Quick Takeaway
- ✓Cursor isn't just a dev IDE—it's an AI workspace where you work across multiple initiatives with AI as your thought partner
- ✓Takes a couple weeks to get the hang of it. Start simple (landing pages, dashboards, data insights) then move to more complex projects
- ✓Supports GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, Gemini 2.5 Pro—you can switch models mid-project
- ✓This is your Marketing Engineer moment: Getting hands dirty and learning to build is the way forward
- ✓Work with a dev/engineer to understand security, auth, backend services. Leverage MCP servers and structured PRDs
What Cursor AI Actually Is
Here's what most people miss: Cursor isn't just a code editor—it's an AI workspace.
You're not just writing code. You're working across multiple initiatives with AI as your thought partner. You can have conversations about architecture, ask it to refactor entire codebases, build features while explaining the logic—it's a completely different way of building.
The Moment It Clicks
From @boringmarketer: I recorded a podcast about Cursor that opened my mind to what this tool actually is.
I'd vibe coded with tools like Replit before, but Cursor was different. The power and flexibility were mind-opening. This was my Marketing Engineer moment—realizing I could actually build the tools I needed instead of describing them to developers.
It took a couple weeks to get the hang of it. But once it clicked? Everything changed.
What Makes Cursor Special
Three things make Cursor different from other AI coding tools:
1. AI Workspace, Not Just Autocomplete
You can have full conversations with AI about your codebase. Ask questions, propose solutions, refactor entire files. It understands context across your whole project.
2. Multi-Model Flexibility
Switch between GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and Gemini 2.5 Pro mid-project. Different models are better at different things—Cursor lets you use the right tool for each task.
3. MCP Server Integration
Connect to Model Context Protocol servers to extend Cursor's capabilities. Pull in external data, connect to APIs, integrate with your tools—all within the editor.
The Reality Check
Cursor is not the solution to everything. You can't one-shot complex apps. You'll break things. You'll need to learn about file structures, PRDs, version control.
But getting your hands dirty and learning to build is the way forward. Start simple—landing pages, data insights, dashboards. Slowly move to more complicated tasks.
What is a Marketing Engineer?
Marketing Engineer is the role that emerges when marketers learn to build. It's different from traditional marketing or development:
Traditional Marketer
- •Describes what they need
- •Waits for developers
- •Limited by tools and budgets
- •Can't iterate quickly
Marketing Engineer
- ✓Builds their own tools
- ✓Ships in hours, not weeks
- ✓Iterates based on data
- ✓Knows when to hire help
Traditional Developer
- •Builds what's spec'd
- •May not understand marketing context
- •Expensive for simple tasks
- •Required for complex systems
The shift: Before AI coding tools, you either described what you needed to developers or settled for what no-code tools offered. Now, with Cursor, you can build custom tools yourself while still hiring developers for complex systems. You're not replacing developers—you're expanding what you can do without them.
Key Cursor Features Every Beginner Needs to Know
1. Composer (Cmd+I / Ctrl+I)
The main interface for building. Describe what you want in natural language, and Composer generates code across multiple files. It understands your entire project context.
Beginner tip: Start small. Ask for one component at a time, not entire applications.
2. Chat (Cmd+L / Ctrl+L)
Chat with AI about your code. Ask questions, debug problems, understand how things work. Chat doesn't modify files—it just answers questions.
Beginner tip: Use Chat to understand code before modifying it. Ask "what does this function do?" before asking Composer to change it.
3. Tab (Autocomplete)
As you type, Cursor suggests completions. Hit Tab to accept. Works inline while you're coding. This is your "copilot" while building.
Beginner tip: Don't fight Tab suggestions. If they're wrong, just keep typing—Cursor will adjust.
4. Agent Mode (Background Tasks)
Give Cursor a complex task and it works in the background. "Add user authentication" or "Make this mobile responsive"—Agent mode breaks it into steps and executes them.
