We're more likely to commit to larger tasks after completing small ones first.

So when people start using your product, provide them a simple task to get started with.

Payment app Wise present you with four distinct options, asking you "What would you like to do now?"

Once the task is done, provide clear positive feedback and next steps.

For content-heavy platforms, allow new members to select from a range of pre-chosen categories, making their experience immediately personal and subject to less analysis paralysis.

E.g Spotify does this by asking you which 3 artists you like as part of the onboarding flow.

Automation tool IFTTT adds even more functional value by providing you a set of pre-defined automation recipes called "Applets" to collect instead of making your own from scratch.

Create a positive surprise towards the end of your onboarding process, celebrating task completion and providing clarity that they're good to go.

For instance, messaging app Intercom provide a colourful blast of confetti once you've finished a learning sequence.

Remember to use them sparingly for only the most important milestones.

Take the pressure off shoe-horning everything in within the first experience.

This is because we better learn and recall information when it's spaced out over time and across environments

As it's likely we won't retain all knowledge shared, critical information ought to be repeated multiple times to make sure it sticks.

Too much info, tasks and expectations will simply overwhelm, turning first impressions into worst impressions.

Cut all non-essential steps and information.

When faced with a new environment, we look for support as to the right choices. Help people get set up with well-designed default choices.

Wrapping up a series of tasks into a compelling narrative can help us navigate any complexity or disinterest with the onboarding process itself.

Providing a clear reminder as to the whole point of onboarding can motivate us to complete it.

Duolingo do a great job here, teaching you a little of your chosen language *before* you finish signing up.

Providing the the right level of choice at the right time is delicate balance.

Be careful of how many sets of choices you offer to people to curate their experiences.

We're desperate to be told we're on the right track, and respond well to feedback telling us so.

Task completion lies at the core of onboarding, so showing that onboarders are already on their way will compel them to complete the entire process.

We're often motivated by closing down information gaps, and this could be put to good use during onboarding processes.

Allowing people to select their own aims is a great way of providing long-lasting accountability and a more tailored onboarding experience.

Duolingo do a great job here by asking you to set a daily goal.

Onboarding processes ask us to complete a series of tasks, of numerous sizes and complexities, so it's natural that we'll not complete every part of the onboarding process.

This can be remedied by framing the task as partially complete.

Emphasise the minimal effort now required and the maximal gain of completing the next task.

Our sense of self bleeds into what we own.

Foster a sense of personal ownership within the onboarding process from early on to create a strong desire to motivate completion and fully own the experience.

Even subtleties like framing progress through the user's name will help.