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Social Media·Intermediate· Saves 2-4 hours/week
UGC Received → Approval Flow → Repost
Manage user-generated content with approval workflows and automated reposting across channels.
5
Steps
20-30 minutes
Setup Time
2-4 hours/week
Saved / Week
Before You Start
- Social media monitoring for brand tags and mentions (native platform tools or Mention/Brand24)
- Slack workspace with approval workflow capability (or Slack interactive messages)
- Buffer account for scheduling reposts across platforms (Pro plan for scheduling)
- ActiveCampaign account for thank-you messages and Google Sheets for content library tracking
Step-by-Step Workflow
Trigger
User-generated content submitted or brand tagged
How to configureMonitor for brand mentions and tags across social platforms. Set up alerts for @yourbrand tags, #yourbrand hashtag, and direct brand mentions. Some platforms offer native webhooks (Instagram Business API), while others require a social listening tool. Filter out spam and bot accounts.
Field Mapping
content_url
content_text
content_image_url
creator_name
creator_handle
creator_email
platform
content_type
submitted_at
engagement_count
1
Step 1
Send UGC for approval in Slack with preview
How to configureSend the UGC for approval via Slack with a rich preview. Include the content image/text, creator info, platform, and engagement metrics. Add "Approve" and "Reject" interactive buttons. The approval message should show exactly how the repost will look.
Field Mapping
Channel→#content-approval
Message→"UGC for Approval →
Creator→@{{trigger.creator_handle}} on {{trigger.platform}}
Engagement→{{trigger.engagement_count}}
Content→{{trigger.content_text}}
Image→{{trigger.content_image_url}}
Original→{{trigger.content_url}}"
Buttons→"Approve"
"Reject"
"Request Changes"
Include a "preview" of how the repost will look on each platform in the approval message — approvers often say yes to content but then object to how it looks when actually posted
2
Step 2Try Free
Upon approval, schedule repost across platforms
Free plan availableRead review
How to configureUpon approval, schedule the UGC repost across relevant platforms via Buffer. Credit the original creator prominently in the caption. For Instagram, use the Repost or embed feature. For Twitter, quote-tweet. For LinkedIn, create a post featuring the UGC with attribution.
Field Mapping
Profiles→{{appropriate_platforms}}
Text→"Love this from @{{trigger.creator_handle}}! {{trigger.content_text | paraphrased}}
Share your experience with #yourbrand"
Image→{{trigger.content_image_url}}
Schedule→next available Buffer slot
Always credit the original creator with their @handle and "thank you" — attributed UGC reposts get more engagement because the original creator shares your repost with their audience
3
Step 3
Send thank you message to content creator
How to configureSend a thank-you message to the content creator. If you have their email, send a personalized thank-you email. If not, send a DM or comment on their original post thanking them for the content and letting them know you shared it.
Field Mapping
To→{{trigger.creator_email || DM via platform}}
Message→"Hi {{trigger.creator_name}}
we loved your recent post about {{brand_name}} and shared it on our channels! Thank you for being part of our community. As a small thank you
here's a {{discount_or_gift}}"
Include a small incentive (discount code, free month, exclusive access) in the thank-you message — it turns one-time UGC creators into repeat brand advocates
4
Step 4
Log UGC in content library spreadsheet
How to configureLog the UGC in your content library Google Sheet. Track the creator, platform, content URL, approval date, repost date, engagement on the repost, and a link to the original content. This library becomes a reusable asset for future marketing campaigns.
Field Mapping
Date→{{trigger.submitted_at}}
Creator→@{{trigger.creator_handle}}
Platform→{{trigger.platform}}
Content Type→{{trigger.content_type}}
Original URL→{{trigger.content_url}}
Approved→true
Reposted→{{current_date}}
Engagement→(tracked after repost)
Tag each UGC entry with themes (product review, unboxing, tutorial, lifestyle) and product names — when launching new campaigns, you can quickly find relevant UGC to repurpose or reference
Workflow Complete
Test with sample data before turning on for production.
Estimated Monthly Cost
ZapierFree plan available
Many tools offer free plans that cover basic automation needs. Costs scale with usage volume.
Build This Workflow
Zapier
Free plan available
Make
Free plan available
Import to n8n (One Click)
Ready-to-import n8n workflow
Download this workflow as a JSON file and import it directly into n8n. Open n8n → Workflows → Import from File → select the downloaded JSON. You will need to connect your credentials for each node.
Works with n8n Cloud and self-hosted. After importing, configure your API credentials for each node.Read our n8n review →
Customization Ideas
- Add an image rights management step — send an automatic usage request DM/email before reposting
- Include a content quality scoring step to auto-filter UGC by image quality, relevance, and brand alignment
- Branch by content type — photos go to Instagram, text testimonials go to Twitter, video UGC goes to YouTube/TikTok
- Add a monthly UGC contest automation that selects the best user content for a prize or feature
How to Set Up This Automation
- 1Choose your automation platformSign up for Zapier. Free plans are available to get started.
- 2Connect your accountsAuthenticate each tool used in the workflow. You will need active accounts for .
- 3Set up the triggerMonitor for brand mentions and tags across social platforms. Set up alerts for @yourbrand tags, #yourbrand hashtag, and direct brand mentions. Some platforms offer native webhooks (Instagram Business API), while others require a social listening tool. Filter out spam and bot accounts.
- 4Add action steps and map fieldsAdd each step in order. The key is mapping data correctly between steps — make sure fields like email, name, and IDs pass through from the trigger to each action.
- 5Test with sample dataRun the workflow with a test record before turning it on for production. Verify each step executes and data appears correctly in each tool.
- 6Turn it on and monitorActivate the workflow and check the first 5-10 runs. Set up error notifications so you know immediately if something breaks.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- •Missing field mappings — Double-check that every required field in each action step has data mapped from the trigger or a previous step.
- •Rate limits — If you process high volume, check each tool's API rate limits. Add delays between steps if needed.
- •Error handling — Add error notification steps so failed runs don't go unnoticed. Most platforms support email or Slack alerts on failure.
- •Duplicate handling — Add a "search before create" step to avoid creating duplicate records in your CRM or database.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up this social media automation?
This workflow has 5 steps. Start by connecting your trigger (User-generated content submitted or brand tagged) to an automation platform like Zapier, then add each action step. Most users complete the setup in 15-30 minutes.
Which automation platform should I use for this workflow?
We recommend Zapier, Make for this workflow. Zapier is easiest for beginners, while n8n is best for developers who want full control.
How much time will this automation save?
This automation typically saves 2-4 hours/week. The exact savings depend on your current volume and how much manual work each step currently requires.
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