Digital technology is the answer to all of life's problems. That conclusion has resulted in more and more app ideas, which are uploaded to the web, and to stores, everyday.
But there are dozens of options for consumers, which makes it difficult for potential customers to find your product. What's worse, your potential customer probably already has an app that solves the problem you're tackling; many people never download apps, because they already have what they need—why keep trying solutions if they already have a solution?
If your marketing is strong, and your proposition is sound, they might give you a chance. But this opportunity could be briefer than you think, if the opening screens of your app or service present a problem, they'll abandon you. You won't get a second chance.
So it's imperative that you put your best foot forward, and focus on UX from the start.
Stay focused
First-time users might require guidance, but not information overload. Start with your value proposition (keep it simple!) and move on to basic functionality from there. Help people remain focused throughout the process.
Show, don't tell
Instead of text, focus on immersing users in an interactive app experience right off the bat. Interactivity allows users to complete the gestures they need to learn and then flow seamlessly into the app experience, to seek deeper engagement.
Remove friction from logins and account creation
Optimizing the way users sign-up or create an account can make a huge difference in improving the activation and retention rates. The goal here is to collect users' information as quickly and seamlessly as possible, moving them on to the next step before they become frustrated, distracted, or disengaged.
Indicate advancement in the flow
Rather than throwing people blindly into a seemingly endless tour of your app, make it feel manageable by indicating progress within each step. Try showing users the number of screens or steps remaining, and how far they have advanced thus far.
Listen to your users
Above all, listen to your users. Gaining an understanding your app's users through quantitative methods (like testing and optimization) and qualitative research (like usability testing) will help you best understand what on boarding strategies are most effective for your unique app.
Many of our mistakes, when a potential user is trying out an app or service for the first time, boil down to placing obstacles in their way. Users almost always just want to take our app for a spin. This is often caused by our anxiety about business goals or improved metrics, when what we should be concerned with is the user's needs.
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