TL;DR<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n- A hassle-free onboarding experience<\/a> is the key to keeping new customers happy and standing out in the competitive EdTech market.<\/li>\n
- Minimizing the number of steps involved in the onboarding process and using empty states<\/a> to guide users can help them get started.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s also a good idea to collect customer data through welcome surveys<\/a> and create user segments based on learning goals and preferences.<\/li>\n
- Create personalized learning paths for each segment<\/a> to improve user engagement<\/a> and activation.<\/li>\n
- Interactive product walkthroughs<\/a>, checklists, resource centers, and gamification elements, such as progress bars and badges, can improve the onboarding flow further.<\/li>\n
- Use customer feedback surveys and user behavior data to identify friction points<\/a> in onboarding flows and optimize the experience.<\/li>\n
- Some examples of EdTech companies using the onboarding best practices include Beable<\/a>, Duolingo, MasterClass, and Quizlet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
10 Tips for improving your customer onboarding process in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\nAmazing lessons and instructors aren\u2019t enough to build a successful EdTech platform\u2014you first need to activate users. To do so, consider the following proven strategies for customer onboarding<\/a>:<\/p>\n1. Minimize the number of steps it takes to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nNothing drives new users away like a complex onboarding process with several unnecessary steps. Make it easy for users to set up their accounts and start using your product to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n
Remember, the onboarding starts even before a user downloads your EdTech solution or registers for it. The initial interactions make up a huge portion of the customer experience and you must get them right.<\/p>\n
Here are a few tips to simplify your user onboarding<\/a> process:<\/p>\n\n- Only ask for the necessary information<\/strong> – Asking for too many personal or irrelevant details early on can disengage users.<\/li>\n
- Automate setup where possible<\/strong> – Pre-fill information in forms and automate other routine tasks in the user journey<\/a> to help them reach the \u201caha moment\u201d faster.<\/li>\n
- Prioritize core features<\/strong> – Instead of overwhelming users with all available features, highlight the ones relevant to their goals and needs.<\/li>\n
- Introduce features gradually<\/strong> – Familiarize users with basic features before introducing them to more advanced functionalities.<\/li>\n
- Provide integrations and templates<\/strong> – Third-party integrations<\/a> and customizable templates<\/a> can help simplify the learning curve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"User-journey-mapping\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/miro-flow-example_0232cca17ae0218f47633ec022557e6b.gif\")
<\/picture>Miro user journey map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n2. Use empty states to guide users through the initial steps<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat happens when a user logs into your platform for the first time? Do you greet them with a nearly blank screen and let them figure out what to do next? Wouldn\u2019t it be better to use these empty states<\/a> to tell them how to get started instead?<\/p>\nAdding the right messaging to empty states can be an excellent way to nudge users in the right direction. It can help them set up their accounts or direct them to the right resources and tools. That, in turn, can minimize friction during EdTech customer onboarding and speed up the time-to-value<\/a>.<\/p>\nTake a cue from this Duolingo empty state:<\/p>\n![\"Empty-state-Duolingo\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/duolingo-empty-state_3adde696d323c1fa235b9df21f03e1d7_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Empty state in Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInstead of presenting users with a simple 404 error message, the empty state features Duolingo\u2019s mascot in a sleeping position\u2014a clever way to add humor to a moment of user frustration<\/a>. Better still, the language-learning platform uses the opportunity to encourage users to try out a lesson.<\/p>\n3. Segment EdTech clients based on their learning goals and preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\nA one-size-fits-all onboarding process doesn\u2019t deliver the best experience. Wouldn\u2019t it be better if you could recommend relevant content, features, and tools based on the unique interests and needs of EdTech clients? That\u2019s where customer segmentation<\/a> steps into the picture.<\/p>\nStart by launching a welcome survey<\/a> that asks users about their learning goals, preferences, and skill levels. Next, use these responses to divide users<\/a> into groups and create a personalized experience for each segment.<\/p>\n![\"Welcome-survey-Userpilot\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/welcome-survey-questions_7608b5efa97bdfb5ba76f9f4a2a5ab9a_800.png\")
<\/picture>Welcome survey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Design personalized learning paths for each segment<\/strong><\/h3>\nSome professionals turn to EdTech platforms to learn skills that will help them advance their careers. Others might be looking to pursue new hobbies and interests. Your product might even attract freelancers who want to upgrade their skills and take their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
