Onboarding: guiding newcomers to the value moment
The flow that introduces new users to the product is not about showcasing the interface, but about letting them see the product's value as soon as possible.
The most effective onboarding is when users hardly notice it: they learn by doing, receive guidance at the right moment, and reach the first value without having to read long instructions. If the product is intuitive enough, consider eliminating or minimizing onboarding. If the product has mandatory setup steps or complex features, teach users at the moment they encounter those, not cramming everything beforehand.
- the product is sufficiently intuitive, allowing users to skip or shorten onboarding to do it themselves
- Complex products that require contextual guidance at the right time and place.
- Has a mandatory setup step that requires clear step-by-step guidance.
- require viewing several introductory screens before use
- Leave the initial blank screen empty, making it hard for newcomers to know where to start.
Onboarding is not a welcome screen, not a series of slides introducing features, and definitely not a to-do list forcing users to complete before accessing the product. Onboarding is the shortest path to the moment new users find this product worth continuing to use. All design decisions should revolve around that question.
What is the moment of first value?
Before designing any screen, you need to determine: what does a new user need to do to find this product useful? That is the first valuable moment. For a note-taking app, it might be when they finish creating their first item and see it displayed neatly. For a team management tool, it could be when they invite a member and see the workflow start to run.
Everything in onboarding has one task: to shorten the time and number of steps for users to reach that moment. If a screen, a question, or any step does not serve this goal, eliminate it.
When to drop, and when to keep onboarding
Minimizing or omitting when the product is intuitive enough for users to accomplish the first task without explanation. Nielsen Norman Group calls this the "skip when possible" principle: tutorial-style instructions often interrupt what users want to do, are hard to remember, and do not actually help them perform better. People click "Skip" and forget everything.
Keep and lead when there is a mandatory setup step for the product to function, or when the core features are complex enough that newcomers cannot figure them out on their own. At this point, it is not about abandoning onboarding but redesigning it: teaching in the right context, at the right moment when users encounter what they need to learn, rather than overwhelming them upfront.
Learn by doing and contextual guidance.
Instead of a tutorial explaining the entire interface, let users dive into the product and do. Contextual help (suggestions or tips that appear when users interact with that feature) is much more effective than pre-emptive lessons. The simple reason is that people find it hard to remember information about something they don’t need yet. When they need it, that information is more readily absorbed.
Empty states, meaning screens without data when new users first enter, are the best opportunity for gentle and natural guidance. Instead of leaving them blank, provide a clear suggested action: "Create your first project," "Invite members to the team." This is not mandatory onboarding; it is context-driven guidance.
Provide information at the moment users are ready to receive it, not when you want to speak.
Nielsen Norman Group, Onboarding tutorials vs contextual help
Personalization and the escape route
If the product serves many user groups with distinctly different goals, a simple question at the start ("What do you primarily use this product for?") can help personalize the flow and content better. But only ask if the answer truly changes what the user sees. Otherwise, it's just adding unnecessary friction.
No matter which direction you choose, there is always an exit. Users should be allowed to skip, return later, or explore on their own. Forcing completion of the tutorial before accessing the product is a sure way to frustrate and disengage users from the start.
Common errors to avoid
- It is mandatory to watch multiple introductory screens before allowing use: users tend to skip and forget everything.
- Stuffing all instructions upfront instead of revealing them at the right time and place.
- There is no escape route; you must complete it before accessing the product.
- Leaving a blank screen; newcomers do not know where to start.
- Seeing onboarding as a beautiful screen to showcase the brand, rather than the pathway to the first value.
Sinh Vũ's viewpoint
Sinh Vũ designs onboarding as a flow leading to the first value moment, not just a series of beautiful screens. The approach prioritizes allowing users to learn by doing, using contextually appropriate guidance, and leveraging empty states as natural lead points.
The Sinh Vũ is responsible for the experience and flow: identifying valuable moments, deciding which information is presented when, designing each screen and message. The logic for automatic activation or tracking user behavior at the technical layer is coordinated with the programming team to build, not to replace.
Decision checklist
Topic: The onboarding flow for bringing new users into a digital product. Sinh Vũ guide, sinhvu.com
Select each item you find appropriate, then print or save as PDF to take with you.
If you have marked most of the signs above, this is the time to discuss in more detail. Sinh Vũ can help you review and propose a direction.
References
Nielsen Norman Group: Onboarding, Skip It When Possible; Onboarding Tutorials vs. Contextual Help; Mobile-App Onboarding. Practical experience in digital product design at Sinh Vũ Studio.
Frequently asked questions
My product is complex; is it necessary to skip onboarding?
Not necessarily. The 'remove when possible' principle from the Nielsen Norman Group applies when the product is intuitive enough for self-use. For complex products or those with mandatory setup steps, guidance is still needed. What should be avoided is cramming all instructions upfront: instead, reveal each tip in context, at the right moment when the user needs that feature.
Is a separate design necessary for the empty screen when a new user enters?
Yes, and this is an opportunity that is often overlooked. An empty state is when new users have no data and do not know where to start. A simple call to action placed correctly at this moment is much more effective than a tutorial screen before entering the product.
Should we ask users about their goals right at registration?
Yes, if that answer truly changes the content or flow displayed to you. Personalizing the initial step helps make the experience more relevant, especially when the product serves multiple user groups with distinctly different goals. If that question does not lead to any differences in the flow, do not ask it, as it only adds friction without providing value.