6 Tips to Build a Successful In-app User Onboarding Checklist

As the old saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This sentiment rings especially true when it comes to user onboarding.

Without a well-planned and executed onboarding process, you run the risk of losing potential users before they’ve even had a chance to experience your product or service.

And before you start executing your plan, you need a checklist for user onboarding. The lack of a comprehensive user onboarding checklist can lead to confusion, frustration, and ultimately, disengagement from your brand.

The absence of a clear plan and set of guidelines can make it challenging to effectively onboard new users and ensure they have a positive experience. This is why having a well-designed user onboarding checklist is crucial for any company looking to successfully onboard new users and keep them engaged for the long term.

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of a user onboarding checklist and provide actionable tips for creating your own.

What is a User Onboarding Checklist for SaaS?

A user onboarding checklist for SaaS is a crucial tool used by customer success teams to ensure that new users have a smooth and successful experience with a new Software as a Service (SaaS) application. This checklist provides a framework for tracking key tasks that need to be completed during the start of a user’s journey, which can help users get the most out of your SaaS and avoid any potential roadblocks that could lead to early churn.

The user onboarding checklist should be designed to guide users through the essential steps needed to get started with the SaaS application, such as creating an account, completing their user profile, and learning how to use the product’s key features. Other tasks that could be included in the checklist may include setting up integrations with other applications, attending training sessions or webinars, accessing resources like a knowledge base or FAQs, and providing feedback to improve the user onboarding experience.

Why Use a User Onboarding Checklist for SaaS?

Here are some concrete reasons why your SaaS business should use a user onboarding checklist:

• Ensures consistency: A user onboarding checklist can ensure that each new user is provided with a consistent and comprehensive onboarding experience, which can lead to higher levels of user satisfaction.
• Reduces churn: By guiding new users through the onboarding process, a checklist can help prevent early churn by addressing potential roadblocks and ensuring that users have a clear understanding of how to use the product effectively.
• Saves time and resources: A user onboarding checklist can help streamline the onboarding process, saving time and resources for customer success teams and allowing them to focus on more high-value tasks.
• Improves user engagement: A well-designed user onboarding checklist can help increase user engagement by guiding new users through key features and functionality, encouraging them to explore the product further.
• Provides valuable feedback: By tracking each user’s progress through the onboarding process, a checklist can provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the onboarding experience and help identify areas for improvement.

What Makes a Good User Onboarding Checklist for SaaS?

When it comes to onboarding new users for your SaaS product, having a well-designed checklist can make all the difference. With the right approach, you can help new users feel comfortable and confident using your software, while also minimizing frustration and confusion.

Here are 6 tips with examples for creating a good user onboarding checklist:

Easy-to-follow processes

Provide a guided product tour that walks new users through the key features of your software in a step-by-step manner. This can include highlighting buttons and features, showing pop-up tooltips, and providing clear instructions on how to complete specific tasks.

Example: The project management software Asana provides a guided tour that shows new users how to create projects, assign tasks, and track progress.

Completion bars or checklists

Use a progress bar that shows users how much of the onboarding process they’ve completed and what’s left to do. This can help users feel more engaged and motivated to complete the process.

Example: The team collaboration tool Trello uses a progress bar that shows users how many steps they’ve completed in the onboarding process and what they still need to do.

Supporting documents

Provide a knowledge base or FAQs that cover common questions and issues that users may encounter. This can include how-to guides, troubleshooting tips, and video tutorials.

Example: The email marketing software Basecamp provides a knowledge base that covers topics such as creating campaigns, managing contacts, and tracking results. They link it to their onboarding step. Here’s how they do it:

Clicking on the ‘Yes, help me out’ button will lead to a knowledge base.

Source:appcues.com

Achievable tasks

Break down tasks into manageable, bite-sized chunks that users can easily complete. This can include providing tooltips or pop-up windows that guide users through specific tasks.

Example: The online design tool Canva provides a guided tour that breaks down design tasks into small, manageable steps, making it easy for new users to learn how to create designs.

Exiting

Provide a clear way for users to save their progress and pick up where they left off when they log back in. This can include a “Save and Exit” button or an automatic save feature.

Example: You can provide an “Auto-Save” feature that saves progress automatically as users move through the onboarding process.

Support

​​If a user gets stuck while working through the checklist, make it easy for them to get in touch with support.

Provide a live chat or email support system that users can access from within the app. This can include providing detailed documentation or offering live support during business hours.

Example: The CRM software Hubspot provides a live chat support system that users can access from within the app, allowing them to quickly get help and guidance when they need it.

Final Thoughts

Creating a user onboarding checklist can be a complex task, especially for companies that are new to the process. This is where a user onboarding service company like Inturact can be a valuable resource. Inturact offers personalized onboarding solutions that are tailored to your business needs, helping you create a successful onboarding experience for your users. With their expertise, you can ensure that your users have a positive experience with your product, and set the foundation for a long-term, successful relationship with your brand.

By partnering with Inturact, you can focus on your core business while their team of experts takes care of the onboarding process. With their proven methodology and extensive experience in user onboarding, Inturact can help you achieve higher user satisfaction, lower churn rates, and increased revenue growth. Don’t let a poor onboarding experience prevent you from realizing your business’s full potential. Contact us today to learn more about Inturact’s onboarding services.