{"id":6365,"date":"2026-06-12T15:17:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/?p=6365"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:06:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:06:46","slug":"how-to-use-claude-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use Claude Skills: a guide for freelancers and businesses (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#What_are_Claude_Skills\" >What are Claude Skills?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#Skills_vs_Claudes_other_tools\" >Skills vs. Claude&#8217;s other tools<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#Claude_Skills_vs_Custom_GPTs_and_Gems\" >Claude Skills vs. Custom GPTs and Gems<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#How_to_create_your_own_skill\" >How to create your own skill<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#How_to_use_Claude_Skills\" >How to use Claude Skills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#Real_use_cases_for_everyday_freelancers\" >Real use cases for everyday freelancers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#Share_skills_with_your_team\" >Share skills with your team<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#How_to_use_skills_safely\" >How to use skills safely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#Best_practices_that_actually_help_you_build_skills_worth_using\" >Best practices that actually help you build skills worth using<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#How_Useme_fits_in\" >How Useme fits in<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-use-claude-skills\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"responsive-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"responsive-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Claude Skill is a folder of instructions that teaches Claude how to do one task or workflow your way \u2013 so you get the same result every time. Set it up once and reuse it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turn skills on in <em>Customize<\/em>, or grab them straight from the chat box with +. Then type \/ to run a skill, or let Claude load it automatically when your request matches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use built-in skills right away, or build your own with the skill-creator skill, no coding required to start.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add as many skills as you need. Claude reads the full instructions only for the ones that match your task. Still, don&#8217;t overdo it. A few good skills work better than dozens.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One skill works everywhere you use Claude: the web app, the desktop app, and Claude Code.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Useme, <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/tags\/contractors\/claude\/\">clients can hire freelancers specialized in Claude<\/a>, and freelancers can find jobs that need it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_Claude_Skills\"><\/span>What are Claude Skills?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A skill is a small package of instructions that shows<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/claude.ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> how to handle a specific job. <\/span><b>Think of it as a reusable playbook that keeps your examples, rules, and preferences in one place.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/claude.ai\/customize\/skills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude Skills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are predefined instruction manuals that store the context and guidelines for a task. Instead of pasting the same prompt again and again, you teach Claude once and reuse the prompt effortlessly whenever you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the hood, a skill is a folder. Inside it, you&#8217;ll find:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>SKILL.md<\/b> <b>file<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (required) \u2013 the main skill file, written in plain Markdown with a short settings block at the top called the frontmatter (the part that tells Claude what the skill does and when to use it).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>scripts\/<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (optional) \u2013 code Claude can run, for example, a Python file that calls an external API.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>references\/<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (optional) \u2013 extra reference files and bundled resources Claude opens only when needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>assets\/<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (optional) \u2013 templates, fonts, or icons used in the output.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So skills are specialized folders containing instructions and, when useful, scripts. They turn your domain knowledge and background knowledge into something Claude can apply on demand.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-eu1.hubspot.com\/web-interactives\/public\/v1\/track\/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJgdk2x8VArMgEopKxUQ1reK0uhLeXx9HoYHZcnXf6BEEQ2Y1xytBFqy1c0IRX9JRlaoGs6fFJ8Igyydbdpl%2BtPcvyrecZWhPYdoTZS6DcLUe4nG8qotzbIBeddnst%2FAg383nVEtuoYwoMUWI3S0sPCWI6bKiPpJvELZR5XeHHS8uB2GIQrtnpJVO7%2BZivCzQ%3D%3D&amp;webInteractiveContentId=419822937337&amp;portalId=27198211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill;\" src=\"https:\/\/hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/cta\/default\/27198211\/interactive-419822937337.png\" alt=\"Banner: Outsource to freelancers who work with Claude. Sign up for free.\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How the skills system works<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude doesn&#8217;t read your whole skill every time. <\/span><b>It uses progressive disclosure: it loads information in layers and pulls in only what each task needs.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loading every detail up front would mean overwhelming Claude&#8217;s context window (the limited space it can work with at once) with text you don&#8217;t need, which slows things down. Loading in layers keeps Claude fast and the answers sharp.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are three layers:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The label.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A short block at the top of the skill (the frontmatter) stays in Claude&#8217;s system prompt the whole time. It&#8217;s tiny \u2013 just the skill name and a one-line note on what the skill does and when to use it. That&#8217;s how Claude knows the skill exists without opening it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The instructions.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Claude opens the main SKILL.md file only when it decides the skill is relevant to your task.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The extras.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Linked reference files load last, and only if Claude actually needs them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s what happens when you work. It starts with your message. Claude reads that user message, checks the available skills, and picks the relevant skills that match the user&#8217;s intent \u2013 what you&#8217;re actually trying to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When one fits, the skill appears, and Claude loads its instructions on the spot, as dynamic context. Only Claude handles this \u2013 you don&#8217;t manage anything. This skill discovery runs quietly in the background.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Built-in skills vs. custom skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&#8217;t start from zero. <\/span><b>Claude comes with built-in skills you can use right away<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and it loads the relevant ones automatically when a task needs them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The built-in set covers a lot of everyday work: document creators for Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF, plus a frontend-design skill for clean web layouts. They handle many everyday jobs \u2013 and even some complex tasks \u2013 with no setup from you. In Claude Code, you also get built-in Claude commands like \/review for a quick code review.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then come <\/span><b>custom skills \u2013 your own skills, built around your workflow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These are the ones that turn Claude into your assistant. You can keep them to yourself or share them with your team. Most teams run a mix: individual skills for personal tasks and shared ones for the group.