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Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US web development firms — building, refreshing, or rebuilding marketing sites, landing pages,...
---
name: find-web-developer
description: Use whenever the user wants to find, shortlist, vet, or enrich US web development firms — building, refreshing, or rebuilding marketing sites, landing pages, ecommerce, WordPress/Webflow/Shopify, headless CMS, microsites, and web frontend work. Triggers on "find a web developer for a marketing landing page", "shortlist three Webflow agencies in California", "rebuild our ecommerce site on Shopify", or "pull contact info for these 8 web dev shop domains", even when described indirectly (redesign and rebuild our site, ship a microsite). Drives the ServiceGraph API (api.servicegraph.co) — a 100k+ US firm catalog filterable by industry, services, location, size, ratings. Defer to find-software-developer for custom backend/API/mobile/internal-tool work — anything beyond a website. Defer to find-marketing-agency when scope spans broader marketing beyond the build. Skip in-house web-engineer hires, "how do I build X" DIY questions, hosting/CMS-product comparisons, non-US firms, individual freelancers.
version: "0.3.0"
metadata:
api_base: https://api.servicegraph.co
dataset_id: pro_services
industry: it_services
service: web-development
---
# find-web-developer
Drive the **ServiceGraph API** (`https://api.servicegraph.co`) to find,
shortlist, and enrich US web development firms via the `pro_services`
dataset. The catalog tags ~14k firms with
`service_provided:web-development` under `industry:it_services`
(web-development is the second-largest service tag in the catalog).
**Always pin both `industry:it_services` and
`service_provided:web-development`.** Platforms (WordPress, Webflow,
Shopify, Next.js, etc.) and verticals (B2B, ecommerce,
agency-vs-studio) are NOT separate tags — they're keyword substring
matches on firm text.
Any HTTP client works (curl, fetch, requests). Examples below use curl.
## Sibling skills — defer when scope is different
- **Custom backend / API / internal tools / mobile app / distributed systems** → `find-software-developer`. The end-product is software beyond a standard website.
- **Broader marketing strategy and execution beyond the site build** (paid media, content strategy, full digital agency engagement) → `find-marketing-agency`.
- **SEO-only work on an existing site** → `find-seo-agency`. Web devs build sites; SEO agencies optimize them. If the user wants new pages built AND optimized, this skill is fine.
If unsure, this skill is correct for "build / rebuild / refresh a
website" tasks. The deferral kicks in when the deliverable is
non-website software or non-build marketing work.
## MCP server (preferred for authed calls)
If your harness has the ServiceGraph MCP server loaded (tools
containing `servicegraph`), prefer those — OAuth 2.1 + PKCE keeps the
token in the harness sandbox. Otherwise use the REST flow below.
## API surface (dataset id: `pro_services`)
Every endpoint requires the bearer (`Authorization: Bearer vk_…`).
No anonymous tier.
| Endpoint | Cost | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| `GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/fields[?include_values=1]` | free | Confirm `web-development` is in the `service_provided` value list. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/check?filter=…` | free | Validate filter. |
| `POST /v1/datasets/pro_services/translate-intent` | free | `{intent}` → DSL filter + sanity count. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=…&limit=` | free | Brief firm cards + per-row unlock hint + total. |
| `GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/:apex` | free | One row brief; detail only if unlocked. |
| `POST /v1/datasets/pro_services/unlocks` | **10 credits / firm** | `{apexes:[...]}` ≤100; atomic; 30-day TTL on detail. |
| `GET /v1/me/credits` | free | Balance. |
**Cost model.** Discovery / validation / search / brief reads are
free. Detail (url, phone, email, social, address, full `platforms`
map) costs **10 credits per firm** and lasts **30 days**.
## Auth
`vk_*` API keys minted in the dashboard. **Keep the token out of the
LLM context** — never read `.env*` into your context; dispatch via
shell.
1. **Try the call first** through a shell wrapper that sources `.env.local`:
```bash
( set -a; [ -f .env.local ] && . ./.env.local; set +a;
curl -sS -H "Authorization: Bearer $SERVICEGRAPH_API_KEY" \
'https://api.servicegraph.co/v1/datasets/pro_services/fields' )
```
2. **On `401`** prompt the user:
> "Open **https://servicegraph.co/profile/api-keys**, create a
> key, and add `SERVICEGRAPH_API_KEY=vk_…` to `.env.local` here
> (or export it). Tell me when done. Please don't paste the key
> into chat."
3. **Retry** after the user signals ready.
## Filter DSL
GitHub-search-style.
```
filter := orExpr
orExpr := andExpr ("OR" andExpr)*
andExpr := notExpr (("AND")? notExpr)* # whitespace = implicit AND
notExpr := ("NOT" | "-") notExpr | atom
atom := "(" filter ")" | predicate
predicate:= IDENT op valueOrList | bareword
op := ":" | "=" | ">=" | "<=" | ">" | "<"
valueOrList := value ("," value)*
value := IDENT | NUMBER | tagAtEvidence
tagAtEvidence := IDENT "@" ("low"|"medium"|"high")
bareword := IDENT | NUMBER # → keyword:<bareword>
```
**Four rules that bite:** AND binds tighter than OR (use parens);
comma list = OR within one predicate; negation is `-x` or `NOT x`;
bareword = keyword search (quote multi-word phrases).
