onboardingDesign user onboarding flows that maximize activation and time-to-value.
Install via ClawdBot CLI:
clawdbot install ivangdavila/onboardingAnswer before designing anything:
If you can't answer these, onboarding will optimize the wrong thing.
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.
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.
One question only, immediately after signup:
"What's your main goal?" with 3-4 options.
Route to different:
More than 4 paths = complexity without benefit.
Structure:
Format: action verb + outcome
✓ "Create your first project"
✗ "Projects"
Every empty screen needs:
Pre-populated templates > blank slate.
| 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.
Never repeat to returning users.
Trigger contextually, not on every login.
Track weekly:
Activated users should retain 2-3x better. If not, activation definition is wrong.
Generated Mar 1, 2026
A new SaaS company launching a project management tool needs to onboard users quickly to demonstrate value. Using the checklist pattern and segmentation by user goals, they can guide users to create their first project, reducing drop-off and increasing activation rates.
An e-commerce platform onboarding merchants to set up their online stores. By deferring non-essential details and using a simple signup form, they minimize initial friction. The empty state formula helps merchants visualize their storefront, boosting early engagement.
A fitness app aims to increase user retention by defining activation as completing a first workout. Measuring the funnel identifies drop-offs, and tooltips guide users without overwhelming them, while email sequences re-engage inactive sign-ups.
A B2B software company onboarding enterprise clients to a CRM system. Segmentation by business goals routes users to relevant first actions, and the checklist pattern ensures key setup steps are completed, improving time-to-value for large teams.
An online learning platform onboarding students to their first course. Using pre-populated templates and a minimal signup form reduces barriers, while email sequences based on activation status encourage course completion and reduce abandonment.
This model offers a free tier to attract users, with onboarding focused on quick activation to demonstrate value before upselling to paid features. By tracking activation rates and retention, companies can optimize conversion paths and increase subscription revenue.
Onboarding both buyers and sellers efficiently is crucial. For sellers, activation might mean listing a first item; for buyers, it could be making a first purchase. Segmentation and email sequences help tailor the experience, driving transaction volume and commission revenue.
Focuses on maximizing user engagement to increase ad impressions. Onboarding aims to get users to key actions quickly, using metrics like Day 1 retention to refine flows. Tooltips and modals guide without disrupting the ad experience, boosting ad revenue.
💬 Integration Tip
Integrate this skill by first defining clear activation metrics and using the funnel table to identify drop-offs, then apply segmentation and checklist patterns to streamline user paths.
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