How puzzling it was to figure out an app on your own. As if it was a game of guessing about which option directs to where, what it does, how to do certain things, etc. – the list runs long.

In a hurry? Jump directly to –

Table of Content:

• What is Mobile App Onboarding?
• How many types of Onboarding are there? 
• Benefits of using App Onboarding
• Mobile App Onboarding Best Practices Checklist
• Live Examples of App Onboarding Done Right
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

However, the ordeal was over when mobile app onboarding started to gain momentum. It assisted users in navigating through the app with ease and explored its features and functions. Almost all the industry-giants are having a sip of this elixir of a concept and are obtaining remarkable conversion rates.

Wait, did we just lost you there?

No problem, let’s take it from the top, starting from what is on-boarding to what are the best onboarding practices for 2021.

What is Mobile App Onboarding?

App Onboarding is an efficient method used by organizations to enable users to comprehend your app and its functions. It is a walkthrough process or a tutorial that is meant to help users interact with the app and easily figure out what that particular app does and what they can achieve by continuing to use it.

Essentially, it is a series of screens that guide users through the app’s interface. Now, the mobile app onboarding screens typically have three purposes for which they are being used rigorously:

1. To enlighten the users about the utilitarian functions and benefits of the app.
2. To enable the users to register on the app via a login option.
3. It is aimed to gather useful profile data of the users, later used to offer personalized notifications and content.

How Many Types of Onboarding Are There? 

There are essentially three types of best mobile app onboarding that help fulfill these distinct objectives.

1. Progressive

This is one of the app onboarding best practices that displays new information on the screen while users progressively navigate through the app. It is in a way a step by step process directing and encouraging the users to take actions. The information depicted is relevant to the specific page.

2. Function-oriented

It is a mobile application onboarding approach that is typically focused on app functionality and explaining users the ways to operate the app. The function-oriented approach ensures the demonstration of common and rudimentary actions performed in the app to the users.

3. Benefits-oriented

As the name clearly states, this approach is employed to showcase the benefits of the app or the value the users are expected to gain by using the app. The basic aim of this approach is to increase conversions. It helps in describing what the app does without elaborating on how to use the app.

Now as you know the types of mobile applications onboarding prevailing in the market, let’s take a look at the benefits they offer before moving to the core part of the article. Aka, Mobile application onboarding best practices checklist.

Benefits of Using App Onboarding

1. Positive User Experience

You wouldn’t want your app to just lay there in the user’s phone not being used for months, or worse yet, being uninstalled. To ensure active users on your app, onboarding comes in handy. As the first user interaction plays a pivotal role in deciding whether the user will use your app again or not, you need to give them the best app onboarding experiences.

Guiding the users via onboarding on how to use the app and what features it possesses, will help them navigate with ease and they won’t feel lost. They get a fair idea of why they should use the app and most importantly how to use it efficiently.

Once you get this right, you will see how amazing the benefits of onboarding are.

2. Proper utilization of features

It is a given that it takes some time for users to get used to your app and figure out their way around it. Sometimes, users are unable to make themselves familiar with certain features on their own, which is a great impediment in our view for your app to increase conversion. Practicing the best onboarding approaches resolves this issue before it has a chance to arise.

3. Increases App Retention

Onboarding is highly crucial for making your app an absolute favorite of the users. You ask how it does it? Well, when you provide users with insights into your app and direct them towards effectively using its features and functions, the users are inclined to stay with your app. Hence, it improves the app retention rate by multi-folds.

Mobile App Onboarding Best Practices Checklist 

Here are the top app user mobile onboarding best practices that will point the scale in your direction.

1. Prioritize Value Proposition

It is a belief that by displaying all the right cards to the users, you can convert them into active users. Meaning, by showing all the best features of your app you can entice users into using your app. However, it will be more effective if you first highlight the value proposition of your app.

Rather than flaunting your app’s features first, start with explaining what the user will gain by using your app. It will not only encourage them to use your app in the future but also will assure them that the app is useful and serves what it claims.

