Onboarding tactics

Built an org promo code that does not discount the paywall price: under the paywall a link asks 'Are you part of an organization?', the user types the code, the app signals the backend, and the user gets full access. In an internal Swagger admin view, each code gets an expiration date and a cap on redemptions. Works across Android, iOS and desktop (download the DMG from the website with the code attached), and ties back into RevenueCat. Took about a month of (part-time) developer work. The founder presents on site so people redeem immediately. The host notes Apple offer codes (a year free, non-renewing, shareable link) as a cheaper stopgap if you have not built this yet.

Original flow: onboarding -> sign-up -> hard paywall; 60% dropped at sign-up so only 40% saw the paywall. Swapped to onboarding -> hard paywall -> sign-up only for those who paid. Steve's rule: maximize paywall views since they correlate with revenue; always paywall before sign-up.

A/B tested the sign-in button copy 'Sign up with [Apple/Google]' vs 'Continue with [Apple/Google]'.

In the onboarding 'How did you hear about us?' question, add 'TV ad' (put it at the top) and an authority referral option such as 'lawyer' or 'referred by financial adviser', even if you run no TV ads. Cal AI, Resumee and Flow show similar TV/YouTube options.

Old flow: onboarding screens -> forced sign-up -> more onboarding screens -> paywall. New flow: swap them so the paywall comes before registration; ask for the account after purchase ('to unlock premium we need your info'). Watch the install/first open -> paywall displayed rate, especially for simple utility apps; long onboarding suits health/fitness/education.

Took the discovery script from a year-long fitness phone-sales mastermind and rebuilt the onboarding in Adapty's no-code onboarding builder (no dev release needed). Structure 'understand, connect, convert': (1) first screen asks a pain question, 'What brings you here today?' with answers like 'I keep starting over', 'Macros confuse me', 'I'm busy and skipping meals'; (2) personal data (height, weight, goal weight); (3) deeper pain: 'What feels hardest right now?' (no time, no motivation, lack of consistency) with a 'that's my struggle' button, 'How long has it been a challenge?' (1-3, 3-5 years), 'How is this affecting you?' (low energy, brain fog, poor sleep, stress, discouragement); (4) future pacing: 'What blessings will you experience when you get there?' and 'What will life look like after you hit your goal?'; (5) show how the app gets them from pain to promise with a you-are-here-to-there graph and 'road to consistent God-honoring habits'.

To justify paying upfront without a trial, asked the app's high-ticket coach (Natalie) to run one monthly group coaching call for every member, included in the membership. Added a single onboarding screen announcing live coaching; nothing else changed (same prices, one variable). Ran as a long Adapty split test until statistically significant.

Went against the 'shorter onboarding' wisdom: grew a 12-step onboarding (one question per step) to 15 steps. Added a threesome question: 'Are you open to threesomes? Yes/no'; if yes, 'Do you have a partner already?', then 'What is your threesome fantasy?'. The answers go on the profile. Goal: 'good friction' that signals DOWN is open-minded and different from Bumble/Hinge, sets the expectation you can meet that kind of person, and makes users invest effort (IKEA effect). Contrast with bad friction such as search-radius or 'bars or clubs' questions that can wait. Run as an experiment on a 13-year-old app; paywall untouched.

A/B tested a priming screen right before the paywall with the mascot bee: 'We want you to try Sunflower for free. We'll remind you before your trial ends,' then shows the paywall. Addresses trial anxiety. Tested a couple of versions of the screen.

Copied from ReciMe. At the end of onboarding: a feature video, then screen 1 'We offer 7 days for free', screen 2 'You'll get a reminder 2 days before your trial ends', then the push-notification permission prompt, then the paywall. Best with a yearly plan defaulted with a 7-day trial; tried on a weekly plan with a 3-day trial and it worked less well.

After a customer signs up, an onboarding email asks: 'Do you want any custom tutorial just meant for you?' Replies surface the exact long-tail problems and confusion customers have, which become tutorials.

Anyone who dismisses the onboarding paywall still gets 7 days of premium (widgets, live activities, delay alerts). A post-onboarding flow lets them customize notifications and theme, and a Pro button (top right) offers video tutorials. Day 5: push 'you're on day five of your 7-day trial, tap to learn about the features'. Day 7: final push with a discount (on annual). Works because costs are mostly fixed servers; AI apps with per-user costs may prefer ads to cover free users.