# Catch soft 404 and error pages from sitemaps: n8n workflow

> Started by a clock, and works across Google Sheets and Slack. 14 steps, 2 branches, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/catch-soft-404-and-error-pages-from-sitemaps (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Alerts and monitoring](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Alerts+and+monitoring#library)

# Catch soft 404 and error pages from sitemaps

Started by a clock, and works across Google Sheets and Slack. 14 steps, 2 branches, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fcatch-soft-404-and-error-pages-from-sitemaps)

**14 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 7 Service 6

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

- 1 **When Every Day at 5AM** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Fetch Sitemap** Http Request *Service*
- 3 **Extract Sitemap URLs** Code *Logic*
- 4 **Notify Sitemap Failure on Slack** Slack *Service*
- 5 **Loop Over Sitemap URLs** Split In Batches *Logic*
- 6 **Log Findings to Google Sheets** Google Sheets *Service*
- 7 **Build Error Page Report** Code *Logic*
- 8 **Analyze Page for Error Content** Snapshot Site *Service*
- 9 **Check for Error Pages** If *Logic*
- 10 **Check for API Error** If *Logic*
- 11 **Record Unreachable URL** Set *Logic*
- 12 **Notify Error Pages on Slack** Slack *Service*
- 13 **Notify All Clear on Slack** Slack *Service*
- 14 **Detect Error Page** Code *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** A clock
- **Steps:** 14, with 2 branches, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Sheets, Slack
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 14 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 14 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%2Fcatch-soft-404-and-error-pages-from-sitemaps)
- **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.

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

## Workflows like it

Also alerts and monitoring, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Aggregate tech trend signals from RSS feeds into Google Sheets** 14 steps · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/aggregate-tech-trend-signals-from-rss-feeds-into-google-shee)
- [**Auto-repost TikTok videos to YouTube Shorts with Google Sheets** 14 steps · Google Sheets, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/auto-repost-tiktok-videos-to-youtube-shorts-with-google-shee)
- [**Automate supplier risk scoring with NewsAPI** 14 steps · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-supplier-risk-scoring-with-newsapi)
- [**Automated email follow-up system with CentralStationCRM** 14 steps · Gmail, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-email-follow-up-system-with-centralstationcrm)
- [**Check in participants with Google Sheets and Slack** 14 steps · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/check-in-participants-with-google-sheets-and-slack)
- [**Competitive price monitoring & alerts with Bright Data** 14 steps · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/competitive-price-monitoring-and-alerts-with-bright-data)