Dive Brief:

• Aja Frost, who writes at SitePoint, shared an in-depth review of two popular business financial tools (Mint and Expensify) to answer the question: How can developers create a positive and flexible onboarding experience for new users of mobile applications being accessed across multiple devices?

• According to Frost, Expensify takes around 3 seconds for a new user to gain access to their mobile-friendly dashboard, while the more “intense” onboarding process to access Mint tools took much longer. Both products offer a tour to orient users to the flow of the product, an aspect that Frost indicates is a must for new users.

• In terms of user friendliness, Frost gives SitePoint an A- and Mint a B+ grade, based on her own experience of using the apps on multiple devices.  

Dive Insight:

In terms of new products, the initial user onboarding experience can determine the long term successful adoption of a program. There is a right way and a wrong way to orient users to new apps. Frost notes that, “‘Function-oriented onboarding’ teaches you how to use the product. ‘Progressive onboarding’ shows you relevant info as you navigate the app.”

Studies show that consumers are getting a great deal of their information and conducting business via their mobile devices on a higher scale. However, they are also concerned about information security. Signups for new apps should be simple and secure, with a logical flow to the information requested, and the introduction to the product.

Additionally, mobile signups should limit content appearing on each screen due to limited space, due to limited space, and have the ability for consumers to type in their information on forms. "Many apps will string out their contents or form fields over multiple screens, rather than cramming everything into one or two screens," Frost said.