Beginner tip: Agent mode is powerful but can make unexpected changes. Use git to track changes and revert if needed.
5. @ Mentions (Context Control)
Type @ in Composer or Chat to reference specific files, folders, or docs. "@folder/components" tells Cursor to focus on that directory. "@docs" references documentation.
Beginner tip: Use @currentFile when you want changes only in the file you're viewing. Prevents Cursor from modifying unrelated files.
6. Codebase Indexing
Cursor indexes your entire project. When you ask questions, it can search across all files to give contextually relevant answers. This is why Cursor "understands" your project.
Beginner tip: Wait for indexing to complete (check bottom-right) before starting complex tasks. Indexing ensures Cursor knows your full codebase.
7. Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers
Connect Cursor to external data sources and APIs. Pull in Google Analytics data, connect to your CRM, integrate with marketing tools—all within the editor. MCP extends what Cursor can do.
Beginner tip: Start without MCP. Learn the basics first, then explore MCP servers once you're comfortable with Cursor's core features.
What's New in Cursor (November 2025)
- 🆕Credit Pool Pricing: Replaced request limits with usage-based credits (June 2025). More flexible but requires understanding model costs.
- 🆕Improved Agent Mode: Background agents now handle more complex multi-file changes with better accuracy.
- 🆕Enhanced MCP Support: Easier setup for connecting external tools and APIs. Growing library of pre-built MCP servers.
- •Multi-Model Switching: Seamlessly switch between GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 2.5 mid-conversation. Pick the right model for each task.
- •Better Context Understanding: Improved codebase indexing means Cursor better understands large projects.
Multi-Model Support: Why This Matters
Unlike GitHub Copilot (locked to OpenAI models), Cursor lets you use:
- •GPT-5: Fastest for simple tasks and quick iterations
- •Claude Sonnet 4.5: Best for complex logic and following detailed instructions
- •Gemini 2.5 Pro: Strong at understanding design intent and visual layouts
You can switch models mid-project. Start with GPT-5 for structure, switch to Claude for complex features, use Gemini for design tweaks. This flexibility is Cursor's biggest advantage.
When to Use Cursor vs Hiring a Developer
Cursor isn't always the answer. Here's the honest decision framework:
✅ Use Cursor if:
- •You're building landing pages or simple websites
- •You need internal tools (calculators, dashboards, reports)
- •You're prototyping ideas and need to iterate fast
- •You want to make changes yourself without dev dependencies
- •Budget is tight (you're trading time for money)
❌ Hire a Developer if:
- •You need complex authentication and user systems
- •You're building a product with real databases and backend logic
- •Security and compliance are critical (healthcare, finance, etc.)
- •You need mobile apps (iOS/Android)
- •Your time is worth more than $200/hour (hire is faster ROI)
The Hybrid Approach
Most successful marketers use both. Use Cursor for:
- •Landing pages and marketing sites
- •Internal tools and dashboards
- •Quick prototypes and MVPs
Hire developers for core product features, complex systems, and anything customer-facing that needs to scale.
My Personal Cursor Stack (How I Actually Build)
Everyone has theories about the "perfect AI coding setup." Here's what actually works for me after building dozens of projects:
⚡The Two-Tool System
Cursor Agent + GPT-5
What I use it for: Debugging, research, quick iterations
- →When something breaks, GPT-5 is fastest at finding the issue
- →Researching libraries and dependencies
- →Quick CSS/styling tweaks
- →Speed matters more than perfect code
Claude Code (Built-in Terminal)
What I use it for: Actual building, git operations, deployment
- →Writing production code - better at following patterns
- →Git commands in the terminal (commit, push, branch)
- →Complex logic that needs careful reasoning
- →Quality matters more than speed
Why both? GPT-5 is your speedrunner. Claude is your craftsman. Use GPT-5 to move fast, Claude to build right. Don't pick one—use the right tool for the task.
