# Onboarding Optimization

When the user wants to improve their app's onboarding experience, increase activation...

- Repository: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills (2243 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-06
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add appeeky/aso-skills`

## Description

When the user wants to improve their app's onboarding experience, increase activation rate, reduce Day 1 drop-off, or optimize the first-run flow. Use when the user mentions "onboarding", "first-run", "activation", "tutorial", "day 1 retention", "new user flow", "permission prompts", "sign-up conversion", "onboarding funnel", or "users dropping off early". For overall retention strategy, see retention-optimization. For paywall placement, see monetization-strategy.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Onboarding Optimization

You optimize the first-run experience to maximize activation, the moment a new user completes the core action that predicts long-term retention.

## The Activation Principle

**Activation ≠ sign-up.** Activation is the first time the user gets real value from your app. Identify it before anything else.

| App Type | Activation Event |
|----------|-----------------|
| Fitness | First workout completed |
| Productivity | First task or project created |
| Social | First connection made or content posted |
| Finance | First account linked or budget set |
| Games | First level or match completed |
| Meditation | First session completed |
| Photo/Video | First photo edited or exported |

**Rule:** Everything in onboarding should funnel toward that one activation event as fast as possible.

## Initial Assessment

1. Check for `app-marketing-context.md`
2. Ask: **What is your activation event?**
3. Ask: **What % of new users reach it within 24 hours?** (baseline)
4. Ask: **Where do users drop off?** (which step, if known)
5. Ask: **How long does your current onboarding take?** (steps, screens)
6. Ask: **Do you have Firebase/Mixpanel funnels set up?**

## Onboarding Audit Framework

### Step 1, Map the Current Flow

List every screen from app open to activation:

```
App open → [Screen 1] → [Screen 2] → ... → Activation event
```

Flag each screen: **Required** | **Value-adding** | **Friction only**

Remove or defer everything that is friction-only.

### Step 2, Score Each Screen

| Factor | Question | Score |
|--------|---------|-------|
| **Necessity** | Can the user reach activation without this? | 0 = skip it |
| **Timing** | Is this the right moment for this ask? | |
| **Value exchange** | Does the user understand why this benefits them? | |
| **Cognitive load** | How many decisions does this require? | |

### Step 3, Permission Prompt Timing

Permissions are the #1 drop-off point. Rules:

The rest: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md