Ai-driven Instagram Reels Creation and Publishing with Gpt, Creatomate and Slack

The workflow JSON

Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →

{
  "id": "6tf9M5nFwT2Paz81",
  "meta": {
    "templateCredsSetupCompleted": true
  },
  "name": "Automated Instagram Reels Generator (Creatomate)",
  "tags": [],
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "561115db-ba74-44ba-bdf6-cc3b6e822f1a",
      "name": "Schedule Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      "position": [
        176,
        64
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "rule": {
          "interval": [
            {
              "field": "hours"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1.1
    },
    {
      "id": "db9d2789-926a-4471-848a-bb4d6836f9bb",
      "name": "Slack Approval Request",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "position": [
        1120,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "select": "channel",
        "message": "=\u3010Approval Request\u3011Please check the new Reel video proposal \ud83c\udfac\n\n\u25bcDetails\nTitle: {{ $json['Title.text'] }}\nQuestion: {{ $json['Question.text'] }}\nAnswer: {{ $json['Answer.text'] }}\nBG Image: {{ $json['Image-R6B.source'] }}\nFont: Noto Sans\nBGM Trim Start: {{ $json['Audio-PTX.trim_start'] }}",
        "options": {},
        "channelId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        },
        "operation": "sendAndWait",
        "authentication": "oAuth2",
        "approvalOptions": {
          "values": {
            "approvalType": "double"
          }
        }
      },
      "credentials": {
        "slackOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.1
    },
    {
      "id": "8e8a395c-0aca-462a-9ce3-cb3936a5475e",
      "name": "Instagram Upload",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.facebookGraphApi",
      "position": [
        2400,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "edge": "media",
        "node": "example",
        "options": {
          "queryParameters": {
            "parameter": [
              {
                "name": "media_type",
                "value": "REELS"
              },
              {
                "name": "video_url",
                "value": "={{ $json.url }}"
              },
              {
                "name": "caption",
                "value": "=\n\n{{ $('Parse LLM Output').item.json['Question.text'] }}\n\n#n8n #AIWorkflow #Automation"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "graphApiVersion": "v18.0",
        "httpRequestMethod": "POST"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "facebookGraphApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "8a04580b-f92f-409d-84e3-c6d4691a5f80",
      "name": "Wait (1 min)",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
      "position": [
        2576,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "unit": "minutes"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "c262e45a-3110-42ab-938e-62de1266468c",
      "name": "Instagram Publish",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.facebookGraphApi",
      "position": [
        2768,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "edge": "media_publish",
        "node": "example",
        "options": {
          "queryParameters": {
            "parameter": [
              {
                "name": "creation_id",
                "value": "={{ $json.id }}"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "graphApiVersion": "v18.0",
        "httpRequestMethod": "POST"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "facebookGraphApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "3211df9c-e47d-4d42-87ed-dd77828884c3",
      "name": "Slack Notification",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
      "position": [
        2976,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "text": "=\u3010Post Complete\u3011Reel has been published!\n\n\u25bcVideo URL\n{{ $('Generate Video').item.json.url }}\n\n\u25bcSnapshot\n{{ $('Generate Video').item.json.snapshot_url }}",
        "select": "channel",
        "channelId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        },
        "otherOptions": {},
        "authentication": "oAuth2"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "slackOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.1
    },
    {
      "id": "9e73d617-192d-4fa6-abe8-96959943321f",
      "name": "Main Sticky Note",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -400,
        -304
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "width": 500,
        "height": 664,
        "content": "# \ud83d\ude80 Automated Instagram Reels Generator\n\n## How it works\nAI plans a \"viral\" Reel based on trends and generates it using Creatomate.\n\n## Setup steps\n1. Configure Credentials for OpenAI, Creatomate, Google Sheets, Slack, and Facebook.\n2. Set up your Google Sheet and Slack Channel IDs in the respective nodes.\n3. Configure the Creatomate Template ID."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "7e8bdc97-dcc4-4bc0-a560-f24e7caeaf57",
      "name": "Section: Content Gen",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        128,
        -304
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 7,
        "width": 1336,
        "height": 680,
        "content": "## 1. Content Planning & Approval\nGenerates ideas based on trends using AI and requests human approval via Slack."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "6a4e15ab-0db5-4562-96f4-f17c4699af31",
      "name": "Section: Approval",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        1488,
        -304