🚀My Deployment Setup (GitHub → Vercel)
This is the simplest deployment workflow for marketers. Once set up, it takes 30 seconds to push changes live:
Create GitHub repo
Go to github.com/new and create a new repository. Name it after your project. Public or private—doesn't matter.
Give Claude Code terminal access
In Cursor, open the built-in terminal. Claude Code can run git commands directly from here. Initialize your repo with `git init`, add remote with `git remote add origin [your-repo-url]`.
Connect Vercel to GitHub
Sign in to vercel.com with GitHub. Import your repo. Vercel auto-detects Next.js, React, etc. Click deploy. Done in 2 minutes.
Push to deploy automatically
Now every time Claude Code pushes to GitHub (git add, commit, push), Vercel automatically rebuilds and deploys. No manual steps. Your changes are live in 60-90 seconds.
Why this works: Claude Code has terminal access, so it can handle all the git operations for you. Just tell it "commit these changes and push to GitHub" and Vercel handles the rest.
Cost: $0 for hobby projects. Vercel's free tier covers most marketing sites.
🔌The Two MCP Servers I Actually Use
MCP servers extend Cursor's capabilities by connecting external data sources. The MCP servers themselves are free to set up (they're just integrations), but you pay for the APIs they connect to. I use two religiously:
Firecrawl MCP
What it does: Scrapes and extracts clean data from any website
- →Competitor website analysis - extract copy patterns
- →Landing page research - see how others structure offers
- →Content mining - gather examples for PRDs
- →Pricing intelligence - track competitor pricing
Perplexity MCP
What it does: Real-time research with citations (like ChatGPT search, but better)
- →Market research - current trends and data
- →Competitive intelligence - recent company news
- →Technical research - latest library versions
- →Fact-checking - verify claims with sources
Real-World Example: Building a PRD
The task: Build a competitor comparison landing page
My workflow:
- 1. Use Perplexity MCP to research competitor positioning and messaging trends
- 2. Use Firecrawl MCP to scrape 10 competitor landing pages
- 3. Analyze patterns - common sections, CTAs, social proof formats
- 4. Draft PRD in Cursor with Claude Code
- 5. Build the page, using GPT-5 for quick iterations and Claude for final code
- 6. Push to GitHub → Auto-deploy to Vercel
Total time: 3-4 hours from research to live site. Without MCP servers? Add 2-3 hours of manual research.
The Stack Summary
Building:
- • Cursor Agent + GPT-5 (debugging, speed)
- • Claude Code in terminal (production code)
Deployment:
- • GitHub for version control
- • Vercel for auto-deployment
Research:
- • Firecrawl MCP (website scraping)
- • Perplexity MCP (market research)
Base Costs:
- • Cursor Pro: $20/month
- • GitHub: Free
- • Vercel: Free tier works
- • Firecrawl API: ~$30-50/month
- • Perplexity API: ~$20-40/month
Plus token usage costs (this adds up fast):
- • Cursor credit overages: $20 base credit covers ~225 Claude Sonnet requests or ~500 GPT-5 requests. Heavy users (daily Agent mode) typically spend $60-180+/month on overages.
- • Claude Code API: Separate from Cursor. Sonnet 4.5 costs $3/$15 per million tokens. Heavy building can run $50-150+/month depending on project complexity.
Total realistic cost for heavy usage: $150-400+/month when actively building
Light usage (occasional projects): ~$100-150/month | Active building (daily): $200-300/month | Heavy automation/agents: $300-400+/month
The ROI: Still massively cheaper than hiring a developer ($5,000-15,000/month contract, or $150-200/hour freelance).
You ship yourself, maintain full control, iterate instantly, and own the codebase. One client landing page project ($2,000-5,000) pays for 5-10 months of this entire stack.
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What Actually Goes Wrong (And How to Fix It)
Every Cursor beginner hits these problems. Here's what breaks and how to fix it:
❌ Problem 1: "AI keeps generating code that doesn't work"
What's happening: You're asking for too much at once. AI generates code that looks right but has subtle bugs when components interact.
