# Automate YouTube thumbnail creation & social publishing: n8n workflow

> Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Telegram. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-youtube-thumbnail-creation-and-social-publishing (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 YouTube thumbnail creation & social publishing

Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Telegram. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 19 steps, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fautomate-youtube-thumbnail-creation-and-social-publishing)

**19 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**4** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 2 Logic 4 Service 12

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

- 1 **Telegram Trigger** Telegram trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Workflow Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 3 **Extract Video ID** Code *Logic*
- 4 **Fetch YouTube Info** Http Request *Service*
- 5 **Prepare Text Data** Code *Logic*
- 6 **OpenAI Post Generation1** Open Ai *Model*
- 7 **Generate Thumbnail via Templated.io** Templated *Service*
- 8 **Wait for Rendering** Wait *Logic*
- 9 **Download Thumbnail** Templated *Service*
- 10 **Downloading files** Http Request *Service*
- 11 **Upload to Google Drive** Google Drive *Service*
- 12 **Save to Google Sheets** Google Sheets *Service*
- 13 **Send Gmail** Gmail *Service*
- 14 **Send Telegram Notification** Telegram *Service*
- 15 **OpenAI Post Generation** Open Ai *Model*
- 16 **Upload Video to BLOTATO** Blotato *Service*
- 17 **Linkedin** Blotato *Service*
- 18 **Facebook** Blotato *Service*
- 19 **Twitter (X)** Blotato *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming Telegram message
- **Steps:** 19, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Telegram
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming Telegram message.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 19 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 19 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-youtube-thumbnail-creation-and-social-publishing)
- **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 Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Telegram#library)

## Workflows like it

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

- [**AI News to LinkedIn: Daily Content Engine with Slack Approval** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, LinkedIn](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-news-to-linkedin-daily-content-engine-with-slack-approval)
- [**AI Podcast Repurposing Engine with LinkedIn and Instagram** 19 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-podcast-repurposing-engine-with-linkedin-and-instagram)
- [**AI-powered social media amplifier with OpenAI and Airtable** 19 steps · calls a model · Airtable, LinkedIn](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-powered-social-media-amplifier-with-openai-and-airtable)
- [**Analyze & sort suspicious email contents with OpenAI** 19 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Jira](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/analyze-and-sort-suspicious-email-contents-with-openai)
- [**Article to threaded Bluesky posts with JinaAI and Gemini** 19 steps · calls a model · RSS, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/article-to-threaded-bluesky-posts-with-jinaai-and-gemini)
- [**Auto create & publish X-threads (Twitter) with OpenAI** 19 steps · calls a model · Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/auto-create-and-publish-x-threads-twitter-with-openai)