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 7,
        "width": 836,
        "height": 680,
        "content": "## 2. Video Creation\nTransform the accepted plan into a video using Creatomate."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "19a11961-c63b-41ff-ab75-bc24489b28a1",
      "name": "OpenAI Chat Model",
      "type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi",
      "position": [
        624,
        192
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "model": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "list",
          "value": "gpt-4o-mini",
          "cachedResultName": "gpt-4o-mini"
        },
        "options": {},
        "builtInTools": {
          "webSearch": {
            "searchContextSize": "medium"
          }
        }
      },
      "credentials": {
        "openAiApi": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1.3
    },
    {
      "id": "02ba6f13-65e4-4bfe-b1f9-769800ca3d39",
      "name": "Generate Content Plan",
      "type": "@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainLlm",
      "position": [
        624,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "text": "=You are a professional Instagram marketer aiming to grow followers to 1000. Create accurate quiz-style content about n8n automation. The target audience is tech-savvy users who are beginners in automation. Follow these strict requirements and output in JSON format suitable for the Creatomate template. Provide clear and accurate information.\n\n## Past Topics (Do not duplicate)\n{{ $('Get Past Topics').all().map(item => item.json.Question).join(', ') }}\n\n## Constraints (Strict)\n1. **JSON Output Only:** Return only raw JSON text. No explanation or Markdown code blocks.\n2. **Language:** Write in Japanese (as per original intent for content) OR English? -> User said \"Translate node names and parameters to English\". Usually templates should generate English content by default unless specified otherwise. I will switch the content generation to **English** for the template to be global-friendly.\n3. **Length:** `Answer.text` should be within 50 chars for mobile readability.\n\n## Output Fields\n1. **Image-R6B.source**:\n   - English prompt for an abstract, cool background image representing the node function.\n   - Keywords: \"Abstract technology background, dark blue, n8n style, 3d render\" + specific elements.\n2. **Audio-PTX.trim_start**:\n   - Numeric `6.5` (Fixed)\n3. **Question.text**:\n   - Line 1: Node Name (English)\n   - Line 2: Two newlines `\\n\\n` then a short question.\n   - Example: \"Sticky Note\\n\\nWhat is the surprising use of this node?\"\n4. **Answer.text**:\n   - Explain function/benefit briefly.\n   - Must include one `\\n\\n` to split into 2 lines.\n5. **Title.text**:\n   - String \"n8n Quiz\" (Fixed)\n6. **Title.font_family**:\n   - String \"Inter\" or \"Roboto\" (Changed from Noto Sans JP for English template compatibility)\n\n## Output Example\n{\n  \"Image-R6B.source\": \"Abstract technology background...\",\n  \"Audio-PTX.trim_start\": 6.5,\n  \"Question.text\": \"Guardrails\\n\\nWhat does this node do?\",\n  \"Answer.text\": \"Monitors AI I/O for safety.\\n\\nPrevents prompt injection.\",\n  \"Title.text\": \"n8n Quiz\",\n  \"Title.font_family\": \"Inter\"\n}",
        "promptType": "define",
        "hasOutputParser": true
      },
      "typeVersion": 1.4
    },
    {
      "id": "9e680267-8ebd-43df-883c-b37b004e2980",
      "name": "Generate Video",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "notes": "\u753b\u50cf\u3092\u52d5\u753b\u5316\u3002\u30c6\u30f3\u30d7\u30ec\u30fc\u30c8ID\u3092\u8a2d\u5b9a\u3057\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002",
      "position": [
        1952,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "url": "https://api.creatomate.com/v2/renders",
        "method": "POST",
        "options": {},
        "jsonBody": "={{\n  {\n    \"template_id\": \"YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID\",\n    \"modifications\": {\n      \"Image-R6B.source\": $('Parse LLM Output').item.json['Image-R6B.source'],\n      \"Audio-PTX.trim_start\": 6.5,\n      \"Question.text\": $('Parse LLM Output').item.json['Question.text'],\n      \"Answer.text\": $('Parse LLM Output').item.json['Answer.text'],\n      \"Title.text\": $('Parse LLM Output').item.json['Title.text'],\n      \"Title.font_family\": \"Noto Sans\"\n    }\n  }\n}}",
        "sendBody": true,
        "specifyBody": "json",
        "authentication": "genericCredentialType",
        "genericAuthType": "httpHeaderAuth"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "httpHeaderAuth": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 4.1
    },
    {
      "id": "508733c9-e366-4fb7-886d-2e19ab895024",
      "name": "Wait for Rendering",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
      "position": [
        2160,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "unit": "minutes"
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "ee1b3225-b288-42bd-aa80-975824c82aec",
      "name": "Parse LLM Output",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "position": [
        928,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "// 1. Get AI node output (text)\nconst content = $input.first().json.text;\n\n// 2. Remove markdown code blocks (```json) to extract content\n// Extract JSON portion from first { to last }\nconst jsonString = content.replace(/```json/g, '').replace(/```/g, '').trim();\n\n// 3. Extract JSON object using regex as a fallback safety measure\nconst jsonMatch = jsonString.match(/\\{[\\s\\S]*\\}/);\nconst cleanJson = jsonMatch ? jsonMatch[0] : jsonString;\n\n// 4. Parse string to JSON object\ntry {\n  return JSON.parse(cleanJson);\n} catch (error) {\n  // Throw error if parse fails\n  throw new Error(\"JSON parse failed. AI output is not valid JSON: \" + cleanJson);\n}"
