banatie-content/0-inbox/how-to-use-claude-code.md

slug	title	author	status	priority	created	source
how-to-use-claude-code	How to Use Claude Code: A Practical Tutorial for Your First Real Project	josh-mercer	inbox	HIGH	2026-01-10	seo-research-josh-mara-warmup

Idea

Discovery

Source: SEO Research for Josh & Mara warmup articles — 2026-01-10 Evidence:

• "how to use claude code" = 1,900 monthly searches
• KD: 28 (LOW-MEDIUM — very achievable)
• Search intent: Informational
• Target audience: Developers who installed Claude Code but don't know where to start, terminal-hesitant devs, Cursor users trying Claude Code

Why This Matters

Natural follow-up to installation guide:

• 1,900 searches = solid volume
• KD 28 = achievable for quality content
• Practical tutorial = high value
• Readers who installed need next step
• Josh can show real workflow

Content Angle

Title: "How to Use Claude Code: A Practical Tutorial for Your First Real Project"

Josh's Approach:

• Beginner-friendly tutorial using Claude Code on actual project (not demo)
• Show the workflow from start to finish
• Effective prompting techniques
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Include code examples and real outputs
• "Here's what I learned" teaching style

Structure:

1. Opening: "Just installed Claude Code? Here's what to do next..."
2. Prerequisites (what you should know first)
3. Your first Claude Code session:
   • Starting a project
   • First command
   • What happened
4. Understanding the workflow:
   • How to prompt effectively
   • Context awareness
   • Multi-file changes
5. Real project walkthrough (complete example)
6. Common mistakes (I made them all):
   • Vague prompts
   • Not checking changes
   • Context misses
7. Effective prompting patterns:
   • What works
   • What doesn't
   • Examples with outputs
8. When to use Claude Code vs when not to
9. Troubleshooting common issues
10. Next steps and advanced usage
11. Closing: "You've got the basics. Now go build something..."

Why This Works for Josh

Perfect for his teaching style:

• Practical tutorial format
• Shows his actual learning curve
• "Here's the mistakes I made" honesty
• Real project (not synthetic demo)
• Helps readers skip trial-and-error
• Accessible for beginners

Keywords Cluster

Keyword	Vol	KD	Priority
how to use claude code	1,900	28	PRIMARY
claude code tutorial	1,000	—	Synonym
claude code examples	590	—	Include
claude code commands	480	—	Reference

Secondary Keywords

• "claude code beginner guide"
• "claude code workflow"
• "claude code prompting"
• "claude code tips"

Key Sections Required

Getting Started:

• Open Claude Code in your project
• First command to try
• What the interface looks like
• Basic navigation

Workflow Basics:

• How to describe what you want
• Reviewing proposed changes
• Accepting/rejecting edits
• Multi-file operations

Effective Prompting:

• Specific vs vague prompts
• Including context
• Breaking down complex tasks
• Examples that work

Common Pitfalls:

• Not reviewing changes before accepting
• Prompts too vague
• Not understanding context limitations
• Expecting perfection

Real Project Example:

• Complete walkthrough
• Start to finish
• Show Claude Code's outputs
• How Josh guided it
• Final result

Content Format

Josh's Style:

• Tutorial format
• Code examples with Claude Code outputs
• Screenshots of actual usage
• "I tried this first, it didn't work..." honesty
• Step-by-step with commentary
• Practical tips from experience

Differentiation

Most Claude Code tutorials:

• Generic overview
• No real project
• Documentation rehash

Josh's angle:

• "First real project" approach
• Shows learning curve honestly
• Real mistakes and fixes
• Complete workflow example
• Beginner-friendly but practical

Strategic Value

Why This Article Matters:

• Natural follow-up to "Install Claude Code" (8.1k vol)
• 1,900 searches = solid standalone volume
• KD 28 = achievable
• Establishes Josh as Claude Code expert
• Can rank for "claude code tutorial" (1,000 vol)
• Helps readers who installed move to usage

Content Chain

This is part of Claude Code content cluster:

1. Install Claude Code (8.1k vol, KD 22) ← first
2. How to Use Claude Code (1.9k vol, KD 28) ← this article
3. Claude Code vs Cursor (4.4k vol) ← comparison
4. Advanced Claude Code workflows ← future

Notes

• Should publish shortly after "Install Claude Code"
• Natural progression: install → use → compare → advanced
• Beginner focus but practical (real project)
• Josh's learning curve = teaching advantage
• Show failures alongside successes
• Code examples essential
• Can update as Claude Code evolves

Real Project Example

Josh should use:

• Simple but real application
• Something readers can follow
• Show complete workflow
• Include Claude Code's actual outputs
• Demonstrate prompting evolution
• Show how he guided it to completion

Publication Priority

HIGH PRIORITY — Natural follow-up to "Install Claude Code." These two articles should be published close together:

1. Install Claude Code (Priority HIGH)
2. How to Use Claude Code (Priority HIGH)

Together they create comprehensive Claude Code onboarding for readers.