The fix: Build in small chunks. Create one component, test it, then add the next. Don't ask AI to "build the entire landing page"—ask for header, test it, then footer, then hero section, etc.
Time cost: 10-15 hours of frustration before you learn this pattern.
❌ Problem 2: "My changes keep breaking what was working"
What's happening: You're not using git version control. When AI makes changes, it sometimes overwrites working code.
The fix: Learn basic git commands (10 commands cover 90% of needs). Commit after every working feature. When things break, you can revert to the last working version in 30 seconds.
Time cost: 2-3 hours to learn git basics, saves 20+ hours of rebuilding broken code.
❌ Problem 3: "The design looks terrible on mobile"
What's happening: AI generates code for desktop by default. Mobile responsiveness requires explicit instructions.
The fix: Always specify "make this responsive for mobile" in your prompts. Test on mobile devices early (use browser dev tools to preview mobile view). If using Tailwind CSS, learn the responsive prefixes (sm:, md:, lg:).
Time cost: 4-6 hours fixing responsiveness on your first project, 30 minutes on future projects once you know the pattern.
❌ Problem 4: "I don't know which model to use"
What's happening: Each AI model has strengths. Using the wrong one wastes time and credits.
The fix: Use GPT-5 for speed and simple changes. Switch to Claude Sonnet 4.5 when you need complex logic or careful instruction following. Use Gemini 2.5 Pro for design-heavy tasks.
Pro tip: Start every project with Claude Sonnet—it's the most reliable for marketers learning Cursor.
The Pattern
Notice the pattern? Most Cursor problems come from expecting AI to work like a human developer. It doesn't. You need to guide it in small steps, test constantly, and version control everything.
Getting Started: The Real Learning Path
Forget arbitrary hour estimates. Here's how to actually learn Cursor:
Week 1-2: Get Your Hands Dirty
Download Cursor. Watch tutorials, but don't just watch—BUILD. Start with something simple: a landing page, a data dashboard, basic insights. Break things. Fix them. Get comfortable with the interface and how AI responds.
- →Start with Claude Sonnet 4.5 as your default model
- →Deploy something (anything!) to Vercel or Netlify
- →Learn basic git commands - commit, push, pull
- →Join the Cursor Discord and watch what people are building
- →Save your prompts - you'll reuse successful patterns
- →Trying to build something complex before understanding basics
- →Not deploying early - deployment teaches you so much
- →Expecting to one-shot complex features
Week 3-4: Build Something Real
Pick a real business need. A landing page for a campaign. An internal dashboard. A calculator. Something you'll actually use. Build it piece by piece. You'll rebuild sections 3-4 times—that's learning.
- →Sit down with a dev or engineer - understand security, auth, backend services
- →Use AI as your thought partner - ask "why" not just "how"
- →Work on structuring clear PRDs before you build
- →Test on mobile constantly
- →Document what works - your future self will thank you
Month 2+: Level Up
Now you understand file structures, how components work, when to use different models. Start exploring MCP servers. Build more complex tools. Each project teaches you patterns you'll reuse forever.
- →Explore MCP servers - extend Cursor's capabilities
- →Build a component library you can reuse
- →Experiment with GPT-5 for speed, Claude for logic, Gemini for design
- →Share what you build - teaching solidifies learning
- →Know when to hire a developer vs build yourself
The Real Timeline
How long does it take? It depends what you're building.
A simple landing page once you know Cursor? 2-4 hours. Your first landing page? Maybe a couple days. A complex dashboard? Could be a week. An app with auth and databases? You should probably hire help.
The question isn't "how many hours to learn Cursor?" It's "what do you need to build?" Start there.
Boring Marketing Take
The tutorial industrial complex wants you to believe Cursor is "easy." Just watch this 10-minute video and you'll be building apps!
The reality: Cursor is powerful, but you need to get your hands dirty. You can't one-shot complex apps. You'll break things. You'll need to understand file structures, version control, deployment, PRDs.
