In 5 Steps: Generate LinkedIn posts from long-form content with AI

Posting on LinkedIn consistently can feel like a chore, especially when you're sitting on a pile of great content from your blog or newsletter. The good news? You don’t have to do it all manually.

By leveraging tools like Zapier and ChatGPT, you can automate the process and seamlessly transform your in-depth content into LinkedIn-friendly posts. This approach not only saves time but also ensures consistency in your online presence without the extra workload.

Step 1: Trigger When a New Document is Added to a Google Docs Folder

Goal: Automatically detect when a new document is created in a specific Google Drive folder.

How to do it:

1. In Zapier, create a new Zap and choose Google Docs as the trigger app.
2. Select the trigger event "New Document in Folder."
3. Connect your Google Drive account and select the folder where you store the long-form content.
4. Test the trigger to ensure Zapier detects new files correctly.

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Step 2: Use ChatGPT to Convert the Content into LinkedIn Posts

Goal: Automatically transform the document content into 3-5 LinkedIn-ready posts.

How to do it:

1. Add an action step in Zapier using OpenAI (ChatGPT) or the "Conversation in ChatGPT" app.
2. In the input field, pass the plain text content of the Google Doc retrieved from Step 1.
3. Use the following prompt to guide ChatGPT:

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You are an expert content marketer with a deep understanding of LinkedIn’s best engagement practices. Your task is to take the provided long-form content (such as a blog post or newsletter) and break it down into 3-5 LinkedIn posts that maximize readability, engagement, and shareability. Please strictly follow the guideline below.

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This is the long-form content:

Attach email plain text

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The post should be around 200-250 words. Each LinkedIn post must:

Start with a powerful hook:

The first sentence should grab attention and create curiosity.

Use storytelling, bold statements, or intriguing questions to engage the reader.

Examples of hooks:

'Struggling with [pain point]? Here's how to fix it.'

'Most people are doing [task] the wrong way. Here's why.'

'If you're not doing this in [industry], you're falling behind.'

Follow a scannable format:

Write in short, punchy sentences with 1 sentence per paragraph.

Incorporate plenty of white space to enhance readability.

Use line breaks between each sentence for visual appeal.

Include actionable takeaways:

Highlight practical insights and key lessons that the reader can implement immediately.

Use bullet points, numbered lists, or emojis (where appropriate) to break down complex ideas.

End with a strong call-to-action (CTA):

Ask a question to encourage engagement (e.g., ‘What’s your experience with this?’).

Invite readers to comment, share, or visit a link for more insights.

Examples of CTAs:

'Have you tried this approach? Let me know in the comments!'

'Want to dive deeper? Check out the full article [link].'

Maintain an authentic, conversational tone:

Write as if speaking to a peer, avoiding overly formal language.

Use a friendly, professional voice that aligns with LinkedIn’s audience.

Avoid: having a generic tagline, using buzz and unnatural words, and using too many emojis. Keep it around 2-3 emojis per post.

Here’s the format for each LinkedIn post:

[Hook]

[Main insight]

[Supporting point 1]

[Supporting point 2]

[Key takeaway]

[Call-to-action]

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4. Test the ChatGPT step to verify the AI generates the expected output.

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Step 3: Store the Generated LinkedIn Posts in Google Sheets

Goal: Save the AI-generated LinkedIn posts for easy review and scheduling.

How to do it:

1. Add an action step in Zapier using Google Sheets as the app.
2. Choose “Create Spreadsheet Row” as the action.
3. Select your Google Drive, the desired spreadsheet, and worksheet.
4. Map the following fields:some text
   • Date: Insert the document creation date from Step 1.
   • Title: Extract the document title from Step 1.
   • LinkedIn Captions: Use the AI-generated response from Step 2.
5. Run a test to confirm that the data is being saved correctly.

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Step 4: Refine the ChatGPT Prompt for Better Results

Goal: Improve the AI-generated content to better fit LinkedIn engagement practices.

How to do it:

1. Review the AI-generated posts in Google Sheets.
2. If necessary, adjust the prompt in Zapier to provide clearer guidance to ChatGPT.
3. Refine elements such as tone, structure, or specific post formatting.
4. Re-run tests to ensure the output aligns with your expectations.

Step 5: Automate and Monitor the Workflow

Goal: Finalize and monitor the process to ensure smooth automation.

Options for customization:

1. Connect to the actual app you use for content creation, whether it is Notion or Google Sheet.
2. Connect to Hootsuite to automatically store your LinkedIn post as a draft.
3. Generate images from the content using ChatGPT API. 

Setting up this workflow is just the beginning—feel free to tweak it, experiment with different prompts, and see what kind of content resonates best with your audience.

Have fun exploring, and let me know what you'd like to try next!