Getting Started with Cursor
A short, actionable guide to start using Cursor for content, repurposing, and marketing workflows—no code required.
What's new (February 2026)
Cursor 2.5 and recent releases add features that matter even if you're not coding:
Cursor Marketplace & plugins -- Install plugins that bundle skills, MCP servers, rules, and subagents. Browse at cursor.com/marketplace or type **`/add-plugin`** in Chat/Composer. Partners include Figma (design → code), Linear (issues/projects), Stripe (payments), Amplitude (analytics), AWS/Vercel/Cloudflare (deploy).
Async subagents -- Complex, multi-file tasks can run in the background; subagents can spawn more subagents.
Long-running agents -- (Ultra/Teams/Enterprise) — Agents can work autonomously over longer sessions for bigger tasks.
Sandbox & network controls -- (Enterprise) — Admins can restrict which domains or resources agents can access.
For marketers, the **Marketplace** is the one to try first: install a plugin for a tool you already use (Figma, Linear, Notion-style workflows) and see what Cursor can do with it.
Who this is for
Marketers, content people, and PMMs who want to use Cursor for outlines, repurposing, positioning, and marketing workflows—not for writing code. You need a **project folder** (notes, content, or docs) and a few **prompts**. That's it.
What you need
Cursor -- cursor.com. Free tier works; Pro unlocks more models and higher limits.
A project folder -- A folder on your machine with something in it: Markdown notes, a blog post, a positioning doc, or an Obsidian vault. Cursor works best when it can see your files.
Step 1: Install Cursor and open a project
Download and install Cursor.
Open a folder: File → Open Folder (or `Cmd+O` / `Ctrl+O`). Choose a content folder, your Obsidian vault, or a new folder with a single `.md` or `.txt` file to start.
Sign in when prompted (Google, GitHub, or email). You'll need an account to use the AI features.
Step 2: Run your first prompt (repurposing)
Create or open a file in your project—e.g. `blog-draft.md` or paste a short post into a new file.
Open Chat: `Cmd+L` (Mac) or `Ctrl+L` (Windows), or click the chat icon in the sidebar.
Ask in plain language , e.g.: *"Turn this into 3 LinkedIn post ideas, each with a hook and 2–3 bullet points."* or *"Summarize this in 5 bullet points for a slide."*
Use the reply: Insert into your doc, copy to another tool, or ask for edits.
Step 3: Use the right surface (Chat vs Composer)
Chat -- (`Cmd+L`): Best for questions, summaries, one-off rewrites, and ideas.
Composer -- (`Cmd+I` or `Ctrl+I`): Best when you want Cursor to **edit your files**—e.g. *"Add a 'Key takeaways' section to this doc"* or *"Apply this tone to all three battlecards in this folder."*
Step 4: Pick your model (or use Auto)
Auto -- Cursor chooses the model for the task. Easiest; no need to think about it.
Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, etc. -- Pick one if you have a preference.
Step 5 (optional): Add project instructions (`.cursorrules`)
1. In your **project root**, create a file named **`.cursorrules`** (no extension).
2. Add plain-language instructions, e.g.: *"Write in a direct, conversational tone. Use short sentences. No jargon."*
3. Save. Cursor will use these rules in that project for Chat and Composer.
Resources
[Short demo: Cursor in action](https://screen.studio/share/rZOAjEZg) -- Screen Studio walkthrough.
Cursor docs -- docs.cursor.com for install, models, and shortcuts.
Cursor Marketplace -- cursor.com/marketplace to discover and install plugins.