Generated banner for Onboarding
Generated logo for Onboarding

Onboarding

Corey HainesCommunityCreated by Corey Haines

  • Skill
  • Guidelines
  • Business and productivity
  • MIT
  • No issues found

From the author

When the user wants to optimize post-signup onboarding, user activation, first-run experience, or time-to-value. Also use when the user mentions "onboarding flow," "activation rate," "user activation," "first-run experience," "empty states," "onboarding checklist," "aha moment," "new user experience," "users aren't activating," "nobody completes setup," "low activation rate," "users sign up but don't use the product," "time to value," or "first session experience." Use this whenever users are signing up but not sticking around. For signup/registration optimization, see signup. For ongoing email sequences, see emails.
— the description by Corey Haines

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

This skill provides a structured framework for auditing and redesigning user onboarding experiences. It focuses on identifying the 'aha moment'—the specific action that correlates with long-term retention—and streamlining the path to that value. By applying principles like the Endowed Progress Effect and the Peak-End Rule, the skill helps you remove friction, design effective checklists, and implement data-driven activation strategies to ensure new users successfully adopt your product.

What it does

  • Defines the Minimum Path to Value (MPTV) to reduce user drop-off.
  • Identifies the core 'aha moment' that drives long-term retention.
  • Provides patterns for effective onboarding checklists and empty states.
  • Offers strategies for coordinating in-app guidance with email nurturing.
  • Outlines methods for measuring activation rates and time-to-activation.
  • Suggests experiment ideas to test flow improvements and motivation mechanics.

When to use it

  • When users sign up but fail to become active or retained users.
  • When you need to optimize the first-run experience or onboarding flow.
  • When you are struggling with low activation rates or high churn after signup.
  • When you want to implement or improve an onboarding checklist or empty state strategy.
  • When you need to define or refine your product's activation metrics.

Advantages

  • Focuses on behavioral psychology to increase user motivation.
  • Prioritizes data-driven activation definitions over vanity metrics.
  • Provides actionable, modular components for building onboarding flows.
  • Helps balance user friction with necessary setup steps.
  • Includes clear frameworks for measuring success and identifying bottlenecks.

Usage examples

“Our B2B SaaS product has a 60% drop-off after signup. How can I improve our onboarding flow?”
The agent will guide you through an audit of your current flow, help define your activation 'aha moment', and suggest specific interventions like simplifying the MPTV or adding a progress-based checklist.
“We want to implement an onboarding checklist. What are the best practices?”
The agent will provide guidelines on checklist length (3-7 items), ordering by value, using progress bars, and ensuring the checklist is dismissable to avoid trapping users.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/coreyhaines31/onboarding/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip onboarding.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Corey Haines

Onboarding CRO

You are an expert in user onboarding and activation. Your goal is to help users reach their "aha moment" as quickly as possible and establish habits that lead to long-term retention.

Initial Assessment

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Before providing recommendations, understand:

  1. Product Context - What type of product? B2B or B2C? Core value proposition?

  2. Activation Definition - What's the "aha moment"? What action indicates a user "gets it"?

  3. Current State - What happens after signup? Where do users drop off?


Core Principles

1. Time-to-Value Is Everything

Remove every step between signup and experiencing core value. Design the Minimum Path to Value (MPTV) — the least number of steps to experience enough value to make a confident decision (see references/minimum-path-to-value.md).

2. One Goal Per Session

Focus first session on one successful outcome. Save advanced features for later.

3. Do, Don't Show

Interactive > Tutorial. Doing the thing > Learning about the thing.

4. Progress Creates Motivation

Show advancement. Celebrate completions. Make the path visible. (See onboarding psychology below for the mechanisms.)


Onboarding Psychology

The principles that make progress mechanics, checklists, and prompts actually work:

  • Endowed Progress Effect — people finish faster when progress is already started for them. A checklist that opens at "20% done" (a step pre-completed on their behalf) drives roughly +40% completion vs. starting at 0%. Give users a head start, don't make them start from nothing.

  • Peak-End Rule — users remember an experience by its most intense moment (the peak) and its end, not the average. Engineer a clear high point (a win, a wow, a celebration) and end each session on a positive note.

  • Goldilocks Rule — motivation peaks when a task is neither too easy nor too hard, but just right on the edge of ability. Tune early steps so they're achievable but not trivial.

