Waitlist Form with Google Sheets Storage and Email Verification

This n8n workflow automates the process of collecting waitlist sign-ups via a form, storing the data in Google Sheets, and sending out an email verification. It includes a verification step to ensure only valid email addresses are added to the final list.

What it does

1. Triggers on Form Submission: Listens for new submissions to an n8n Form.
2. Generates Verification Token: Creates a unique verification token using a cryptographic hash for the submitted email address.
3. Constructs Verification URL: Builds a unique verification URL that includes the generated token and the user's email.
4. Sends Verification Email: Dispatches an email to the submitted address containing the verification link.
5. Presents Verification Form: Displays a form to the user, instructing them to check their email for the verification link.
6. Awaits Verification: Pauses the workflow until the user clicks the verification link, which triggers a separate n8n Form.
7. Verifies Token: Compares the token from the verification link with the stored token associated with the email.
8. Stores Data in Google Sheets: If the token is valid, the user's information (name, email, and a timestamp) is appended to a specified Google Sheet.
9. Confirms Success: Sends a final confirmation message to the user via the n8n Form.

Prerequisites/Requirements

• n8n Instance: A running n8n instance.
• Google Sheets Account: A Google account with access to Google Sheets.
  • Google Sheets Credential: An n8n credential configured for Google Sheets (OAuth2 recommended).
  • Google Sheet: A Google Sheet with columns for "Name", "Email", "Timestamp", and "Verified".
• SMTP Server: Access to an SMTP server for sending emails.
  • Email Send Credential: An n8n credential configured for sending emails (e.g., SMTP, Gmail, SendGrid).

Setup/Usage

1. Import the Workflow: Import the provided JSON into your n8n instance.
2. Configure Credentials:
   • Google Sheets: Update the "Google Sheets" node with your Google Sheets credential. Ensure the "Spreadsheet ID" and "Sheet Name" are correctly configured to point to your waitlist sheet.
   • Send Email: Update the "Send Email" node with your email sending credential. Configure the "From Email" and ensure the "To Email" expression correctly references the submitted email ({{ $('On form submission').item.json.email }}).
3. Customize Forms:
   • On form submission: This is your initial waitlist sign-up form. Customize the fields as needed (e.g., "Name", "Email").
   • Form (Verification Request): This form tells the user to check their email.
   • Form (Verification Success): This form confirms successful verification.
4. Activate the Workflow: Save and activate the workflow.
5. Share the Form: Share the public URL of the "On form submission" node to collect waitlist sign-ups.

Important Notes:

• The workflow relies on two n8n Form nodes. The first acts as the initial sign-up, and the second is triggered by the verification link.
• The "Crypto" node generates a SHA256 hash of the email address, which is used as a simple verification token. For production environments requiring higher security, consider more robust token generation and management.
• The "If" node checks if the verified query parameter from the verification link matches the generated token.
• The "Merge" node is used to wait for the verification step to complete before proceeding to save data to Google Sheets.