Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Using Cluade Chat

 Prompting is the weakest way to use Claude.


Here's what the power users actually set up first:

✦ Claude Chat

Step 1. Go to claude .ai
Step 2. Select Opus 4.6 + Extended Thinking.
Step 3. Prompt as a thinking partner.
Step 4: Start here at how-to-claude.ai

Prompt: "Read this contract and flag every clause that could cost me money.”

✦ Claude Cowork

Step 1. Download the Claude desktop app.
Step 2. Click "Cowork" next to Chat.
Step 3. Point it at a folder on your computer.
Step 4. Describe the outcome, not the steps.
Step 5. Use this free set up guide: claude-co.work

Prompt: "Read the files in this folder, then ask me questions before you start.”

✦ Claude Projects

Step 1. Click "Projects" in the sidebar.
Step 2. Upload your brief, brand voice & examples.
Step 3. Set your preferences. Never repeat it again.

Prompt: "Use the brand guide I uploaded and draft a client proposal.”

✦ Claude Skills

Step 1. Create a text file (.md).
Step 2. Write how to do one task your way.
Step 3. Upload it in Settings → Skills.
Step 4. Claude detects & follows the process.
Step 5. Copy my Claude skills: claude-skills.free

Prompt: "Help me create a Skill for writing weekly status reports in our company format."

✦ Claude Code

Step 1. Open your terminal. Install Claude Code.
Step 2. Point it at your codebase.
Step 3. Describe the bug or feature.
Step 4. Review, approve, ship.
Step 5. Use this free guide: claudecode.free

Prompt: "Fix the auth bug in the login flow and add unit tests.”

✦ Claude Plugins

Step 1. Go to claude .com/plugins.
Step 2. Browse by job function & click install.
Step 3. Type / to see new commands.

Prompt: "What plugins are available for my job function?”

✦ Claude Connectors

Step 1. Go to Settings → Connectors. Click "Add."
Step 2. Link Slack, Drive, Notion, or 50+ others.
Step 3. Ask Claude to pull from them.

Prompt: "Find the Q1 deck in my Google Drive and summarize the revenue slide.”

✦ Claude Excel

Step 1. Open a spreadsheet.
Step 2. Click a cell. Ask Claude:

Prompt: "Explain what this formula does in plain English.”

✦ Claude Charts

Step 1. Ask for what you'd normally build manually.
Step 2. Budget trackers. Comparison charts.
Step 3. Edit the live output right in the chat.

Prompt: "Build me a project tracker with columns for Task, Owner, Status, and Due Date.”

✦ Claude Research

Step 1. Ask a question that needs cited answers.
Step 2. Claude searches the web in real time.
Step 3. Cross-references sources.
Step 4. Shows its thinking as it goes.

Prompt: "Research the top 5 competitors in [your market]. Compare pricing, funding, and market share.”

To download all of my other Claude infographics:

Step 1. Go to how-to-ai.guide.
Step 2. Subscribe for free. Don't pay anything.
Step 3. Open my welcome email (most skip this).
Step 4. Hit the automatic reply button inside.
Step 5. Download my infographics from my Notion.

Bonus. Enjoy my best copy-paste prompts, too.