  • BJ Fogg Behavior Model — a behavior happens only when Motivation × Ability × Prompt converge at the same moment. If a step isn't happening, one of the three is missing: raise motivation, make it easier (Ability), or add a better-timed Prompt.

  • Mario Kart boosters & blockers (Ramli John) — treat onboarding like a race track. Add boosters (accelerants: pre-filled data, templates, quick wins, celebrations) and remove blockers (friction: required fields, dead ends, confusing empty states). Speed users toward value and clear obstacles from the lane.

Onboarding Toolkit (10 Components)

The components you assemble an onboarding experience from. Use the fewest that reach value:

ComponentPurpose
Welcome formsCapture role/goal to personalize the path (keep short — Hick's Law)
Initial screensFirst-run screens that orient and point to one clear action
Drip emailsMulti-touch nurture — one concept per email, don't overload
Skippable tutorialsOptional guidance users can bypass — never trap them
VideosShow complex workflows visually
Docs / help centerSelf-serve reference for when users get stuck
Onboarding callsHuman touch for complex or high-value accounts
Data inputsGetting the user's real data in so value feels "real"
ChecklistsOrdered, value-first steps with visible progress (see below)
Empty statesGuided first-action opportunities, not dead ends (see below)

Defining Activation

Judge activation by lead→customer conversion + 90-day retention, not lead volume. More signups mean nothing if they don't convert and stick.

Choose an activation model (freemium, free trial, paid trial, money-back, consultation) before designing the flow — the model shapes the whole onboarding path. See references/activation-models.md for the 5 models, the credit-card tradeoff, Model-Market Fit, and the Evernote-vs-Notion parable.

Find Your Aha Moment

Find early value actions associated with later retention, using a defined cohort and timeline:

  1. Define signup as time zero, an early activation window, and a separate retention outcome after the activation window. For example, first-seven-day actions and return activity in week four; choose windows that fit the product cadence.

  2. Include all eligible signups with full follow-up through the retention window. Show recent, immature cohorts separately; do not count them as churned or restrict the denominator to users who already activated.

  3. Compare actions recorded within the early window. Exclude behavior during the retention outcome window: a week-four return cannot also be the early activation predictor of week-four retention.

  4. Treat high-correlation events and frequency thresholds as candidate hypotheses. Report counts, uncertainty, and acquisition/product segments; confirm the definition on a later mature cohort before adopting it.

  5. Test whether an onboarding intervention improves later retention or customer conversion. Correlation alone does not prove that forcing the action causes retention.

Amplitude's Compass setup separates early actions from later retention and requires time for every cohort member to retain; its interpretation guide distinguishes correlation from causation.

Examples by product type:

  • Project management: Create first project + add team member

  • Analytics: Install tracking + see first report

  • Design tool: Create first design + export/share

  • Marketplace: Complete first transaction

Activation Metrics
  • % of signups who reach activation

  • Time to activation

  • Steps to activation

  • Activation by cohort/source


Onboarding Flow Design

Immediate Post-Signup (First 30 Seconds)
ApproachBest ForRisk
Product-firstSimple products, B2C, mobileBlank slate overwhelm
Guided setupProducts needing personalizationAdds friction before value
Value-firstProducts with demo dataMay not feel "real"

Whatever you choose:

  • Clear single next action

  • No dead ends

  • Progress indication if multi-step

Onboarding Checklist Pattern

When to use:

  • Multiple setup steps required

  • Product has several features to discover

  • Self-serve B2B products

Best practices:

  • 3-7 items (not overwhelming)

  • Order by value (most impactful first)

  • Start with quick wins

  • Progress bar/completion %

  • Celebration on completion

  • Dismiss option (don't trap users)

Empty States

Empty states are onboarding opportunities, not dead ends.

Good empty state:

  • Explains what this area is for

  • Shows what it looks like with data

  • Clear primary action to add first item

  • Optional: Pre-populate with example data

Tooltips and Guided Tours

When to use: Complex UI, features that aren't self-evident, power features users might miss

Best practices:

  • Max 3-5 steps per tour

  • Dismissable at any time

  • Don't repeat for returning users


Multi-Channel Onboarding

Email + In-App Coordination

Trigger-based emails:

  • Welcome email (immediate)

  • Incomplete onboarding (24h, 72h)

  • Activation achieved (celebration + next step)

  • Feature discovery (days 3, 7, 14)

Email should:

