Auto‑Publish Veo3Gen Shorts with n8n: An End‑to‑End Workflow (Generate → Caption → Schedule) (as of 2026-02-07)

Who this workflow is for (and what you’ll have at the end)

If you’re a solo creator, marketer, or small team trying to post consistently without turning your week into an editing marathon, this is for you.

By the end, you’ll have a practical, template-first pipeline that:

• Generates 5–20 short clips from one idea batch using Veo3Gen as your “video engine.”
• Adds minimum viable post-production (captions + metadata + basic packaging).
• Uses n8n to help you schedule/distribute across short-form platforms—with a manual approval step so nothing posts by accident.

As of 2026-02-07, n8n offers a template called “Fully automated AI video generation & multi-platform publishing” (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/). The page shows it was last updated 2 months ago (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

The “3-stage pipeline”: Generate → Package → Publish

This workflow is easiest to keep stable if you treat it like a production line:

1. Generate: Produce multiple Veo3Gen clips per concept.
2. Package: Apply naming, captions, metadata, and format checks.
3. Publish: Schedule + distribute, with guardrails.

n8n is the “glue” across steps. The n8n template referenced above is described as an end-to-end orchestrator for generating short-form POV-style videos using multiple AI services and publishing across major social platforms (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/). It’s also described as pulling ideas from a Google Sheet and turning them into finished videos with captions, voiceovers, and platform-specific descriptions (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

What you need before you start (accounts, assets, and a simple content plan)

Before automating anything, decide what inputs your workflow can rely on every time.

Minimal asset checklist (keep it lightweight)

Use this as your baseline “brand kit” so your clips don’t look random from post to post:

• Brand fonts + 2–3 brand colors
• Logo bug (small corner logo)
• One CTA line (e.g., “Follow for daily X”)
• 3 hook templates (see examples below)
• Hashtag bank (20–50 tags you rotate)

Simple content plan (the only planning you need)

Create a Google Sheet with columns like:

• concept
• audience
• hook_angle
• key_points
• cta
• do_not_say (optional)
• status (IDEA → GENERATED → PACKAGED → APPROVED → SCHEDULED)

The referenced n8n template is described as fetching new video ideas from a designated Google Sheet on a daily (configurable) schedule (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

Step 1 — Generate: produce 5–20 Veo3Gen clips from a single concept batch

The goal isn’t “one perfect video.” It’s batching: one concept becomes multiple short variations.

Example run: 1 idea → 10 clips → ready for Shorts/Reels/TikTok

Idea: “3 mistakes people make when using AI to write marketing copy.”

Batch into 10 clips by varying just one dimension at a time:

• Hooks (3 versions)
• Visual style (2 versions)
• CTA wording (2 versions)
• Pace/length (short vs. slightly longer)

That gets you to 10 quickly (3×2 + a couple alternates).

Hook template examples (use your 3 every week)

• Problem-first: “If your AI copy sounds generic, you’re probably doing this…”
• Contrarian: “Stop asking AI for ‘better copy’—ask for this instead.”
• Checklist: “Three quick fixes to make AI-written copy sound human.”

Where Veo3Gen fits

Veo3Gen is your generation step. In n8n terms, Veo3Gen is an API call node (or a webhook-triggered step) that takes the row from your Sheet (concept + hook angle + constraints) and returns:

• Video file (or render job ID → later download)
• Basic metadata (title draft, prompt used, duration)

Keep your first iteration simple: generate the clip first, then handle captions and scheduling after.

Step 2 — Package: naming, aspect ratios, captions, hooks, and thumbnails

Packaging is where most “automation” breaks in real life—usually due to sloppy naming and mismatched formats.

A strict file naming convention (prevents duplicates)

Pick one convention and never deviate. Here’s a durable pattern:

{brand}_{series}_{yyyymmdd}_{conceptSlug}_{variant}_{platform}_{aspect}_{lang}.mp4

Example:

veo3gen_copytips_20260207_ai-copy-mistakes_v03_shorts_9x16_en.mp4

Why it matters:

• You can dedupe before posting.
• You can search your library instantly.
• You can re-export without overwriting originals.

Folder structure (simple, but rigid)

Use the same structure locally, in Drive, or in your storage bucket:

• /shorts-library/01_ideas/
• /shorts-library/02_generated/
• /shorts-library/03_packaged/
• /shorts-library/04_approved/
• /shorts-library/05_scheduled/
• /shorts-library/06_posted/

Captions + descriptions (minimum viable)

The n8n template is described as using OpenAI to generate video captions and prompts based on the idea (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/). Even if you don’t copy that exact stack, the pattern is what matters:

• Generate captions from your script/outline.
• Generate platform-specific descriptions (short, punchy, with your hashtag bank).

If you add voiceover later, note the n8n template is described as generating a voiceover script with OpenAI and then generating voiceover audio with ElevenLabs and uploading it to Google Drive (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

Aspect ratios: add a hard check

Don’t assume your output matches every platform. Add an explicit step that verifies:

• “Short-form vertical” export (commonly 9:16) for Shorts/Reels/TikTok
• No black bars (unless stylistic and intentional)

Even if your workflow supports auto-reframing, keep a guardrail that blocks publishing if the aspect ratio doesn’t match what you expect.

