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Connect

Set up an MCP connector.

15 minutes
By communitySource
#connect

Marketing teams lose hours to ad-hoc, inconsistent connect work — Set up an MCP connector. Use when: connecting Google Ads, Salesforce, Mailchimp, or any service to the plugin. This playbook turns the process into a repeatable, brand-aware workflow.

Who it's for: digital marketers, marketing managers, growth marketers

Example

"Run /connect for our brand" → Connect workflow output with brand context, structured inputs captured, process steps executed, and a complete deliverable ready for review.

CLAUDE.md Template

New here? 3-minute setup guide → | Already set up? Copy the template below.

# Connect

# /dm:connect

## Purpose

Guide users through connecting a specific MCP integration to the Digital Marketing Pro plugin. Provides platform-specific setup instructions, credential requirements, configuration steps, and verification. This is the user-friendly entry point for adding integrations — it handles the common cases (known connectors with established setup paths) while `/dm:add-integration` handles custom or unknown MCP servers.

## Input Required

The user must provide (or will be prompted for):

- **Connector name**: The service to connect — e.g., "google-ads", "salesforce", "mailchimp", "twilio", "deepl". If the user provides a partial or informal name (e.g., "google analytics", "fb ads", "linkedin"), match it to the closest connector in the registry
- **Environment** (optional): Whether they're using Claude Code (supports HTTP + npx) or Cowork (HTTP only). Defaults to auto-detect based on available context. If the requested connector is npx-only and the user is on Cowork, explain the limitation and suggest HTTP alternatives in the same category

## Process

1. **Look up connector**: Execute `python3 scripts/connector-status.py --action setup-guide --name <connector>` to get the detailed setup guide for the requested connector. If the name doesn't match exactly, search the registry for close matches and suggest the correct name.

2. **Check current status**: Execute `python3 scripts/connector-status.py --action check --name <connector>` to determine if the connector is already configured. If already connected, report that and show which skills it powers — ask if the user wants to verify connectivity or reconfigure.

3. **Present setup instructions based on transport type**:

   **For HTTP connectors** (Slack, Canva, Figma, HubSpot, Notion, Ahrefs, Similarweb, Klaviyo, Google Calendar, Gmail, Stripe, Asana, Webflow):
   - Explain that the connector is already pre-configured in `.mcp.json`
   - No API keys or manual configuration needed
   - The user just needs to use a skill that requires it — Claude will prompt for OAuth authorization
   - Example: "Your Slack connector is already configured. Just run `/dm:send-notification` and you'll be prompted to authorize Slack access."
   - List the skills this connector enables

   **For npx connectors** (Google Ads, Meta, Salesforce, Twilio, etc.):
   - List the specific environment variables needed with clear descriptions
   - Provide platform-specific instructions for obtaining credentials:
     - Where to go in the platform's dashboard to create API keys
     - What permissions/scopes are needed
     - Any prerequisites (developer accounts, app creation, etc.)
   - Show the exact `.mcp.json` entry to add (from the setup guide)
   - Offer two setup paths:
     1. **Quick**: "Set the environment variables and run `/dm:add-integration <name>` to configure automatically"
     2. **Manual**: Show the JSON block to add to `.mcp.json` directly
   - Note that npx connectors work in Claude Code only, not Cowork

4. **Handle unknown connectors**: If the connector name isn't in the registry:
   - Search for close matches and suggest them
   - If no match found, explain that it's a custom integration and guide them to `/dm:add-integration` which handles npm package discovery and custom MCP server setup
   - List the categories of connectors available so they can explore alternatives

5. **Verify after setup** (for npx connectors): After the user confirms they've set up credentials, offer to verify connectivity:
   - Check that all required environment variables are set and non-empty
   - Suggest running a read-only test via the connector to confirm it works
   - Report success or diagnose failure with specific guidance

## Output

A connector setup guide containing:

- **Connector info**: Name, category, description, transport type (HTTP/npx), and current status (connected/not connected)
- **Skills unlocked**: List of all skills this connector enables, with brief descriptions of what each skill does
- **Setup instructions**: Step-by-step guide appropriate to the transport type — OAuth flow for HTTP, credential setup for npx
- **Credential requirements** (npx only): Exact environment variable names, where to obtain them, and required permissions
- **Configuration entry** (npx only): The exact JSON block to add to `.mcp.json`, ready to copy
- **Verification steps**: How to confirm the connector is working after setup
- **Alternative connectors**: Other connectors in the same category that the user might consider (e.g., "If you prefer Salesforce over HubSpot for CRM, run `/dm:connect salesforce`")
- **Next steps**: "Run `/dm:integrations` to see your updated integration dashboard" and relevant skills to try

## Agents Used

- No specialized agent needed — this skill uses the `connector-status.py` script directly and provides platform-specific guidance based on the connector registry
README.md

What This Does

Guide users through connecting a specific MCP integration to the Digital Marketing Pro plugin. Provides platform-specific setup instructions, credential requirements, configuration steps, and verification. This is the user-friendly entry point for adding integrations — it handles the common cases (known connectors with established setup paths) while /dm:add-integration handles custom or unknown MCP servers.