After this, you can go on with showing the prominent features and functionalities of your app that will assist in completing the tasks the users plan to accomplish.

2. Request Only Mandatory Information

It wouldn’t make sense if your app is about, say learning languages, and you are asking questions about their favorite books, would it? In this case, you would need to ask for relevant and most crucial information. A report supports this statement as it shows almost 60% of the users do not install an app or uninstall it later once they feel the app is asking for too much personal information.

Also, make sure not to bombard them with excessive questions. In short, try to make your question’s list as concise and precise as possible. This is one of the most effective onboarding techniques to boost app user engagement.

3. Compact Onboarding Screens

A tediously long and extensive user onboarding process may overwhelm the user to an extent that they might not use your app or end up finding a substitute. You neither should use text-heavy explanations nor add a foray of screens.

What you should do is to employ progressive onboarding approach and use app screenshots and illustrations to convey the message. Also, see the fact that you only introduce a single feature on each screen. In fact, you can use coach marks to help users understand how the app works and how to steer in it.

You can also make this approach more attractive by placing tutorials and gamifying the whole user experience.

4. Concise and Simple Sign-Up Process

No one likes to spend excess time on the application onboarding process which is also mentioned in the report by The Manifest. So, the more concise your login process, the better.

Providing the options of logging in with other accounts such as Facebook or Google is a major time saver and a popular strategy among the users. It decreases a significant amount of friction in the user onboarding process introduced by the sign-up mandate.

5. Request for Permissions

Asking for permission is an important part of business ethics, especially when it is about users’ personal data and information. Now, if you have an app that requires a camera or microphone facility, then instead of just taking things into your hand, it should be a mandate to first ask for the consent.

If the user trusts your app or wants to continue using its features, they will agree. Moreover, users are more likely to respond positively to permissions requests if they understand what they will gain by doing so.

6. Promote App Content Preview

Promoting app content preview is also one of the onboarding app best practices to consider in 2020 and beyond. This is because a sign up option can act as a barrier between your app and the user. And therefore, it is always better to give the users access to the features of your app before flatly asking them to sign up.

For instance, if you own an eCommerce app, then let the users go through the products offered on your website, and when they want to make a transaction, they can simply login then. Or, you can enable the login option after the users have discovered your app.

7. Make Use of Empty States

Empty states refer to the screens which show when users have not performed any activity or no content has been added yet. You can use these empty states to your advantage by making them encouraging. Instead of leaving a blank space, you can educate, guide, and promote users to take action.

For instance, Instagram displays “No posts yet” instead of just leaving it blank. This way it encourages users to initiate any action and use the app further.

8. Use Visual Hints for Guidance

Instead of hand-holding customers, while helping them explore the app you can employ progressive visual hints. All you have to do is strategically place the hints on the places where you predict users may get stuck while browsing the app. This way, you not only avoid tedious and monotonous instructions but save the time of users in reading them, which can rather be spent on using the app.

9. Preach Personalization

Why wait to show your personalization to customers in your app’s features, when you can give them a taste of it in the onboarding process only. Many popular apps personalize the content of their app based on individual preference in the starting.

Let’s take Spotify for instance. No wonder it is huge among the users as

it provides them with choices based on language, genre, artists, etc. to start personalizing the content referred to them since the start.

10. Take advantage of Success States

Just like the Empty States, Success States prove to be a great leverage for engaging the user on your app. They create a positive impression of your app in the users’ minds. These states refer to the screens or popups that show appreciation after a task is performed.

For example, pop-ups including emoticons or animations congratulating the users once they achieve something in the app or complete an action for the first time.

11. Try gamification

In the event that your application is focusing on early users (i.e. users who know about applications and are first one and quick to attempt the new ones. In this case you need to try and attempt to gamify your application to enhance it. Also apart from gamification, you should include a “spoiler” for the user to understand how he can use the application. On the off chance that some functionality displayed in the on boarding stream gets essential to the user, it can turn into the initial step to monetization!

