What is User Onboarding? (Not What You May Think!)

User onboarding is the active process of guiding users to find new value within a product, extending throughout the user lifecycle and beyond just teaching how to use the tool. It involves making users feel valued, providing a good welcome, and handling the learning curve effectively. The onboarding formula for success includes nudging users to take action through the right content, in the right channel, at the right time. This goes beyond product tours and interface design, as user onboarding is a multi-channel system that helps users discover new value within the product. Effective user onboarding can significantly reduce churn rates and improve customer satisfaction by helping customers see the product's value quickly.