If you want to retain users in different segments, it\u2019s crucial to create personalized learning paths<\/a> for them. It can be as simple as using an empty state to ask first-time visitors how they\u2019re planning to use your platform.<\/p>\nNext, create personalized product tours and walkthroughs for each segment to familiarize them with relevant features. You could even tailor the experience<\/a> based on each segment\u2019s preferred learning style. Take things up a notch by highlighting a user\u2019s weak areas and suggesting tutorials and resources to help them improve.<\/p>\n![\"Personalized-learning-path\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/custom-learning-path_39d82bb0346db5fcd9d3acb5890ef468_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Duolingo’s personalized learning path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Create an onboarding checklist to motivate users to complete key tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnboarding checklists<\/a> are an excellent tool for walking users through the key steps to activation. They help onboard new users<\/a> and provide them with a clear idea of the tasks they should complete to realize their goals.<\/p>\nWith checklists, you can ensure that users aren\u2019t overwhelmed trying to figure out how your platform works or what features they should use. All you have to do is add the most relevant tasks to the checklist. Include a progress bar and a congratulatory message at the end to keep users engaged.<\/p>\n
Wondering about the actual results checklists can have on your onboarding process? Sked Social, a social media management platform, created checklists with Userpilot<\/a> to guide new users. The result was a 3x increase in conversions<\/a> when users completed the checklist.<\/p>\n![\"Userpilot-onboarding-checklist\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/onboarding-checklist_834dd565c2f7393a9df88a674064c5b9_800.png\")
<\/picture>Onboarding checklists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n6. Provide a product walkthrough to make it easier to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nA step-by-step walkthrough<\/a> assists users with initial setup and guides them through key features. Unlike product tours<\/a>, walkthroughs are more interactive and better suited for keeping new users engaged and improving activation.<\/p>\nFrom modals and tooltips<\/a> to hotspots, you can include various UI patterns to improve customer onboarding in EdTech.<\/p>\n![\"Product-walkthrough\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/quizlet-walkthrough_a51a921d26706e42c51cd64d66be23ee_800.png\")
<\/picture>EdTech product walkthrough creation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n7. Add gamification to make customer education more engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\nAdding an element of gamification to the onboarding process<\/a> creates a sense of excitement and urgency.<\/p>\nYou can reward users with badges or points when they complete crucial onboarding steps. Also, consider using progress bars to help users understand how far they\u2019ve come or leaderboards that tell users how they stack up against their coworkers.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the gamification elements<\/a> you use, they\u2019ll help drive user engagement and retention.<\/p>\n![\"Gamification-example\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/landbot-gamification_18e091b8fdf3bec23a2a5aa2f6c272a0.gif\")
<\/picture>Landbot gamification example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n8. Increase customer success with a self-serve resource center<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven with the best onboarding process<\/a>, users will run into occasional problems. But they wouldn\u2019t want to reach out to customer support every time they face such issues.<\/p>\nInstead, it\u2019s a good idea to add an in-app resource center<\/a> that lets users troubleshoot common problems. Include tutorials, FAQs, and other support materials to help users navigate your platform and resolve issues on their own.<\/p>\nBesides setting users up for success<\/a>, a self-serve resource center<\/a> also minimizes the burden on your customer support team. For example, our client RecruitNow<\/a> saved over 1,000 customer training hours by adding a resource center and onboarding flows like tooltips and video tutorials.<\/p>\n![\"Userpilot-resource-center\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/userpilot-resource-center-editor_a3e0600c0f104e473d22156d75047e25_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n9. Identify friction points in your onboarding process<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs you onboard new users, launch user surveys<\/a> to get a clear idea of the challenges they face when using your platform. Also, keep an eye on in-app user behavior to identify steps in the onboarding flow<\/a> that tend to drive users away.<\/p>\nYou can even set up user funnels and monitor conversion rates at each step to identify drop-off points. Analyzing data<\/a> from these funnels and survey responses will help you identify and eliminate areas of friction<\/a> from the onboarding experience.<\/p>\n![\"Userpilot-survey-question\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/open-ended-onboarding-survey-question_21b79a6cb36e0edc7431848d9ce910cb_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Survey question example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n10. Improve your onboarding process based on the insights from customer feedback and analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\nCustomer needs and expectations change over time, and your onboarding process<\/a> must keep pace. Based on your qualitative and quantitative data, make iterative improvements to meet the changing needs of your users.<\/p>\nFor example, if you notice a pattern in survey responses<\/a> and analytics showing that users find a specific feature complicated, you can brainstorm ways of simplifying it or use tooltips and video tutorials to show how to use it.<\/p>\nExamples of companies with great customer onboarding in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\nLet\u2019s look at the onboarding processes<\/a> of a few established EdTech companies and understand the techniques they use to deliver superior onboarding experiences<\/a>:<\/p>\nBeable<\/h3>\n
