diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 32210c8..b2f39f0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ Action and CLI to help managing public repositories that publish one or more npm
 
 ## getting started
 
-(pnpm is required, so install pnpm if not available yet)
+The easiest way to create a new turbo-module is to use [`create-turbo-module`](https://github.com/whopio/turbo-module/tree/main/packages/create-turbo-module):
+
+NOTE: pnpm is required, so install pnpm if not available yet
 
 ```bash
 pnpm create turbo-module
@@ -14,6 +16,16 @@ Follow the instructions given by the CLI.
 
 After a successful install the github repo needs to be configured. Follow the steps outlined in the README of your newly set-up turbo-module
 
+## features
+
+- publish multiple npm packages from the same repository
+- release new versions by accepting automatically created PRs
+  - after every release there are 2 PRs created, one for a full release and one of a canary release
+  - the full release PR can be configured by commenting `/major`, `/minor` or `/patch`
+- automatic GitHub release with every npm release
+- [`unimported-action`](https://github.com/whopio/unimported-action) installed by default
+- repository linting with PR hints
+
 ## action `whopio/turbo-module`:
 
 Multi-purpose action - different sub-actions can be invoked via the `action` input
diff --git a/packages/create-turbo-module/README.md b/packages/create-turbo-module/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55393a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/create-turbo-module/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# create-turbo-module
+
+The easiest way to bootstrap a new [`turbo-module`](https://github.com/whopio/turbo-module)
+
+## usage
+
+NOTE: pnpm is required
+
+```bash
+pnpm create turbo-module
+```
+
+After following the instructions from the CLI, push the repository to github and follow the steps in its README to finish setup.
diff --git a/packages/create-turbo-module/template/README.md b/packages/create-turbo-module/template/README.md
index 6761e06..1618f8a 100644
--- a/packages/create-turbo-module/template/README.md
+++ b/packages/create-turbo-module/template/README.md
@@ -1,18 +1,32 @@
-# turbo-module starter
+# (turbo-module): $$NAME
 
-this is a starter template generated from `create-turbo-module`
+this is a [`turbo-module`](https://github.com/whopio/turbo-module) starter template generated using [`create-turbo-module`](https://github.com/whopio/turbo-module/tree/main/packages/create-turbo-module)
 
-## Additional setup:
+## repository setup
+
+After creating your turbo-module, push the repository to github and apply the following (recommended) settings:
 
 - Only allow squash merging PRs and set the default message to `Pull request title and description`
-- install kodiakhq
-- set up branch protection for the `main` branch, i.E.:
+- install [kodiakhq](https://github.com/marketplace/kodiakhq#pricing-and-setup)
+- set up branch protection for the `main` branch:
   - require a pull request before merging
     - require approvals: 1+
     - require review from code owners
+  - require status checks to pass before merging
+    - require branches to be up to date before merging
   - require conversation resolution before merging
   - restrict who can push to matching branches
     - resitrct pushes that create matching branches
     - allow kodiakhq to push to matching branches
 - allow actions to create PRs (/settings/actions). This has to be allowed on the repo and org level
 - add your `NPM_TOKEN` to your workflow secrets
+
+## additional setup
+
+NOTE: The PR action has to run at least once for these checks to become selectable
+
+- updated the branch protection rules for the `main` branch:
+  - require status checks to pass before merging:
+    - Check unimported
+    - Lint repository
+    - Test repository