n8n for Content management - Auto-post new blog articles to social media channels
Here's how to set up n8n to automatically post new blog articles to social media channels:
Basic Workflow Structure
The typical workflow follows this pattern: Trigger → Get Article Data → Format Content → Post to Social Media
Common Triggers
RSS Feed Monitor:
- Use the RSS Feed Read node to monitor your blog's RSS feed
- Set it to run on a schedule (every hour or daily)
- It detects new articles automatically
Webhook Trigger:
- Set up a webhook that your CMS calls when publishing new content
- More immediate than RSS monitoring
- Works well with WordPress, Ghost, or custom CMSs
Manual Trigger:
- For testing or selective posting
- You manually start the workflow for specific articles
Extracting Article Data
Once triggered, you'll typically extract:
- Article title
- URL/permalink
- Summary or excerpt
- Featured image
- Publication date
- Tags or categories
The RSS node usually provides most of this data. For webhooks, you'll receive it in the payload.
Content Formatting
Use the Set node or Code node to format your social media posts:
- Twitter/X: Short title + link + hashtags (character limit considerations)
- LinkedIn: Professional tone with longer description
- Facebook: Engaging copy with call-to-action
- Instagram: Visual focus with relevant hashtags
You can create different message templates for each platform.
Social Media Posting
Popular social media nodes:
- Twitter node for X/Twitter posts
- LinkedIn node for professional networks
- Facebook node for page posts
- Instagram node (though posting can be limited)
- Discord/Slack for community announcements
Example Workflow Steps
- RSS Feed Read - monitors your blog every 2 hours
- IF node - checks if articles are newer than last run
- Set node - formats title, excerpt, and link
- Twitter node - posts tweet with article link
- LinkedIn node - posts longer-form update
- Set node - logs successful posts
Advanced Features
Conditional posting:
- Only post articles with specific tags
- Skip already-posted content
- Post at optimal times using delay nodes
Multi-platform customization:
- Different messaging for each platform
- Platform-specific hashtags
- Varying post schedules
Error handling:
- Retry failed posts
- Send notifications if posting fails
- Log all activities
Setup Tips
- Test with manual triggers first
- Use n8n's execution history to debug issues
- Set up proper authentication for each social platform
- Consider rate limits for each social network
- Store posted article IDs to avoid duplicates
This automation can save hours of manual posting while ensuring consistent social media presence for your blog content.