🚀 Introduction
In this blog, I'll show you exactly how I built a fully automated system to scrape leads from Google Maps using Apify, enrich the results with AI, and store them neatly in Google Sheets — all within n8n, a no-code workflow platform.
It even includes personalized cold outreach message generation using GPT-4.
👉 Want to try Apify? Use my referral link here: https://apify.com?fpr=rmgssw
🧠 What this automation does
🔍 Part 1: Scrape Local Leads with Apify
- A webhook triggers the workflow (manual or scheduled)
- An AI Agent generates a business search query like "clothing stores in Ede"
- Apify scrapes Google Maps using that query
- The scraped data is appended into Google Sheets
🧠 Part 2: Enrich Leads with AI
- The sheet is read row by row
- A second AI Agent fills in a personalized cold email using the person's name, job title, and company
- Everything is updated back into the sheet, ready to send or export to your CRM
⚙️ Tools Used
- n8n – No-code workflow automation
- Apify – Google Maps Scraper Actor
- Google Sheets – Lead storage & tracking
- OpenRouter – ChatGPT/GPT-4 API provider
- Webhooks, AI Agents, HTTP Requests, and Code nodes inside n8n
📋 Copyables from the video
🔗 Sheet copy
{{ $('Copy file').item.json.id }}✉️ AI Agent2 prompt (Cold Outreach)
First name: {{ $('Get row(s) in sheet').item.json['First Name'] }}
Job title: {{ $json['Job Title'] }}
Company name: {{ $json.Company }}
You are an expert in cold email outreach. You will be given a person's first name, their job title and company, and some research about them and the company. Your task is to complete the provided template given this information.
Some information about me: [ENTER YOUR INFORMATION]
Template:
Hi [First Name] – really enjoyed [something unique, cool or impressive]. Wanted to reach out!
I [what you/your company does i.e. scale customer acquisition]. We [tangible accomplishment i.e. just landed 20 new clients in the last month for...]
Bottom line: [what it is you're offering i.e. we build cold email systems that find high-quality prospects]
I'm confident enough in this system that I wouldn't charge you unless I generate [$ amount or # of leads] in the first month.
Would you be open to hopping on a quick 15-minute call? How's [time #1] or [time #2] work?
Say yes and I'll send the invite.
– [Your Name]💡 Why this workflow matters
- Saves hours of manual scraping and research
- Hyper-personalized messages with zero typing
- All built in a modular and scalable way
- Easy to duplicate for different niches or countries
🎯 Key Benefits of This Automation
This automated lead generation system transforms how you approach local business outreach:
- Scalable Lead Generation: Generate hundreds of qualified leads in minutes
- AI-Powered Personalization: Each outreach message is uniquely crafted
- Complete Automation: From scraping to personalized messaging in one workflow
- Cost-Effective: No expensive lead generation tools needed
- Data Organization: Everything stored neatly in Google Sheets for easy management
🔧 Technical Implementation Details
The workflow leverages several powerful integrations:
- Apify Google Maps Scraper: Extracts business information including contact details, reviews, and location data
- OpenRouter API: Provides access to GPT-4 for intelligent message generation
- Google Sheets API: Seamless data storage and retrieval
- N8N Workflow Engine: Orchestrates the entire automation process
📈 Best Practices for Lead Scraping
To maximize your success with this automation:
- Target Specific Niches: Focus on specific business types for better personalization
- Respect Rate Limits: Use appropriate delays to avoid being blocked
- Quality Over Quantity: Filter results for businesses that match your ideal customer profile
- Compliance: Always follow local data protection regulations
- Test Your Messages: A/B test different outreach templates for better response rates
📼 Watch the Full Walkthrough
I recorded the entire workflow in this video — including how I built it, how it works, and how to customize it for your own agency or product.
The video covers every step in detail, from setting up your Apify account to deploying the complete automation in n8n.
