> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.clueso.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Best practices

> Get better results from Clueso Agent and make the most of your credits

Clueso Agent works best when you treat it like a freelance video editor you just hired, not a search box. A good brief takes ninety extra seconds to write and saves you twenty minutes of back-and-forth.

## Writing a good first message

A good first message covers three things:

1. **What you want** the type of video, the topic, and the key points
2. **Who it's for** your audience and what they already know
3. **How it should feel** the tone, style, and length

Attach your files (logo, footage, deck, or document) in the same message, not after.

## Tips for better results

* **Use a Clueprint when one fits.** Clueprints are pre-designed templates that handle layout, styling, and structure. They do most of the design work and you get a more polished result with less back-and-forth.
* **Answer questions with a sentence.** When Clueso Agent asks a clarifying question, give it a real answer, not just "yes" or "sure". A sentence of context helps it make better decisions.
* **Name the clip and name the fix.** "Clip 3 - make the title larger" is fast to act on. "Something looks off" triggers another question.
* **Ask it to review before you export.** "Look through the whole video and flag anything that looks off" is a genuinely useful prompt. It can spot spacing, contrast, and timing issues you might miss.

## Using your credits wisely

Every message to Clueso Agent uses credits. Here's how to get more done with fewer messages.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Use a smaller model for simple jobs">
    Straight trims, batch voiceovers, "cut this bit out". A smaller model handles those fine and costs about half as much per message, sometimes less. Keep the bigger model for when you want it to watch the footage and work out what should change.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Batch your edits into one message">
    Ask for several changes in one message instead of sending them one at a time. Five edits in one message costs roughly a fifth of five separate messages.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new chat for each section">
    The longer a chat gets, the more each message costs. If you're working on different parts of the video, start a fresh chat for each section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Say everything the first time">
    Going back and forth to nail down one change costs as much as the change itself. Include all the detail upfront: the clip, the element, the exact change, and a rough timestamp if it helps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe the moment and add a timestamp">
    If you're pointing at a specific moment in the video, describe it in words and include a rough timestamp from the editor. This stops Clueso Agent from spending time hunting for the right spot.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Roll answers into your next instruction">
    When Clueso Agent asks a question, don't send the answer on its own. Combine it with your next instruction. One message instead of two.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Do easy trims yourself">
    Simple trims and cuts are faster on the timeline than describing them in chat. Save Clueso Agent for the work that needs judgement: figuring out what to cut, where the dead air is, and how to restructure a section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your own Claude for repetitive work">
    For high-volume repetitive tasks like splitting, trimming, and batches of voiceovers, you can connect Clueso to your own Claude via MCP. That runs on your own API key and doesn't use your Clueso credits.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Common mistakes to avoid

<Steps>
  <Step title="One-word messages">
    "animate", "go", "start", "yes". These always trigger a follow-up question, so you never save time. Give Clueso Agent something to work with.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Saying 'this' with nothing attached">
    "Animate this logo" or "use this image" with no file attached. Always attach files in the same message where you reference them.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describing the subject instead of the brief">
    "Make a video on flowers" describes a topic. It says nothing about the point, the audience, or the length, so Clueso Agent has to invent all three. Add context.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Asking for a rebuild when you wanted a tweak">
    If most of the video is working, don't ask Clueso Agent to redo it. Name the specific clips and changes you want instead.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assuming it remembers what you never said">
    Clueso Agent doesn't know your brand colours, your competitors, or last quarter's launch unless it's in the conversation, in a Clueprint, or in a file you attached.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Going quiet mid-build">
    Clueso Agent asks a question and the answer never comes. If you've changed your mind, say so. "Actually, forget the intro, start at the demo" is completely fine at any point.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Quick reference

1. Say what you want, who it's for, and how it should feel before anything else.
2. Attach your logo, footage, deck, or link in the same message.
3. Use a Clueprint if one fits. It does most of the design work for you.
4. Batch multiple edits into one message to save credits.
5. Use a smaller model for simple jobs, the bigger one for creative decisions.
6. When something's wrong, name the clip and name the fix.

<Info>
  Reach out to [support@clueso.io](mailto:support@clueso.io) if you have any questions about how to get started.
</Info>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create with chat" icon="wand" href="/ai-tools/clueso-agent/create-with-chat">
    Start a video by chatting with Clueso Agent
  </Card>

  <Card title="Edit with chat" icon="pencil" href="/ai-tools/clueso-agent/edit-with-chat">
    Steer Clueso Agent once it starts building
  </Card>
</CardGroup>