module 08 connect tools

What Is An Mcp

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Full Lesson Reference

What is an MCP?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. In plain English: it's how Claude Code connects to external platforms like Google Ads, Meta, Klaviyo, GA4, Shopify. Without MCPs, Claude Code is just reading your files. With them, it pulls live data and takes action across 50+ platforms.

What an MCP actually is

An MCP is a layer of information that sits on top of a platform's API. It tells Claude

Code

  • What the platform can do (list of available actions)
  • What data the platform has (schemas + structures)
  • How to ask for things (parameters, filters, formats)
  • What the responses look like (return types)

Claude reads the MCP description, and when you say "pull last 30 days of Google Ads performance", Claude translates your English into the right API call, gets the response, and shows you the data.

You don't write API calls. You don't learn platform-specific query languages. You tell Claude what you want.

Why this matters

Without MCPs, marketers using AI for data work have to

  • Export CSVs from platform dashboards
  • Paste them into a chat tool
  • Ask AI to analyse
  • Copy the output somewhere useful
  • Repeat every time you want fresh data

With MCPs, Claude Code pulls data live, builds the report, and deploys it. One instruction, not 5 steps.

3 connection types

Claude Connectors (easiest)

Official connectors maintained by Anthropic + platform partners. Connect via

terminal
claude.ai settings or Claude Code commands. One-click auth, handled for you.

Examples: Klaviyo, GA4, Google Search Console, Notion, Slack, Gmail, Google Calendar, Figma.

Third-party MCP services

Built by other companies - Pipeboard for ad platforms, Supermetrics for cross-platform data, etc. Sign up with them, authenticate your accounts, configur e the MCP.

Examples: Pipeboard (Google Ads, Meta, TikTok), Supermetrics (150+ marketing sources).

Local MCPs

Run on your own machine. You install a package, configur e credentials, and Claude Code talks to the local process. More setup, more control.

Examples: DataForSEO, custom MCPs you build yourself, Shopify via the wp-skills connector.

What you can access via MCPs

  • Ad platforms - Google Ads, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn
  • Analytics - GA4, Google Search Console, Supermetrics
  • Email + lifecycle - Klaviyo, Mailchimp (via custom or Supermetrics)
  • Ecommerce - Shopify, WooCommerce
  • Productivity - Notion, Slack, Gmail, Google Calendar, Figma, Google Drive
  • SEO + research - DataForSEO, Ahrefs (via connectors)
  • CRM + databases - Supabase, Airtable, custom databases

Plus dozens more. Anthropic's connector directory at claude.ai/settings/connectors is the canonical list.

The trade-off

MCPs give you power. They also cost tokens - every connected MCP loads its metadata into Claude's context.

Modern MCPs use "deferred tool loading" - only the connection info loads upfront, actual tool schemas load when Claude calls them. Makes idle MCPs cheaper than they used to be.

Still, the rule: only connect what you need for this session. Module 13 covers token optimisation in depth.

Action items

☐ Understand: MCP = bridge between platform APIs and Claude Code ☐ Know the 3 types: Connectors (easiest), 3rd-party services, Local

☐ Remember: more MCPs = more capability + more tokens

Next lesson: Installing your first MCP.

Exercises

  1. Review the concepts covered in this lesson: What Is An Mcp.
  2. Write down your key takeaway from this lesson.
  3. Practice running any commands or prompts mentioned above inside your terminal.