# Automate content publishing with OpenAI and Google Sheets: n8n workflow

> Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-content-publishing-with-openai-and-google-sheets (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Content](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Content#library)

# Automate content publishing with OpenAI and Google Sheets

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 12 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomate-content-publishing-with-openai-and-google-sheets)

**12 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**3** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 4 Logic 2 Service 5

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Fetch Optimized Draft from Sheets** Google Sheets Tool *Service*
- 2 **Short-Term Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 3 **Output Parser (JSON Enforcement)** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 4 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 5 **When chat message received** Chat trigger *Starts it*
- 6 **AI Agent (Publisher)** Agent *Model*
- 7 **Prepare Publishing Metadata** Set *Logic*
- 8 **Save Published Content to Sheets** Google Sheets *Service*
- 9 **Send Content for Approval** Gmail *Service*
- 10 **Check Approval Status** If *Logic*
- 11 **Publish to Recipient** Gmail *Service*
- 12 **Send Success Notification to Slack** Slack *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone opening a chat with it
- **Steps:** 12, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack
- **Model:** OpenAI
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone opening a chat with it.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 12 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 12 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomate-content-publishing-with-openai-and-google-sheets)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

Also content, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**AI guest post generator with OpenAI and Google Sheets** 12 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-guest-post-generator-with-openai-and-google-sheets)
- [**AI-powered YouTube video manager agent with OpenAI** 12 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-youtube-video-manager-agent-with-openai)
- [**AI-powered multi-social media post automation: Google Trends** 12 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, LinkedIn](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-multi-social-media-post-automation-google-trends)
- [**AI-powered multi-social media post automation_ Google Trends** 12 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, LinkedIn](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-multi-social-media-post-automation-google-trends-2)
- [**Analyze & publish GCE O-Level Math predictions** 12 steps · calls a model · Slack, WordPress](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/analyze-and-publish-gce-o-level-math-predictions)
- [**Article URLs from any website with OpenAI and Google Sheets** 12 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/article-urls-from-any-website-with-openai-and-google-sheets)