Summary  
This chapter shows how to define and implement a reusable Claude Code skill by creating a manifest in `.claude/skills` that accepts parameters, orchestrates a multi-step workflow (web search, data validation, deduplication, preview), and persists results with a single command.

General domain of usage  
Business lead generation

Claude Code skills are reusable instructions and processes stored inside the project’s `.claude/skills` folder. Once a skill is created, you can run a complex workflow with a simple command instead of rewriting the full prompt each time.

In this example, the goal is to create a `scrape-leads` skill. The skill should accept a business niche, location, and number of leads to find. It then:

* Searches the web for real businesses;
* Collects their names, locations, websites, and public contact emails;
* Checks that each website is working;
* Removes duplicate or suppressed leads;
* Shows the results for approval;
* Saves approved leads to the database with the `new` status.

Claude first checks the official skill format and reviews the existing project structure. Because it understands the surrounding project and database, it can identify missing details and ask useful questions, such as whether leads should be added immediately or reviewed first.

The finished skill is stored in:

`/.claude/skills/scrape-leads/SKILL.md`

After creating it, the workflow can be launched with a short command containing the niche, location, and required number of leads. Claude follows the documented process, searches for suitable businesses, verifies the results, checks the database for duplicates, and presents the final leads for confirmation.

Once approved, the leads are added to the database and become visible in the dashboard. The same skill can then be reused for different industries, locations, and lead targets.

Skills are useful for any repeatable process that requires several steps. They make workflows faster, more consistent, and easier to use without requiring the full instructions to be written every time.

> ### Task
>
> * Create a reusable skill that finds three businesses in a chosen niche and location, checks their websites, and saves the results to a file.
>
> > **Create a `find-businesses` skill that accepts a niche and location, finds three real businesses, collects their names and websites, removes duplicates, and saves the approved results to `leads.md`.**


Learn how to use Claude Code to plan, build, improve, and automate a practical business application. You will set up an effective project environment, give Claude reliable context, turn specifications into working features, create reusable skills, connect external tools, and schedule recurring processes.

Explore how Claude Code works, install it locally, and use it to complete your first practical tasks. Learn how project context improves its results and how to refine and deploy what it creates.

Build a consistent project structure that helps Claude understand your codebase and instructions. Learn how to manage context, tokens, and conversations so Claude stays focused and produces reliable results.

Use Plan Mode and a project specification to design and build a functional business dashboard. You will also create reusable skills for lead research and automated website mockup generation.

Extend Claude Code by connecting it to services such as Gmail through MCP. Learn how to run tasks in parallel and schedule recurring processes that continue your workflows automatically.