Sign up and onboarding

Question

We have a big project management web app. Before the user can use the app, we have some steps to complete, like:

1 - Signup - 6 fields (Name, Email, Password, Job Role, Phone and Captcha)

2 - Onboarding - 4 questions to set up the company (Name, Area of Business, Number of employees and Level - which serves to direct the user to a suggested menu configuration)

3 - Steps - 4 steps that teaches the user how to create their first structure in the product (Group of Work, Projects, Activities and Invite coworkers)

We're planning to make these three separate steps for the user to start to use the app. We know it's a complex product. I think we can not skip any field, because all are important for projects and sales area.

There is a trial period available for users.

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The questions

1) Are there any other possibilities for handling such complex products?

2) Would combining steps 1 and 2 be good possibility?

3) Any other ideas?

Answer 1

Three things:

1. Look at every piece of information you're asking for. What will you do with it? For example, why are you asking for phone number? Will you ever actually call a user? If not, then don't ask for it. What are you doing with number of employees? (These are rhetorical questions. No need to answer them for us. Just think about it.)

2. Ask for information only when you need it. (There's a name for this, but I can't think of it.) For example, don't ask for the user's phone number during registration. Get it just after the user asks you to call them. This shortens the registration/on-boarding process and makes it clear to the user why you're asking for that piece of their information. (Notice how your phone apps don't ask for access to your camera until you try to take a pic for the first time.)

3. Make sure to provide a "skip" option where appropriate (at least on "Steps") so users can jump ahead and just get started. People are signing up for your app for a certain reason and you don't want them to forget why they're there by the time they finish all the training and everything.

Answer 2

I will try to answer your three questions in one complete answer so bear with me.

Your sign up and onboarding looks quite long and complex. You have a lot of steps. Be very clear to your users where they are in the process and what you expect from them. Make the steps feel logical and intuitive.

Check out these great examples about onboarding.

A few things to take away from it is to make it fun (Duolingo). First they teach you something and after that they ask you to register. The final step to register is a smaller step if you have something you want. In Duolingo's case; you want to save your progress.

Also be very clear in your labeling. Have clear call-to-action. You can use progress bars to show how far along your users are in the onboarding process. All of these tools will help your sign up and onboarding process feel shorter and easier to complete.