Building a No-Code AI Lead Generation Workflow with n8n

I have been reviewing popular AI sales agents, including  AiSDR and Outreach.io. While these platforms support lead management, they are typically focused on broader sales engagement and delivered as commercial packages with costs ranging from $2K to $5K per user per month.¹

For those who require use-case-specific lead generation and cost-effectiveness, open-source workflow automation tools such as n8n can provide a more customizable alternative. By integrating directly with chatbots, AI, scraping, and spreadsheet APIs, it is possible to scrape thousands of leads. 

Below, I covered real-world examples of n8n workflows for lead generation, along with a tutorial showing how to find leads via a Telegram bot and automatically send them into Google Sheets through web scraping:

What does this workflow do?

This workflow sends a request to the Telegram bot, the AI interprets it, and once it has the details like role, location, and industry. 

It triggers a scraper to collect relevant leads. Then the data is saved directly into Google Sheets, and the bot replies with a confirmation of how many contacts were added. 

Below, see the step-by-step implementation process:

1. Get n8n hosting

To begin, you’ll need hosting for your n8n automation platform. There are three main options:

• Host locally (free): You can install n8n on your computer at no cost. However, this option is more technical and requires manual setup.
  
• WebSpaceKit hosting (~$14/month): A cost-effective option that gives you unlimited workflow executions and active workflows.
  
• n8n Cloud (~$27/month): The official hosting by n8n, but it comes with some feature limits compared to self-hosted options.
  
• n8n-specific Managed Platforms (e.g., n8nhost.io, MassiveGRID, ~$5/month): Platforms built specifically for n8n hosting, offering one-click setup, automatic updates, and managed infrastructure.

2. Setup n8n

Once your hosting plan is active, the next step is to set up n8n. The setup only needs to be done once, and after that, you can build as many automations as you like. 

• Start the setup: In your hosting dashboard, click on “Go to Setup.”
  
• Enter details: Fill in the required information, click Next, and complete the wizard.
  
• Access the dashboard: After setup, you’ll land on the n8n dashboard, where you can begin creating workflows.

From here, you have two options:

1. Build from scratch by adding nodes one by one to design your own workflow.
   
2. Use a ready-made workflow template for faster setup.

We’ll go with the ready-made lead generation workflow template. Note that this template is a paid option provided by WebSpaceKit hosting. However, you can also find lead generation templates on the official n8n website. Keep in mind that some of these templates require a self-hosted n8n instance to run properly.

Here is the WebSpaceKit template:

After downloading the template, you can launch the n8n dashboard and click “Import” in the top-right corner to bring the template in.

3. Set up the workflow

You can either download a ready-made workflow template or build one from scratch. 

Below is an overview of the workflow we will be building for:

After importing, you’ll see warnings on certain nodes that still need to be configured. 

• Telegram trigger node: Starts the workflow when a user sends a message to the bot.
  
• Transcribe node (Optional): Converts Telegram voice messages into text using OpenAI.
  
• Lead agent node: The “brain” of the workflow. Interprets user queries, remembers context, and decides when to trigger scraping

4. Set up Telegram trigger node

To set it up, first, we need to connect our Telegram node to n8n. To do this, we’ll create a new credential. Open the node, click on the option, and select Create New Credentials.

Below is a screenshot of the node details:

5. Set up the lead agent node

The lead agent node is the brain of the workflow. It interprets user requests, retrieves lead information, and decides when to trigger scraping:

• OpenAI chat model: This node interprets the user’s request. For example, if someone types “Find SaaS leads in New York”, the Chat Model processes the message, understands the intent, and guides the workflow. It acts as the “brains” of the system.
  
• Simple memory: This node allows the AI to track previous interactions. For instance, if a user first says “Find developers in Texas” and then follows up with “in the IT industry”, the memory ensures both messages are linked together rather than treated separately.
  
• leadScraping (Tool): Once all the required details (job role, location, industry) are gathered, this tool is triggered. It scrapes relevant lead information—such as names, emails, job titles, LinkedIn profiles, and prepares the data to be stored in Google Sheets.

6. Configure the sub workflow for scraping

This sub-workflow takes the user’s request, such as job title, location, and industry, and passes it to a scraper tool (e.g, Apollo Scraper or Bright Data).

In this example, the Apify platform is used to extract leads from a large professional database. The scraped information (name, email, LinkedIn profile, seniority, etc.) is cleaned and then stored in Google Sheets. A confirmation is sent back through Telegram, stating the number of leads added.

Here is an overview of the lead generation agent, as it is asked to find leads in the IT industry:

Here is the final example of how the leads appear in Google Sheets:

What is n8n?

While n8n is a workflow automation platform that can also be used for lead generation.

