Glossary

Learn about analytics, product, and technical terms and get their definitions in our Glossary.

Table of Contents

                                                            Onboarding

                                                            As technology advances, how we interact with products and apps has changed. This evolution has led to the increased importance of user onboarding. But what exactly is user onboarding?

                                                            Let's explore user onboarding, its importance, and the various types to help marketers and product managers understand this critical process better.

                                                            What is user onboarding?

                                                            User onboarding guides a new customer through the first steps of using a product or an app. The primary goal of user onboarding is to help users understand the value of your product or app and how they can use it to achieve their goals. Effective onboarding ensures users stay engaged and build a lasting connection with the product.

                                                            Types of user onboarding

                                                            There are two main types of user onboarding: product onboarding and app onboarding.

                                                            Any product onboarding introduces users to a physical product or a software product. This type of onboarding typically involves guiding users to set up the product through physical guides or digital documentation and conducted flows. Onboarding shows the users exactly how to use the product.

                                                            Mobile App onboarding introduces users to mobile (or web) applications. This type of onboarding is typically highly interactive and involves:

                                                            • Guiding users through the app's primary features
                                                            • Showing them how to navigate the app
                                                            • Familiarizes them with the main functionalities

                                                            Importance of user onboarding

                                                            User onboarding is crucial because it helps users understand the app's value or the product they are using. Setting up the customer with the necessary features reduces the time they would have spent trying to figure out how to use the product and will lead to lowering unnecessary, early churn.


                                                            Effective onboarding boosts product adoption, customer retention, and activation, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction, and can even lead unpaid customers into an in-app paid conversion funnel.

                                                            Benefits of effective onboarding

                                                            Effective onboarding helps businesses by increasing customer engagement and reducing churn rates. It nurtures a positive perception of the brand, fosters customer loyalty, and increases the likelihood of repeat purchases. Effective onboarding increases customer empowerment and confidence by streamlining the customer's learning curve. It also helps organizations identify and fix customer issues while using their product.

                                                            User onboarding is a critical process that plays a significant role in the success of your app or product.

                                                            Again, the process of onboarding a user involves the following:

                                                            • Introducing them to the critical features of your product
                                                            • Guiding them through the app or product
                                                            • Educating them on how to use it

                                                            Effective onboarding boosts customer engagement and retention, promoting loyalty and repeat purchases. With the right user onboarding strategy, businesses can ensure their product remains relevant, user-friendly, and valued in today's ever-evolving technology landscape.