Onboarding Cro
Diagnose and improve post-signup onboarding so new users hit the aha moment faster and actually activate.
Overview
Onboarding CRO is an agent skill for the Grow phase that optimizes post-signup activation, first-run UX, and time-to-value for products where users sign up but do not stick.
Install
npx skills add https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills --skill onboarding-croWhat is this skill?
- Initial assessment for product context, activation definition, and current post-signup flow
- Reads `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` when present to avoid redundant questions
- Optimizes onboarding flow, empty states, checklists, and first-session experience toward time-to-value
- Explicitly distinguishes signup CRO (signup-flow-cro) and post-signup email (email-sequence)
- Targets low activation: signups who do not complete setup or never reach the aha moment
- Skill metadata version 1.1.0
- Initial assessment covers 3 areas: product context, activation definition, current state
Adoption & trust: 53.9k installs on skills.sh; 32.4k GitHub stars; 3/3 security scanners passed (skills.sh audits).
What problem does it solve?
Users complete signup but abandon setup, never reach your aha moment, and your activation rate stays flat despite top-of-funnel growth.
Who is it for?
Indie SaaS founders optimizing first-run checklists, empty states, and activation funnels when `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` or equivalent positioning already exists or can be supplied.
Skip if: Landing-page or registration-form optimization before account creation, or long-term lifecycle email sequences unrelated to the in-product first session.
When should I use this skill?
User wants to optimize post-signup onboarding, activation, first-run experience, or time-to-value; mentions onboarding flow, empty states, aha moment, or low activation after signup.
What do I get? / Deliverables
You get a structured assessment and CRO-style recommendations that shorten first-session paths, fix empty states, and align UI with a clear activation definition.
- Onboarding assessment and prioritized CRO recommendations
- Activation-oriented UX guidance for checklists, empty states, and first session
Recommended Skills
Journey fit
Activation and time-to-value are Grow concerns: users already signed up but have not formed the habit that drives retention. Lifecycle is the canonical subphase for first-run flows, empty states, checklists, and activation metrics after acquisition.
How it compares
Complements signup-flow-cro (pre-account signup) and email-sequence (ongoing mail)—this skill owns in-product onboarding and activation CRO.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is onboarding-cro for?
Solo builders and small teams running B2B or B2C products who measure signup volume but struggle with activation, setup completion, or time-to-value in the first session.
When should I use onboarding-cro?
Use when you mention onboarding flow, activation rate, aha moment, empty states, onboarding checklist, first-run experience, or phrases like users sign up but do not use the product—after signup, not at registration.
Is onboarding-cro safe to install?
Check the Security Audits panel on this Prism page for repository audit results and risk signals before installing in your agent environment.
Workflow Chain
Then invoke: email sequence
SKILL.md
READMESKILL.md - Onboarding Cro
# Onboarding CRO You are an expert in user onboarding and activation. Your goal is to help users reach their "aha moment" as quickly as possible and establish habits that lead to long-term retention. ## Initial Assessment **Check for product marketing context first:** If `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` exists (or `.claude/product-marketing-context.md` in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task. Before providing recommendations, understand: 1. **Product Context** - What type of product? B2B or B2C? Core value proposition? 2. **Activation Definition** - What's the "aha moment"? What action indicates a user "gets it"? 3. **Current State** - What happens after signup? Where do users drop off? --- ## Core Principles ### 1. Time-to-Value Is Everything Remove every step between signup and experiencing core value. ### 2. One Goal Per Session Focus first session on one successful outcome. Save advanced features for later. ### 3. Do, Don't Show Interactive > Tutorial. Doing the thing > Learning about the thing. ### 4. Progress Creates Motivation Show advancement. Celebrate completions. Make the path visible. --- ## Defining Activation ### Find Your Aha Moment The action that correlates most strongly with retention: - What do retained users do that churned users don't? - What's the earliest indicator of future engagement? **Examples by product type:** - Project management: Create first project + add team member - Analytics: Install tracking + see first report - Design tool: Create first design + export/share - Marketplace: Complete first transaction ### Activation Metrics - % of signups who reach activation - Time to activation - Steps to activation - Activation by cohort/source --- ## Onboarding Flow Design ### Immediate Post-Signup (First 30 Seconds) | Approach | Best For | Risk | |----------|----------|------| | Product-first | Simple products, B2C, mobile | Blank slate overwhelm | | Guided setup | Products needing personalization | Adds friction before value | | Value-first | Products with demo data | May not feel "real" | **Whatever you choose:** - Clear single next action - No dead ends - Progress indication if multi-step ### Onboarding Checklist Pattern **When to use:** - Multiple setup steps required - Product has several features to discover - Self-serve B2B products **Best practices:** - 3-7 items (not overwhelming) - Order by value (most impactful first) - Start with quick wins - Progress bar/completion % - Celebration on completion - Dismiss option (don't trap users) ### Empty States Empty states are onboarding opportunities, not dead ends. **Good empty state:** - Explains what this area is for - Shows what it looks like with data - Clear primary action to add first item - Optional: Pre-populate with example data ### Tooltips and Guided Tours **When to use:** Complex UI, features that aren't self-evident, power features users might miss **Best practices:** - Max 3-5 steps per tour - Dismissable at any time - Don't repeat for returning users --- ## Multi-Channel Onboarding ### Email + In-App Coordination **Trigger-based emails:** - Welcome email (immediate) - Incomplete onboarding (24h, 72h