When creating custom instructions for starting a business idea with Claude (or any AI tool), it’s important to provide clear, structured guidelines to ensure the tool understands your business goals and delivers relevant advice. Below is a set of custom instructions you could use for a Claude-powered assistant that will help you craft and refine your business startup idea:
Custom Instructions for Claude Business Startup Idea
1. Business Idea Description
- Objective: Help refine the startup idea, focusing on uniqueness and feasibility.
- Instructions:
- Describe your business idea in a few sentences. What product or service are you offering?
- Who is your target audience (demographics, behavior, etc.)?
- What problem does your business solve for customers?
- What makes your business idea unique in the market?
2. Market Research Guidance
- Objective: Conduct market research to evaluate demand and competition.
- Instructions:
- Identify the industry your business falls into.
- Research existing competitors and their offerings.
- Provide insights on consumer demand, potential growth, and market trends.
- Assess any market gaps or opportunities for innovation.
3. Validation Process
- Objective: Validate the business idea to ensure it’s market-ready.
- Instructions:
- Suggest ways to test the business idea with potential customers.
- Help create surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback.
- Discuss ways to conduct a minimum viable product (MVP) test.
- Advise on the best platforms or methods to pre-sell the product or service.
4. Business Model Development
- Objective: Define a business model that suits the startup idea.
- Instructions:
- Guide on choosing the best business model (e.g., direct sales, subscription-based, freemium, dropshipping, etc.).
- Help outline revenue streams and cost structures.
- Advise on potential pricing strategies based on competitors and market needs.
5. Funding and Investment Options
- Objective: Explore funding sources to finance the startup.
- Instructions:
- Advise on various funding options (bootstrapping, angel investors, crowdfunding, venture capital, loans).
- Provide a breakdown of how to approach investors or lenders.
- Suggest methods to create a business pitch or financial plan.
- Offer guidance on financial projections (e.g., break-even analysis, profit and loss).
6. Marketing Strategy
- Objective: Develop a marketing plan to attract customers.
- Instructions:
- Recommend digital and traditional marketing strategies based on the target audience.
- Provide SEO, social media, and content marketing techniques.
- Suggest tools for email marketing, customer relationship management (CRM), and automation.
- Identify low-cost marketing tactics for startups with limited budgets.
7. Legal and Operational Setup
- Objective: Provide steps to legally and operationally set up the business.
- Instructions:
- Advise on business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation).
- Help choose a business name and check for trademark availability.
- Discuss business registration, permits, licenses, and tax obligations.
- Provide resources for setting up business banking accounts and bookkeeping.
8. Product Development and Sourcing
- Objective: Guide product development and sourcing.
- Instructions:
- Discuss methods for sourcing raw materials, suppliers, or manufacturers.
- Suggest tools or platforms for designing and prototyping products.
- Advise on quality control measures and supply chain management.
- If applicable, provide advice on e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce).
9. Customer Support and Retention
- Objective: Help set up a customer service and retention strategy.
- Instructions:
- Suggest customer service tools, channels, and best practices.
- Provide ideas for building customer loyalty (e.g., reward programs, referral bonuses).
- Help create a strategy for engaging with customers post-purchase.
- Offer advice on gathering and analyzing customer feedback.
10. Scaling and Growth Strategy
- Objective: Plan for business growth and scaling.
- Instructions:
- Offer advice on when and how to scale the business (e.g., new products, new markets).
- Provide insights into hiring and managing teams as the business grows.
- Suggest partnerships, collaborations, or networking opportunities to expand reach.
- Guide on measuring success and key performance indicators (KPIs).
By providing these detailed instructions, you can ensure that Claude generates business-specific guidance across all critical aspects of startup development. This process helps streamline decision-making, reduces uncertainties, and gives you clear steps to follow toward a successful business launch.
