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After signing up and completing the initial setup, users arrive at their first dashboard. Now, the question arises: What’s next? Planning this screen is crucial for driving user activation. Don’t feel confined to just one big call-to-action. Instead, let’s explore various examples to guide you.
What to include on the first page after signup?
Add a personalized Welcome!
Show the setup guide
The favored strategy is to direct users to a dedicated page designed exclusively for user onboarding. Here, they can engage with a step-by-step setup wizard. This method helps eliminate any uncertainty about what users should do next, guiding them smoothly through the onboarding process.
Invite for a live demo
Demo environment
This tactic is incredibly effective because it allows users to dive into your app’s full experience without the initial setup time.
Build a demo environment loaded with data and pre-configured features. This way, users can explore and grasp how everything functions with ease. And just like that—with a single step, you’ve eliminated any friction!
Display sample data
Sample data is a less advanced version of the demo environment mentioned above. Here, you don’t create a separate, interactive instance of the app but rather show sample charts or previews of how it all could look in the future.
Guide attention with arrows/tooltips/hotspots
Sample data is a simpler alternative to the comprehensive demo environment. Instead of offering a separate, interactive version of your app, it displays sample charts or previews. This approach gives users a glimpse of what their future experience could look like, without the complexity of a full demo.
Resources:
Tutorials and videos
Relevant content
Including links to relevant content as secondary actions on the initial screen can enhance the experience. Offering guides or blog posts that assist users in achieving their goals demonstrates your brand’s thoughtfulness and care. This is effective even, or perhaps especially, when the content isn’t directly related to user onboarding.
For instance, during Shopify’s onboarding process, as users scroll down the page, they are encouraged to read about managing finances. This strategy not only guides users in setting up their shop but also conveys Shopify’s commitment to helping them run their business as a whole.
An overview of what your product can do
Send users right to a feature setup
Directing users straight to feature setup can be a smart move, particularly if your software revolves around a single main function. This approach efficiently cuts down the ‘time to value’ (TTV), streamlining the user’s journey by eliminating unnecessary steps.
Keep in mind: fewer clicks mean a smoother experience.
