I created an automation that simplifies the process of generating blog posts for Shopify stores. By entering a keyword into an Airtable base, this system handles everything from creating formatted content to publishing it directly on your store. The goal is to make blogging easier and more efficient, allowing store owners to focus on other important aspects of their business.
This automation covers various tasks, such as generating images, drafting social media content, and ensuring proper formatting. It integrates with tools like Antropic Cloud for better writing quality and uses a method to draft social media posts automatically. Once everything is set up, you can easily publish your content across multiple platforms, making it a valuable asset for any Shopify store.
How the Automation Works
The automation operates in two main modes: creating an article outline upfront or generating it automatically during the article creation process. This flexibility allows users to choose how they want to approach their content generation.
When the automation is set to create an outline upfront, it calls a tool called Perplexity. This tool has live access to the web and generates a summary of facts, figures, and insights based on the article title. Once the outline is created, users can edit it before the article is generated, ensuring it meets their needs.
Generating the Article
After setting up the outline, the automation begins the article generation process. It pulls relevant internal links from your Shopify sitemap, which helps in creating a well-researched piece. Users can either crawl their sitemap or manually input links they want the AI to consider.
Once the relevant URLs are gathered, the automation asks the AI to select three URLs that are related to the topic. This ensures that the content produced is not only informative but also interconnected with other posts or products on your store.
Media Integration
Integrating media is another crucial step in the automation process. The system fetches internal content images and relevant YouTube videos to enhance the article. For images, it uses a service called file.ai to generate high-quality visuals based on simplified prompts.
After generating the images, the system retrieves the binary data and prepares it for upload to Shopify. If you’re not familiar with advanced setups, you can skip the image generation part initially and focus on getting the article published.
Setting Up Your Automation Environment
To set up your automation environment, you need to connect to your Shopify account through an API. This requires creating an app in Shopify, selecting the right permissions, and obtaining an API access token.
Once you have your API access, you can add modules to your automation setup. This involves setting up the connection to Shopify, defining your blog category, and configuring how articles will be created. It’s essential to follow the specific steps closely to ensure everything works as intended.
Handling Images with GraphQL
Uploading images to Shopify can be complex due to their GraphQL API. To upload images correctly, you must stage the upload, provide necessary parameters, and wait for the image to register on Shopify’s servers. This process ensures that your images are correctly linked to your blog posts.
After staging the image upload, you will make a request to create the file. This step is crucial for ensuring that the images are accessible in your blog posts. Following these steps will help you avoid common pitfalls associated with image uploads.
Finalizing the Automation
After all components are in place and the article is generated, the automation will draft social media posts for each network you want to share your content on. This makes it easy to promote your blog posts without additional effort.
Once you’re satisfied with the content and social media drafts, you can publish the article and share it across your chosen platforms. This seamless process allows for efficient content management, enabling you to focus on other areas of your Shopify store.
Generating Article Outline
Creating an article outline is a fundamental step in the automation process. When I set the automation to generate an outline upfront, it utilizes a tool called Perplexity. This tool has live access to the web, allowing it to gather relevant facts and insights based on the article title. The information it collects ensures that your article will be well-rounded and informative.
Once the outline is generated, I can review and edit it before the article creation begins. This step is crucial as it allows me to tailor the content to better fit my vision. If I decide to skip this step, the automation can still generate a basic outline on the fly while creating the article.
Publishing to Shopify
Publishing the article to Shopify is the final step in the automation process. After creating the article and ensuring all elements are in place, I connect to my Shopify account through an API. This connection allows me to create and manage blog posts directly from my automation setup.
To publish the article, I select the appropriate blog category and fill in the necessary details, including the title and content. The automation handles the HTML formatting to ensure the article appears correctly on the Shopify platform. I also have the option to include a featured image and any additional sources at the end of the article.
Uploading Image Files to Shopify
Uploading images to Shopify involves a few steps due to its GraphQL API. First, I generate the image using the file.ai service, which creates high-quality visuals based on simple prompts. After generating the image, I retrieve its binary data for upload.
To upload the image, I stage the upload by making a GraphQL request. This step requires specific parameters, including the file name and type. Once the staging is successful, I make a second request to actually upload the image file to Shopify.
After uploading, Shopify returns various parameters, which I must use to create the image file within Shopify’s system. It can take a few moments for the image to register, so I include a brief delay before requesting the public URL for the image. This URL is essential for linking the image in my blog post.
Once I have the public URL, I can finally include it in the blog post content. This process ensures that all images are properly linked and displayed in the final article, enhancing the visual appeal and engagement with readers.
Social Media Publishing Flow
Creating a smooth social media publishing flow is essential for maximizing the reach of your content. After generating the blog post, the automation drafts social media posts tailored for each platform. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The drafted content serves as a starting point, allowing me to make adjustments based on my audience and style.
Once I’m satisfied with the social media text, I simply change the status in Airtable to push the posts. The automation then handles the distribution. It ensures that each post is formatted correctly for the respective platform, which saves me a significant amount of time.
Customizing Social Media Posts
Each platform has its unique character limit and audience expectations. Therefore, I can customize the drafted posts as needed. For instance, Instagram may require more visual elements, while Twitter focuses on concise messages. This flexibility allows me to maintain a consistent brand voice across different channels.
Additionally, I can include relevant hashtags, mentions, and links to drive engagement. The automation provides a good foundation, but personal touches enhance the effectiveness of each post.
Scheduling Posts
Scheduling posts can also be managed through the automation. I can set specific times for each post to go live, ensuring optimal engagement. This feature allows me to plan my content calendar in advance, freeing up time for other business activities.
By leveraging the automation, I can maintain a consistent social media presence without the daily hassle of posting. It’s a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their online visibility.
Scaling with Advanced RAG System
To take this automation to the next level, you could implement a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) system. This system enhances the AI’s ability to generate relevant content by grounding it in comprehensive product data from your store. With this setup, the automation could pull from various product attributes, descriptions, and customer reviews, creating more informed and engaging blog posts.
Implementing this system requires a bit more setup. You need to load all product data into a vector database, which the AI can access during article generation. This approach not only improves the quality of the content but also ensures that it aligns closely with the products you offer.
