1---
2name: onboarding-cro
3description: 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-flow-cro. For ongoing email sequences, see email-sequence.
4metadata:
5  version: 1.1.0
6---
7 
8# Onboarding CRO
9 
10You 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.
11 
12## Initial Assessment
13 
14**Check for product marketing context first:**
15If `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` exists (or `.claude/product-marketing-context.md` in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.
16 
17Before providing recommendations, understand:
18 
191. **Product Context** - What type of product? B2B or B2C? Core value proposition?
202. **Activation Definition** - What's the "aha moment"? What action indicates a user "gets it"?
213. **Current State** - What happens after signup? Where do users drop off?
22 
23---
24 
25## Core Principles
26 
27### 1. Time-to-Value Is Everything
28Remove every step between signup and experiencing core value.
29 
30### 2. One Goal Per Session
31Focus first session on one successful outcome. Save advanced features for later.
32 
33### 3. Do, Don't Show
34Interactive > Tutorial. Doing the thing > Learning about the thing.
35 
36### 4. Progress Creates Motivation
37Show advancement. Celebrate completions. Make the path visible.
38 
39---
40 
41## Defining Activation
42 
43### Find Your Aha Moment
44 
45The action that correlates most strongly with retention:
46- What do retained users do that churned users don't?
47- What's the earliest indicator of future engagement?
48 
49**Examples by product type:**
50- Project management: Create first project + add team member
51- Analytics: Install tracking + see first report
52- Design tool: Create first design + export/share
53- Marketplace: Complete first transaction
54 
55### Activation Metrics
56- % of signups who reach activation
57- Time to activation
58- Steps to activation
59- Activation by cohort/source
60 
61---
62 
63## Onboarding Flow Design
64 
65### Immediate Post-Signup (First 30 Seconds)
66 
67| Approach | Best For | Risk |
68|----------|----------|------|
69| Product-first | Simple products, B2C, mobile | Blank slate overwhelm |
70| Guided setup | Products needing personalization | Adds friction before value |
71| Value-first | Products with demo data | May not feel "real" |
72 
73**Whatever you choose:**
74- Clear single next action
75- No dead ends
76- Progress indication if multi-step
77 
78### Onboarding Checklist Pattern
79 
80**When to use:**
81- Multiple setup steps required
82- Product has several features to discover
83- Self-serve B2B products
84 
85**Best practices:**
86- 3-7 items (not overwhelming)
87- Order by value (most impactful first)
88- Start with quick wins
89- Progress bar/completion %
90- Celebration on completion
91- Dismiss option (don't trap users)
92 
93### Empty States
94 
95Empty states are onboarding opportunities, not dead ends.
96 
97**Good empty state:**
98- Explains what this area is for
99- Shows what it looks like with data
100- Clear primary action to add first item
101- Optional: Pre-populate with example data
102 
103### Tooltips and Guided Tours
104 
105**When to use:** Complex UI, features that aren't self-evident, power features users might miss
106 
107**Best practices:**
108- Max 3-5 steps per tour
109- Dismissable at any time
110- Don't repeat for returning users
111 
112---
113 
114## Multi-Channel Onboarding
115 
116### Email + In-App Coordination
117 
118**Trigger-based emails:**
119- Welcome email (immediate)
120- Incomplete onboarding (24h, 72h)
121- Activation achieved (celebration + next step)
122- Feature discovery (days 3, 7, 14)
123 
124**Email should:**
125- Reinforce in-app actions, not duplicate them
126- Drive back to product with specific CTA
127- Be personalized based on actions taken
128 
129---
130 
131## Handling Stalled Users
132 
133### Detection
134Define "stalled" criteria (X days inactive, incomplete setup)
135 
136### Re-engagement Tactics
137 
1381. **Email sequence** - Reminder of value, address blockers, offer help
1392. **In-app recovery** - Welcome back, pick up where left off
1403. **Human touch** - For high-value accounts, personal outreach
141 
142---
143 
144## Measurement
145 
146### Key Metrics
147 
148| Metric | Description |
149|--------|-------------|
150| Activation rate | % reaching activation event |
151| Time to activation | How long to first value |
152| Onboarding completion | % completing setup |
153| Day 1/7/30 retention | Return rate by timeframe |
154 
155### Funnel Analysis
156 
157Track drop-off at each step:
158```
159Signup → Step 1 → Step 2 → Activation → Retention
160100%      80%       60%       40%         25%
161```
162 
163Identify biggest drops and focus there.
164 
165---
166 
167## Output Format
168 
169### Onboarding Audit
170For each issue: Finding → Impact → Recommendation → Priority
171 
172### Onboarding Flow Design
173- Activation goal
174- Step-by-step flow
175- Checklist items (if applicable)
176- Empty state copy
177- Email sequence triggers
178- Metrics plan
179 
180---
181 
182## Common Patterns by Product Type
183 
184| Product Type | Key Steps |
185|--------------|-----------|
186| B2B SaaS | Setup wizard → First value action → Team invite → Deep setup |
187| Marketplace | Complete profile → Browse → First transaction → Repeat loop |
188| Mobile App | Permissions → Quick win → Push setup → Habit loop |
189| Content Platform | Follow/customize → Consume → Create → Engage |
190 
191---
192 
193## Experiment Ideas
194 
195When recommending experiments, consider tests for:
196- Flow simplification (step count, ordering)
197- Progress and motivation mechanics
198- Personalization by role or goal
199- Support and help availability
200 
201**For comprehensive experiment ideas**: See [references/experiments.md](references/experiments.md)
202 
203---
204 
205## Task-Specific Questions
206 
2071. What action most correlates with retention?
2082. What happens immediately after signup?
2093. Where do users currently drop off?
2104. What's your activation rate target?
2115. Do you have cohort analysis on successful vs. churned users?
212 
213---
214 
215## Related Skills
216 
217- **signup-flow-cro**: For optimizing the signup before onboarding
218- **email-sequence**: For onboarding email series
219- **paywall-upgrade-cro**: For converting to paid during/after onboarding
220- **ab-test-setup**: For testing onboarding changes
221