If you've been using Claude just to ask questions and get answers, you're only scratching the surface. There are four Claude AI features that most people miss entirely, and once you start using them, you'll wonder how you managed without them.
I stumbled into most of these by accident, honestly. After 25 years as a freelance graphic designer, I'm used to learning tools the slow way. But Claude has some genuinely useful features built in that can save you hours of repeating yourself, re-explaining things, and copying text out of chat windows. Let me walk you through the four I keep coming back to.
Claude Projects: A Folder With Memory
A Claude project is basically a folder where you give Claude some instructions and any files it needs, and it keeps everything together. Instead of explaining yourself from scratch every single time you start a new chat, Claude already knows what you're working on, how you like things done, and what background information it's dealing with.
I've got one set up just for my app ideas. It knows what I've already built and helps me figure out which new ideas are actually worth pursuing. It's a bit like having a helper who never forgets anything you've told them. If you're a freelancer or solopreneur juggling multiple things, this alone can save you so much time.
Claude Skills: Set It Up Once, Use It Forever
A skill is a set of instructions you save so Claude can do the same job consistently, without you having to keep explaining it every time.
I've got one that handles my receipts and invoices, and another that helps Claude write more like me. You set it up once, and it's there whenever you need it. In the video above, I actually build one from scratch so you can see exactly how easy it is. No technical knowledge needed.
I wish I'd had something like this back when I was manually sorting through piles of freelance invoices at the end of every quarter. Ugh.
Claude Artifacts: Build Things, Not Just Text
This is where Claude stops feeling like a chat window and starts feeling like a proper tool. Instead of just giving you text in a conversation, it can open a separate panel and build you something: a document, a report, a graphic, even a small interactive app.
I use Claude artifacts to create things I can actually download and use straight away, rather than copying text out of a chat and reformatting it myself. In the video I show a real example where I got Claude to pull together a nicely designed one-page report. It took a few minutes. As someone who spent years laying out documents in design software, that still catches me off guard.
Claude Connectors: Link Claude to Your Favourite Apps
Connectors are probably the most "oh, that's clever" feature for me. They let Claude interact with apps you already use, like Canva, Gmail, Notion, and Slack.
In the video, I demonstrate how you can use the Gmail connector to read all your email subscriptions and then compile the best bits into a single report. Think about how long that would take you manually. And guess what? Claude does it in seconds.
What Are Claude AI Features and Who Are They For?
Claude AI features like Projects, Skills, Artifacts, and Connectors are built-in tools that go beyond simple question-and-answer chat. Projects give Claude memory across conversations. Skills let you save reusable instructions. Artifacts let Claude build documents, reports, and small apps for you. Connectors link Claude to apps like Gmail, Canva, and Notion. They're designed for anyone who wants to get more done with AI, and you don't need any technical background to use them.
Worth Going a Bit Further
If you've only used Claude for basic chat so far, these four features show what it can really do when you push past the obvious. None of them are complicated. They just aren't where most people think to look.
I cover all four in detail in the video, with real examples of how I'm using each one myself. Have a watch and see which one grabs you.
If you found this useful and want more practical AI tips like this, I send out weekly AI emails with the kind of things I'm learning and using myself. No jargon, no hype, just honest stuff that actually helps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid Claude plan to use these features?
Some features like Projects and Connectors are available on Claude's paid Pro plan. Artifacts are available on the free plan, but you'll get more use out of them with a paid subscription. Skills are also part of the Pro plan. It's worth checking Anthropic's current pricing page for the latest details.
Can I use Claude Projects if I'm not technical?
Yes. Setting up a project is as simple as writing a few sentences about what you want Claude to know and uploading any relevant files. There's no coding involved. If you can write an email, you can set up a project.
What's the difference between Claude Skills and Projects?
A project is a workspace with context and files for a specific area of work. A skill is a reusable set of instructions for a specific task, like formatting invoices or writing in your style. You can use skills inside projects, or on their own.