User Onboarding: The First 5 Minutes

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.The first 5 minutes determine your D30 retention.Most apps ask for too much information too soon("Sign up to see more").

The "Aha!" Moment

Your goal is not to get them to "Sign Up." Your goal is to get them to the Aha! Moment .
This is the moment the user realizes the value of your product.

Slack: When you send 2000 messages.
Facebook: When you add 7 friends in 10 days.
Dropbox: When you put one file in the folder.

Strategy 1: Lazy Registration(Gradual Engagement)

Common Mistake: Landing Page -> Sign Up Form -> Email Confirmation -> Dashboard (Empty).
Better Way: Landing Page -> Try the Tool (Guest Mode) -> Experience Value -> Sign Up to Save.
Example: Duolingo lets you take a lesson before asking for your name. You are already "hooked" before you commit.

Strategy 2: The "Blank Slate" Problem

A user signs up.They land on the dashboard.It says "No Projects Found."
This is a failure.An empty state is not a lack of data; it is a canvas for education.
Tactics:

Pre - populate Data: Give them a "Demo Project" to play with.
Checklists: "3 steps to get started." People have a psychological need to close open loops (Zeigarnik Effect).
Templates: Don't make them start from scratch. Give them a head start.

Strategy 3: Contextual Tooltips(Not Tours)

Don't do this: A 15-step modal wizard that highlights every button on the screen: "This is the search bar. This is the menu." User clicks "Skip."
Do this: Wait until the user hovers over a feature, then show a tooltip. Or, prompt them to perform one specific action("Click here to create a document").Learn by doing, not by reading.

Friction is Good(Sometimes)

Counter - intuitively, adding friction can increase retention.
Superhuman requires an interview to sign up.Wealthfront asks 10 questions about your finances before you see the dashboard.
This is "Sunk Cost" . By the time the user finishes the form, they are invested. They have "customized" the app to their needs.
Rule: Friction is okay if it increases the relevance of the subsequent experience.

Conclusion

Onboarding is not a feature you build once and forget.It is a continuous funnel.Analyze where users drop off.If 50 % drop off at the "Phone Number" field, remove it.