We helped an e-learning platform Beable Education<\/a> make data-driven product improvements with funnel analysis for tracking content engagement, survey analytics for<\/a> understanding students\u2019 and teachers\u2019 needs better, and resource center analytics for measuring its performance.<\/p>\n![\"Beable](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/untitled-34_9406fbfa1531e4d18cb5636897d3b17b_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Beable resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDuolingo<\/strong><\/h3>\nDuolingo uses a welcome survey<\/a> to collect customer data and personalize the onboarding experience. The interface displays a progress bar to tell users how far they\u2019ve come in the survey and keep them engaged.<\/p>\n![\"Duolingo-welcome-survey\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image5_7c39f8d3e418ce9116b92b2ef85387ad_800.jpg\")
<\/picture>Source: Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMasterClass<\/strong><\/h3>\nMasterClass has built an extensive in-app resource center<\/a> to guide users as they navigate the platform. The content is grouped into relevant categories, and you even get a search box to find answers to your questions quickly.<\/p>\n![\"MasterClass-in-app-resource-center\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image11_5f2f4503ca2745af05beedfdcd94bf60_800.png\")
<\/picture>Source: MasterClass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQuizlet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
10 Tips for improving your customer onboarding process in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\nAmazing lessons and instructors aren\u2019t enough to build a successful EdTech platform\u2014you first need to activate users. To do so, consider the following proven strategies for customer onboarding<\/a>:<\/p>\n1. Minimize the number of steps it takes to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nNothing drives new users away like a complex onboarding process with several unnecessary steps. Make it easy for users to set up their accounts and start using your product to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n
Remember, the onboarding starts even before a user downloads your EdTech solution or registers for it. The initial interactions make up a huge portion of the customer experience and you must get them right.<\/p>\n
Here are a few tips to simplify your user onboarding<\/a> process:<\/p>\n\n- Only ask for the necessary information<\/strong> – Asking for too many personal or irrelevant details early on can disengage users.<\/li>\n
- Automate setup where possible<\/strong> – Pre-fill information in forms and automate other routine tasks in the user journey<\/a> to help them reach the \u201caha moment\u201d faster.<\/li>\n
- Prioritize core features<\/strong> – Instead of overwhelming users with all available features, highlight the ones relevant to their goals and needs.<\/li>\n
- Introduce features gradually<\/strong> – Familiarize users with basic features before introducing them to more advanced functionalities.<\/li>\n
- Provide integrations and templates<\/strong> – Third-party integrations<\/a> and customizable templates<\/a> can help simplify the learning curve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Miro user journey map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n2. Use empty states to guide users through the initial steps<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat happens when a user logs into your platform for the first time? Do you greet them with a nearly blank screen and let them figure out what to do next? Wouldn\u2019t it be better to use these empty states<\/a> to tell them how to get started instead?<\/p>\nAdding the right messaging to empty states can be an excellent way to nudge users in the right direction. It can help them set up their accounts or direct them to the right resources and tools. That, in turn, can minimize friction during EdTech customer onboarding and speed up the time-to-value<\/a>.<\/p>\nTake a cue from this Duolingo empty state:<\/p>\nEmpty state in Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInstead of presenting users with a simple 404 error message, the empty state features Duolingo\u2019s mascot in a sleeping position\u2014a clever way to add humor to a moment of user frustration<\/a>. Better still, the language-learning platform uses the opportunity to encourage users to try out a lesson.<\/p>\n3. Segment EdTech clients based on their learning goals and preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\nA one-size-fits-all onboarding process doesn\u2019t deliver the best experience. Wouldn\u2019t it be better if you could recommend relevant content, features, and tools based on the unique interests and needs of EdTech clients? That\u2019s where customer segmentation<\/a> steps into the picture.<\/p>\nStart by launching a welcome survey<\/a> that asks users about their learning goals, preferences, and skill levels. Next, use these responses to divide users<\/a> into groups and create a personalized experience for each segment.<\/p>\nWelcome survey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Design personalized learning paths for each segment<\/strong><\/h3>\nSome professionals turn to EdTech platforms to learn skills that will help them advance their careers. Others might be looking to pursue new hobbies and interests. Your product might even attract freelancers who want to upgrade their skills and take their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