But here's what they don't tell you: This is your Marketing Engineer moment. The moment you realize you can build the tools you need instead of describing them to developers or settling for what no-code tools offer.
Start simple. Landing page. Dashboard. Data insights. Slowly move to more complex projects. Work with a dev to understand the hard parts. Use AI as your thought partner. That's the way forward.
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Cost: What You'll Actually Pay
Cursor uses credit pool pricing (changed June 2025). Here's what different marketers actually pay:
Most Marketers: Pro Plan
What you get: Unlimited autocomplete + $20 credit pool for AI chat/edits. Covers 1-2 small projects per month.
Typical usage: Building 1-2 landing pages or tools per month
Heavy Users: Pro Plus
What you get: $70 credit pool (3.5x Pro). For marketers building 3-5 tools per month or working on larger projects.
Typical usage: Building multiple projects simultaneously, agency work
Teams: Business Plan
What you get: All Pro features + centralized billing, SSO, admin controls. Minimum 2 users.
Typical usage: Marketing teams with 2+ people building tools
How Credit Pool Pricing Works
Instead of request limits, you get a monthly credit pool equal to model API costs:
- •Pro ($20/month): $20 worth of AI usage + unlimited autocomplete
- •Pro Plus ($60/month): $70 worth of usage (3.5x Pro)
- •Ultra ($200/month): 20x Pro usage pool for maximum access
What this means: Claude Sonnet costs more per request than GPT-5. If you use Claude heavily, you may need Pro Plus.
ROI: Cursor vs Hiring a Developer
Cursor Pro ($20/month)
- $240/year total cost
- Build 10-20 tools per year
- Changes take minutes
- Complete control over code
Hiring Developer
- $3,000-5,000 per landing page
- 2-4 weeks turnaround
- Every change costs more
- Dependent on their schedule
Break-even after your first project. Everything after that is pure savings.
What Marketers Actually Build with Cursor
Based on what our community is building, here are the most common use cases:
1. Landing Pages & Campaign Sites
Build custom landing pages without depending on page builders. Full control over design and functionality.
Timeline: 12-20 hours first project, 4-8 hours by project 3
2. Internal Marketing Tools
ROI calculators, pricing configurators, report generators, dashboards. Tools your team uses daily but aren't worth hiring a dev for.
Timeline: 15-25 hours per tool
3. Simple Automations & Scrapers
Competitor monitoring, data collection, content aggregation. Things that are too custom for Zapier but too simple for a full dev project.
Timeline: 8-15 hours per automation
4. Interactive Demos & Calculators
Product demos, pricing calculators, configurators. Tools that help prospects understand your offer.
Timeline: 10-18 hours per interactive tool
5. Portfolio & Case Study Sites
Showcase work, build personal brand sites, create case study galleries. Better than templates because you control everything.
Timeline: 15-30 hours for full site
Cursor vs Competitors: The Complete Breakdown
The AI coding space is crowded. Here's how Cursor compares to the main competitors for marketers:
Cursor
Best OverallFull-featured AI workspace with multi-model support. Switch between GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 2.5 mid-project. Excellent codebase understanding and MCP server integration.
Cost
$20-60/month
Learning Curve
Couple weeks to get the hang of it
Best For
Marketers who want flexibility
Windsurf (Codeium)
Newer CompetitorCodeium's answer to Cursor. Similar agentic features with "Flows" (their version of Composer). Promises better context awareness and faster performance. Launched late 2024.
Cost
Free tier + $10-20/month
Learning Curve
Similar to Cursor
Best For
Price-conscious users
The reality: Windsurf is cheaper and has a generous free tier. But it's newer—smaller community, fewer tutorials, less proven for marketing use cases. Worth watching but Cursor is more established.
GitHub Copilot
Most PopularMicrosoft's AI coding assistant. Lives in VS Code. Strong autocomplete but limited to OpenAI models. More autocomplete-focused than workspace-focused.
