$npx -y skills add aitytech/agentkits-marketing --skill onboarding-croWhen 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,"
| 1 | # Onboarding CRO |
| 2 | |
| 3 | 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. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | ## Initial Assessment |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Before providing recommendations, understand: |
| 8 | |
| 9 | 1. **Product Context** |
| 10 | - What type of product? (SaaS tool, marketplace, app, etc.) |
| 11 | - B2B or B2C? |
| 12 | - What's the core value proposition? |
| 13 | |
| 14 | 2. **Activation Definition** |
| 15 | - What's the "aha moment" for your product? |
| 16 | - What action indicates a user "gets it"? |
| 17 | - What's your current activation rate? |
| 18 | |
| 19 | 3. **Current State** |
| 20 | - What happens immediately after signup? |
| 21 | - Is there an existing onboarding flow? |
| 22 | - Where do users currently drop off? |
| 23 | |
| 24 | --- |
| 25 | |
| 26 | ## Core Principles |
| 27 | |
| 28 | ### 1. Time-to-Value Is Everything |
| 29 | - How quickly can someone experience the core value? |
| 30 | - Remove every step between signup and that moment |
| 31 | - Consider: Can they experience value BEFORE signup? |
| 32 | |
| 33 | ### 2. One Goal Per Session |
| 34 | - Don't try to teach everything at once |
| 35 | - Focus first session on one successful outcome |
| 36 | - Save advanced features for later |
| 37 | |
| 38 | ### 3. Do, Don't Show |
| 39 | - Interactive > Tutorial |
| 40 | - Doing the thing > Learning about the thing |
| 41 | - Show UI in context of real tasks |
| 42 | |
| 43 | ### 4. Progress Creates Motivation |
| 44 | - Show advancement |
| 45 | - Celebrate completions |
| 46 | - Make the path visible |
| 47 | |
| 48 | --- |
| 49 | |
| 50 | ## Defining Activation |
| 51 | |
| 52 | ### Find Your Aha Moment |
| 53 | The action that correlates most strongly with retention: |
| 54 | - What do retained users do that churned users don't? |
| 55 | - What's the earliest indicator of future engagement? |
| 56 | - What action demonstrates they "got it"? |
| 57 | |
| 58 | **Examples by product type:** |
| 59 | - Project management: Create first project + add team member |
| 60 | - Analytics: Install tracking + see first report |
| 61 | - Design tool: Create first design + export/share |
| 62 | - Collaboration: Invite first teammate |
| 63 | - Marketplace: Complete first transaction |
| 64 | |
| 65 | ### Activation Metrics |
| 66 | - % of signups who reach activation |
| 67 | - Time to activation |
| 68 | - Steps to activation |
| 69 | - Activation by cohort/source |
| 70 | |
| 71 | --- |
| 72 | |
| 73 | ## Onboarding Flow Design |
| 74 | |
| 75 | ### Immediate Post-Signup (First 30 Seconds) |
| 76 | |
| 77 | **Options:** |
| 78 | 1. **Product-first**: Drop directly into product |
| 79 | - Best for: Simple products, B2C, mobile apps |
| 80 | - Risk: Blank slate overwhelm |
| 81 | |
| 82 | 2. **Guided setup**: Short wizard to configure |
| 83 | - Best for: Products needing personalization |
| 84 | - Risk: Adds friction before value |
| 85 | |
| 86 | 3. **Value-first**: Show outcome immediately |
| 87 | - Best for: Products with demo data or samples |
| 88 | - Risk: May not feel "real" |
| 89 | |
| 90 | **Whatever you choose:** |
| 91 | - Clear single next action |
| 92 | - No dead ends |
| 93 | - Progress indication if multi-step |
| 94 | |
| 95 | ### Onboarding Checklist Pattern |
| 96 | |
| 97 | **When to use:** |
| 98 | - Multiple setup steps required |
| 99 | - Product has several features to discover |
| 100 | - Self-serve B2B products |
| 101 | |
| 102 | **Best practices:** |
| 103 | - 3-7 items (not overwhelming) |
| 104 | - Order by value (most impactful first) |
| 105 | - Start with quick wins |
| 106 | - Progress bar/completion % |
| 107 | - Celebration on completion |
| 108 | - Dismiss option (don't trap users) |
| 109 | |
| 110 | **Checklist item structure:** |
| 111 | - Clear action verb |
| 112 | - Benefit hint |
| 113 | - Estimated time |
| 114 | - Quick-start capability |
| 115 | |
| 116 | Example: |
| 117 | ``` |
| 118 | ☐ Connect your first data source (2 min) |
| 119 | Get real-time insights from your existing tools |
| 120 | [Connect Now] |
| 121 | ``` |
| 122 | |
| 123 | ### Empty States |
| 124 | |
| 125 | Empty states are onboarding opportunities, not dead ends. |
| 126 | |
| 127 | **Good empty state:** |
| 128 | - Explains what this area is for |
| 129 | - Shows what it looks like with data |
| 130 | - Clear primary action to add first item |
| 131 | - Optional: Pre-populate with example data |
| 132 | |
| 133 | **Structure:** |
| 134 | 1. Illustration or preview |
| 135 | 2. Brief explanation of value |
| 136 | 3. Primary CTA to add first item |
| 137 | 4. Optional: Secondary action (import, template) |
| 138 | |
| 139 | ### Tooltips and Guided Tours |
| 140 | |
| 141 | **When to use:** |
| 142 | - Complex UI that benefits from orientation |
| 143 | - Features that aren't self-evident |
| 144 | - Power features users might miss |
| 145 | |
| 146 | **When to avoid:** |
| 147 | - Simple, intuitive interfaces |
| 148 | - Mobile apps (limited screen space) |
| 149 | - When they interrupt important flows |
| 150 | |
| 151 | **Best practices:** |
| 152 | - Max 3-5 steps per tour |
| 153 | - Point to actual UI elements |
| 154 | - Dismissable at any time |
| 155 | - Don't |