How to Set Up an In-App Welcome Message with Examples
How to Set Up A Welcome Message in Your App: A Step-By-Step Guide
Why Use In-App Welcome Messages?
Imagine walking into a party, and no one says “Hi.” Pretty awkward, right? A good in-app welcome message gives your users the grand entrance they deserve. Well-crafted welcome messages can increase user retention by up to 50%! And with Hopscotch, you can do it without any tech wizardry. Let’s roll out that red carpet with style.
Key Benefits of Welcome Messages
Increase Retention A friendly welcome decreases the likelihood of user churn by providing an initial positive experience.
Enhance Product Understanding Guide users to features they might not find otherwise.
Strengthen Brand Connection Make users feel valued and part of the community.
Types of In-App Welcome Messages
Basic Welcome Message A simple greeting and a brief message that expresses enthusiasm and introduces the app.
Quick Start Guide Introduces the app’s main functions in a quick tour or tutorial.
Personalized Welcome Uses segmentation to deliver a tailored experience based on user type, behavior, or role (e.g., greeting new users differently than returning ones).
Resource Link Message Directs users to FAQs, tutorials, or support resources, making it easy for them to seek help if they need it.
Promotion Message Encourages users to explore premium features or new tools. Be careful not to overuse this type early on, as it can come across as pushy.
📚Also read: The 12 Best Ways to Increase SaaS Retention
How to Set Up A Welcome Message in Your App: A Step-By-Step Guide
1. Sign Up for Hopscotch -- it's free!
Sign Up for Hopscotch (it's free) and click "Create New Tour” and select "Welcome Message".
2. Choose Your Target Page and User Segment
Decide which page the welcome message should appear on (e.g., homepage or dashboard) and define your target audience. If you want the message to appear only for first-time users, you can use Hopscotch’s segmentation features.
Tip: For best results, segment new users separately to ensure that the welcome message is only displayed to those who haven’t explored the product before.
3. Customize the Content
Add a friendly greeting (e.g., “Welcome to [Your App’s Name]!”) and include a brief introduction or a CTA (like “Take a Tour” or “Explore Key Features”).
Formatting: Use text formatting options to make the message visually engaging. Include your brand colors, a logo, and any relevant icons to make the message visually cohesive.
4. Include Interactive Elements
Add buttons that link to additional resources like tutorials, product tours, or FAQs. You can also include a skip option for users who want to navigate directly to the app.
5. Use Hopscotch’s Preview Feature
Preview the message to ensure it appears correctly on both desktop and mobile devices. This step allows you to catch any layout issues before going live.
6. Install the Hopscotch script
To preview your tour you must first install the Hopscotch script. It's easy -- just paste the code snippet into your app just before the closing </body> tag.
7. Activate Your Welcome Message
Once you’re satisfied with the preview, click activate to set your welcome message live on your app!
Watch this video of an example welcome message in action.
Real-World Examples of Effective In-App Welcome Messages
1. DropBox's Friendly Welcome Prompt
The Dropbox welcome message provides a friendly and concise introduction to the Dropbox desktop folder, aimed at helping new users feel comfortable with the tool. The message reads, "Welcome to the Dropbox folder on your desktop," and goes on to highlight the main benefits: enabling users to create, edit, share, and collaborate on files directly from their desktop. To keep it simple and actionable, Dropbox includes a "Let's go" button at the bottom, which leads users to access a guided tour.
This welcome message is a great example of a minimalist approach to onboarding, offering just enough information to help users understand the core functionality without overwhelming them. The visual on the right side adds context, showing a quick snapshot of what the Dropbox folder looks like on a typical desktop interface.
2. Canva’s Segmented Welcome Tour
Canva welcomes users with a brief survey that segments them into different types of users, like designers or content creators. This tailored onboarding flow ensures that users see relevant features based on their goals.
3. Asana’s Guided Feature Highlights
Asana greets new users with a quick walkthrough of key features and a short onboarding checklist, enabling users to explore core functions right from the start.
4. Calendly's Simple Welcome Message
Calendly’s welcome message is a simple, user-friendly introduction to setting up an account. It greets the user with “Welcome to Calendly!” and reinforces its value by saying, “We take the work out of connecting with others so you can accomplish more.” This short description is effective in positioning Calendly as a time-saving tool.
Tips for an Engaging Welcome Message
Personalize the Experience
Personalizing the welcome message based on user role or goals improves relevance. Consider A/B testing your message to see which format users engage with the most.
Focus on User Value
Users engage more when they understand the immediate benefit of exploring features. HubSpot, for instance, reduces friction by highlighting key functions with reassuring UX copy, making users feel in control.
Keep it Simple
Avoid overwhelming users with too much information. Instead, introduce key features gradually, as Miro does with its simple, step-by-step welcome tour.
Tools for Creating In-App Welcome Messages
Tool | Best For | Key Features | Pricing |
No-code welcome messages | Drag-and-drop editor, segmentation, analytics | Starting at $99/month | |
Appcues | Customized user flows | Advanced analytics, third-party integrations | Starting at $249/month |
Pendo | Enterprise analytics and onboarding | In-depth product analytics, feedback collection | Starting at $7,000/year |
Whatfix | Complex onboarding for enterprises | Step-by-step guidance, in-depth reporting | Custom pricing |
Case Studies: Success Stories
Duolingo
Duolingo saw a jump in retention after simplifying its welcome message and guiding users toward lessons based on their goals.
Grammarly
By adding a friendly welcome and linking directly to essential features, Grammarly increased its weekly active users by 25%.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Too Much Information
Don’t overwhelm users. Break down onboarding into digestible steps.
Generic Messaging
Avoid one-size-fits-all messages. Personalization is key to making users feel valued.
Lack of CTA
Always include a clear, actionable CTA to drive users forward in their journey.
FAQs
Q: How do I decide what content to include in my welcome message? A: Start with a friendly greeting and provide links to essential features or a product tour.
Q: How can I test my welcome messages? A: Use A/B testing to experiment with different messages and track performance metrics like click-through rates.
Q: How long should a welcome message be? A: Keep it concise. The best welcome messages are under 30 words and focus on guiding users to the next step.
Final Thoughts
An effective welcome message does more than just greet new users—it sets the tone, builds engagement, and increases retention. By setting up a personalized, well-designed welcome message with Hopscotch or a similar tool, you can create a memorable first impression that encourages users to stay and explore.
Ready to create your welcome message? Try Hopscotch’s free trial to start building customized, user-friendly onboarding flows today!
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