How to Set Up n8n and Automate Your Blog with Facebook and X Step by Step

##Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Host and Use n8n for Blog Automation

Phase 1: Planning Your Workflow

Goal:
When a new blog post is published, automatically post its title and link to Facebook and X.

Input Sources:

• Webhook or RSS feed from your blog.

Actions:

• Post to Facebook Page via Graph API.

• Tweet to X via Twitter API v2.

Phase 2: Server Setup (Docker Method)

1. 🔧 Install Docker + Docker Compose

# Ubuntu example
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y

Verify installation:

docker --version
docker compose version

2. 📁 Setup n8n Folder and Configuration

mkdir ~/n8n-data
cd ~/n8n-data
nano docker-compose.yml

Paste this config:

version: '3.8'

services:
  n8n:
    image: n8nio/n8n
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "5678:5678"
    environment:
      - N8N_HOST=n8n.yourdomain.com
      - N8N_PORT=5678
      - N8N_PROTOCOL=https
      - N8N_ENCRYPTION_KEY=random_secure_key_here
      - GENERIC_TIMEZONE=Asia/Karachi
    volumes:
      - ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n

Start n8n:

docker compose up -d

Phase 3: Build the Blog-to-Facebook/X Workflow

1. 🔔 Create a Trigger Node

• Use RSS Feed or Webhook node.

  • Example (RSS): Provide the RSS URL of your blog (e.g., https://yourblog.com/rss).

2. 🧱 Set Node

• Extract title, URL, and content.

• Use a Set node to shape your message:

{
  "text": "📢 New blog post: {{$json["title"]}} - {{$json["link"]}}"
}

3. 💬 Facebook Node

• Use HTTP Request node (as Facebook Page API needs manual integration).

• Method: POST

• URL: https://graph.facebook.com/v19.0/{page-id}/feed

• Headers: Content-Type: application/json

• Auth: Use your Facebook Page Access Token

• Body:

  {
    "message": "{{$node["Set"].json["text"]}}",
    "access_token": "YOUR_FACEBOOK_ACCESS_TOKEN"
  }
  

  ➡️ Learn more: Facebook Graph API Docs

  4. 🐦 X (Twitter) Node

  • Use HTTP Request again or a custom integration.

  • Method: POST

  • URL: https://api.twitter.com/2/tweets

  • Auth: Use Bearer Token (create an app on developer.twitter.com)

  • Body:

    {
      "text": "{{$node["Set"].json["text"]}}"
    }
    

    Phase 4: Testing and Going Live

    ✅ Test Manually

    • Click “Execute Workflow”.

    • If using Webhook, send a sample blog payload.

    • Review node outputs for errors or formatting issues.

    ✅ Set as Active

    • Toggle the “Active” switch (top right).

    • Your automation is now live!

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    📦 Maintenance and Monitoring

    • Backup your ~/.n8n folder regularly.

    • Monitor n8n’s Executions panel for failed runs.

    • Set up error alerts via email or Slack.

    • Update n8n regularly:

      cd ~/n8n-data
      docker compose pull
      docker compose up -d
      

      Final Thoughts

      With n8n, you have complete control over your automation logic. Whether you're running a small blog or a full content platform, n8n helps you automate content publishing and scale without additional team members.

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      🔗 Useful Links:

      • 🌐 n8n Official Docs

      • 🐙 n8n GitHub Repo

      • 📘 Facebook Page API Docs

      • 🐦 Twitter API Docs