If you want to retain users in different segments, it\u2019s crucial to create personalized learning paths<\/a> for them. It can be as simple as using an empty state to ask first-time visitors how they\u2019re planning to use your platform.<\/p>\nNext, create personalized product tours and walkthroughs for each segment to familiarize them with relevant features. You could even tailor the experience<\/a> based on each segment\u2019s preferred learning style. Take things up a notch by highlighting a user\u2019s weak areas and suggesting tutorials and resources to help them improve.<\/p>\nDuolingo’s personalized learning path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Create an onboarding checklist to motivate users to complete key tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnboarding checklists<\/a> are an excellent tool for walking users through the key steps to activation. They help onboard new users<\/a> and provide them with a clear idea of the tasks they should complete to realize their goals.<\/p>\nWith checklists, you can ensure that users aren\u2019t overwhelmed trying to figure out how your platform works or what features they should use. All you have to do is add the most relevant tasks to the checklist. Include a progress bar and a congratulatory message at the end to keep users engaged.<\/p>\n
Wondering about the actual results checklists can have on your onboarding process? Sked Social, a social media management platform, created checklists with Userpilot<\/a> to guide new users. The result was a 3x increase in conversions<\/a> when users completed the checklist.<\/p>\nOnboarding checklists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n6. Provide a product walkthrough to make it easier to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nA step-by-step walkthrough<\/a> assists users with initial setup and guides them through key features. Unlike product tours<\/a>, walkthroughs are more interactive and better suited for keeping new users engaged and improving activation.<\/p>\nFrom modals and tooltips<\/a> to hotspots, you can include various UI patterns to improve customer onboarding in EdTech.<\/p>\nEdTech product walkthrough creation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n7. Add gamification to make customer education more engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\nAdding an element of gamification to the onboarding process<\/a> creates a sense of excitement and urgency.<\/p>\nYou can reward users with badges or points when they complete crucial onboarding steps. Also, consider using progress bars to help users understand how far they\u2019ve come or leaderboards that tell users how they stack up against their coworkers.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the gamification elements<\/a> you use, they\u2019ll help drive user engagement and retention.<\/p>\nLandbot gamification example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n8. Increase customer success with a self-serve resource center<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven with the best onboarding process<\/a>, users will run into occasional problems. But they wouldn\u2019t want to reach out to customer support every time they face such issues.<\/p>\nInstead, it\u2019s a good idea to add an in-app resource center<\/a> that lets users troubleshoot common problems. Include tutorials, FAQs, and other support materials to help users navigate your platform and resolve issues on their own.<\/p>\nBesides setting users up for success<\/a>, a self-serve resource center<\/a> also minimizes the burden on your customer support team. For example, our client RecruitNow<\/a> saved over 1,000 customer training hours by adding a resource center and onboarding flows like tooltips and video tutorials.<\/p>\nResource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n9. Identify friction points in your onboarding process<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs you onboard new users, launch user surveys<\/a> to get a clear idea of the challenges they face when using your platform. Also, keep an eye on in-app user behavior to identify steps in the onboarding flow<\/a> that tend to drive users away.<\/p>\nYou can even set up user funnels and monitor conversion rates at each step to identify drop-off points. Analyzing data<\/a> from these funnels and survey responses will help you identify and eliminate areas of friction<\/a> from the onboarding experience.<\/p>\nSurvey question example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n10. Improve your onboarding process based on the insights from customer feedback and analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\nCustomer needs and expectations change over time, and your onboarding process<\/a> must keep pace. Based on your qualitative and quantitative data, make iterative improvements to meet the changing needs of your users.<\/p>\nFor example, if you notice a pattern in survey responses<\/a> and analytics showing that users find a specific feature complicated, you can brainstorm ways of simplifying it or use tooltips and video tutorials to show how to use it.<\/p>\nExamples of companies with great customer onboarding in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\nLet\u2019s look at the onboarding processes<\/a> of a few established EdTech companies and understand the techniques they use to deliver superior onboarding experiences<\/a>:<\/p>\nBeable<\/h3>\n
