 78% | 2.3x higher |
The key insight: humans are better at closing deals. Let AI handle the 90% of nurture that's about persistence and timing.
Getting Started
-
Audit your current sequences - What's the completion rate? Where do leads drop off?
-
Define your escalation triggers - What signals indicate buying intent?
-
Start with one high-volume sequence - Inbound demo requests are perfect
-
Run parallel with manual - Compare AI vs. human performance
-
Expand based on results - Roll out to all sequences once proven
Ready to build always-on lead nurture? Book a demo to see how MarketBetter handles intelligent follow-up at scale.
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