Step 3 — Publish: connect n8n to schedule and distribute to multiple platforms

Publishing is where you want automation—but not surprises.

The referenced n8n template is positioned for content creators, agencies, digital marketers, and social media managers (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/). The big takeaway: n8n can coordinate the steps, and you can still keep human review in the loop.

The non-negotiable guardrail: manual approval

Add an “Approval” stage that requires you (or a teammate) to confirm:

• The right file
• The right caption
• The right schedule

Only then should n8n move it from /04_approved/ → /05_scheduled/.

A simple n8n scenario (template-first): nodes, inputs/outputs, and where Veo3Gen fits

You can start from the n8n template concept (ideas → captions/voiceover → publishing) and swap in Veo3Gen for video generation.

Minimal node map (easy to maintain)

1. Schedule Trigger (daily/weekly)
2. Google Sheets: Get Rows (new ideas)
3. For Each Idea
4. Veo3Gen: Generate Clip (API request)
5. Create Filename + Write to Storage
6. Generate Captions/Descriptions (LLM step)
7. Aspect Ratio / Duration Check
8. Create “Preview Pack” (links + metadata)
9. Manual Approval (Slack/Email/your tool)
10. Scheduler/Publisher Nodes (per platform)
11. Mark Sheet Row as SCHEDULED/POSTED

The n8n template specifically describes pulling ideas from Google Sheets and creating finished assets including captions and platform-specific descriptions (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/). Use that as your blueprint, even if your exact services differ.

Quality control checkpoints (under 5 minutes per batch)

Run this before anything moves to “Scheduled.”

QC checklist (10 items max)

• Filename matches convention (no blanks, correct date/variant)
• Video is correct aspect ratio for the target platform
• Audio present (or intentionally muted)
• Captions readable (contrast + safe margins)
• Hook is visible/heard in first 1–2 seconds
• No obvious typos in on-screen text
• Description includes CTA line + 3–8 relevant hashtags
• Thumbnail frame (or cover) isn’t awkward/blurry
• No duplicate of an already scheduled clip (dedupe check)
• Schedule time is correct (timezone sanity check)

Failure modes + safeguards (what breaks, and how to prevent it)

Automation fails in predictable ways. Build small safeguards now so you don’t babysit later.

Rate limits / timeouts

Symptom: jobs fail mid-run.

Safeguard:

• Add retries with backoff in n8n.
• Queue generation (don’t generate 20 clips simultaneously).

Duplicate posts

Symptom: the same clip gets scheduled twice.

Safeguard:

• Dedupe by filename plus a file hash.
• Only allow “one-way” state transitions (APPROVED → SCHEDULED → POSTED).

Wrong aspect ratio or cropped captions

Symptom: content looks fine locally, broken on-platform.

Safeguard:

• Enforce an aspect ratio validation step.
• Use caption safe margins and block publish if captions exceed bounds.

Missing captions/metadata

Symptom: video posts without context.

Safeguard:

• Make captions/description required fields before approval.

Optional upgrades: A/B hooks, variant exports, and a weekly “content library” loop

Once the base workflow runs reliably, add upgrades that don’t increase complexity too much.

A/B hooks (without guesswork)

Generate two variants per concept:

• Same core points
• Different hook line + first visual

Name them vA and vB in your convention so reporting stays clean.

Variant exports (platform-specific packaging)

Keep a single “master” clip, then export variants:

• With/without burned-in captions
• Slightly different titles/hashtags per platform

Weekly library loop

Every week:

1. Review what you posted.
2. Add 10–30 new ideas to the Sheet.
3. Re-run the pipeline.

You don’t need massive volumes—just consistency and a workflow that doesn’t break.

FAQ

Does n8n already have a template for AI video generation + publishing?

Yes—n8n lists a template titled “Fully automated AI video generation & multi-platform publishing” (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

Can I use Veo3Gen instead of the template’s video generator?

You can treat Veo3Gen as the generation node in your scenario, while keeping the same overall pattern (Sheet → generate → package → approve → publish). The referenced template describes a specific stack, but the orchestration approach is reusable (https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/).

Why keep a manual approval step if the workflow is “automated”?

Because one wrong file, wrong caption, or wrong schedule can create real damage. A 30-second approval gate prevents most high-impact mistakes.

How many clips should I generate per idea?

Start with 5–10 until your packaging and QC steps feel effortless. Then scale to 20 when your failure rate is low.

Related reading

• Veo 3.1 vs Sora 2: Comparison
• What is the Veo 3 API?
• Veo 3 API pricing comparison

CTA: Make Veo3Gen the “engine” behind your n8n pipeline

If you want to plug Veo3Gen into an automation scenario like the one above, start with the docs and endpoints:

• Explore the integration surface in the API docs
• Estimate costs and pick a plan on Pricing

Build the simple version first (Generate → Package → Approve → Schedule). Once it’s reliable, scaling volume becomes a settings change—not a late-night editing session.

Sources

• https://n8n.io/workflows/3442-fully-automated-ai-video-generation-and-multi-platform-publishing/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/PromptEngineering/comments/1mzan5d/my_complete_ai_video_workflow_that_generates_20/
• https://artlist.io/blog/ai-workflow-for-video-creators/
• https://www.ability.ai/blog/ai-video-production-workflow
• https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-video-generator/