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Designs and optimizes user onboarding flows using JTBD framework, progressive disclosure, activation metrics, and aha moment identification to boost activation and retention.
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Design and optimize user onboarding flows that drive activation and long-term retention.
Creates isolated Git worktrees for feature branches with prioritized directory selection, gitignore safety checks, auto project setup for Node/Python/Rust/Go, and baseline verification.
Executes implementation plans in current session by dispatching fresh subagents per independent task, with two-stage reviews: spec compliance then code quality.
Dispatches parallel agents to independently tackle 2+ tasks like separate test failures or subsystems without shared state or dependencies.
Design and optimize user onboarding flows that drive activation and long-term retention.
The best onboarding flows are organized around the user's job, not the product's features.
Process:
Example (Notion):
Anti-pattern: Feature tours that show every feature. Users do not care about features during onboarding; they care about solving their problem.
Reveal functionality gradually as users demonstrate readiness.
Levels:
Implementation:
Define your activation metric before designing onboarding. The activation metric is the action most correlated with long-term retention.
Examples:
| Product | Activation Metric | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Slack | Send 2,000 messages (team) | First 30 days |
| Dropbox | Upload 1 file from 2 devices | First 7 days |
| Add 7 friends | First 10 days | |
| Zoom | Host first meeting | First 7 days |
| Notion | Create 3 pages | First 7 days |
| Figma | Create first design | First 3 days |
| HubSpot | Import contacts + send first email | First 14 days |
How to find your activation metric:
The aha moment is when a user first experiences the core value of your product.
Framework for identifying it:
The aha moment is NOT:
The aha moment IS:
The first screen after signup. Serves two purposes: make the user feel welcomed and collect information for personalization.
Best Practices:
Template:
Welcome to [Product], [Name]!
Let's personalize your experience.
What's your primary goal?
[ ] [Goal 1 -- with icon]
[ ] [Goal 2 -- with icon]
[ ] [Goal 3 -- with icon]
[ ] Something else
[Continue] [Skip for now]
Example (Notion):
What will you use Notion for?
[Personal] [Team] [School]
How big is your team?
[Just me] [2-10] [11-50] [50+]
Guided multi-step flows that set up the product for use.
When to use: When the product requires configuration before it can deliver value (CRM, analytics, marketing automation).
Best Practices:
Template:
Step 1: Connect your [data source]
[Connect Google] [Connect manually] [Use sample data]
Step 2: Configure your [workspace/project]
[Pre-filled sensible defaults with edit option]
Step 3: Invite your team (optional)
[Email input] [Copy invite link] [Skip]
You're all set!
[Go to your dashboard]
Interactive walkthroughs of the product interface.
Types:
Best Practices:
Anti-patterns:
Template (per step):
Step [X] of [Y]:
[Pointer to UI element]
"[Action verb] here to [achieve result]."
[Try it now] / [Next] / [Skip tour]
Persistent task lists that guide users through activation.
Why they work:
Template:
Get started with [Product] [3/5 complete]
[x] Create your account
[x] Set up your profile
[x] [First key action]
[ ] [Second key action] <-- "Do this next"
[ ] [Third key action]
[Dismiss checklist]
Best Practices:
Example (Slack):
Getting started [2/4]
[x] Set your profile photo
[x] Join a channel
[ ] Send your first message
[ ] Invite a teammate
Example (Figma):
Welcome to Figma [1/5]
[x] Create your account
[ ] Create a design file
[ ] Add a frame
[ ] Use a component
[ ] Share with your team
Drip emails that complement the in-app experience.
Sequence structure:
| Day | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Welcome + quick start | Immediate value, link to first action |
| 1 | Tip: [Core feature] | Teach one key feature |
| 3 | Social proof | Show what others achieve with the product |
| 5 | "Need help?" | Address common obstacles, offer support |
| 7 | Feature highlight | Introduce a secondary feature |
| 10 | Activation reminder | If not activated, nudge toward key action |
| 14 | Upgrade prompt | If activated, pitch premium features |
Day 0 Welcome Email Template:
Subject: Welcome to [Product] -- here's your quick start
Hi [Name],
You're in! Here's how to get the most out of [Product] in the next 5 minutes:
1. [First action] -- [link directly to it]
2. [Second action] -- [link]
3. [Third action] -- [link]
[Primary CTA: "Go to your dashboard"]
Need help? Reply to this email or check our [getting started guide].
[Signature]
Day 3 Social Proof Email Template:
Subject: How [Customer] uses [Product] to [Result]
Hi [Name],
Did you know that [Customer/Company] uses [Product] to [specific result with metric]?
Here's what they did:
1. [Step they took]
2. [Step they took]
3. [Result they achieved]
You can do the same:
[CTA: "Try it now"]
What they do well:
Activation metric: Create 3+ pages in first 7 days
What they do well:
Activation metric: Team sends 2,000 messages in first 30 days
What they do well:
Activation metric: Create first design file in first 3 days
What they do well:
What they do well:
| Metric | Formula | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Onboarding completion rate | Users who complete onboarding / signups | 60-80% |
| Time to first key action | Time from signup to first meaningful action | Under 5 min |
| Activation rate | Users hitting activation metric / signups | 20-40% |
| Day 1 retention | Users returning day after signup / signups | 40-60% |
| Day 7 retention | Users returning 7 days after signup / signups | 20-35% |
| Day 30 retention | Users active 30 days after signup / signups | 10-25% |
| Onboarding step drop-off | Users completing step N / users starting step N | Track per step |
| Time to value (TTV) | Median time from signup to aha moment | As low as possible |
Build an onboarding funnel in your analytics tool:
Signup completed
-> Welcome screen completed
-> First key action
-> Second key action (aha moment)
-> Activation metric reached
-> Day 7 return
Track conversion rate between each step. The biggest drop-off is your biggest opportunity.
When auditing an existing onboarding flow:
## Onboarding Audit: [Product Name]
### Date: [Date]
### Current Flow Map
[Step-by-step flow with screenshots]
### Time to Complete
- Minimum path: [X] minutes
- Average path: [X] minutes
### Drop-off Analysis
| Step | Users Entering | Completion Rate | Drop-off |
|------|---------------|-----------------|----------|
| Signup | 100% | X% | X% |
| Welcome screen | X% | X% | X% |
| Setup step 1 | X% | X% | X% |
| Setup step 2 | X% | X% | X% |
| First key action | X% | X% | X% |
| Activation | X% | -- | -- |
### Scores (1-10)
| Dimension | Score | Notes |
|-----------|-------|-------|
| Time to value | X | |
| Clarity of next step | X | |
| Progressive disclosure | X | |
| Error recovery | X | |
| Mobile experience | X | |
| Personalization | X | |
| **Overall** | **X** | |
### Issues Found
1. **[Critical]** [Issue] -- Impact: [X]% activation loss
2. **[High]** [Issue]
3. **[Medium]** [Issue]
### Recommendations (Priority Order)
1. [Recommendation] -- Expected lift: X% on [metric]
2. [Recommendation] -- Expected lift: X%
3. [Recommendation] -- Expected lift: X%
### Quick Wins
- [ ] [Immediate fix]
- [ ] [Immediate fix]
### Long-term Improvements
- [ ] [Bigger initiative]
- [ ] [Bigger initiative]