sales-shadow

What this skill does

# Shadow Platform Help

## Step 1 — Gather context

If `references/learnings.md` exists, read it first for accumulated platform knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. **What do you need help with?**
   - A) Setting up Shadow (install, autopilot, first recording)
   - B) Troubleshooting an issue (stuck meetings, CPU, speaker labels)
   - C) Comparing Shadow to another bot-free tool (Granola, Jamie, Bluedot)
   - D) Exporting or integrating Shadow data (Markdown, Zapier, CRM)
   - E) Understanding pricing or plan limits

2. **What meeting platforms do you use?**
   - A) Zoom
   - B) Google Meet
   - C) Microsoft Teams
   - D) Slack Huddles
   - E) Multiple / other (Webex, Discord)

Skip-ahead rule: if the user's prompt already contains enough context, skip to Step 2.

## Step 2 — Route or answer directly

| Problem domain | Route to |
|---|---|
| Comparing all AI note-takers (not just bot-free) | `/sales-note-taker {user's question}` |
| Reviewing a specific call for coaching | `/sales-call-review {user's question}` |
| Building a coaching program | `/sales-coaching {user's question}` |
| General CRM/tool integration (Zapier, webhooks) | `/sales-integration {user's question}` |

Otherwise, answer directly below.

## Step 3 — Shadow platform reference

**Read `references/platform-guide.md`** for the full platform reference — features, pricing, integrations, workflows, limitations.

Answer the user's question using only the relevant section. Don't dump the full reference.

## Step 4 — Actionable guidance

You no longer need the platform guide — focus on the user's specific situation.

**Setup priorities:**
1. Download from shadow.do → grant macOS permissions (microphone, screen recording, accessibility)
2. Enable Autopilot for automatic meeting detection — test with a short call
3. Configure AI Skills for post-meeting tasks (summaries, action items, follow-ups)
4. Set up Markdown export or Zapier webhook if you need data in other tools

**Bot-free comparison quick guide:**
- Shadow vs Granola → Shadow captures screen + audio; Granola is audio-only notepad, $14/mo, simpler
- Shadow vs Jamie → Jamie supports Windows + in-person; Shadow is macOS-only but captures screen
- Shadow vs Bluedot → Bluedot has native HubSpot/Salesforce CRM sync; Shadow has no native CRM connectors

If you discover a gotcha or tip not covered in `references/learnings.md`, append it there.

## Gotchas

> *Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about plan-gated features and integration gotchas that may be outdated.*

- **Free tier is 25 lifetime AI meetings, not monthly.** After 25 meetings, transcription still works but AI features (summaries, action items, Skills) require Plus ($8/mo).
- **macOS only.** No Windows, no Linux, no mobile, no web app. If your team has mixed OS, Shadow won't work for everyone — consider Jamie (Windows + Mac) or Bluedot (Chrome extension, any OS).
- **No native CRM connectors.** Shadow doesn't sync directly to Salesforce or HubSpot. You can export to Markdown or use Zapier webhooks, but there's no structured CRM field mapping like Fathom Business or Fireflies Business.
- **Screen capture requires explicit macOS permissions.** If screen capture isn't working, check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording. Some MDM-managed Macs block this.
- **No public API.** You cannot programmatically access Shadow transcripts or recordings. For API-driven pipelines, Fathom, Fireflies, or Gong are better choices.
- **AI processing uses external APIs.** Transcription is on-device, but summaries/action items use SOC 2-certified cloud APIs. For fully local processing, disable AI features.
- **"Shadow AI" enterprise governance concern.** Because Shadow runs invisibly (no bot in the meeting), IT teams may not know it's in use. In regulated industries, get IT approval before deploying.

## Related skills

- `/sales-note-taker` — Compare all AI note-takers, select the right one for your team, or plan an API integration pipeline
- `/sales-granola` — Granola platform help — bot-free AI notepad, REST API, MCP beta, HubSpot/Attio CRM sync
- `/sales-jamie` — Jamie platform help — bot-free AI note-taker, Windows + Mac, REST API, webhooks, CRM sync
- `/sales-bluedot` — Bluedot platform help — bot-free video recording, Chrome extension, Svix webhooks, HubSpot/Salesforce CRM sync
- `/sales-call-review` — Review a specific call for coaching
- `/sales-coaching` — Build coaching programs that consume call data
- `/sales-integration` — General CRM/tool integration patterns (Zapier, webhooks, iPaaS)
- `/sales-do` — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install: `npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-do`

## Examples

### Example 1: Setting up Shadow for the first time
**User says**: "I just downloaded Shadow on my Mac. How do I get it to automatically record my Zoom calls?"
**Skill does**:
1. Walks through macOS permission grants (microphone, screen recording, accessibility)
2. Shows how to enable Autopilot mode for automatic meeting detection
3. Explains that Shadow captures both audio and screen content — no bot visible to other participants
4. Recommends a test call to verify everything works before relying on it for real meetings
**Result**: Shadow recording Zoom calls automatically without manual activation.

### Example 2: Shadow vs Granola for a sales team
**User says**: "My team of 5 SDRs needs a bot-free note-taker. Should we use Shadow or Granola?"
**Skill does**:
1. Confirms both are bot-free and macOS-compatible
2. Highlights Shadow's screen capture advantage (sees demos, slides, shared content)
3. Notes Granola's HubSpot/Attio CRM sync and REST API — Shadow lacks both
4. Flags that neither has deep CRM field mapping — if CRM sync is critical, recommends Fathom Business or Fireflies Business instead
**Result**: Shadow if screen capture matters; Granola if CRM sync matters; neither if deep CRM integration is required.

### Example 3: Free tier ran out
**User says**: "Shadow says I've used all my free AI meetings. What are my options?"
**Skill does**:
1. Explains the 25-meeting lifetime cap on AI features (not monthly)
2. Notes that recording and transcription still work — only AI summaries/action items/Skills are gated
3. Recommends Plus at $8/mo if Shadow is working well
4. Suggests Fathom free tier (unlimited AI meetings) as an alternative if budget is zero
**Result**: Clear upgrade path or free alternative.

## Troubleshooting

### Shadow not detecting meetings automatically
**Symptom**: Meetings start but Shadow doesn't begin recording
**Cause**: Autopilot may be disabled, or macOS permissions are missing
**Solution**: Open Shadow settings → enable Autopilot. Check System Settings → Privacy & Security → grant Microphone, Screen Recording, and Accessibility permissions to Shadow. Restart Shadow after granting permissions.

### Shadow using excessive CPU/memory
**Symptom**: Mac slows down when Shadow is running, fan spins up during meetings
**Cause**: On-device transcription is compute-intensive, especially on older Macs
**Solution**: Close unnecessary apps during meetings. If the problem persists, check that you're on the latest Shadow version — recent updates improved resource usage. On Intel Macs, performance may be noticeably worse than Apple Silicon.

### Speaker labels are wrong or missing
**Symptom**: Transcript attributes speech to the wrong person or shows "Unknown Speaker"
**Cause**: Speaker diarization is imperfect — no tool has fully solved this
**Solution**: Ensure each participant has a distinct audio source (not sharing a mic). Shadow improves accuracy over time as it learns voices. Manual corrections in the transcript help train the model.