12. Describe Actions

We need clarity or explanation for whichever feature we use. Thus, explaining the most well-known actions that the user can take in the application or the advantages that he can get from utilizing it. For example, YouTube and Google give valuable data with focused tips inside the setting of the action that the client needs to perform and do it in a static manner or with animation.

13. Test before Final Implementation

Anything is the sum of its whole. Your app will be considered remarkable when it is perfect overall. How different elements seem together once integrated is what makes an app great and appealing. In which case, it is crucial to test and measure the user onboarding flow for your mobile app on different screens and monitors to make sure the transition to each screen is seamless and smooth.

14. Include A Balanced Mix Of Multiple Channels

Using several channels to enhance the effectiveness of your onboarding procedure is an ideal way to encourage users to come back to your app, especially in the case of Retail apps. You can use channels like emails, push notifications, and in-app messages to remind the users of any incomplete action on the app like an unattended cart or simply send gentle reminders.

15. Monitor and Track (liquid state)

Keeping tabs on app usage and analytics is an incredible way to determine where users are facing problems in the onboarding flow and app.

Tracking these problems will provide you insights on where you need to improve in order to provide a smooth app onboarding experience. One should not ignore it as it is one of the prominent deciding factors whether your app is preferred by the users or not.

16. Provide CTA

Once your onboarding is about to complete, it is recommended to incorporate a CTA at the end. It provides a natural step for users to take the next step. A contextual and well-designed CTA would ensure the involvement of the users in the app.

17. Offer the choice to Skip

Providing different and alternate choices is what users around the world appreciate the most. Some users might like to skip the whole app onboarding process for some reason, so giving them this choice will instantly improve your app’s reputation and they might continue to use it in the future.

Live Examples of App Onboarding Done Right

1. Slack

Slack is an app designed specifically to facilitate communication between teams of small and large enterprises alike. It displays its features right when users open the app. Slack practices value-oriented onboarding which can be seen in the four walkthrough screens. It allows users to see how they can establish communication and share data among teams via the app.

2. Reddit

Reddit is one of the most famous QnA apps ever. Its onboarding process is exemplary –  the reason why the app is here in our list.

It provides the “Skip for now” option which allows users to skip the process of account creation and login, immediately allowing them to explore the app and have an amazing user experience.

Moreover, Reddit also performs another one of the onboarding process best practices, which is asking for permission for sending notifications.

3. Calm

Calm is a popular meditation app helping users around the world with problems such as stress, irregular sleeping patterns, anxiety and more. The first onboarding screen in the app familiarizes users with its features and value-proposition such as sleep stories, breathing programs, guided meditation and so on.

Then it smoothly takes the user to another screen which allows them to set goals, for instance, choosing the top areas of improving, developing, building, learning, etc. It is after two screens that it asks users to signup via different platforms and asks for permission.

Higher conversion and retention rates of your app are certain once you hone these best app onboarding practices for 2021 and successfully implement them in your app. By imbibing incredible features along with the onboarding flow into the app, you double the chances of your app’s popularity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. How to Create an Effective App Onboarding?

Practicing app onboarding definitely pays off in many ways and is one of the most efficient app engagement methods. It all depends on how you implement your onboarding process. To help you with that, here are some tips you can use to perform this task:

1. Showcase the intent of your app instead of its features
2. Keep your onboarding process as short as possible
3. Ask for only the relevant information
4. Always ask for permissions before accessing any features i.e., Camera
5. Keep the onboarding flow short
6. Provide the option of “Skip”
7. Employ encouraging Empty states
8. Use innovative Success states

Q. How do you increase user retention with mobile app onboarding?

The two prominent aspects that you should keep in mind while practicing the onboarding process for your app are that users do not like to be overwhelmed and feel invaded in terms of privacy. For this, it is suggested to keep your onboarding process short but effective. Also, you must add the feature of “permissions” before your app access certain features of the user’s device, for instance, audio recorder, camera, or storage space. All this will help your app restore faith in the users, hence increasing user retention.

