Onboarding

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name: Onboarding description: Design user onboarding flows that maximize activation and time-to-value. metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🚀","os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}}

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Define Activation First

Answer before designing anything:

What specific action = user got value?

What % of signups currently reach it?

What's the minimum path to get there?

If you can't answer these, onboarding will optimize the wrong thing.

Measure the Funnel

Create this table for current state: | Step | Users | Drop-off | |------|-------|----------| | Signed up | 100% | - | | Step 2 | ?% | ?% | | Step 3 | ?% | ?% | | Activated | ?% | ?% |

Biggest drop-off = focus there first. Everything else is distraction.

Signup Form

At signup, require ONLY: email + password. Everything else: defer until after first value delivered.

For each additional field, calculate: how many users lost × LTV = cost of that field.

Segmentation Question

One question only, immediately after signup: "What's your main goal?" with 3-4 options.

Route to different:

First action to complete

Empty state messaging

Email sequence

More than 4 paths = complexity without benefit.

Checklist Pattern

Structure:

4-6 items maximum

First item already complete when shown (quick win psychology)

Items ordered by value delivered, not logical sequence

Persists across sessions

Completion reward visible

Format: action verb + outcome ✓ "Create your first project" ✗ "Projects"

Empty State Formula

Every empty screen needs: 1. What will appear here (1 sentence) 2. Visual of populated state or example 3. ONE action button (primary style)

Pre-populated templates > blank slate.

Email Sequence

| Day | Trigger | Content | |-----|---------|---------| | 0 | Signup | Welcome + single quick win CTA | | 1 | Not activated | Reminder + "here's how" | | 3 | Not activated | Social proof / success story | | 7 | Not activated | Feature highlight | | 14 | Inactive | "We miss you" + incentive |

Stop sequence immediately when user activates.

Tooltips vs Modals

Tooltip: single UI element explanation, non-blocking

Modal: requires decision, blocks everything

Tour: max 3-5 steps or users skip

Never repeat to returning users. Trigger contextually, not on every login.

Metrics

Track weekly:

Signup → Activation rate

Time to activate (median)

Drop-off by step

Day 1, Day 7 retention: activated vs non-activated

Activated users should retain 2-3x better. If not, activation definition is wrong.

Common Failures

Asking for info before showing value—user hasn't bought in

Tour showing everything—overwhelms, skip rate high

Same onboarding for all segments—relevance drives completion

No follow-up emails—user closes tab and forgets

Blocking features behind upgrade before value demonstrated