onboard

Start by identifying the aha moment users must reach, then build a welcome screen with a clear value proposition, minimal account setup, and a guided first success using pre-populated examples. Keep it to 1-3 core concepts and always offer a skip option.

A good empty state explains what will appear there, why it matters, and how to get started with a clear call to action. Add an illustration for visual interest and a contextual help link, and tailor the message to the empty state type such as first use, no results, or error.

Intro.js, Shepherd.js, and React Joyride handle guided tours with step spotlighting, while Tippy.js and Popper.js power contextual tooltips. Store seen states in localStorage so users never see the same tour twice.

Use guided tours for complex interfaces with many features or major product changes, keeping them to 3-7 steps. Use contextual tooltips for progressive feature discovery, appearing the first time a user encounters a specific element.

Users abandon onboarding when it is too long, blocks product access, or teaches everything upfront instead of the essential 20 percent. Track completion rate, skip rate, and time to value, then simplify steps and respect dismissals.