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skill Business

Gift Guide

gift-guide

Creates themed gift guides with product curation, descriptions, price tiers, and promotional strategy for seasonal marketing.

Add this skill
  1. This skill, packaged and ready to upload. gift-guide.zip
  2. In claude.ai or Claude desktop: Customize → Skills (+) → Create skill → Upload a skill, select the zip and toggle it on. Greyed out? Enable code execution under Settings → Capabilities.
  3. It’s live in your chats — no code, no setup. Want every Business skill at once? Add the whole plugin from the Business page (Customize → Personal plugins → Create plugin → Upload plugin).

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

  • Create a themed gift guide featuring your products or curated selections
  • Write compelling product descriptions for a gift-buying audience
  • Organize products into price tiers for different budgets
  • Plan promotional strategy for distributing the gift guide

DO NOT use this skill for general product catalogs, wishlists, or product comparison pages. This is for gift-focused content designed to drive seasonal or occasion-based purchases.


Core Principle

A GIFT GUIDE SELLS THE FEELING OF GIVING, NOT THE PRODUCT SPECS — EVERY DESCRIPTION SHOULD HELP THE BUYER PICTURE THE RECIPIENT'S REACTION.


Phase 1: Guide Brief

Required Inputs

Input What to Ask Default
Theme / occasion "What is the gift guide theme — holiday, Mother's Day, birthday, etc.?" No default — must be provided
Recipient persona "Who is the gift for — 'him,' 'her,' age group, hobby, relationship?" No default — must be provided
Products to feature "List products to include, or should I help curate from your catalog?" User provides product list
Price range "What price range should the guide cover?" $25-$150
Distribution channels "Where will this guide live — blog, email, social, print?" Blog post + email

GATE: Confirm theme, audience, and product list before writing.


Phase 2: Curation & Structure

Price Tier Organization

Organize products into 3 tiers:

## Gift Guide Structure

### Under $50 — Thoughtful Starters
- [Product 1] — $XX
- [Product 2] — $XX

### $50-$100 — Crowd Pleasers
- [Product 3] — $XX
- [Product 4] — $XX

### $100+ — Go All Out
- [Product 5] — $XX
- [Product 6] — $XX

Curation Rules

  1. 5-15 products per guide — enough variety without decision fatigue
  2. Mix of price points — at least 2 items in each tier
  3. Hero product — one standout item featured prominently with extended description
  4. Complementary pairings — suggest items that work together as a gift set
  5. Bestseller inclusion — at least one proven top seller to anchor credibility

Phase 3: Write Product Descriptions

Description Format

For each product, write:

### [Product Name] — $XX

**Perfect for:** [specific recipient type]

[2-3 sentences describing why this makes a great gift. Focus on the emotional payoff — how the recipient will feel, how they will use it, what makes it special. Avoid specs unless they add to the story.]

**Why they'll love it:** [One specific, vivid detail that makes this gift memorable]

Writing Rules

  • Lead with emotion, not features — "wraps them in warmth on cold mornings" beats "100% merino wool"
  • Use second person — "your mom," "your partner," "the person who..."
  • Include a gift-giving scenario — "perfect for Christmas morning" or "the kind of thing they'd never buy themselves"
  • Mention if gift-wrapping or personalization is available
  • Note shipping cutoffs for time-sensitive occasions

Phase 4: Promotional Strategy

Distribution Plan

Channel Format Timing
Blog post Full guide with images and links 4-6 weeks before occasion
Email Condensed version with top 5 picks 3-4 weeks before
Instagram Carousel with one product per slide 2-3 weeks before
Pinterest Individual product pins linking to guide 4-6 weeks before (longer shelf life)
Email reminder "Last chance" with shipping deadline 1 week before

SEO Title & Meta

**Title:** [X] Best [Occasion] Gifts for [Recipient] ([Year]) — [Brand Name]
**Meta (155 chars):** Find the perfect [occasion] gift for [recipient]. Curated picks from $XX to $XXX — plus free shipping on orders over $XX.

Cross-Promotion Tactics

  • Bundle 2-3 guide items as a "curated gift set" at a slight discount
  • Offer gift-wrapping as an add-on at checkout
  • Create a "gift guide" collection page on your store for easy shopping
  • Partner with complementary brands for a collaborative guide (expands reach)

Anti-Patterns

  • Too many products — guides with 30+ items overwhelm buyers. Curate ruthlessly.
  • Spec-heavy descriptions — gift buyers care about "will they love it?" not "dimensions: 8x10x3."
  • No price tiers — forcing all products into one range excludes budget-conscious and splurge-ready buyers.
  • Publishing too late — a gift guide posted 3 days before Christmas misses the buying window.
  • No buy links — every product must link directly to the purchase page. Zero extra clicks.
  • Ignoring shipping deadlines — always include order-by dates for guaranteed delivery.

Recovery

  • Too few products to fill a guide: Curate items from partner brands or suggest complementary products the buyer could pair with yours.
  • No product photos: Use supplier images temporarily, but schedule a photo shoot. Text-only guides convert poorly.
  • Guide for a niche audience: The more specific, the better — "Gifts for Plant Dads Under $50" outperforms "Gifts for Him."
  • Low engagement on the guide: Reshare with different angles — "most popular pick," "almost sold out," "editor's choice."
  • Products sell out during promotion: Update the guide immediately with alternatives or "sold out — join waitlist" messaging.

View source on GitHub →