We helped an e-learning platform Beable Education<\/a> make data-driven product improvements with funnel analysis for tracking content engagement, survey analytics for<\/a> understanding students\u2019 and teachers\u2019 needs better, and resource center analytics for measuring its performance.<\/p>\nBeable resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDuolingo<\/strong><\/h3>\nDuolingo uses a welcome survey<\/a> to collect customer data and personalize the onboarding experience. The interface displays a progress bar to tell users how far they\u2019ve come in the survey and keep them engaged.<\/p>\nSource: Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMasterClass<\/strong><\/h3>\nMasterClass has built an extensive in-app resource center<\/a> to guide users as they navigate the platform. The content is grouped into relevant categories, and you even get a search box to find answers to your questions quickly.<\/p>\nSource: MasterClass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQuizlet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Minimize the number of steps it takes to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nNothing drives new users away like a complex onboarding process with several unnecessary steps. Make it easy for users to set up their accounts and start using your product to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n
Remember, the onboarding starts even before a user downloads your EdTech solution or registers for it. The initial interactions make up a huge portion of the customer experience and you must get them right.<\/p>\n
Here are a few tips to simplify your user onboarding<\/a> process:<\/p>\n\n- Only ask for the necessary information<\/strong> – Asking for too many personal or irrelevant details early on can disengage users.<\/li>\n
- Automate setup where possible<\/strong> – Pre-fill information in forms and automate other routine tasks in the user journey<\/a> to help them reach the \u201caha moment\u201d faster.<\/li>\n
- Prioritize core features<\/strong> – Instead of overwhelming users with all available features, highlight the ones relevant to their goals and needs.<\/li>\n
- Introduce features gradually<\/strong> – Familiarize users with basic features before introducing them to more advanced functionalities.<\/li>\n
- Provide integrations and templates<\/strong> – Third-party integrations<\/a> and customizable templates<\/a> can help simplify the learning curve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Miro user journey map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n2. Use empty states to guide users through the initial steps<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhat happens when a user logs into your platform for the first time? Do you greet them with a nearly blank screen and let them figure out what to do next? Wouldn\u2019t it be better to use these empty states<\/a> to tell them how to get started instead?<\/p>\nAdding the right messaging to empty states can be an excellent way to nudge users in the right direction. It can help them set up their accounts or direct them to the right resources and tools. That, in turn, can minimize friction during EdTech customer onboarding and speed up the time-to-value<\/a>.<\/p>\nTake a cue from this Duolingo empty state:<\/p>\nEmpty state in Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInstead of presenting users with a simple 404 error message, the empty state features Duolingo\u2019s mascot in a sleeping position\u2014a clever way to add humor to a moment of user frustration<\/a>. Better still, the language-learning platform uses the opportunity to encourage users to try out a lesson.<\/p>\n3. Segment EdTech clients based on their learning goals and preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\nA one-size-fits-all onboarding process doesn\u2019t deliver the best experience. Wouldn\u2019t it be better if you could recommend relevant content, features, and tools based on the unique interests and needs of EdTech clients? That\u2019s where customer segmentation<\/a> steps into the picture.<\/p>\nStart by launching a welcome survey<\/a> that asks users about their learning goals, preferences, and skill levels. Next, use these responses to divide users<\/a> into groups and create a personalized experience for each segment.<\/p>\nWelcome survey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Design personalized learning paths for each segment<\/strong><\/h3>\nSome professionals turn to EdTech platforms to learn skills that will help them advance their careers. Others might be looking to pursue new hobbies and interests. Your product might even attract freelancers who want to upgrade their skills and take their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
If you want to retain users in different segments, it\u2019s crucial to create personalized learning paths<\/a> for them. It can be as simple as using an empty state to ask first-time visitors how they\u2019re planning to use your platform.<\/p>\nNext, create personalized product tours and walkthroughs for each segment to familiarize them with relevant features. You could even tailor the experience<\/a> based on each segment\u2019s preferred learning style. Take things up a notch by highlighting a user\u2019s weak areas and suggesting tutorials and resources to help them improve.<\/p>\nDuolingo’s personalized learning path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Create an onboarding checklist to motivate users to complete key tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\nOnboarding checklists<\/a> are an excellent tool for walking users through the key steps to activation. They help onboard new users<\/a> and provide them with a clear idea of the tasks they should complete to realize their goals.<\/p>\nWith checklists, you can ensure that users aren\u2019t overwhelmed trying to figure out how your platform works or what features they should use. All you have to do is add the most relevant tasks to the checklist. Include a progress bar and a congratulatory message at the end to keep users engaged.<\/p>\n