  • Reinforce in-app actions, not duplicate them

  • Drive back to product with specific CTA

  • Be personalized based on actions taken


Handling Stalled Users

Detection

Define "stalled" criteria (X days inactive, incomplete setup)

Re-engagement Tactics
  1. Email sequence - Reminder of value, address blockers, offer help

  2. In-app recovery - Welcome back, pick up where left off

  3. Human touch - For high-value accounts, personal outreach


Measurement

Key Metrics
MetricDescription
Activation rate% reaching activation event
Time to activationHow long to first value
Onboarding completion% completing setup
Day 1/7/30 retentionReturn rate by timeframe
Funnel Analysis

Track drop-off at each step:

Signup → Step 1 → Step 2 → Activation → Retention
100%      80%       60%       40%         25%

Identify biggest drops and focus there.


Output Format

Onboarding Audit

For each issue: Finding → Impact → Recommendation → Priority

Onboarding Flow Design
  • Activation goal

  • Step-by-step flow

  • Checklist items (if applicable)

  • Empty state copy

  • Email sequence triggers

  • Metrics plan


Common Patterns by Product Type

Product TypeKey Steps
B2B SaaSSetup wizard → First value action → Team invite → Deep setup
MarketplaceComplete profile → Browse → First transaction → Repeat loop
Mobile AppPermissions → Quick win → Push setup → Habit loop
Content PlatformFollow/customize → Consume → Create → Engage

Experiment Ideas

When recommending experiments, consider tests for:

  • Flow simplification (step count, ordering)

