By now, you’ve likely heard of ChatGPT and other AI-powered language models like Perplexity, Deepseek, Manus, Claude, Gemini, and OpenAI—just to name a few. These innovative tools, collectively known as Large Language Models (LLMs), are transforming how we approach tasks both in our personal lives and professional endeavors. They’re not just cutting-edge technology; they’re practical solutions that many of us use daily. Best of all, most of these platforms offer free options to get started.
Personally, I’ve found LLMs invaluable for streamlining my workflow—whether it’s rewriting content, expanding ideas, or simply saving time. For example, the section you’re reading right now was crafted with the help of one such model. While I enjoy writing and take pride in my skills, the process can be time-consuming and often requires multiple revisions. With an LLM, I can communicate my ideas clearly and efficiently without compromising on quality.
This brings us to the focus of today’s article: Streamline Facebook Data Collection: From URL to Google Sheets with ActivePieces and Apify. If you’re a business owner looking for smarter ways to manage data collection and automation, this guide will walk you through how to leverage these tools to simplify your workflow and save valuable time.
Prompt Used with Perplexity
I am writing the opening stanzas to an article/blog post on my website which also has an accompanying youtube video. I could use some help to rewrite the introduction bearing in mind my audience is likely to be business owners with little knowledge of the subject, here are the opening paragraphs: I expect most people by now know about ChatGPT and other AI chat language models with Perplexity, Deepseek, Manus, Claude, Gemini, OpenAI to name just a few.
Original Text
I expect most people by now know about ChatGPT and other AI chat language models with Perplexity, Deepseek, Manus, Claude, Gemini, OpenAI to name just a few.
These clever Large Language Models (LLMs) as they are collectively referred are revolutionising the way we can get things done, whether that’s personally or professionally. Most offer a free use option. I often use them to rewrite content or expand on content for me, in fact to demonstrate, in the section below is the original text of my opening sentence and paragraph whilst you are actually reading the same piece rewritten. Whilst I can confidently say that I can write well, it takes time and several edits often to do so. Using an LLM I can get my point across much quicker. And so what is the point of this article titled Streamline Facebook Data Collection: From URL to Google Sheets with ActivePieces and Apify?
In the accompanying YouTube video, I walk you through how to create a database of potential clients using the automation framework ActivePieces. While the tutorial focuses on ActivePieces, the same principles apply to other automation platforms, such as Make.com.
The process begins with a simple form where you input a Facebook page URL. From there, the automation takes over, extracting key details from the Facebook page—such as contact information, categories, and more—and storing them neatly in a Google Sheet for further use. This setup eliminates manual data entry and provides a structured way to gather leads efficiently.
I’m also working on a follow-up article that will delve into the next stage of automation. This will involve analyzing content from the Facebook page and combining it with any additional details you provide, such as your business information or promotional offers. The automation will then generate outreach email options tailored and personalized to the specific business you are reaching out to, ensuring your communication feels relevant and engaging. Additionally, it can create follow-up emails to help you maintain consistent and effective communication.
Click the image to open the video.
You will need:
You’re going to need a few things to get started. You can click the signup items if you don’t already have those accounts.
Most people already have a Google account – you’ll need one to use Google Sheets.
- Signup for free ActivePieces account
- Signup for free Apify account
- Have a Google account for Google Sheets
- Medium technical ability
To get started quickly, make sure you have ActivePieces (AP), Apify, and Google accounts set up. You can then download the pre-built ActivePieces flow and import it into your own instance, which will save you time on manual setup.
Since the video, I’ve made some updates to the Facebook Outreach spreadsheet, which you can also download. For this initial automation, you’ll only need the first sheet. If there’s enough interest, I plan to release an updated flow for the initial Facebook data scraping, as well as the full automation that processes the data and generates emails.
To show your interest and stay updated, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment on the video. This will help me gauge demand and share more advanced automation tools with you in the future.