But Claude Projects are worth the switch.

Think of it like a Custom GPT, but it leverages the strengths of Claude:

→ Longer context window (200k tokens vs 128k) → it can hold more information at once
→ Stronger at following complex instructions → less drift, more consistency
→ Better at writing that actually sounds human → less "AI voice"

I've been using it a lot recently.

In fact, I used it for this exact post.

But most people don't know how to set one up properly.

So I made a guide.

Let's break it down 👇

1️⃣ Project Name
↳ Make the purpose obvious
Give it a name that hints at what it will produce.
Example: "Content Writer for Newsletter"


2️⃣ Prompt Bar Tools

Features most people miss:

↳ Use style → Adjust Claude's writing style
↳ Extended thinking → Toggle on for complex reasoning tasks
↳ Research → Deep research mode for thorough investigation
↳ Web search → Let Claude search the internet for current info
↳ Add connectors (Very underrated) → Link Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, and more

3️⃣ Memory
↳ It learns as you go
After a few conversations, Claude starts to remember your preferences and recall context from previous chats.

"Only you" means memory is private to your account.

4️⃣ Instructions
↳ Set the rules of play

This is the format I use:

Role → Give it a specific job title: "You are a senior copywriter specialising in [X]."
Input → Its main function, who it's for, and define relevant terms.
Output → The specific results you want (include examples of good output).
Guidelines → What it should ignore or not do too.

5️⃣ Files
↳ The most important input

Upload:
✅ Brand guides or tone documents
✅ Past content that performed well
✅ Transcripts, call recordings, research
✅ SOPs, frameworks, templates

The more context you give, the better the output.

6️⃣ Model
↳ Use the best brain for the job

Opus 4.5 → Most powerful. Complex reasoning, long-form, nuanced tasks.
Sonnet 4.5 → Fast + capable. Everyday content, writing, analysis.
Haiku 4.5 → Lightweight. Quick, simple tasks where speed matters.

If you're not sure, Sonnet 4.5 is the default for a reason.


💡 Bonus tip:
Create separate projects for different use cases.
One for content. One for research. One for client work.
Each keeps its own memory, files, and instructions.

Most people won't take the time to set this up.

That's fine.

But the ones who do will have a system that compounds.