A Claude Skill is a packaged, repeatable function Claude invokes when it recognizes the trigger. Think recipe card: pull it out on demand, run it, move on. Skills work for actions you repeat across topics—generating keyword lists, drafting social posts, summarizing articles. They're portable and context-independent.
What a Project Is
A Claude Project is a stateful workspace. It holds files, retains instructions, and carries context across sessions. Use Projects for long-running work: a brand campaign, a content series, a book. A Project is the digital folder that remembers everything you've put into it.
The Practical Rule
Skills for functions you run across topics. Projects for campaigns you develop over weeks. If the task is isolated and frequent, build a Skill. If the work has evolving requirements and shared context, build a Project.
Why You Need Both
You need both. Skills handle the repetitive execution. Projects hold the brand context and long-form work so you're not rebuilding from scratch every session. Together they keep you focused on output instead of setup.
The "5 Most Repetitive Tasks" Audit
Before you build anything, list the five tasks you do most often. Mark each one "S" for Skill or "P" for Project. This forces you to be deliberate about what you build and where it lives.
With the framework set, build your first Claude Skill.
Section 3: Building Your First UGC Claude Skill (Hook Brainstormer)
Naming and Describing the Skill
