Users skip onboarding and miss key features
Turn setup into a game. A checklist with a progress bar makes people want to complete it. Each step teaches a feature.
When to use
Your product has multiple features and users need guidance on what to do first.
Hypothesis template
If we add an onboarding checklist that guides users through fill in: key actions, completion rate will reach fill in: target% because people are driven to finish what they start.
Method
The problem: You built tooltips and tutorials. Users skip them. They miss the features that would make them stay.
What Trello does: Shows new users a "Getting Started" board—a Trello board that teaches Trello. Each card is a task: "Create a card," "Move a card," "Add a member." A progress bar shows completion.
Why checklists work:
- Zeigarnik effect: incomplete tasks nag at us (we WANT to finish)
- Progress bar creates momentum ("I'm already 40% done!")
- Each step is small and achievable
- Users learn by doing, not reading
How to build it:
- List the 5-7 actions that lead to activation (not 15—keep it short)
- Order them from easiest to most impactful
- Show a progress bar or completion percentage
- Celebrate each step (checkmark animation, confetti, a message)
- Celebrate completion (unlock something, show a reward)
- Let users dismiss it (don't force it)
What to include:
- Actions that demonstrate core value
- Things that create investment (add data, customize, invite)
- The ONE thing that predicts retention
Bonus: Offer a small reward for 100% completion (extended trial, premium feature, badge).
Success metrics
- •Checklist completion rate
- •Steps completed on average
- •Activation rate (checklist completers vs non-completers)
- •7-day retention difference
Prerequisites
- Clear activation steps identified
- UI space for a checklist widget
- Event tracking for each step
Common pitfalls
- •Too many steps (keep it 5-7)
- •Steps that aren't actually valuable
- •No celebration on completion
- •Checklist that can't be dismissed (annoying)
Source: Trello. Onboarding board teaches product by using the product.
Suggested ICE scores
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