**Web-dev examples** (validate yours with `/check`):
```
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development@high state:CA webflow
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development shopify ecommerce
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development wordpress
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development headless next.js
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development@high rating>=4 has:clutch
industry:it_services service_provided:web-development b2b
```
**Platform / vertical / framework → keyword mapping** (none are
structured tags — keyword them):
| User mentions | Add as keyword |
|---|---|
| WordPress | `wordpress` |
| Webflow | `webflow` |
| Shopify / Shopify Plus | `shopify` |
| Squarespace / Wix | `squarespace` / `wix` |
| Headless / JAMstack / Next.js / Gatsby | `headless`, `next.js`, `gatsby` |
| Sanity / Contentful / Strapi | `sanity`, `contentful`, `strapi` |
| Ecommerce / D2C / DTC | `ecommerce`, `d2c`, `dtc` |
| B2B / SaaS / fintech | `b2b`, `saas`, `fintech` |
## Identifying firms — `apex`
Firms are identified by their **apex domain** (`focuslabllc.com`, not
`www.focuslabllc.com/work`).
## Recipes
### A. Marketing landing page (the baseline)
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development&limit=10
# Present, get pick of 3. "Unlocking 3 = 30 credits, 30-day TTL."
POST /v1/datasets/pro_services/unlocks
{ "apexes": ["firm-a.com", "firm-b.com", "firm-c.com"] }
```
### B. Webflow agency in a state
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development+webflow+state:CA&limit=10
```
### C. Shopify ecommerce rebuild
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development+shopify+ecommerce&limit=10
```
For Shopify Plus, add `plus` as an additional bareword.
### D. WordPress site refresh / maintenance
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development+wordpress&limit=10
```
### E. Headless CMS / Next.js
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development+headless+next.js&limit=10
```
If sparse, drop `next.js` — `headless` alone captures the architectural pattern.
### F. Indirect intent — "redesign and rebuild our site"
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development&limit=10
```
Or use the translator:
```
POST /v1/datasets/pro_services/translate-intent
{ "intent": "agency to redesign and rebuild our outdated company site" }
```
If the user gave a constraint (location, platform, budget proxy via
`pricing_model`), add it.
### G. Quality threshold + platform
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development@high+rating>=4+shopify+plus&limit=10
```
### H. BYO apex list — enrich domains
User pastes 8–20 web-dev shop domains:
1. `GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/:apex` per domain — free brief
(404 = not in catalog, no charge). A 404 often means the firm
isn't tagged with `web-development` specifically — it might be in
the catalog under a different tag.
2. User picks N to fully enrich. `POST /unlocks` = **10×N credits**,
atomic, detail returned.
3. Re-runs within 30-day TTL are free.
## Gotchas
- **Always pin both `industry:it_services` AND `service_provided:web-development`.** Without the industry pin, `web-development` also appears on some marketing-agency rows; without the service pin, you'd return all IT-services firms.
- **Defer to `find-software-developer` for non-website software.** Internal tools, custom CRMs, mobile apps (iOS/Android), backend/API, distributed systems — those are software-developer territory. The boundary: is the end-product a public website, or something else?
- **Defer to `find-marketing-agency` for full marketing engagements.** "Build our site AND run our marketing" is broader than this skill — fire find-marketing-agency, which has web-design as a sub-service too.
- **Platforms (WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, Next.js) are NOT structured tags.** Keyword them.
- **Frameworks (React, Vue, Astro, Gatsby) are NOT structured tags either.** Keyword them.
- **CMS/hosting/builder product comparisons aren't procurement.** "WordPress vs Webflow vs Squarespace" is a knowledge question.
- **Multi-word phrases must be split or quoted.** `headless cms` parses as two AND'd keywords; `"headless cms"` is one phrase.
- **Catalog is US-only B2B.** Refuse offshore asks ("Manila", "Karachi"), individual freelancers, and DIY/code-help asks ("debug this CSS").
- **Briefs DO include `apex`, `name`, location, ratings.** They DON'T include `url`, `phone_primary`, `email_primary`, `legal_name`, `address_full`, full `platforms` — those require an unlock.
- **`not_found` / `not_in_dataset` 404 = not in `pro_services`.** Skip; not charged.
- **Unlock is atomic.** N apexes either all charge (up to 10×N credits) or none on 402.
- **Within-TTL re-views are free** (`was_cached:true`).
## Errors
JSON envelope: `{"error": {"code": "...", "message": "..."}}`.
| Status | Code | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | `filter_parse_error` | `position` included; fix and re-validate with `/check`. |
| 400 | `kind_in_filter` | Strip any `kind:` from filter. |
| 400 | `field_not_in_dataset` | Drop the disallowed field. |
| 400 | `invalid_apex` | Re-normalize. |
| 401 | `unauthorized` / `invalid_audience` | Re-prompt for fresh `vk_…`. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | `needed` and `balance`; nothing charged. |
| 404 | `not_found` / `not_in_dataset` | Skip; not charged. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Honor `Retry-After`. |
## End-to-end example
User: *"Three Webflow agencies in California for our marketing site,
ideally with at least a 4-star rating and a Clutch profile."*
```
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/fields?include_values=1
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/check?filter=industry:it_services+service_provided:web-development@high+webflow+state:CA+rating>=4+has:clutch
GET /v1/datasets/pro_services/search?filter=...&limit=10
# Present briefs. "Unlocking 3 = 30 credits, 30-day TTL."
POST /v1/datasets/pro_services/unlocks
{ "apexes": ["firm-a.com", "firm-b.com", "firm-c.com"] }
GET /v1/me/credits
```
don't have the plugin yet? install it then click "run inline in claude" again.