The Claude setup guide
Everything you need to set Claude up properly — even if you've never used it before. Built for business owners who don't want to read a 40-page manual. Pinky promise it's painless.
What this actually is
Claude is an AI assistant — like ChatGPT but better at writing, planning, and not making things up. This is a step-by-step guide to setting Claude up properly so it actually works for your business, not just answers questions in a chat window.
The 7 steps, in plain English:
🤖 Coming from ChatGPT?
You can bring your existing setup across. You don't need to start from scratch. Here's exactly where to click and what to copy:
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Step 1 — Copy your Custom Instructions
"Custom Instructions" is what ChatGPT calls the box where you tell it about yourself. It's the same idea as Claude's Profile. Where to find it: Open ChatGPT → click your name/profile picture (bottom-left or top-right depending on device) → Settings → Personalization → Customize ChatGPT. What to do: You'll see two boxes — "What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?" and "How would you like ChatGPT to respond?". Highlight the text in each, copy it (Cmd+C / Ctrl+C), paste it into a notes app for a sec. You'll use it in the Profile tab here. -
Step 2 — Copy your saved memories (only if you use them)
"Memory" is the bit where ChatGPT remembers things you've told it across conversations. If you've never enabled it, skip this step. Where to find it: Settings → Personalization → Memory → click Manage memories. What to do: You'll see a list of things ChatGPT has saved about you. Copy the ones still true. Skip outdated ones. These go into the "What Claude should always know about you" field on the Profile tab. -
Step 3 — (Optional) Export everything
"Export" means ChatGPT emails you a downloadable file with every chat you've ever had. Useful if you want to find old prompts that worked, or you just want a backup before switching tools. Where to find it: Settings → Data controls → Export data. What you get: An email arrives within a few minutes with a download link. Inside is a folder of files (mostly HTML and JSON — which you can open in a browser to read). Hunt for "conversations.html" — that's the one with all your chats. -
Step 4 — Paste what matters into the Profile tab here
Don't paste it all in. Translate and trim. Claude rewards specifics, not stuffing.
Translation cheat sheet (ChatGPT → Claude):
ChatGPT "Custom Instructions" = Claude "Profile"
ChatGPT "GPTs" = Claude "Projects" + "Skills"
ChatGPT "Memory" = Claude "Profile" (the always-know-this field)
Same ideas, different names. Don't worry about it.
🫶 Never used any AI tool before?
Also fine. Skip the ChatGPT bit above. Just go to the Profile tab and start there. If a word doesn't make sense, hover or just keep going — context fills in. You're not behind. Most people doing this for the first time already.
Tell Claude who you are
This is the single thing that changes how every conversation feels. Skip it and Claude treats you like everyone else. Do it and it actually starts sounding like a real assistant.
Where to paste it in Claude: Open Claude (claude.ai), click your initials/avatar in the bottom-left corner → Settings → Profile. There's a big text box labelled "What personal preferences should Claude consider?" Paste the whole generated block in there. Save. Done.
Build three projects
Projects = separate rooms in Claude's brain. Different context, different rules, no leaking between them. Below are 3 starter projects pre-written for you. Edit, copy, paste into Claude.
Quick definitions before you start:
- Project: a workspace inside Claude. You make a new one for each big "area" of your work (writing, client work, admin). Conversations inside a project remember each other; conversations in different projects don't bleed across.
- System prompt: the rules you set for the project. It's just a block of text. Claude reads it before every conversation in that project, so you don't have to repeat yourself. You'll see one below for each project — copy it as-is or edit it.
- Knowledge base: files you upload to a project so Claude can read them (voice samples, brand guidelines, contracts, etc.). Optional but powerful.
How to actually create one: In Claude, click Projects in the left sidebar → New Project → name it → in the "Project Instructions" box, paste the system prompt from below → save. Drag any knowledge base files in.
✍️Content & Writing
For blog posts, captions, newsletters — anywhere your voice matters.
💼Client Work
Per-client conversations without context leaking between them.
⚙️Admin & Ops
SOPs, calendar wrangling, inbox triage, meeting notes, follow-ups.
Connect your actual tools
Connectors = Claude can read and act in your apps. This is where it stops being a chat window and starts being useful. Turn them on one at a time so you understand what you're letting in.
Build your skills library
Skills = saved sets of instructions Claude follows automatically when a topic comes up. Like a shortcut for the things you do over and over.
Quick definitions before you start:
- Skill: a named instruction set. Once built, Claude uses it automatically whenever the topic comes up — you don't have to remind it.
- Trigger description: the short sentence that tells Claude WHEN to use this skill. E.g. "use when I'm drafting any email to a client". If your message matches the trigger, the skill kicks in.
- Skill instructions: the actual steps Claude follows when the skill is triggered. This is where you write the rules.
How to actually create one: In Claude, click Skills in the left sidebar → New Skill → paste the trigger description in the "When to use" field → paste the skill instructions in the main body → save. Skills work across all your projects.
✨Writing Voice
Triggers when you're drafting, editing, or rewriting anything you'll publish.
🔄Content Repurposer
Triggers when you've made a long thing and want it broken into formats.
📧Client Email Drafter
Triggers when you need to write or reply to a client email.
Starter prompts
Six ready-to-go prompts. Copy, paste, edit the bits in [brackets]. No setup needed.
Want a prompt built for you?
The Prompt Helper asks you a few plain questions and assembles the prompt itself. No brackets to edit, no guessing what to include. Everything stays in your browser.
Let Claude design things
Claude Design is a canvas where Claude makes visual things while you chat: slides, one-pagers, social graphics, simple page mockups. You describe it, Claude draws it, you tweak it together. No design degree needed.
How it works, in four moves:
- Describe what you want. Use the brief builder below so you don't have to think about wording.
- Claude draws a first version on the canvas while you watch.
- Tweak it. Chat for big changes. Click on things to edit them directly. Leave a comment on any bit you want changed, like you would on a Google Doc.
- Get it out. Share a link, download it, or send it to tools you already use (Canva, Gamma and friends).
💡 No idea what to make first?
- A one-pager for your main offer: what it is, who it's for, price, how to book. Every business needs one and nobody has one.
- Five matching quote cards for Instagram in your brand colours. One brief, a week of posts.
- A simple slide deck for your next workshop or talk: title slide, three sections, a closing slide with your links.
If it needs to become a real web page: Claude Design can hand your design straight to Claude Code, which builds it from the actual design rather than squinting at a screenshot. That's a rabbit hole for another day though. Make the one-pager first.
Tick things off as you actually do them
Don't try to do this all in one sitting. One section per session. Save state lives in your browser — close the tab, come back tomorrow.