Q. What are the 4 phases of onboarding?

Orientation

This implies the introduction of fresh recruits to the organization and key team members, auditing the handbook, significant policies and related compliance materials, and exploring the organization’s values.

Role Training

Teach a fresh recruit about their everyday roles and responsibilities. Make sure that they get the information they require to set them up for long-term achievement.

Transition

Train the company leaders so that they can help the new recruits to understand their job role and position in the team and become completely productive.

Ongoing Development

Create plans for professional and personal growth so both the individual and the organization can arrive at their goals and make progress.

The post 17 Mobile App Onboarding Best Practices to Follow in 2021 and Beyond appeared first on Appinventiv.

“According to a survey, 80% of the users leave an application within first 90 days of the installation. As we all know that it requires a 7x higher cost to attract a new customer than retaining an existing one, this value really affects the financial condition of the company. Again, it has been observed that an app development agency with higher user retention rate grows faster than the one that doesn’t. This implies that keeping your existing customers by your side is even more crucial than acquiring new users.”

Now, as you know the significance of user retention, you must be excited to know how can you improve the user retention rate of your mobile application. Well, here are some of the smartest ways to keep the app-bouncing customers hooked to your application:-

Tips to Improve User Retention Rate of Your Mobile App

1. Employ a Killer Onboarding Experience

App Onboarding is the first step of introducing your app to the customers. If your mobile app provides a smooth onboarding experience, it can touch the ‘heart & soul’ of the users and make them excited to keep exploring your app. But, on the other side, if your app demands a lengthy and uncomfortable sign-up procedure, the users will get frustrated and leave your app in the mid-way. So, from the ‘sign up’ itself, you should begin with user engagement and retention tactics.

“You would be amused to know that a frictionless onboarding can increase the app user retention rate by 50%.”

There are a wide array of mobile app onboarding practices which you can give users a perfect experience, but a few that we personally admire are:

• Ask for Limited, Required Information only!
• Allow Social Sign-ups!
• Offer Short but Informative tutorials! (you can also give engaging video tutorials).
• Provide only what Users want to See!

2. Engross via Push Notifications

No matter how impressive your app idea is, you can’t expect the users to keep visiting your app without any effort from your side. When designing an app, keep in mind that a user comes across an enormous number of apps a day, it’s up to you how you remain in their mind. Among the various ways available, we prefer Push notifications.

A Push notification is an auto-generated message through which you can send a message or notify the users even when they have not opened your app. This kind of triggers reminds the customers about your app and prompt them to visit back.

“It has been found that users who opt-in to receive push notifications have about 25% higher chances to continue using the mobile application than those who don’t.”

Following are the points that our mobile app developers suggest to keep into consideration while using push notification:

• Avoid sending endless push notifications!
• Personalize your push notifications!
• Restrain integrating vibration into your push notifications!

3. Serve Exquisite Customer Service

When you launch a mobile app, make sure the users get entertained in the best possible manner. Make them feel that they really matter, and their happiness is your prime goal. By doing so, you build a relationship of trust and loyalty which is really profitable for a business in the present hyper competitive market.

“According to a report, 49% of users leave the application after receiving the poor experience.”

The best methods adopted by the renowned app development agencies to deliver an exceptional experience to users are:

• Always be Genuine and Polite!
• Reply Instantly!
• Review Feedbacks!
• Offer Rewards!
• Deliver helpful information!

4. Build a Community

There’s no deny to the fact that Social media act as a great tool to connect with the customers and take their reviews. But, it is always better to build a particular community where the users can talk about your product, their experience, issues & suggestions. According to a reputed app development agency, a strong user community can enhance the user retention rate. Through this online community, you can find out which customers are unhappy with your product, and how can you improve their experience before the relationship ruins.

“Only 4% of unhappy customers actually raise their issue; 91% just pack their bags and leave secretly.”