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep one skill or build many, just don&#8217;t go overboard (more on that below).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Where do you find the skills?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can reach your skills in two places.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. The quickest one is the chat box. Click the + button next to the chat box and choose <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A list opens. From there, you can run a skill, manage the ones you have, or add a new one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6356 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/chat-skill-context-window.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"746\" height=\"471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/chat-skill-context-window.png 746w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/chat-skill-context-window-480x303.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 746px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. You can also go to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customize<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is where you also manage them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6358 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/customize-skills.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"877\" height=\"358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/customize-skills.png 877w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/customize-skills-480x196.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 877px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Skills_vs_Claudes_other_tools\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills vs. Claude&#8217;s other tools<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ll see these names inside Claude. Here&#8217;s the quick difference.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"responsive-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tools Claude<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>What it is<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>When you use it<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Skills<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saved instructions for how Claude does a task<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeating the same kind of work<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Projects<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A workspace that remembers the files and context you add<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping one ongoing topic in one place<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Artifacts<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactive documents or tools shown next to the chat<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting a usable file, app, or doc out of a chat<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Cowork<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A desktop agent that works on the files on your computer<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hands-off, multi-step jobs on your own files<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Code<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An agent for coding and building, run from the terminal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software and developer work<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1<\/strong> <strong>Are you a marketer?\u00a0<\/strong>Check how to use Claude specifically for email campaigns, customer insights or social media content. Read our article: <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/claude-ai-for-marketing\/\">Claude AI for marketing: use cases, tips, and how to get real results<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Claude_Skills_vs_Custom_GPTs_and_Gems\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude Skills vs. Custom GPTs and Gems<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where many users get confused, so let&#8217;s clear it up. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/openai.com\/index\/introducing-gpts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custom GPTs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (from OpenAI) and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gemini.google\/overview\/gems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gems<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(from Google) are separate assistants you switch into, while a Claude Skill loads into the chat you already use, and you can run multiple skills at once.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"responsive-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>What it is<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Setup<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Claude Skills<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A portable instruction pack that loads into the chat you&#8217;re already in<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, it comes to you<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing one task the same way, anywhere<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Custom GPTs \/ Gems<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A separate saved assistant in ChatGPT or Gemini<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You open it manually<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building a dedicated bot for one purpose<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_create_your_own_skill\"><\/span>How to create your own skill<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create skills in two ways: with Claude\u2019s help or on your own.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>But first, turn the feature on.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Skills need a setting called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Code execution and file creation<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You find it in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Settings<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capabilities.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It lets Claude run code and build files, which is how a skill actually does its job. You switch it on once.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a Team plan it&#8217;s usually on already. On an Enterprise plan, your admin turns it on for everyone first.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Create your skill with Claude<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fastest path: Go to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customize<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 + (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add skill<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create with Claude<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. You build the skill in a normal chat. Claude asks questions, writes the file, and suggests trigger phrases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6364\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instructions.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"892\" height=\"309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instructions.png 892w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instructions-480x166.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 892px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also just type in any chat: &#8220;Use the skill-creator skill to help me build a skill for [your use case].&#8221; Expect 15\u201330 minutes for your first working skill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Skills follow an open standard, sometimes called Agent Skills, so what you build isn&#8217;t locked to one app. It works across the Claude apps \u2013 web, desktop, and Claude Code \u2013 and the open standard means other tools can adopt it too.)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Write your own skill instructions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;d rather build by hand, go to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customize<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 + (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add skill<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) \u2192\u00a0 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create skills <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write skill instructions.