# How to Fork the coreyhaines31/marketingskills Repository: A Complete Guide

> Learn how to fork the coreyhaines31/marketingskills repository on GitHub. Clone your copy, customize skills, validate changes, and commit your updates with this complete guide.

- Repository: [Corey Haines/marketingskills](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-04-24

---

**Fork the repository via GitHub's interface, clone your copy locally, optionally add the upstream remote for synchronization, then customize markdown skills in `skills/` and validate changes with [`validate-skills.sh`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/validate-skills.sh) before committing.**

The `coreyhaines31/marketingskills` repository hosts a curated collection of **AI Agent Skills** designed for marketing-focused automation tasks. Because the architecture relies on plain markdown files and zero-dependency CLI tools rather than compiled binaries, forking the repository creates a lightweight sandbox where you can tailor skill definitions to your brand without managing complex build steps or hidden runtime configurations.

## Repository Architecture Overview

The repository follows a content-driven architecture that makes forking safe and straightforward. All skill definitions live as markdown files with standardized front-matter, while helper tools are written as zero-dependency Node.js scripts that execute without additional packages.

Key structural components include:

- **`skills/`** – Contains subdirectories for each skill (e.g., `skills/copywriting/`), each holding a [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file that follows the Agent Skills specification with metadata, trigger phrases, and instructions.
- **`tools/clis/`** – Houses zero-dependency Node.js CLIs (such as `tools/clis/*.js`) that agents invoke to interact with third-party marketing platforms like Stripe or Zapier.
- **[`.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml)** – GitHub Actions workflow that validates skill front-matter and enforces naming conventions on every push.
- **[`validate-skills.sh`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/validate-skills.sh)** – Local shell script that runs the same linting checks as the CI pipeline.
- **[`AGENTS.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/AGENTS.md)** – Governance document defining naming rules, linting standards, and publishing conventions for agent consumers.
- **[`VERSIONS.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/VERSIONS.md)** – Central registry tracking published skill versions, enabling agents to warn users about outdated implementations.
- **[`tools/REGISTRY.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/tools/REGISTRY.md)** – Index of available CLI tools and their corresponding marketing service integrations.

## Step-by-Step Forking Instructions

### Create Your Fork on GitHub

Navigate to `https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills` and click the **Fork** button in the upper-right corner. This creates a complete copy of the repository under your GitHub username while preserving the full commit history and branch structure.

### Clone and Configure Remotes

After forking, clone your copy to your local machine and configure the original repository as an upstream remote to facilitate future synchronization:

```bash

# Clone your fork

git clone https://github.com/<YOUR_USERNAME>/marketingskills.git
cd marketingskills

# Add the original repository as upstream

git remote add upstream https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills.git
git fetch upstream

```

### Customize Skills and Validate

Because skills are pure markdown, you can immediately edit any file without recompilation. For example, to customize the copywriting skill:

```bash

# Edit the skill definition

code skills/copywriting/SKILL.md

# Validate your changes locally

bash validate-skills.sh

```

The [`validate-skills.sh`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/validate-skills.sh) script (and [`validate-skills-official.sh`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/validate-skills-official.sh) for stricter checks) parses the YAML front-matter in each [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/SKILL.md) file to ensure metadata compliance before you push.

### Push Changes and Sync with Upstream

Commit your customizations and push them to your fork:

```bash
git add skills/copywriting/SKILL.md
git commit -m "feat: customize copywriting skill for brand voice"
git push origin main

```

To incorporate updates from the original repository, periodically run:

```bash
git fetch upstream
git checkout main
git merge upstream/main

```

## Working with Forked Skills

### Editing Skill Definitions

Each skill resides in `skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` and follows a standardized format with front-matter metadata (title, description, version) followed by markdown content. Because these are text files, you can version-control your branding changes, prompt adjustments, and trigger phrase modifications using standard Git workflows.

### Running Local Validation

Before pushing changes, execute the repository's validation tooling to catch front-matter violations or naming convention errors:

```bash

# Run the standard validation script

bash validate-skills.sh

# Or run the official strict validation

bash validate-skills-official.sh

```

These scripts mirror the checks performed by the [`.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml) GitHub Actions workflow, ensuring your fork remains compatible with agent consumption standards.

### Installing Skills from Your Fork

Once you have customized skills in your fork, you can install them using the skills CLI by referencing your namespace:

```bash
npx skills add <YOUR_USERNAME>/marketingskills --skill copywriting

```

If you create new integrations in [`tools/clis/custom-api.js`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/tools/clis/custom-api.js), invoke them from within skill definitions using standard Node.js execution:

```bash
node tools/clis/custom-api.js --dry-run

```

The zero-dependency design means these scripts require only Node.js 18+ without additional package installations.

## Summary

- **Fork via GitHub's interface** to create your own copy of the `coreyhaines31/marketingskills` repository under your username.
- **Clone locally and add an upstream remote** to synchronize with the original repository and receive updates.
- **Customize markdown skills** in `skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md` files without build steps or compilation.
- **Validate changes** using [`validate-skills.sh`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/validate-skills.sh) to ensure front-matter compliance before committing.
- **Leverage zero-dependency tools** in `tools/clis/` for marketing API integrations that run with system Node.js.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need Node.js or build tools to fork and customize this repository?

No. You can fork, clone, and edit the markdown-based skill definitions using only a text editor and Git. Node.js is only required if you intend to run the optional CLI tools in `tools/clis/` or execute the validation scripts, which function with Node.js 18+ and carry no external dependencies.

### How do I keep my fork synchronized with the original coreyhaines31/marketingskills repository?

Add the original repository as an upstream remote using `git remote add upstream https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills.git`, then periodically fetch and merge changes with `git fetch upstream && git merge upstream/main`. This workflow pulls in new skills, bug fixes, and version updates while preserving your local customizations.

### What validation runs automatically when I push changes to my fork?

The GitHub Actions workflow defined in [`.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/.github/workflows/validate-skill.yml) automatically executes on every push and pull request, linting all [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/SKILL.md) files for correct front-matter syntax and enforcing naming conventions. This ensures your fork remains compatible with agent consumption standards even after customization.

### Can I add new marketing API integrations to my fork?

Yes. Create new zero-dependency Node.js scripts in the `tools/clis/` directory following the patterns established for existing integrations, then document them in [`tools/REGISTRY.md`](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/tools/REGISTRY.md). Because the architecture requires no compiled binaries, you can extend the toolkit with additional marketing platform support while maintaining the repository's lightweight, fork-friendly structure.