If you design an app, user experience and engagement are pretty much everything. What happens the first time someone opens your app is going to determine whether or not they use it again, which is why you need to be immediately prepared to engage each and every user from the start.
When someone launches your app for the first time, what they experience right away is going to show them the value of it, and it’s going to drive whether they feel positive or negative about it.
Onboarding is one of the most critical focus areas you should keep in mind as you create a mobile app.
The following are some best practices and essential tips for app onboarding.
It’s Not About the Features
One of the biggest mistakes so many people make when they introduce an app and attempt to onboard new users is that they focus on features. Above all else, stop focusing on features with your onboarding.
You might be wondering what to focus on instead. The answer is the benefits.
No one cares about the features of your app. They care about the value those features can bring them and how they can enhance their life and their experience.
As you strategize for onboarding, always think benefits, not features.
Stick To Usability
While your focus shouldn’t be on emphasizing features, your onboarding does need to include introductions on how to use features. Good onboarding isn’t just about showing people how to use certain features, however.
It’s about teaching them how to make the most of them. Users want to maximize the functionality of their app in the best ways possible, so show them how to do that.
Limit Information You Ask For
When people first log into your app, if there is a lot of information to fill out or it just seems like a long process, they’re going to abandon it for something else. No one wants to sit on their mobile device with a small screen and fill out tons of information before they can even access your app.
Try using a single field, such as a logging in via a social media account.
If you can’t do that, you need to ask only for absolutely essential information. You might also break up the sign in process onto a few screens, rather than frustrating first-time users with a very long login screen right away.
Consider Progressive Onboarding
Progressive onboarding is a significant trend in app design right now. With this approach, you’re not just giving users a tutorial. You’re actually guiding them through the use of the app while they’re in it. They will move through the functionality of the app as they would any other time, but they will receive small bits of information or tips for maximizing functionality as they do that.
As a final note, when you’re creating an onboarding experience for your users, don’t forget about adding positive feedback for certain actions they take. This will help prevent frustration and encourage new users to keep going with the app.
