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Define an activation event that correlates with retention, then remove steps between signup and that first value moment. Use onboarding checklists with 3-7 items ordered by impact, progress indicators, and trigger-based emails for users who stall.

Include 3-7 items ordered by value with quick wins first, show a progress bar, celebrate completions, and always allow dismissal. Checklists work best for self-serve B2B products with multiple setup steps or features to discover.

Signup flow optimization reduces friction in registration itself, while onboarding optimization covers everything after signup: first-run experience, activation, empty states, and habit formation. This Skill handles post-signup; use signup-flow-cro for registration.

Define stalled criteria such as days inactive or incomplete setup, then send behavior-triggered emails addressing blockers, offer in-app recovery that resumes where users left off, and use personal outreach for high-value accounts.

Track activation rate, time to activation, onboarding completion percentage, step-level drop-off, and day 1/7/30 retention. Funnel analysis from signup through activation to retention reveals the biggest drop-off points to prioritize.