Automate Your Blog n8n and WordPress Power

n8n is a digital workflow builder that connects apps like LEGO bricks for automation. It integrates services to create blog posts automatically, using AI for content generation and WordPress REST API for publishing.

Assumptions/Prereqs

• Docker installed: docker --version
• WordPress site with REST API enabled and app password
• Basic terminal access

Setup Steps

1. Run n8n:

   docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n n8nio/n8n

2. Open http://localhost:5678 in browser, set up admin account.
3. Create workflow: Click New > Add Schedule Trigger node.
4. Add AI Agent node: Connect to OpenAI, prompt Write a blog post about [topic].
5. Add WordPress node: Set site URL, app credentials, action Create Post.
6. Connect nodes, click Execute Workflow.

Verify

n8n executions list --json | grep success

Check WordPress posts.

Common Issues

• Docker port busy: docker stop n8n; docker rm n8n
• AI auth fail: Verify OpenAI API key in node credentials.
• WP 401: Regenerate app password in WP admin.

• n8n installed from previous chapter
• OpenRouter API key from openrouter.ai
• WordPress site with REST API enabled + Application Password
• Basic n8n workflow knowledge

Step-by-Step:

1. Add OpenRouter (HTTP Request node):

   POST https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions
   Headers:
   Authorization: Bearer YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY
   Content-Type: application/json
   Body:
   {
     "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
     "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Write blog post about Linux automation"}]
   }

2. Parse JSON response: Use Code node:

   return [{json: {title: $json.choices[0].message.content.split('\n')[0], content: $json.choices[0].message.content}}];

3. WordPress Publish (HTTP Request):

   POST https://yoursite.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts
   Headers:
   Authorization: Basic base64(username:application_password)
   Content-Type: application/json
   Body:
   {
     "title": "{{ $json.title }}",
     "content": "{{ $json.content }}",
     "status": "publish"
   }

Verification:

curl -u username:app_pass https://yoursite.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?per_page=1

Common Failures + Fixes:

• 401 Unauthorized: Check WP Application Password format
• 429 Rate Limit: Add IF node + Wait (60s) + retry
• OpenRouter 402: Top up credits at openrouter.ai
• Empty content: Add error notification (Email/Slack node)

Image Integration: Add DALL-E via OpenRouter same endpoint, model: openai/dall-e-3, save URL to WP featured_media.

Automate AI→WP publishing. Experiment now!