ARTICLE SUMMARY: Onboarding is the important process of making new users familiar with an app, it sets the stage for a user’s experience with a product or service. It only takes a few minutes for a user to decide whether they’ll continue using a product or move on. A smooth onboarding experience can make the difference between retention or loss of a user.
Without proper guidance, users may feel lost, leading to frustration and abandonment. A step-by-step guidance will help users feel in control and capable of using the product effectively increasing the chances of them staying engaged. A well-structured onboarding process can reduce customer support inquiries by addressing common pain points upfront.
“5 Techniques For Effective User Onboarding” by Nick Babich sees the importance of a good onboarding experience and gives you what you need to build that award winning onboarding experience. Some of his techniques include
- Walkthroughs
- Interactive tour
- Customization
If long-term engagement is key to the product’s success, onboarding helps build routines. The faster the user learns the ins and outs of your app the more comfortable they feel using it and the less likely to look for another.
Onboarding gives the user a brief introduction to the product’s value while sending a warm welcome message that sets expectations. With the help of interactive tutorials or tooltips guiding users through key features of the app you help reduce user frustration while at the same time enhancing user experience.
In closing Nick tells us “Before designing your product’s onboarding, stop and think about what kind of experience first-time users should have. Choose the techniques that will help you create this experience.”
This is a very informative article that will help users by making their experience smoother, reducing confusion, and increasing their chances of success with a product.
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