Onboarding CRO Skill
Trigger
Optimise post-signup onboarding for faster activation.
Trigger phrases: "onboarding flow", "activation rate", "user onboarding", "time to value", "empty state", "onboarding checklist"
Process
- Define activation: What is the key action that correlates with retention?
- Map current flow: Steps from signup to activation
- Identify friction: Where do users drop off post-signup?
- Redesign: Shortest path to activation event
- Measure: Activation rate before/after
Key Principles
- Time-to-value is everything. Users decide in the first session.
- One primary action per screen. Don't overwhelm.
- Checklists work: 3-5 items, show progress, celebrate completion
- Empty states should educate and motivate, not just be blank
- Progressive disclosure: show features as users need them
- Personalise: ask 1-2 questions to tailor the experience
- Skip tutorials — let users learn by doing
Onboarding Patterns
Checklist (best for tools with setup)
- [ ] Complete profile
- [ ] Create first [item]
- [ ] Invite a teammate
- [ ] Connect integration
Product Tour (best for complex UI)
- Highlight 3-5 key features
- Interactive, not passive
- Skip option always visible
Template/Sample Data (best for content tools)
- Pre-populate with example data
- User edits rather than creates from scratch
- Reduces blank-page anxiety
Output
Redesigned onboarding flow: screen-by-screen breakdown, checklist items, empty state copy, activation metric definition, and success criteria.