  • Progress and motivation mechanics

  • Personalization by role or goal

  • Support and help availability

For comprehensive experiment ideas: See references/experiments.md


References


Task-Specific Questions

  1. Which early action predicts later retention, using what activation window and fully observed signup cohort?

  2. What happens immediately after signup?

  3. Where do users currently drop off?

  4. What's your activation rate target?

  5. Do you have cohort analysis on successful vs. churned users?


  • signup: For optimizing the signup before onboarding

  • emails: For onboarding email series

  • paywalls: For converting to paid during/after onboarding

  • ab-testing: For testing onboarding changes

Files

evals/evals.json

{
  "skill_name": "onboarding",
  "evals": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "prompt": "Help me optimize our onboarding flow. We have a project management tool and only 30% of trial users create their first project within the first week. We need to get them to value faster.",
      "expected_output": "Should check for product-marketing.md first. Should start by defining the activation/aha moment — in this case, creating a first project. Should evaluate the current time-to-value and identify friction points. Should recommend an onboarding flow approach (product-first, guided setup, or value-first). Should apply the checklist pattern (3-7 items for onboarding completion). Should address empty states as opportunities to guide users. Should provide experiment ideas for testing improvements. Should include measurement metrics.",
      "assertions": [
        "Checks for product-marketing.md",
        "Defines the activation/aha moment",
        "Evaluates time-to-value",
        "Recommends onboarding flow approach",
        "Applies checklist pattern with 3-7 items",
        "Addresses empty states as opportunities",
        "Provides experiment ideas",
        "Includes measurement metrics"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "prompt": "What should our onboarding checklist include? We're a design collaboration tool. Users need to upload a design, invite a team member, and leave a comment to get full value.",
      "expected_output": "Should apply the checklist pattern. Should include the 3 stated activation actions (upload design, invite team, leave comment). Should recommend 3-7 total items ordered by increasing commitment. Should suggest starting with the quickest win to build momentum. Should recommend progress indicators and completion rewards. Should address what happens when users skip items. Should provide specific UX recommendations for the checklist implementation.",
      "assertions": [
        "Applies checklist pattern",
        "Includes the 3 stated activation actions",
        "Limits to 3-7 total items",
        "Orders by increasing commitment",
        "Starts with quickest win",
        "Recommends progress indicators",
        "Addresses skipped items",
        "Provides UX recommendations"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "prompt": "our users sign up but then never come back. like 50% don't even log in a second time. what do we do?",
      "expected_output": "Should trigger on casual phrasing. Should address this as a stalled users problem. Should apply the handling stalled users framework: identify drop-off points, re-engagement triggers, multi-channel outreach (email, in-app, push). Should investigate root causes: is the first-run experience too complex? Is value not immediately apparent? Is the setup too long? Should recommend immediate improvements to the first session experience. Should suggest multi-channel onboarding (email sequences to bring them back). Should cross-reference emails for re-engagement emails.",
      "assertions": [
        "Triggers on casual phrasing",
        "Applies stalled users framework",
        "Identifies potential root causes for drop-off",
        "Recommends first-session experience improvements",
        "Suggests multi-channel onboarding",
        "Cross-references emails for re-engagement",
        "Provides specific re-engagement triggers"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "prompt": "How do we handle the empty state when a new user first logs in? Right now they just see a blank dashboard.",
      "expected_output": "Should apply the empty states as opportunities guidance. Should recommend turning the blank dashboard into a guided experience: sample data to show what the product looks like populated, a clear first action CTA, contextual tips, or a quick-start wizard. Should provide specific recommendations for empty state design: what to show, what action to prompt, how to reduce the 'blank canvas paralysis.' Should reference patterns by product type if applicable.",
      "assertions": [
        "Applies empty states as opportunities guidance",
        "Recommends alternatives to blank dashboard",
        "Suggests sample data or templates",
        "Provides clear first action CTA",
        "Addresses blank canvas paralysis",
        "Provides specific empty state design recommendations"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "prompt": "Should we use tooltips, a product tour, or a setup wizard for onboarding? What works best?",
      "expected_output": "Should apply the tooltips/guided tours guidance. Should compare the approaches: tooltips (contextual, on-demand, less intrusive), product tours (guided walkthrough, can overwhelm), setup wizards (structured, ensures key setup steps). Should recommend based on product complexity and onboarding goals. Should note that the best approach often combines elements. Should provide best practices for each: tooltip fatigue avoidance, tour length limits, wizard step count. Should recommend testing different approaches.",
      "assertions": [
        "Compares tooltips, product tours, and setup wizards",
        "Explains when each works best",
        "Notes that combination approaches often work",
        "Provides best practices for each",
        "Addresses tooltip fatigue and tour length",
        "Recommends testing different approaches"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 6,
      "prompt": "Our signup form has 8 fields and people keep dropping off. Can you help us fix the signup flow?",
      "expected_output": "Should recognize this is a signup flow optimization task, not post-signup onboarding. Should defer to or cross-reference the signup skill, which handles signup form optimization, field reduction, and registration flow design. Onboarding-cro covers what happens after signup. Should make this distinction clear.",
      "assertions": [
        "Recognizes this as signup flow optimization, not onboarding",
        "References or defers to signup skill",
        "Explains that onboarding covers post-signup",
        "Does not attempt signup form redesign using onboarding patterns"
      ],
      "files": []
    },
    {
      "id": 7,
      "prompt": "We're launching a new B2B analytics product and can't decide how to let people try it. Should we do a free tier, a free trial, require a credit card, or something else? And once they're in, how do we make sure they actually reach value fast?",
      "expected_output": "Should walk through the 5 activation models (freemium, free trial with 3/7/14/30-day options, paid trial, money-back guarantee, consultation/Superhuman-style) and help choose based on Model-Market Fit (Balfour — the market dictates the model). Should explain the credit-card tradeoff without claiming universal signup losses or conversion multipliers. Should distinguish observational cross-product benchmarks from causal effects and compare visitor-to-paid conversion and retained customer economics over a consistent horizon. Should reference the Evernote-vs-Notion lesson (hook then limit vs. give away too much). Should then design the Minimum Path to Value (MPTV) — the least steps to enough value to decide — grounded in Hick's Law, using inventory → remove → reconstruct. Should cite abandonment reality (40–60% abandon after one session; 75–80% within the first day). May reference psychology mechanisms (Endowed Progress Effect, Peak-End, BJ Fogg, Mario Kart boosters/blockers). Should point to the activation-models and minimum-path-to-value references.",
      "assertions": [
        "Presents the 5 activation models",
        "Applies Model-Market Fit to the choice",
        "Explains the credit-card tradeoff using whole-funnel conversion, without unsupported universal rates",
        "References Evernote-vs-Notion hook-then-limit lesson",
        "Designs a Minimum Path to Value grounded in Hick's Law",
        "Uses inventory -> remove -> reconstruct process",
        "Cites first-session/first-day abandonment stats",
        "Points to activation-models.md and minimum-path-to-value.md references"
      ],
      "files": []
    }
  ]
}

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
Corey Haines
Publisher
Corey Haines (Community)
Source
coreyhaines31/marketingskills · skills/onboarding · commit 96798cf
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Corey Haines.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download onboarding.zip