# onboarding-optimization

This skill walks through your app's first-run screens, flags the ones that only add friction, and moves permission prompts and sign-up to better moments.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2600 installs · ★ 2219
- Author: appeeky
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-06
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/onboarding-optimization

## What it does

The skill drives the agent through an activation-first method. You start by naming the event where a new user gets real value, then every screen between app open and that event gets scored on necessity, timing, value exchange and cognitive load. Screens that are friction only get removed or deferred.

Permission prompts have their own section: push, location, camera, contacts and tracking each come with a when-to-ask and a never-ask column. Before the system dialog the skill recommends a screen that explains the benefit. Sign-up patterns are laid out in a table — required account before value, long profile setup, email verification — with a note on which ones kill momentum.

You also get flow templates per app type, funnel benchmarks and personalization rules: 3–5 questions at most, each visibly changing the experience, with a progress indicator. The output is an audit of your current flow, a hypothesis for the biggest drop-off and a revised path with a count of removed steps. It leans on Firebase or Mixpanel funnels, so without them some conclusions stay guesses.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/onboarding-optimization/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install appeeky/aso-skills onboarding-optimization
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills --path skills/onboarding-optimization
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add appeeky/aso-skills --skill onboarding-optimization -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- pin down the activation event for your app
- spot screens that only add friction
- move the push prompt to after activation
- cut drop-off on a mandatory sign-up
- rebuild the first-run flow end to end

## Example prompts
- audit my app's onboarding and show me where users drop off
- our Day 1 retention is falling — walk through the first-run flow
- when should I ask for push and location permissions?

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 7160fb0009b413c0.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 7160fb0009b413c0
````text
---
name: onboarding-optimization
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.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
---

# 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:

| Permission | When to ask | Never ask |
|-----------|------------|-----------|
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 7160fb0009b413c0

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First 2595 of 6724 bytes. © appeeky · MIT · https://github.com/appeeky/aso-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/onboarding-optimization/SKILL.md

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---
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