Wondering about the actual results checklists can have on your onboarding process? Sked Social, a social media management platform, created checklists with Userpilot<\/a> to guide new users. The result was a 3x increase in conversions<\/a> when users completed the checklist.<\/p>\nOnboarding checklists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n6. Provide a product walkthrough to make it easier to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\nA step-by-step walkthrough<\/a> assists users with initial setup and guides them through key features. Unlike product tours<\/a>, walkthroughs are more interactive and better suited for keeping new users engaged and improving activation.<\/p>\nFrom modals and tooltips<\/a> to hotspots, you can include various UI patterns to improve customer onboarding in EdTech.<\/p>\nEdTech product walkthrough creation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n7. Add gamification to make customer education more engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\nAdding an element of gamification to the onboarding process<\/a> creates a sense of excitement and urgency.<\/p>\nYou can reward users with badges or points when they complete crucial onboarding steps. Also, consider using progress bars to help users understand how far they\u2019ve come or leaderboards that tell users how they stack up against their coworkers.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the gamification elements<\/a> you use, they\u2019ll help drive user engagement and retention.<\/p>\nLandbot gamification example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n8. Increase customer success with a self-serve resource center<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven with the best onboarding process<\/a>, users will run into occasional problems. But they wouldn\u2019t want to reach out to customer support every time they face such issues.<\/p>\nInstead, it\u2019s a good idea to add an in-app resource center<\/a> that lets users troubleshoot common problems. Include tutorials, FAQs, and other support materials to help users navigate your platform and resolve issues on their own.<\/p>\nBesides setting users up for success<\/a>, a self-serve resource center<\/a> also minimizes the burden on your customer support team. For example, our client RecruitNow<\/a> saved over 1,000 customer training hours by adding a resource center and onboarding flows like tooltips and video tutorials.<\/p>\nResource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n9. Identify friction points in your onboarding process<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs you onboard new users, launch user surveys<\/a> to get a clear idea of the challenges they face when using your platform. Also, keep an eye on in-app user behavior to identify steps in the onboarding flow<\/a> that tend to drive users away.<\/p>\nYou can even set up user funnels and monitor conversion rates at each step to identify drop-off points. Analyzing data<\/a> from these funnels and survey responses will help you identify and eliminate areas of friction<\/a> from the onboarding experience.<\/p>\nSurvey question example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n10. Improve your onboarding process based on the insights from customer feedback and analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\nCustomer needs and expectations change over time, and your onboarding process<\/a> must keep pace. Based on your qualitative and quantitative data, make iterative improvements to meet the changing needs of your users.<\/p>\nFor example, if you notice a pattern in survey responses<\/a> and analytics showing that users find a specific feature complicated, you can brainstorm ways of simplifying it or use tooltips and video tutorials to show how to use it.<\/p>\nExamples of companies with great customer onboarding in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\nLet\u2019s look at the onboarding processes<\/a> of a few established EdTech companies and understand the techniques they use to deliver superior onboarding experiences<\/a>:<\/p>\nBeable<\/h3>\n
We helped an e-learning platform Beable Education<\/a> make data-driven product improvements with funnel analysis for tracking content engagement, survey analytics for<\/a> understanding students\u2019 and teachers\u2019 needs better, and resource center analytics for measuring its performance.<\/p>\nBeable resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDuolingo<\/strong><\/h3>\nDuolingo uses a welcome survey<\/a> to collect customer data and personalize the onboarding experience. The interface displays a progress bar to tell users how far they\u2019ve come in the survey and keep them engaged.<\/p>\nSource: Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMasterClass<\/strong><\/h3>\nMasterClass has built an extensive in-app resource center<\/a> to guide users as they navigate the platform. The content is grouped into relevant categories, and you even get a search box to find answers to your questions quickly.<\/p>\nSource: MasterClass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nQuizlet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- \n
- Only ask for the necessary information<\/strong> – Asking for too many personal or irrelevant details early on can disengage users.<\/li>\n
- Automate setup where possible<\/strong> – Pre-fill information in forms and automate other routine tasks in the user journey<\/a> to help them reach the \u201caha moment\u201d faster.<\/li>\n
- Prioritize core features<\/strong> – Instead of overwhelming users with all available features, highlight the ones relevant to their goals and needs.<\/li>\n
