Design To Delight: The world of web is getting bigger and bigger with every breath we take. There are millions of websites, apps and businesses over the internet and everyone is hustling to differentiate itself from the other. This has resulted in fierce competition. In order to cope up with competition and make a unique identity, it’s very important that you’re able to create a solid first impression when you introduce yourself to the world. No matter how good your product or solution may be, first-time users will still need a lot of reasons to stick around.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of creating a delightful first-time experience that makes users stick around. Designing to delight first-time users can help in creating a long-term association with your users.

1. Introduction and Onboarding

As stated earlier, creating a wonderful product or solution is not enough to sell it into the market. Unless the user is told about the value creation, and how he will be benefited by using your app or solution, they are not going to be around for long.

Every new user will have some basic questions, which must be answered as early as possible when they interact with your app. They would be curious and will question themselves – is this the app I want? What does it actually do? How does it work? Where should I start from? The purpose of onboarding is to offer a quick intro to your product, and it’s key features.

The best answer to these questions is a welcome screen and onboarding process that draws a user into your product’s experience right away. The first thing a user will see is your launch screen, so it shouldn’t be an afterthought during the design process. Your launch screen is also significant for first-time users because it’s where you’ll put any legal disclaimers or age restrictions that may be necessary. This transparency avoids any surprises for users.

2. Onboarding Flow

Users are usually very impatient. They’ll quit if it takes too much effort to get what they want. According to a report, an average app loses 77 percent of its daily active users within the first three days of installation. Users just want to figure out what your product is supposed to do and how to do it.

Make the learning process as smooth as possible for new users. Offer them info in chunks, which they can easily digest. Strictly avoid offering too many first choices as it will only result in a confused user.

Collect basic information from the users, like their first name, so you can add it automatically to the intro content. This will give a personal touch to the onboarding process and the user will feel much more comfortable while moving forward. You can create a virtual tour guide to step-by-step introduce users to the app. Also, it’s important to periodically let new users know how much longer it will take to get started.

3. Minimum Information Collection

In today’s world, users are not reluctant to provide their personal information. However, they provide info only when they see the value, and only to get something in return. Remember, this is the first time they are interacting with you, so go easy on them. Don’t bombard them with questions seeking too much information.

Adding more functionality to the onboarding process will also give scope to users to get acquainted with your app. It gives first-time users a chance to get comfortable with your app, before you ask for a full sign-up. Yes, this would require more coding, but the extra effort will increase the chances of your success.

4. Filler Graphics and Animation

It is possible that an app’s dashboard is set to empty when a new user first downloads it. But, this can make the users feel that the app is not personal or useful to them. To counter this situation, filler graphics should be used as they can effectively minimize emptiness.

The other way to resolve this problem is to use animation during the onboarding process. This is a great method to show the potential of your product to first-time users. For example, you can show an animated app intro about how the app will look like when friends list, message notifications and dashboards are populated. Pop-up prompts can also be used to remind new users to invite friends to download the app.

5. Outside App Interactions

The user interactions must not be restricted to the app; outside app interactions play an important role in enhancing the overall user experience. Once you have initial user info, keep your first-time users engaged with follow-up emails. If you’re offering discounts on specific paid features, let them know this. A well-designed and friendly welcome email can also encourage new users to become regular users.

Following up with the users make them feel valued and keep them well-informed about your product, its features and benefits. It increases the chances of a long-term association with your product. However, you should be very careful about the content and frequency of the follow-up emails. There is a very thin line between an informative, inquisitive email and a spammy one.

Conclusion

Adjustments and improvements is a continuous process and they can be always be done at a later stage. But that doesn’t mean you should jump in with something which is not just good enough. You must design to delight right from the word go. Remember, the majority of users will decide to stay with you or uninstall (and maybe never come back) basis their initial interaction. Therefore, try to make the first interaction unforgettable and delightful. Reach out to our design experts to discuss more on designing for user experience.

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