n8n Tutorial for Beginners | Getting Started with Workflows

Workers on average clock in more than 3 hours a week doing tasks that are automatable. That’s nearly half a workday lost every week and over 156 hours a year spent on dull data entry, copying and pasting, and sending reminders. It’s time to recover that time and put it to better use.

To do so, learn how n8n can enhance your workflow.

n8n, short for ‘nodemation,’ is an open-source tool built to automate workflows by connecting apps. By streamlining tasks like transferring data and sending reminders, n8n helps users reclaim time spent on repetitive work. It requires no programming skills, acting as a virtual assistant to sync and organize data between the applications you use daily.

This n8n beginner tutorial provides the essential knowledge to get started with the software, navigate its visual editor, and build your first automated workflow. By the end, you’ll understand how n8n VPS hosting enables you to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more valuable work during your web hosting journey.

What is n8n? Understanding the Basics

n8n is centered on two primary pillars, namely nodes and workflows. It is built and designed on the premise that these two pillars form the foundation of the tool. Every nodes is regarded as an architectural component and is designed to perform specific actions. These tasks include fetching data from Google Sheets, filtering data, and sending Slack messages.

You automate a set of instructions by running them without human interaction, completing them, and creating a workflow. It’s as simple as “When a new row is added to a spreadsheet, send a notification to Slack.”

A highly regarded aspect of n8n is its design. The n8n visual editor is super clean with a low learning curve and uses a drag-and-drop method to arrange ‘nodes.’ This allows for free-flowing logic design where, instead of complex scripts, one can put together a visual representation of the automation by ‘drawing’ the connections between nodes. This makes for a much easier and more effective workflow.

The wide capabilities of n8n within the ‘no’ to ‘low’ code range are another aspect of n8n that is best appreciated. Working with n8n is simple for a person who has added custom code nodes for complex logic. This makes n8n a great platform for anyone who wants to automate for a more optimized environment.

Related Read: How to Install n8n? A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use n8n: Your First Workflow-A Practical Example

Let us look at an example workflow in n8n. For this case, consider an internal chat where a keyword has to be searched. Let us suppose the keyword is “urgent.” Each time the keyword is uttered, a notification is immediately sent to a specified team channel. This is done to ensure that time is not wasted and nothing is missed that is of a critical nature. This is a fine example of using n8n.

Step 1: The Trigger Node

Every workflow begins with a trigger. In this case, you will add either a Slack Trigger (or a Discord Trigger if your team uses Discord). This node listens for new messages on a given channel. Set this up by linking your Slack/Discord account and picking the channel you would like to keep track of.

Step 2: The Logic Node

Then, add an “If” node to apply logic. This will check if the word “urgent” appears in the incoming message. In the condition settings, state that the message text must contain “urgent.” If this condition holds true, the workflow moves on to the next step.

Step 3: The Action Node

Then, add the Slack node (or Discord node) as the action. Set it up to send a specific text (e.g., “Urgent keyword detected in #general”) to one of the team channels. Feel free to adjust the message so that it also contains the original text along with the sender to provide as much information as possible.

Step 4: Activation

After you finish linking the nodes, Trigger → If → Action, save your workflow and click Activate. From this point, n8n runs the automation non-stop in the background.

The completed workflow is a very simple sequence of steps:

Trigger (Slack/Discord) → If (Keyword Check) → Action (Notification).

This illustrates the pace at which n8n can be used to set up some form of automation. The workflow built with just a few nodes removes the need to monitor manually, improves responsiveness, and makes sure that important messages are not ignored.

Related Read: How to Install n8n on Ubuntu

Self-Hosted n8n vs. Cloud n8n

With n8n getting started, the major decision to be made first has to do with which option is more convenient: n8n Cloud or the self-hosted option. Each option has its advantages based on user requirements.

For speed and ease, n8n Cloud is the best. You do not need to set up or maintain anything, and there is no need to manage a server. You just subscribe, log into the account, and start automating workflows. If you are an individual user or part of a small team, n8n Cloud works best when automations are needed and technical resources are limited.

With n8n’s self-hosting option, you have complete control over the service. You can run it on self-hosted servers or local servers. There is no limit on the number of executions, and total ownership of the data is guaranteed, which is advantageous to the teams as well as companies that have stringent data privacy procedures.

In summary,

• N8N cloud is best if you want a quick setup and ease of use.
• Self-hosting is best for complete control and ease of scaling.

Each of these choices makes automation available to everyone; the best option depends on your needs.

Recommended Hosting for n8n: MilesWeb VPS

In the ease of using n8n, self-hosting becomes a critical element. There needs to be constant speed, uptime, and scaling during the workflows. This is why MilesWeb n8n VPS hosting offers a unique environment that is specifically designed for n8n, which includes:

• Full Root Access: Administrator-level control that allows you to make performance changes for fine-tuning on the server.
• Scalability: Allows you to increase resources easily as the work is more complex.
• 24/7 Support: Expert support and help to make sure your environment is smooth.
• Affordable: Known for meeting the needs without sacrificing quality.

Gaining unmatched control alongside reliability and support while hosting n8n on MilesWeb VPS is a rewarding experience. This versatility is crucial for teams wanting to self-host n8n.

Comparing n8n Deployment Options

Extensions & Advanced Features

n8n becomes even more valuable with the added ability to implement and execute complex automations. The depth of n8n’s complexity hinges on the unique capabilities and advanced features n8n offers.

Equipped with n8n, the advanced AI agents can be built seamlessly and easily. n8n has the ability to execute complex, logic-defining automations and workflows through the connection of n8n to advanced language models such as GPT-4. Other unique features of n8n include AI nodes that can be combined with other components of a workflow to build more capable automation. n8n becomes more refined and valuable to teams with the seamless ability to pair advanced models and AI agents to workflows.

These features of n8n prove that automation is not the only purpose of the application. It serves as a unique and advanced solution for teams, made to fit their unique needs effortlessly.