This week I wanted to share with you a great little article about user onboarding. While it’s primarily useful for web-based companies, there’s an important lesson in there for anyone who cares about driving success.
In brief, the article demonstrates that the most effective way to increase user retention, is to focus on onboarding – that first day or week in which a user is experiencing your product for the first time. By focussing on this ‘handshake’ moment not only will you retain a higher percentage of users/customers in that first day/week, but there will be a knock-on effect from this in the subsequent days/weeks; with the result that your churn will be significantly reduced across the entire user lifecycle and your revenues will have increased accordingly and significantly. Even though you only made changes at the start of the lifecyle.
Imagine two scenarios in which you are entering a hotel…
In the first, you go through the swivel doors into a silent and dimly-lit atrium across which you can just make out a receptionist slumped behind the desk. You lug your bags over to the desk gasping audibly from the effort. The receptionist does not even look up etc…You get the picture.
In the second, you go through the swivel doors into a dazzling atrium buzzing with fellow guests cheerfully chatting away whilst relaxing in comfy chairs as handsome waiters and waitresses serve them Prosecco and canapes; and have their luggage taken up to their rooms.
Obviously the second scenario is intended to create a ‘WOW’ factor. This ‘WOW’ factor is important because it creates a perspective in the mind of the customer which will set the tone for how they perceive the whole experience. In other words, the happiness created at the start will mean that the customer is more likely to use more of the various facilities and services, tip more and return in future.
So whatever business you’re in, remember you never get a second chance at a first impression; and the first impression is most important one you can make.
