Claude is one of the easiest AI tools to get started with, if you can send a text message, you can use it. This guide walks you through how to use Claude AI from scratch, and how to get genuinely useful results rather than generic ones.
Step 1: Sign up
Go to claude.ai and sign up with an email address or Google account. There is a free tier, so you can start straight away without paying. You will land on a simple chat screen with a message box at the bottom.
Step 2: Write your first prompt
Type what you want in plain English and press enter. The trick to good results is being specific. Instead of “write an email”, try: “Write a friendly but professional email to a client explaining that their project will be delayed by one week, and apologising without over-promising.” The more context and direction you give, the better the output.
Step 3: Refine the answer
Claude is conversational, so you do not have to get it right first time. Just reply: “make it shorter”, “more formal”, “add a line offering a discount”. This back-and-forth is where the real value is.
Step 4: Upload documents
Click the attachment icon to upload PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets or images. Then ask Claude to “summarise this report in five bullet points” or “pull out every action item from these meeting notes”. Handling long, complex documents is one of Claude’s biggest strengths.
Five prompts to try today
- “Summarise this document for a busy executive.”
- “Rewrite this paragraph to be clearer and warmer.”
- “Draft five subject lines for this email.”
- “Explain this concept to me like I’m new to it.”
- “What questions should I be asking about this?”
Getting genuinely good, fast
Most people plateau at basic use and never discover what Claude can really do. A short, hands-on session changes that. Our partners run Claude training for Australian teams that takes people from curious to confident. New to Claude entirely? Start with what Claude AI is.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start using Claude AI?
Go to claude.ai, sign up with an email or Google account, and start typing in the message box. There is a free tier, so you can try it immediately without paying.
How do I write a good Claude prompt?
Be specific about what you want, who it is for and the format. Give Claude context and an example if you can. You can also ask it to adopt a role, such as ‘act as an experienced editor’.
Can I upload documents to Claude?
Yes. You can attach PDFs, Word docs, spreadsheets and images, and ask Claude to summarise, analyse or answer questions about them. Handling long documents is one of Claude’s biggest strengths.
What can I ask Claude to do?
Write and edit text, summarise long documents, analyse data, brainstorm, explain concepts, draft emails and write or debug code. If you can describe it in words, it is worth trying.
Is Claude hard to use?
No. If you can send a text message, you can use Claude. The skill is in writing clear requests, which improves quickly with practice or a short training session.