- Introduce features gradually<\/strong> – Familiarize users with basic features before introducing them to more advanced functionalities.<\/li>\n
- Provide integrations and templates<\/strong> – Third-party integrations<\/a> and customizable templates<\/a> can help simplify the learning curve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/picture>Miro user journey map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 2. Use empty states to guide users through the initial steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What happens when a user logs into your platform for the first time? Do you greet them with a nearly blank screen and let them figure out what to do next? Wouldn\u2019t it be better to use these empty states<\/a> to tell them how to get started instead?<\/p>\n
Adding the right messaging to empty states can be an excellent way to nudge users in the right direction. It can help them set up their accounts or direct them to the right resources and tools. That, in turn, can minimize friction during EdTech customer onboarding and speed up the time-to-value<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Take a cue from this Duolingo empty state:<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Empty state in Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Instead of presenting users with a simple 404 error message, the empty state features Duolingo\u2019s mascot in a sleeping position\u2014a clever way to add humor to a moment of user frustration<\/a>. Better still, the language-learning platform uses the opportunity to encourage users to try out a lesson.<\/p>\n
3. Segment EdTech clients based on their learning goals and preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\n
A one-size-fits-all onboarding process doesn\u2019t deliver the best experience. Wouldn\u2019t it be better if you could recommend relevant content, features, and tools based on the unique interests and needs of EdTech clients? That\u2019s where customer segmentation<\/a> steps into the picture.<\/p>\n
Start by launching a welcome survey<\/a> that asks users about their learning goals, preferences, and skill levels. Next, use these responses to divide users<\/a> into groups and create a personalized experience for each segment.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Welcome survey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 4. Design personalized learning paths for each segment<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Some professionals turn to EdTech platforms to learn skills that will help them advance their careers. Others might be looking to pursue new hobbies and interests. Your product might even attract freelancers who want to upgrade their skills and take their business to the next level.<\/p>\n
If you want to retain users in different segments, it\u2019s crucial to create personalized learning paths<\/a> for them. It can be as simple as using an empty state to ask first-time visitors how they\u2019re planning to use your platform.<\/p>\n
Next, create personalized product tours and walkthroughs for each segment to familiarize them with relevant features. You could even tailor the experience<\/a> based on each segment\u2019s preferred learning style. Take things up a notch by highlighting a user\u2019s weak areas and suggesting tutorials and resources to help them improve.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Duolingo’s personalized learning path.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 5. Create an onboarding checklist to motivate users to complete key tasks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Onboarding checklists<\/a> are an excellent tool for walking users through the key steps to activation. They help onboard new users<\/a> and provide them with a clear idea of the tasks they should complete to realize their goals.<\/p>\n
With checklists, you can ensure that users aren\u2019t overwhelmed trying to figure out how your platform works or what features they should use. All you have to do is add the most relevant tasks to the checklist. Include a progress bar and a congratulatory message at the end to keep users engaged.<\/p>\n
Wondering about the actual results checklists can have on your onboarding process? Sked Social, a social media management platform, created checklists with Userpilot<\/a> to guide new users. The result was a 3x increase in conversions<\/a> when users completed the checklist.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Onboarding checklists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 6. Provide a product walkthrough to make it easier to get started<\/strong><\/h3>\n
A step-by-step walkthrough<\/a> assists users with initial setup and guides them through key features. Unlike product tours<\/a>, walkthroughs are more interactive and better suited for keeping new users engaged and improving activation.<\/p>\n
From modals and tooltips<\/a> to hotspots, you can include various UI patterns to improve customer onboarding in EdTech.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>EdTech product walkthrough creation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 7. Add gamification to make customer education more engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Adding an element of gamification to the onboarding process<\/a> creates a sense of excitement and urgency.<\/p>\n
You can reward users with badges or points when they complete crucial onboarding steps. Also, consider using progress bars to help users understand how far they\u2019ve come or leaderboards that tell users how they stack up against their coworkers.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the gamification elements<\/a> you use, they\u2019ll help drive user engagement and retention.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Landbot gamification example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 8. Increase customer success with a self-serve resource center<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Even with the best onboarding process<\/a>, users will run into occasional problems. But they wouldn\u2019t want to reach out to customer support every time they face such issues.<\/p>\n