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Write the<\/b> <b>SKILL.md frontmatter<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the block between the [&#8212;] lines). This short block is the most important part, because it&#8217;s how Claude decides whether to load your skill.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Write a good skill description. It should say two things: what the skill does and when to use it.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Include the phrases your user request would actually contain. A vague description is the number-one reason a skill never triggers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Write detailed instructions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> below the frontmatter, in natural language. Number the steps, give an example, and add a short troubleshooting note. This is where you teach Claude your exact process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6363\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instruction-exemple.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"613\" height=\"752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instruction-exemple.png 613w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/write-skill-instruction-exemple-480x589.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 613px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b> Upload skill<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also upload your skills. Go to<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Customize<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 + (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Add skill<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) \u2192\u00a0 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create skills\u00a0 \u2192 Upload skill.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6362\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"887\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill.png 887w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill-480x165.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 887px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your file needs to be one of these:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.md file must contain skill name and description formatted in YAML<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.zip or .skill file must include a SKILL.md file<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6361\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill-window.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"545\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill-window.png 545w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/upload-a-skill-window-480x317.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 545px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Manage your skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your own skill is on the list, you can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try in chat: test the skill right away in a new conversation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edit: change the name, description, or instructions yourself.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edit with Claude: ask Claude to improve the skill for you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Replace: swap in a new file if you&#8217;ve made bigger changes outside Claude.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Download: save a copy of your skill to your computer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uninstall: remove the skill from your skills list.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also toggle a skill on or off with the switch at the top \u2013 handy when you want to silence one for a while without deleting it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6359\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/edit-skill.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"694\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/edit-skill.png 694w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/edit-skill-480x211.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 694px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_use_Claude_Skills\"><\/span>How to use Claude Skills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using skills is simple once they&#8217;re set up.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Run a skill in two ways.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manually:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> type \/ followed by the skill name (for example, \/carousel-creator or \/client-proposal).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Automatically:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> describe what you want in natural language (for example, &#8220;make a LinkedIn carousel about freelance invoicing tips&#8221; or &#8220;prepare a proposal for a client who needs a website redesign&#8221;), and Claude picks the matching skill and runs it for you.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b> Let Claude do the work.<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the skill runs, Claude follows its steps to perform tasks for you \u2013 writing a document, filling in a form, or pulling data from another tool. If a step needs a tool call or code execution, Claude handles that in the background. You just see the result.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b> Stay in control.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You can switch individual skills on or off in your settings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6360\" src=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stay-in-control-switch-button.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"687\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stay-in-control-switch-button.png 687w, https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stay-in-control-switch-button-480x162.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 687px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Real_use_cases_for_everyday_freelancers\"><\/span>Real use cases for everyday freelancers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&#8217;t need to be a developer to use Claude Skills. Here are skills that fit common freelance work:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Copywriters:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a skill that captures a client&#8217;s tone of voice, so newsletters, landing pages, and product descriptions all sound on-brand every time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Designers:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the frontend-design skill turns a written spec into a clean, on-brand layout.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Virtual assistants:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a skill that builds invoices or monthly reports in your exact format, with the same headers and totals each time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Researchers and analysts:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a skill with your research method baked in, so every brief follows the same structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agencies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: package your standard operating procedures into a few dedicated skills \u2013 write internal communications, client reports, and onboarding docs the same way every time \u2013 so a new teammate gets consistent results on the first try.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pattern is always the same: take a job you often do, define clear input and output signals, and the skill handles it the same way every time \u2013 so you never type the same prompt twice. <\/span><b>It remembers your method, so you don&#8217;t have to dig back through the conversation history or paste your instructions again.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Share_skills_with_your_team\"><\/span>Share skills with your team<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills are especially useful in teams. You can share skills with coworkers on Team and Enterprise plans, or share them with the whole organization so everyone works from the same playbook.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Team plans:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> skills are enabled by default at the organization level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enterprise plans:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> an admin enables skills in organization settings first.