It offers access to more than 330+ prebuilt lead generation workflows. With n8n, you are free to build as many workflows as you like, and you only pay when they run.

Local hosting is free but technical. The n8n Cloud starter plan costs €24 (~$27) per month, billed monthly, and includes 2,500 workflow runs.³

How does n8n help lead generation?

• Automated lead enrichment: It can handle automated lead enrichment by connecting form tools like Jotform, Typeform, or HubSpot with verification services, ensuring the data received is clean and complete.
  

• Flexible CRM integration: It also makes CRM integration surprisingly flexible. Whether you’re using Pipedrive, Salesforce, or HubSpot, n8n’s node-based workflows let you send leads wherever you need them.

• Automated triggers: It triggers actions automatically whenever leads change status or complete activities like purchases or form submissions.

n8n lead generation workflows

1. Lead generation agent: Automatically find business leads by industry and location.⁴
   
2. LeadBot autopilot:  Chat-to-Lead for Salesforce: Convert website chat conversations into Salesforce leads.⁵
   
3. Qualify & reach out to B2B Leads with Groq AI, Apollo, Gmail & Sheets: Capture leads, enrich with Apollo, and send outreach emails automatically.⁶
   
4. Lead generation system: Google Maps to email scraper with Google Sheets Export: Scrape businesses from Google Maps and create email prospect lists.⁷
   
5. Lead workflow: Yelp & Trustpilot scraping + OpenAI analysis via BrightData: Scrape reviews from Yelp/Trustpilot and analyze them with AI to find potential leads.⁸
   
6. Build targeted prospect lists with HubSpot: Discover companies that match your ICP, enrich lead data, and send directly to HubSpot.⁹
   
7. Lead generation automation on LinkedIn: Automate LinkedIn lead collection, enrichment, and personalized outreach.¹⁰

How can you use AI for lead generation?

1. Finding leads

AI can help identify potential prospects through website engagement, monitoring online activity, and recognizing behaviors that indicate strong buying intent. It cannot magically create demand, but it can make sure you capture signals that already exist.

AI can streamline lead generation by:

• Engaging visitors: AI chatbots capture leads by offering value (consultations, audits, resources) in exchange for details.

• Monitoring social channels: AI tools track activity on LinkedIn, Instagram, or messaging apps to flag potential prospects.

• Detecting high-intent behavior: AI identifies signals like repeat visits to pricing pages or downloads, enabling timely outreach before interest fades.

2. Qualifying leads

If you already generate plenty of leads, the bigger challenge is filtering out the ones that are not worth your team’s time. AI excels here because it recognizes patterns that humans often miss and applies them consistently.

AI can enhance lead qualification by:

• Conversational pre-qualification: Chatbots engage prospects in natural dialogues, asking about budget, role, or company size, and offering tailored insights in return.

• Behavioral tracking: AI scores interest based on digital actions like repeat visits, time on site, or demo requests, and can trigger targeted follow-ups.

• Lead scoring, segmentation, and routing: AI ranks leads (hot, warm, cold), automates follow-up actions, and routes them to the right sales team or nurturing flow.

3. Contacting leads

Once prospects are identified and qualified, AI can support multi-channel outreach to keep the momentum going.

AI can improve lead engagement across multiple channels:

• Email: Automates personalized follow-ups and nurturing sequences, triggered by lead interactions.

• Text (SMS or WhatsApp): Ideal for instant reminders or confirmations—short, clear, and always with consent.

• Phone calls: Flags high-value leads for quick outreach, equipping reps with AI-generated scripts and talking points.

• Social media: Keeps conversations active on platforms where leads engage most, boosting response rates through timely interactions.

External Links

• 1. https://aisdr.com/blog/sdr-vs-ai-cost/
• 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AoWaeUNB0w
• 3. https://n8n.io/automate-lead-management/
• 4. https://n8n.io/workflows/7423-lead-generation-agent/
• 5. https://n8n.io/workflows/7467-leadbot-autopilot-chat-to-lead-for-salesforce/
• 6. https://n8n.io/workflows/5832-qualify-and-reach-out-to-b2b-leads-with-groq-ai-apollo-gmail-and-sheets/
• 7. https://n8n.io/workflows/5385-lead-generation-system-google-maps-to-email-scraper-with-google-sheets-export/
• 8. https://n8n.io/workflows/4912-lead-workflow-yelp-and-trustpilot-scraping-openai-analysis-via-brightdata/
• 9. https://n8n.io/workflows/7130-build-targeted-prospect-lists-find-and-enrich-leads-with-surfe-to-hubspot/
• 10. https://n8n.io/workflows/4685-lead-generation-automate-on-linkedin-personalisation-enrichment/