As humans, we all crave progress. We thrive on the feeling of accomplishment, no matter how small it is. It's a fundamental human need, and it's no different in the world of SaaS.
![SaaS Onboarding Best Practices for 2024 [+ Checklist] | ProductLed](https://productled.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ProductLed-blog-user-onboarding-guide-linkedin-2.png)
The onboarding process is a critical time for SaaS companies to build a positive relationship with their customers. It's a time where customers are learning how to use the product, discovering its value proposition, and forming opinions about the brand.
| Onboarding Goals | Description |
|---|---|
| Completing a profile setup | Ensuring users fill out their profile information completely and accurately |
| Adding their first project | Helping users get started with creating their first project or task |
| Inviting team members | Encouraging users to invite colleagues or collaborators to use the product |
| Configuring account settings | Assisting users with setting up account preferences, such as notification settings |
Example of Onboarding Goals
Why Showing Progress Matters
Psychologists have discovered that showing progress can significantly impact a person's motivation and satisfaction levels. The feeling of making progress toward a goal can be incredibly powerful, and it can increase a person's commitment to the task at hand.
In the context of SaaS, showing progress during the onboarding process can help new users feel more engaged with the product, leading to higher activation rates and lower churn.
| Email # | Subject Line | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to [Product Name] | Welcome new users and provide a brief introduction to the product. |
| 2 | Get Started with [Product Name] | Provide guidance on how to get started with the product, including links to tutorials and resources. |
| 3 | Tips for Completing Onboarding | Offer tips and tricks to help users complete the onboarding process. |
| 4 | Personalized Recommendation | Based on the user's goals, provide a personalized recommendation for a product feature or use case. |
| 5 | Thank You for Completing Onboarding | Congratulate users on completing the onboarding process and encourage them to take the next step in using the product. |
Onboarding Email Sequence Example
Putting Progress Tracking into Practice
Now that you understand the importance of progress tracking in SaaS onboarding, here are some practical tips to help you implement this tactic in your own product:
1. Define Your Onboarding Goals
Before you can start tracking progress, you need to define your onboarding goals. What do you want users to accomplish during the onboarding process? Here are some examples:
- Completing a profile setup
- Adding their first project
- Inviting team members
- Configuring account settings
By defining your goals, you can create a clear roadmap for your onboarding process and give users a sense of direction.
2. Choose the Right Progress Tracking Method
There are many ways to track progress during onboarding, so choosing a method that works for your product and your users is really important. Here are some examples:
- Progress bar: Shows users how far along they are in the onboarding process.
- Checklist: Provides a list of tasks that users need to complete to finish onboarding.
- Tutorial: Walks users through a step-by-step process to accomplish a specific goal.
Consider what will work best for your users and the onboarding goals you've defined.
3. Keep it Simple
It's essential to keep your progress-tracking system simple and easy to use. Here are some tips:
- Avoid overwhelming users with too much information or too many steps.
- Be clear and concise in your instructions.
- Use visual cues to make progress tracking intuitive.
Remember, the goal is to help users feel motivated and empowered, not confused or frustrated.
4. Provide Feedback
Providing feedback to users as they complete each step can be very motivating. Here are some ways to provide feedback:
- Use positive messaging to encourage users.
- Provide helpful tips and resources.
- Celebrate milestones and achievements.
Feedback can help users feel a sense of accomplishment and progress, which can increase their engagement with your product.
| User Persona | Personalization Strategies |
|---|---|
| New User | Provide a clear, step-by-step onboarding process |
| Experienced User | Offer an option to skip the onboarding or provide advanced features |
| Power User | Provide personalized use case recommendations |
| Admin | Offer tutorials and guides for managing team members |
5. Personalize the Experience
Tailoring the onboarding experience to the user's specific needs and goals can be very effective. Here are some ways to personalize the experience:
- Ask users to provide information about their goals or use cases during onboarding.
- Use this information to provide personalized recommendations or tutorials.
- Allow users to customize the onboarding experience to fit their needs.
Personalization can help users feel more invested in your product and more motivated to complete the onboarding process.
![SaaS Onboarding Best Practices for 2024 [+ Checklist] | ProductLed](https://productled.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/fullstory-progress-bar-1024x669.png)
Examples of Progress Tracking in SaaS
Here are some examples of SaaS companies that use progress tracking to improve the onboarding experience:
- Trello uses a progress bar to show new users how far along they are in onboarding. As users complete each step, the progress bar fills up, giving them a sense of accomplishment and helping them stay motivated.
- Hubspot uses a checklist to guide users through the onboarding process. Each item on the list has a checkbox next to it, allowing users to track their progress and feel a sense of satisfaction as they complete each step.
- Canva uses a tutorial system that walks new users through the process of creating their first design. As users complete each step, they receive feedback on their progress, encouraging them to continue and helping them feel more confident in their abilities.
Showing progress during the onboarding process can be a powerful tool for improving customer engagement and reducing churn.
By providing users with a clear sense of progress and accomplishment, SaaS companies can help new users feel more confident and motivated, leading to higher activation rates and better long-term retention.