      },
      "typeVersion": 2
    },
    {
      "id": "be4a76c5-708e-4a48-b657-c12dd8136b78",
      "name": "Check Approval",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "position": [
        1296,
        -16
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "version": 2,
            "leftValue": "",
            "caseSensitive": true,
            "typeValidation": "strict"
          },
          "combinator": "and",
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "0e89b049-cc2c-44a1-a331-0d04648d79fd",
              "operator": {
                "type": "boolean",
                "operation": "true",
                "singleValue": true
              },
              "leftValue": "={{ $json.data.approved }}",
              "rightValue": false
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.2
    },
    {
      "id": "514e7878-0d11-4b7a-bbad-e289917e68a8",
      "name": "Get Past Topics",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
      "position": [
        384,
        64
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "options": {},
        "sheetName": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        },
        "documentId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        }
      },
      "credentials": {
        "googleSheetsOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 4.7
    },
    {
      "id": "c2b6ad92-1af3-4ab2-975a-28c06411d40d",
      "name": "Save New Topic",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
      "position": [
        1616,
        -128
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "columns": {
          "value": {},
          "schema": [],
          "mappingMode": "defineBelow",
          "matchingColumns": [],
          "attemptToConvertTypes": false,
          "convertFieldsToString": false
        },
        "options": {},
        "operation": "appendOrUpdate",
        "sheetName": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        },
        "documentId": {
          "__rl": true,
          "mode": "id",
          "value": "example"
        }
      },
      "credentials": {
        "googleSheetsOAuth2Api": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 4.7
    },
    {
      "id": "c6fdb5d7-6282-4201-b9a8-7a3bba23d788",
      "name": "Section: Approval1",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        2352,
        -304
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 7,
        "width": 836,
        "height": 680,
        "content": "## 3. Publishing\nUploads and publishes the reel to Instagram automatically."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    }
  ],
  "active": false,
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  },
  "versionId": "7378716e-67cb-4151-b609-e1d16ac7ae7b",
  "connections": {
    "Wait (1 min)": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Instagram Publish",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Check Approval": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Save New Topic",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Generate Content Plan",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Generate Video": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Wait for Rendering",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Save New Topic": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Generate Video",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Get Past Topics": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Generate Content Plan",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Instagram Upload": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Wait (1 min)",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Parse LLM Output": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Slack Approval Request",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Schedule Trigger": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Get Past Topics",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Instagram Publish": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Slack Notification",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "OpenAI Chat Model": {
      "ai_languageModel": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Generate Content Plan",
            "type": "ai_languageModel",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Wait for Rendering": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Instagram Upload",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Generate Content Plan": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Parse LLM Output",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Slack Approval Request": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Check Approval",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  }
}

Credentials you'll need

Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.

• facebookGraphApi
• googleSheetsOAuth2Api
• httpHeaderAuth
• openAiApi
• slackOAuth2Api

About this workflow

Automate your Instagram growth strategy by generating and posting viral Reels using AI and Creatomate. This workflow plans content topics based on trends, generates video assets, and handles the approval and posting process—all without manual video editing. Schedule Trigger:…

Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/11631/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

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