/onboarding-optimization

name: onboarding-optimization
description: When the user wants to improve their app's onboarding experience, increase activation rate, reduce Day 1 drop-off, or optimize the first-run flow. Use when the user mentions "onboarding", "first-run", "activation", "tutorial", "day 1 retention", "new user flow", "permission prompts", "sign-up conversion", "onboarding funnel", or "users dropping off early". For overall retention strategy, see retention-optimization. For paywall placement, see monetization-strategy.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0

Onboarding Optimization

You optimize the first-run experience to maximize activation — the moment a new user completes the core action that predicts long-term retention.

The Activation Principle

**Activation ≠ sign-up.** Activation is the first time the user gets real value from your app. Identify it before anything else.

| App Type | Activation Event | |----------|-----------------| | Fitness | First workout completed | | Productivity | First task or project created | | Social | First connection made or content posted | | Finance | First account linked or budget set | | Games | First level or match completed | | Meditation | First session completed | | Photo/Video | First photo edited or exported |

**Rule:** Everything in onboarding should funnel toward that one activation event as fast as possible.

Initial Assessment

1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md` 2. Ask: **What is your activation event?** 3. Ask: **What % of new users reach it within 24 hours?** (baseline) 4. Ask: **Where do users drop off?** (which step, if known) 5. Ask: **How long does your current onboarding take?** (steps, screens) 6. Ask: **Do you have Firebase/Mixpanel funnels set up?**

Onboarding Audit Framework

Step 1 — Map the Current Flow

List every screen from app open to activation:

App open → [Screen 1] → [Screen 2] → ... → Activation event

Flag each screen: **Required** | **Value-adding** | **Friction only**

Remove or defer everything that is friction-only.

Step 2 — Score Each Screen

| Factor | Question | Score | |--------|---------|-------| | **Necessity** | Can the user reach activation without this? | 0 = skip it | | **Timing** | Is this the right moment for this ask? | | | **Value exchange** | Does the user understand why this benefits them? | | | **Cognitive load** | How many decisions does this require? | |

Step 3 — Permission Prompt Timing

Permissions are the #1 drop-off point. Rules:

| Permission | When to ask | Never ask | |-----------|------------|-----------| | Push notifications | After activation, not before | On cold open | | Location | When the feature needs it | During sign-up | | Camera/microphone | Contextually, when used | Before any value | | Contacts | When the social feature is used | In onboarding | | Tracking (ATT) | After user is invested | On first open |

**The pre-permission screen:** Always show a native-looking explanation screen before the system prompt. Users who understand the "why" grant at 2–3× the rate.

Step 4 — Sign-Up Friction

| Pattern | Impact | Recommendation | |---------|--------|---------------| | Required sign-up before value | High drop-off | Defer to post-activation | | Only email+password | Medium drop-off | Add Sign in with Apple + Google | | Long profile setup | High drop-off | Ask 1 question max, defer rest | | Email verification required | Kills momentum | Defer or make optional |

**Guest mode / try before sign-up:** Allow users to experience the core value before requiring an account. Conversion from guest → registered is typically 40–60% vs. a hard gate at 15–30%.

Onboarding Patterns by App Type

Value-First (recommended for most apps)

Open → Core feature demo / interactive preview
     → Activation moment
     → "Save your progress" → Sign-up
     → Permission asks
     → Personalization

Personalization-First (works for health, fitness, AI apps)

Open → 3–5 personalization questions (show progress bar)
     → "Your plan is ready" reveal moment
     → Sign-up gate (invested now)
     → Activation

Social-First (social apps)

Open → Sign in with Apple/Google (single tap)
     → Find friends / follow suggestions
     → First feed with content
     → Activation (post, comment, react)

Funnel Benchmarks

| Step | Benchmark | Poor | |------|-----------|------| | App open → first interaction | > 85% | < 70% | | Sign-up conversion | > 60% | < 40% | | Push permission grant | > 50% | < 30% | | Activation (D0) | > 40% | < 20% | | Day 1 retention | > 30% | < 15% |

Personalization Questions

If you include personalization, follow these rules:

• Maximum **3–5 questions** in onboarding
• Each question must visibly affect the experience
• Show a progress indicator (step 1 of 3)
• Use visual selections, not text inputs
• Never ask for data you won't use immediately

Paywall Placement in Onboarding

**Rule:** Show value before the paywall.

| Placement | Works When | |-----------|-----------| | Before activation | Almost never — user has no reference for value | | At activation | Strong — user just felt the value | | Post-activation, D1 | Strongest for subscription apps | | Contextual (feature gate) | Good for feature-based paywall |

See `monetization-strategy` for paywall design details.

Output Format

Onboarding Audit

Current flow:
  [Screen 1] — Required / friction
  [Screen 2] — Value-adding
  [Screen 3] — Required / friction
  ...
  [Activation event] — Step N

Drop-off analysis:
  Biggest drop: [screen] ([X]% exit rate if known)
  Estimated cause: [hypothesis]

Recommended changes:
1. [Remove / defer X] — Expected impact: [lift in activation]
2. [Reorder Y before Z] — Expected impact: [rationale]
3. [Add pre-permission screen for Z] — Expected impact: [grant rate improvement]

Revised flow:
  Open → [Screen] → [Screen] → Activation → Sign-up → Permissions
  Estimated steps removed: [N]
  Estimated time to activat