One of the best examples of companies preferring this user retention strategy is Starbucks. The Starbucks created an online community at ‘My Starbucks Idea’ for enhancing the ‘Starbucks Experience’. This way, they find it easier to understand their customers, better communicate with them and encourage them to become more passionate.

Here are a few effective ways to build a powerful community for your mobile app:

• Write Blog posts and encourage users to like, comment and share.
• Invite customers to contribute in your FAQ.
• Create online forums for communication.

5. Update Your App

Last but not the least, app updations can help you to keep the users interested in your app. When you update your mobile app with features and personalized content that customers want, you increase the probability of engaging them. So, use analytics, study user behavior, review their feedback and revamp your application with updates that make it even more compelling and useful to the users.

Finishing Thoughts!

The competition in the mobile arena is rising day by day, making it much difficult for mobile app developers to keep their users by their side all the time. Hope that the information shared above will help you all to enhance user engagement and retention rate for your application, and thus empower you to enjoy higher benefits!

The post Redefine Your Mobile App Retention Strategy With These Tips! appeared first on Appinventiv.

Usability is known as the biggest part of the user experience. Before moving further, it is important to understand its meaning. Hence, mobile app usability refers to the ease of access or effort it requires in order to complete the goal. Users want a delightful mobile app experience. In other words, from onboarding to checkout, there should be no glitches. Any kind of usability issue can impact the business in a negative way. Users will not use your app if they are not able to understand its UI or not able to complete the task easily. According to statistics, 88% of users won’t return to an app if they face any problem while using it. Apart from this, most of the online businesses fail because of bad mobile app usability. Thus, it is important to tackle such usability issues.

Best Practices to Handle Mobile App Usability Issues

1. Consider Several Platform Usability

It is important to offer an app that works well on all platforms. Hence, there is a need to provide multiple platform usability for your app. You have to make sure that your app is optimized for the most common platforms, allowing users to interact intuitively.

2. Hassle-Free Navigation

Poor navigation is one of the most common issues that users face while using a mobile app. Hence, you have to make sure that users clearly understand how to navigate to complete the task. In this regard, navigation should have as few barriers as possible.

3. Few Steps to Complete The Task

If there are fewer steps, then your users are at a higher chance to fulfill their goals. You have to make sure that they can store their billing and shipping information and can have them to be automatically added to their orders. In addition, design your app with a convenient guest checkout option as this will encourage them to do more purchasing.

4. Opt for Single Sign-Up Process

In order to improve app usability, you should provide a single sign-up process to your users. There is nothing wrong in saying that if the process of registering is simple, then there is a higher chance of user retention. You should allow users to sign up instantly through their social media accounts. This way you can make onboarding flawless for them.

5. Offer Value

If you want more and more users using your mobile app, then it is important for them to discover the value early on. If you are not able to convince them to return within the first week, you are at a higher chance of losing them. Offer value right from the start and minimize abandonment rates.

6. Testing and Feedback

In order to test usability, consider mobile A/B testing. With such testing, you can easily compare two or more variations of a particular app. You can test the effectiveness of buttons. You can also test that how the apps differ in driving conversions. A large number of mobile app developers consider this factor to enhance usability.

7. Relevant and Concise Content

You only need useful content which the user would require to perform the task. If you are including too much experience, then you are giving rise to poor user experience. A complete set of clear information should be given to them when they are buying any product or using any service. It is recommended to tailor the content for a mobile app and not just copying the web content.  

8. Minimize Scrolling

Sometimes scrolling down is unavoidable and is of utmost importance in a number of instances. However, side scrolling is something that should be avoided. This is because if there is a need to scroll sideways, then crucial content is being hidden.

Conclusion

Usability of the mobile app plays a vital role in acquiring success. If your app has so many usability issues, then it is important for you to eradicate them as soon as possible. In this regard, religiously follow all the above-mentioned practices for enhancing app usability.

The post 8 Crucial Methodologies for Better Mobile App Usability appeared first on Appinventiv.