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This turns your best workflows into shared assets. Instead of one person knowing how the monthly report is done, the skill knows, and anyone can run it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_use_skills_safely\"><\/span>How to use skills safely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills are powerful, so treat them like software.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Only install skills from trusted sources.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A skill can include scripts and run code in Claude&#8217;s environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Review the contents<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before enabling anything from a less-trusted source.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use skills from external sources, be aware of two risks: <\/span><b>prompt injection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (hidden instructions that make Claude do things you didn&#8217;t ask for) and <\/span><b>data exfiltration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (malicious code that quietly leaks your data).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The rule is simple: if you wouldn&#8217;t run a random script on your laptop, don&#8217;t run a random skill either.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_practices_that_actually_help_you_build_skills_worth_using\"><\/span>Best practices that actually help you build skills worth using<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Build a few good skills.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A handful of optimized, well-named skills beats a cluttered skill folder you can&#8217;t trust.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Package repeat work into standard operating procedures.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you explain it more than twice, it&#8217;s a skill.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Give clear examples.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Examples help Claude learn your style and improve results faster than long descriptions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use structure in your prompts.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> XML tags group your prompt into clean sections, and a short system prompt sets global rules for how Claude should behave.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Assign a role.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Telling Claude &#8220;you are our senior copy editor&#8221; lifts task quality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One more thing for 2026: <\/span><b>clear, well-structured content matters in an AI search world<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The same habits that make a good skill \u2013 clear instructions, clean structure, no fluff \u2013 also make your work easier for AI to understand and reuse.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Useme_fits_in\"><\/span>How Useme fits in<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude Skills make individual freelancers and small teams faster and more consistent. Useme makes the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business side<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of that work just as smooth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Freelancers:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/users\/create-account\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a free Useme account<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and add the Claude tag to your profile so clients searching for Claude skills can find you. Then <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/jobs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">check the Useme job board<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for gigs where Claude is a required skill \u2013 and get hired for them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Clients:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hire verified, Claude-skilled freelancers worldwide and let Useme handle the contract, invoicing, and payment.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/tags\/contractors\/claude\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-cta-embed hs-cta-simple-placeholder hs-cta-embed-419822937337\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; width: 2112px; height: 472.140625px;\" data-hubspot-wrapper-cta-id=\"419822937337\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-eu1.hubspot.com\/web-interactives\/public\/v1\/track\/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJgdk2x8VArMgEopKxUQ1reK0uhLeXx9HoYHZcnXf6BEEQ2Y1xytBFqy1c0IRX9JRlaoGs6fFJ8Igyydbdpl%2BtPcvyrecZWhPYdoTZS6DcLUe4nG8qotzbIBeddnst%2FAg383nVEtuoYwoMUWI3S0sPCWI6bKiPpJvELZR5XeHHS8uB2GIQrtnpJVO7%2BZivCzQ%3D%3D&amp;webInteractiveContentId=419822937337&amp;portalId=27198211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill;\" src=\"https:\/\/hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/cta\/default\/27198211\/interactive-419822937337.png\" alt=\"Banner: Outsource to freelancers who work with Claude. Sign up for free.\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Do I need to know how to code to use Claude Skills?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> No, you can use built-in skills and the skill creator without writing any code. Coding only helps if you want a skill that runs custom scripts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Where do my skills live?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In the Claude app or browser version, you add them under <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customize<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (or via + \u2192 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the chat box).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How is a skill different from a normal prompt?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A prompt is one-off. A skill is saved, reusable, and loads automatically when your request matches \u2013 so you don&#8217;t repaste the same prompt every time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Can I share skills with my team?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Yes, on Team and Enterprise plans you can share skills with colleagues or deploy them organization-wide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Are Claude Skills safe?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> They are, as long as you only install skills from trusted sources and review anything from elsewhere. Skills can run code, so treat them like any other software.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Do skills work in Claude Code, the desktop app, and the web?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The same skill is portable and runs across<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Claude.ai, the Claude desktop app, and Claude Code.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Helpful links:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/support.claude.com\/en\/articles\/12512180-use-skills-in-claude\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use Skills in Claude (official help)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Anthropic&#8217;s step-by-step guide to turning skills on and using them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resources.anthropic.com\/hubfs\/The-Complete-Guide-to-Building-Skill-for-Claude.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Complete Guide to Building Skills for Claude<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (PDF) \u2013 Anthropic&#8217;s in-depth guide, if you want to go beyond the basics.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article is for general information only and is current as of June 2026. Claude&#8217;s features and plans may change \u2013 check official settings and documentation for the latest details. Nothing here is legal, financial, or professional advice. We used Claude to help research and draft this article, with human editing and fact-checking before publishing.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to know how to use Claude Skills without any tech background? This guide walks you through it, step by step. If you write, design, run a small agency, or hire freelancers, you can start today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":6367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"modified_by":"Marta","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6365"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6369,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6365\/revisions\/6369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}