Cost
$10-20/month
Learning Curve
Easier (if you know VS Code)
Best For
Developers in VS Code ecosystem
The reality: Copilot is great at autocomplete but lacks the multi-model flexibility and agentic features that make Cursor special. If you're already a VS Code power user, Copilot works. For marketers learning from scratch, Cursor is better.
Claude Code (formerly Claude Dev)
Claude OnlyAnthropic's official editor. It's just Claude in a code-focused interface. Simple, clean, but locked to Claude models only.
Cost
$20/month (Claude Pro)
Learning Curve
Simplest setup
Best For
Claude fans who want simplicity
The reality: If you already pay for Claude Pro and love Claude's reasoning, this is the simplest option. But you're locked to one model—can't switch to GPT-5 for speed or Gemini for design. Less flexible than Cursor.
Replit
Easiest StartBrowser-based coding with AI. Everything runs in the cloud—no local setup. Great for "vibe coding" and quick prototypes. Less powerful for complex projects.
Cost
Free tier + $20/month
Learning Curve
Easiest—no setup
Best For
Beginners and quick experiments
The reality: Replit is fantastic for getting started—no downloads, just start coding in your browser. Perfect for vibe coding simple tools. But for serious projects, you'll outgrow it. Use Replit to learn, then move to Cursor for real work.
Bolt.new (StackBlitz)
Instant DeployPrompt-to-app in your browser. You describe what you want, Bolt builds it instantly and deploys it. Magic for demos but limited for complex projects.
Cost
Free tier + $20/month
Learning Curve
Easiest—just prompts
Best For
Quick demos and prototypes
The reality: Bolt is impressive for demos—"build me a calculator" and it's live in 60 seconds. But you have limited control over the code, and complex changes are hard. Great for proof-of-concepts before building properly in Cursor.
v0 (Vercel)
UI FocusedVercel's AI for generating React components. Describe UI, get clean components instantly. Integrates with Next.js. Not a full editor—generates code you use elsewhere.
Cost
Free credits + $20/month
Learning Curve
Easy for UI generation
Best For
React component generation
The reality: v0 is excellent for generating UI components quickly. But it's not a full editor—you take the generated code and use it in Cursor or VS Code. Use v0 for component inspiration, then build in Cursor.
Quick Comparison for Marketers
| Feature | Cursor | Top Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Model Support | ✅ GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 2.5 | ❌ Most locked to one model |
| Full Project Workspace | ✅ Full codebase understanding | ⚠️ Varies (Copilot limited, Windsurf similar) |
| Learning Curve | Couple weeks to get the hang of it | Replit/Bolt easiest, Copilot/Windsurf similar |
| Cost | $20-60/month | Windsurf cheaper ($10), most around $20 |
| Community & Resources | ✅ Large community, many tutorials | Copilot largest, Windsurf smallest |
| Best For Marketers | ✅ Full flexibility, proven track record | Replit for learning, Copilot for VS Code users |
Multi-Model Support
Full Project Workspace
Learning Curve
Cost
Community & Resources
Best For Marketers
Decision Framework for Marketers
Choose Cursor if:
- ✓You want the flexibility to switch AI models mid-project
- ✓You're building real tools and need full codebase understanding
- ✓You want the most established tool with the largest community
Choose Alternatives if:
- •Replit/Bolt: You're just starting out and want to experiment with zero setup
- •Windsurf: You want similar features to Cursor but at a lower price point (less proven)
- •Claude Code: You already pay for Claude Pro and only want to use Claude (simpler but less flexible)
- •GitHub Copilot: You're already a VS Code power user and want autocomplete (less agentic)
- •v0: You just need quick React component generation (not a full editor)
The honest take: Cursor is the most complete solution for marketers learning to build. It has the largest community, most tutorials, and proven track record with marketing use cases.
Start with Replit if you're scared of setup. Experiment with Bolt for demos. But when you're ready to build real tools? Cursor is where most marketers land and stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
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