Before new users can fully explore the solutions you provide, the first thing they notice is the appearance, transparency, and intuitiveness of your product. The more intuitive the functionalities, the fewer difficulties occur when using it. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, a seamless user experience is crucial for driving engagement and retention.

At Inwedo, we take two main perspectives before developing an app: how users will navigate our system, and how we'll present them with directions to follow. Want to know more about our methods? Read about the Discovery Workshops.

What is User Onboarding?

User onboarding refers to the process of actively guiding new users to find value in your product. But where does it come from?

The term itself derives from human resources, where onboarding refers to the mechanism through which new employees acquire necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to become effective members of the company.

Why User Onboarding is Important

Imagine filling out a form and clicking "Register" only to find yourself lost in an unfamiliar environment. This is exactly how first-time users of your app can feel. Good onboarding ensures that users receive clear guidelines, reducing frustration and increasing engagement.

The Importance of Guidelines

Research shows that good web designers conduct user map flows and test interfaces they design. However, new users may not know how everything works or what features to explore. By providing clear guidelines, you give them a scaffolding on which to build their understanding, saving them from feeling lost and frustrated.

User Onboarding Best Practices

  1. Interface Transparency: Create systems that "grow with the user" when building interfaces, and help users develop the skills needed to use them effectively.
  2. Simplify the Process: Good onboarding should be simple, easy, functional, and useful. Break down complex processes into manageable steps, reducing mental effort and increasing engagement.

The Elements of User Onboarding

  1. Simple: A user-friendly interface keeps users committed and reduces frustration when they can't understand something.
  2. Easy: The easier it is to learn how to use your app, the better. Simple products increase user engagement and reduce frustration.
  3. Functional: The product should do exactly what users need or expect from it.
  4. Useful: Usability depends on both ease of use and functionality. Products must provide both simple and easy-to-use features.

Guidelines during Onboarding

Onboarding is at the forefront of a well-designed UX. It invites users to perform actions we've previously planned, showcasing important functionalities. This can be called an action aimed at inducing motivation to act.

Examples of Passive and Active Onboarding

  1. Automated: Sometimes onboarding can be automated, such as introducing users to your app through an interactive tutorial.
  2. Active: Other times, it may require a two-way conversation with a consultant who explains how to use the tool. This is how some apps work, like Superhuman.

The "Wow" and "Aha" Effects

Few things affect our emotions like a positive surprise. In new user onboarding, strong emphasis should be placed on this way of building relationships. Surprise helps establish an emotional connection with users and helps them understand the characteristics of your product.