n8n has made a reputation for itself within the extremely aggressive subject of automation platforms. Individuals are speaking about it as the perfect device for something from sophisticated workflows to creating a helpful passive revenue. However should you study extra carefully, you’ll see that n8n is a strong device within the correct palms, however its reputation is usually on account of a sensible advertising and marketing engine that rewards the folks promoting the thought, not merely this system.
Folks suppose n8n is profitable as a result of it has a robust influencer advertising and marketing plan. The corporate’s Ambassador program aggressively builds a following by getting content material artists to advertise the platform by way of seminars and YouTube channels. This makes a robust echo chamber the place individuals who have a stake in selling the platform typically speak about what it may possibly do.
A number of the content material these influencers make is about attractive “passive revenue” claims, and tales of producing “$10K/month” are intimately linked to n8n automation. However these guarantees typically pass over the exhausting work that goes into productizing one’s expertise, which entails a whole lot of improvement, advertising and marketing, and steady assist. In line with analysis, 75% of viewers are extra doubtless to consider a product after seeing influencer content material. This reveals how this sort of advertising and marketing could change how folks take into consideration a product, irrespective of how properly it really works.
It appears to be like like this story primarily based on advertising and marketing is succeeding. n8n has constructed a “area of interest neighborhood”, whereas established rivals like Zapier and Make have a much bigger market share and extra freelancers obtainable.
Making Cash Off the Hype: The n8n Course Creator’s Rise
The thrill round n8n has made it attainable for a secondary market to develop: promoting data. A number of the influencer content material isn’t nearly utilizing n8n; it’s additionally about educating different folks the way to use it, however for a payment.
There may be a whole lot of content material within the ecosystem that’s solely there to earn cash. Individuals are utilizing the location to promote a variety of products and providers, similar to:
Passist Programs and Tutorials: Influencers typically speak about “Full Programs & Tutorials” and even books like “Mastering n8n on Amazon.”
Pre-built Workflows: Some producers present ready-made options, such a “$50 influencer monitoring workflow” on Gumroad.
Consultation and Setup Providers: Some content material creators cost purchasers about $600 to arrange their methods, utilising their materials as a strategy to get purchasers to join these providers.
This creates a suggestions loop through which n8n’s advertising and marketing efforts immediately contribute to the institution of a small enterprise centered on paid academic content material. So, promoting the “how-to” is a extra dependable strategy to get “passive revenue” than having the common consumer develop a primary automation.
The story that the advertising and marketing workforce tells typically downplays an necessary a part of the n8n expertise: how sophisticated it’s. Despite the fact that it’s touted as a device for everybody, evaluations typically say that it’s tougher to grasp than different related instruments. Folks typically say that it’s “overwhelming for rookies” and wishes some technical data, which fits in opposition to the advertising and marketing claims that it’s simple for everybody to make use of.
n8n is a good device should you:
Need to prototype automations fastAre okay with the occasional bloat or instabilityNeed extra flexibility than Zapier however don’t need to totally code issues
However should you’re a developer or care about effectivity, maintainability, and safety, a lean Python script with cron and webhooks will nonetheless outperform it: fewer transferring components, fewer token limits, and full management.
The recognition of n8n lies not in its superiority, however in its marketability and skill to make influencers seem productive with out requiring vital effort.
Everytime you see 10 creators publish related content material a couple of “life-changing” device inside just a few weeks, it’s not magic — it’s advertising and marketing. Generally paid, generally affiliate-driven, typically simply trend-chasing.
A strong device, however watch out while you purchase it. N8N is unquestionably a strong and technically exceptional automation platform. It has precise advantages for folks with the proper talents and sure use instances as a result of it’s open supply, versatile, and has refined performance.
These aren’t often the wants of a non-tech consumer who needs easy automation that works instantly. The platform’s library of 350+ native integrations is way lower than Zapier’s 5000+, which reveals that it isn’t essentially essentially the most business-ready resolution.
The present reputation of the platform is being boosted by a advertising and marketing plan that leads folks to imagine it will likely be simple to make use of and generate revenue with none effort. For a lot of people, the prospect of effortlessly incomes cash by way of n8n automation stays a mere fantasy. The extra real looking situation is for the technical influencers and content material creators who’ve made cash off of the thrill by promoting their data to others.