Quick Start

Step 1: Create a Project Folder

Create a dedicated folder for this workflow (e.g. ~/marketing/connect).

Step 2: Download the Template

Click Download above and save the file as CLAUDE.md in that folder.

Step 3: Run the Workflow

Open the folder in Claude Code and describe your goal. Claude will prompt you for any missing inputs, follow the structured process, and produce a complete deliverable.


Inputs You'll Need

The user must provide (or will be prompted for):

  • Connector name: The service to connect — e.g., "google-ads", "salesforce", "mailchimp", "twilio", "deepl". If the user provides a partial or informal name (e.g., "google analytics", "fb ads", "linkedin"), match it to the closest connector in the registry
  • Environment (optional): Whether they're using Claude Code (supports HTTP + npx) or Cowork (HTTP only). Defaults to auto-detect based on available context. If the requested connector is npx-only and the user is on Cowork, explain the limitation and suggest HTTP alternatives in the same category

How It Works

  1. Look up connector: Execute python3 scripts/connector-status.py --action setup-guide --name <connector> to get the detailed setup guide for the requested connector. If the name doesn't match exactly, search the registry for close matches and suggest the correct name.

  2. Check current status: Execute python3 scripts/connector-status.py --action check --name <connector> to determine if the connector is already configured. If already connected, report that and show which skills it powers — ask if the user wants to verify connectivity or reconfigure.

  3. Present setup instructions based on transport type:

    For HTTP connectors (Slack, Canva, Figma, HubSpot, Notion, Ahrefs, Similarweb, Klaviyo, Google Calendar, Gmail, Stripe, Asana, Webflow):

    • Explain that the connector is already pre-configured in .mcp.json
    • No API keys or manual configuration needed
    • The user just needs to use a skill that requires it — Claude will prompt for OAuth authorization
    • Example: "Your Slack connector is already configured. Just run /dm:send-notification and you'll be prompted to authorize Slack access."
    • List the skills this connector enables

    For npx connectors (Google Ads, Meta, Salesforce, Twilio, etc.):

    • List the specific environment variables needed with clear descriptions
    • Provide platform-specific instructions for obtaining credentials:
      • Where to go in the platform's dashboard to create API keys
      • What permissions/scopes are needed
      • Any prerequisites (developer accounts, app creation, etc.)
    • Show the exact .mcp.json entry to add (from the setup guide)
    • Offer two setup paths:
      1. Quick: "Set the environment variables and run /dm:add-integration <name> to configure automatically"
      2. Manual: Show the JSON block to add to .mcp.json directly
    • Note that npx connectors work in Claude Code only, not Cowork
  4. Handle unknown connectors: If the connector name isn't in the registry:

    • Search for close matches and suggest them
    • If no match found, explain that it's a custom integration and guide them to /dm:add-integration which handles npm package discovery and custom MCP server setup
    • List the categories of connectors available so they can explore alternatives
  5. Verify after setup (for npx connectors): After the user confirms they've set up credentials, offer to verify connectivity:

    • Check that all required environment variables are set and non-empty
    • Suggest running a read-only test via the connector to confirm it works
    • Report success or diagnose failure with specific guidance

What You Get

A connector setup guide containing:

  • Connector info: Name, category, description, transport type (HTTP/npx), and current status (connected/not connected)
  • Skills unlocked: List of all skills this connector enables, with brief descriptions of what each skill does
  • Setup instructions: Step-by-step guide appropriate to the transport type — OAuth flow for HTTP, credential setup for npx
  • Credential requirements (npx only): Exact environment variable names, where to obtain them, and required permissions
  • Configuration entry (npx only): The exact JSON block to add to .mcp.json, ready to copy
  • Verification steps: How to confirm the connector is working after setup
  • Alternative connectors: Other connectors in the same category that the user might consider (e.g., "If you prefer Salesforce over HubSpot for CRM, run /dm:connect salesforce")
  • Next steps: "Run /dm:integrations to see your updated integration dashboard" and relevant skills to try

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