For service-based businesses, showcasing transformations through before-and-after photos is one of the most impactful and simple marketing strategies. Whether you’re in construction, beauty, cleaning, or another hands-on field, these photos tell the story of your expertise better than words can.
But posting these transformations consistently across multiple platforms can be time-consuming. With this zap, you can create a seamless workflow that uploads, formats, and shares your photos, with descriptions (that are so often a pain to write) —all with free tiers of each integration tool.
Here’s how you can set up this workflow and post to social with minimal effort. Download this template at the bottom of this post.
Step-by-Step Overview
This Zap workflow automates the process of uploading, formatting, and sharing before-and-after photos, paired with a professionally written description. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Elementor Form on WordPress
Start by creating a private form on your WordPress website using Elementor, a free drag-and-drop page builder. You or team members can use this form to upload before-and-after photos and provide details about the work completed. This form submission triggers the workflow.
Step 2: Webhooks by Zapier (Catch Hook)
When the Elementor form is submitted, Zapier’s webhook captures the data. This includes the uploaded photos, project details, and a 5-10 word description of the job entered in the form.
Step 3: Upload 'Before' Photo (Dropbox)
Zapier uploads the “before” photo to a free Dropbox account. This step organizes your images into folders for easy access and long-term storage.
Step 4: Amend the Before Photo URL (Formatter by Zapier)
Using Zapier Formatter, the workflow adds changes the URL to make it a downloadable link
Step 5: Upload 'After' Photo (Dropbox)
The “after” photo is uploaded to Dropbox next, keeping everything neat and accessible.
Step 6: Amend the After Photo URL (Formatter by Zapier)
Again, using Zapier Formatter, the workflow adds changes the URL to make it a downloadable link
Step 7: Combine Photos into One Image (APITemplate.io)
Zapier sends both images to APITemplate.io, a free image processing tool, to create a single side-by-side comparison image. This format highlights the transformation in a way that grabs attention.
Step 8: Write a Description (ChatGPT via Zapier)
Next, the workflow uses ChatGPT (connected via Zapier’s free integration) to generate a professional and engaging description of the work. For example, it might describe how you fixed a gate, renovated a house, or repaired an office chair.
Step 9: Add a Delay (Delay by Zapier)
To give ChatGPT time to write, this delay is used. This prevents posting before the description is ready.
Step 10-12: Share on Social Media Platforms
The final step is posting your content across multiple platforms:
- Facebook Pages: The workflow uploads the image and description as a post to your Facebook Page.
- LinkedIn: It creates a company update to reach your professional audience.
- Google Business Profile: The combined image and description are posted as an update, boosting your local SEO and giving searchers a tangible idea of work you can do.
You can also automatically add the image and description to your WordPress website’s blog or portfolio section to showcase your work directly on your site.
Why This Workflow Works for Service-Based Businesses
- Completely Free Tools: Every tool in this workflow—WordPress, Elementor, Zapier, Dropbox, APITemplate.io, and ChatGPT (via free Zapier plan)—is free, making it accessible for businesses of any size.
- Saves Time: By automating this process, you eliminate hours of manual work and can focus on delivering exceptional services.
- Professional Results: The workflow ensures your images are formatted and your descriptions are polished, creating a consistent and professional online presence.
- Broad Reach: Sharing your transformations on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile ensures that your work reaches potential customers on multiple platforms.
Software Tools Checklist
Here’s what you need to do to get started:
- Build Your Form with Elementor: Use Elementor’s free form builder on your WordPress website to collect photos and project details. Add fields for “Before Photo,” “After Photo,” and a brief description of the project.
- Sign Up for Zapier (Free Plan): Create a free Zapier account and connect it to your Elementor form.
- Use Dropbox for Photo Storage: Set up a free Dropbox account to store and organize your photos.
- Integrate APITemplate.io: Connect APITemplate.io (a free tool) to handle combining your photos into a single image.
- Connect ChatGPT for Descriptions: Use Zapier’s ChatGPT integration to automatically generate professional descriptions.
- Schedule and Share: Configure the workflow to post consistently across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile.
Why Automate?
Automating your before-and-after photo posts is a consistent way for service-based businesses to showcase work.
