What Are a User’s First Steps?
A user’s first steps are the essential actions they should take right after logging in for the first time. These steps help users understand where to start, what to do next, and how to make progress quickly.
These actions become the tasks inside your onboarding experience.
Why Mapping First Steps Matters
Mapping first steps helps you:
Reduce confusion and overwhelm
Show users exactly what to do first
Create predictable, consistent onboarding outcomes
Build momentum and early success
Increase long-term engagement and retention
Without clear first steps, users may hesitate, wander, or miss critical actions that lead to success.
How to Map Your User’s First Steps
Step 1: Identify the actions that lead to early success
Focus on what gets users moving forward—not everything they could do, just what they should do first.
Step 2: Order the actions from simplest to most impactful
Early success builds confidence. Start with the easiest quick win.
Step 3: Group the actions into a short sequence
Most onboarding flows work best with 3–7 tasks.
Step 4: Determine the content required for each step
Each step may require instructions, a video, a link, or a file.
Step 5: Convert each first step into an onboarding task
Each action will become a task in your CustomerHub onboarding experience.
Examples of Common First Steps
Example 1: Simple Start
Watch the welcome video
Complete the first quick-start task
Explore the main product area
Example 2: Profile & Setup
Watch the welcome message
Complete your profile
Choose your path or level
Access the Start Here section
Example 3: Course Launch
Watch the module overview
Complete Lesson 1
Mark the task complete
Download your starter worksheet
Each of these becomes a set of onboarding tasks in CustomerHub.
Tips for Mapping Effective First Steps
Keep steps simple and clear
Avoid long videos or complex tasks
Give users a win within the first 5 minutes
Make the sequence linear early on
Match each step to a single action
Ensure all steps support your onboarding goal
FAQ
Should I include every important step?
No. Only include what users need to get started. The rest can happen inside your content.
How many steps should I include?
Aim for 3–7 onboarding tasks. More creates unnecessary friction.
Can I update steps later?
Yes. Onboarding experiences can be edited or optimized anytime.