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AI Lead Capture System - Complete Setup Guide
Prerequisites
n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted)
Google AI Studio account (free tier available)
Google account for Sheets integration
Website with chat widget capability
Phase 1: Core Infrastructure Setup
Step 1: Set Up Google AI Studio
Go to Google AI Studio
Create account or sign in with Google
Navigate to "Get API Key"
Create new API key for your project
Copy and securely store the API key
Free tier limits: 15 requests/minute, 1 million tokens/month
Step 2: Configure Google Sheets
Create new Google Sheet for lead storage
Add column headers (exact names):
Full Name
Company Name
Email Address
Phone Number
Project Intent/Needs
Project Timeline
Budget Range
Preferred Communication Channel
How they heard about DAEX AI
Copy the Google Sheet ID from URL (between /d/ and /edit)
Ensure sheet is accessible to your Google account
Step 3: Import n8n Workflow
Open your n8n instance
Create new workflow
Click "..." menu → Import from JSON
Paste the provided workflow JSON
Workflow will appear with all nodes connected
Phase 2: Credential Configuration
Step 4: Set Up Google Gemini API
In n8n, go to Credentials → Add Credential
Search for "Google PaLM API"
Enter your API key from Step 1
Test connection
Link to the "Google Gemini Chat Model" node
Step 5: Configure Google Sheets Access
Go to Credentials → Add Credential
Select "Google Sheets OAuth2 API"
Follow OAuth flow to authorize your Google account
Test connection with your sheet
Link to the "Google Sheets" node
Phase 3: Workflow Customization
Step 6: Update Company Information
Open the AI Agent node
In the system message, replace all mentions of:
Company name and description
Service offerings and specializations
FAQ knowledge base
Typical project timelines and pricing ranges
Adjust conversation tone to match your brand voice
Step 7: Configure Lead Qualification Fields
In the AI Agent system message, modify the required information list:
Add/remove qualification questions
Adjust budget ranges for your services
Customize timeline options
Update communication channel preferences
In Google Sheets node, update column mappings if you changed fields
Step 8: Set Up Sheet Integration
Open Google Sheets node
Click on Document ID dropdown
Select your lead capture sheet
Verify all column mappings match your sheet headers
Test with sample data
Phase 4: Website Integration
Step 9: Get Webhook URL
Open Webhook node in n8n
Copy the webhook URL (starts with your n8n domain)
Note: URL format is https://your-n8n-domain.com/webhook/[unique-id]
Step 10: Connect Your Chat Widget
Choose your integration method:
Option A: Direct JavaScript Integration
javascript// Add to your website
function sendMessage(message, sessionId) {
fetch('YOUR_WEBHOOK_URL', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({
message: message,
sessionId: sessionId || 'visitor-' + Date.now()
})
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
// Display AI response in your chat widget
displayMessage(data.message);
});
}
Option B: Chat Platform Webhook
Open your chat platform settings (Intercom, Crisp, etc.)
Find webhook/integration section
Add webhook URL pointing to your n8n endpoint
Configure to send message and session data
Option C: Zapier/Make.com Integration
Create new Zap/Scenario
Trigger: New chat message from your platform
Action: HTTP POST to your n8n webhook
Map message content and session ID
Phase 5: Testing & Optimization
Step 11: Test Complete Flow
Send test message through your chat widget
Verify AI responds appropriately
Check conversation context is maintained
Confirm lead data appears in Google Sheets
Test with various conversation scenarios
Step 12: Monitor Performance
Check n8n execution logs for errors
Monitor Google Sheets for data quality
Review conversation logs for improvement opportunities
Track response times and conversion rates
Step 13: Fine-Tune Conversations
Analyze real conversation logs
Update system prompts based on common questions
Add new FAQ knowledge to the AI agent
Adjust qualification questions based on lead quality
Optimize for your specific customer patterns
Phase 6: Advanced Features (Optional)
Step 14: Add Lead Scoring
Create new column in Google Sheets for "Lead Score"
Update AI agent to calculate scores based on:
Budget range (higher budget = higher score)
Timeline urgency (sooner = higher score)
Project complexity (complex = higher score)
Add conditional formatting in Google Sheets to highlight high-value leads
Step 15: Set Up Notifications
Add email notification node after Google Sheets
Configure to send alerts for high-priority leads
Include lead details and conversation summary
Set up different notification rules for different lead scores
Step 16: Analytics Dashboard
Connect Google Sheets to Google Data Studio or similar
Create dashboard showing:
Daily lead volume
Conversion rates by source
Average qualification time
Lead quality scores
Revenue pipeline from captured leads
Troubleshooting Common Issues
AI Not Responding
Check Google Gemini API key validity
Verify API quota not exceeded
Review n8n execution logs for errors
Data Not Saving to Sheets
Confirm Google Sheets permissions
Check column name matching
Verify sheet ID is correct
Chat Widget Not Connecting
Test webhook URL directly with curl/Postman
Verify JSON format matches expected structure
Check CORS settings if browser-based integration
Conversation Context Lost
Ensure sessionId is unique per visitor
Check memory node configuration
Verify sessionId is passed consistently