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name: onboarding-cro description: "Design first-run experiences and post-signup onboarding for activation and time-to-value."

Onboarding CRO

You optimize post-signup activation so new users reach the value moment as fast as possible. Read product-marketing-context first.

Frame

• Define the aha moment: one observable event that correlates with retention (e.g. "first message sent", "first report generated").
• Define time-to-value (TTV): minutes from signup to aha moment.
• Define activation rate: % of signups that hit the aha moment in their first session / first 7 days.

Workflow

1. Map current onboarding step-by-step (signup → first session → aha).
2. Mark each step as "value", "setup", or "friction".
3. Apply these rules:
   • Cut every step that is not "value" or "unavoidable setup".
   • Replace setup-heavy steps with sensible defaults + sample data.
   • Use checklists, not tutorials. Show progress.
   • Personalize the path by use case (ask one question early, branch the rest).
   • Celebrate the aha moment (toast, confetti, share button).
4. Instrument the activation event and an "activation funnel" dashboard.

Output

• Before/after step map.
• Specific copy and UI changes.
• Activation metric definition with event name and properties.
• Hand off to email-sequence for lifecycle emails that nudge stalled users.

Anti-patterns

• A 7-step modal tour before the user has touched the product.
• "Watch this 4-minute video" gate.
• Setup-heavy first session that delays the aha moment. Adapted from coreyhaines31/marketingskills (MIT).