Instead, it\u2019s a good idea to add an in-app resource center<\/a> that lets users troubleshoot common problems. Include tutorials, FAQs, and other support materials to help users navigate your platform and resolve issues on their own.<\/p>\n
Besides setting users up for success<\/a>, a self-serve resource center<\/a> also minimizes the burden on your customer support team. For example, our client RecruitNow<\/a> saved over 1,000 customer training hours by adding a resource center and onboarding flows like tooltips and video tutorials.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 9. Identify friction points in your onboarding process<\/strong><\/h3>\n
As you onboard new users, launch user surveys<\/a> to get a clear idea of the challenges they face when using your platform. Also, keep an eye on in-app user behavior to identify steps in the onboarding flow<\/a> that tend to drive users away.<\/p>\n
You can even set up user funnels and monitor conversion rates at each step to identify drop-off points. Analyzing data<\/a> from these funnels and survey responses will help you identify and eliminate areas of friction<\/a> from the onboarding experience.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Survey question example.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 10. Improve your onboarding process based on the insights from customer feedback and analytics<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Customer needs and expectations change over time, and your onboarding process<\/a> must keep pace. Based on your qualitative and quantitative data, make iterative improvements to meet the changing needs of your users.<\/p>\n
For example, if you notice a pattern in survey responses<\/a> and analytics showing that users find a specific feature complicated, you can brainstorm ways of simplifying it or use tooltips and video tutorials to show how to use it.<\/p>\n
Examples of companies with great customer onboarding in EdTech<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Let\u2019s look at the onboarding processes<\/a> of a few established EdTech companies and understand the techniques they use to deliver superior onboarding experiences<\/a>:<\/p>\n
Beable<\/h3>\n
We helped an e-learning platform Beable Education<\/a> make data-driven product improvements with funnel analysis for tracking content engagement, survey analytics for<\/a> understanding students\u2019 and teachers\u2019 needs better, and resource center analytics for measuring its performance.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Beable resource center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Duolingo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Duolingo uses a welcome survey<\/a> to collect customer data and personalize the onboarding experience. The interface displays a progress bar to tell users how far they\u2019ve come in the survey and keep them engaged.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Source: Duolingo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n MasterClass<\/strong><\/h3>\n
MasterClass has built an extensive in-app resource center<\/a> to guide users as they navigate the platform. The content is grouped into relevant categories, and you even get a search box to find answers to your questions quickly.<\/p>\n
<\/picture>Source: MasterClass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Quizlet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
- Automate setup where possible<\/strong> – Pre-fill information in forms and automate other routine tasks in the user journey<\/a> to help them reach the \u201caha moment\u201d faster.<\/li>\n
![\"User-journey-mapping\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/miro-flow-example_0232cca17ae0218f47633ec022557e6b.gif)
<\/picture>![\"Empty-state-Duolingo\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/duolingo-empty-state_3adde696d323c1fa235b9df21f03e1d7_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"Welcome-survey-Userpilot\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/welcome-survey-questions_7608b5efa97bdfb5ba76f9f4a2a5ab9a_800.png)
<\/picture>![\"Personalized-learning-path\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/custom-learning-path_39d82bb0346db5fcd9d3acb5890ef468_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"Userpilot-onboarding-checklist\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/onboarding-checklist_834dd565c2f7393a9df88a674064c5b9_800.png)
<\/picture>![\"Product-walkthrough\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/quizlet-walkthrough_a51a921d26706e42c51cd64d66be23ee_800.png)
<\/picture>![\"Gamification-example\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/landbot-gamification_18e091b8fdf3bec23a2a5aa2f6c272a0.gif)
<\/picture>![\"Userpilot-resource-center\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/userpilot-resource-center-editor_a3e0600c0f104e473d22156d75047e25_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"Userpilot-survey-question\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/open-ended-onboarding-survey-question_21b79a6cb36e0edc7431848d9ce910cb_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"Beable](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/untitled-34_9406fbfa1531e4d18cb5636897d3b17b_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"Duolingo-welcome-survey\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image5_7c39f8d3e418ce9116b92b2ef85387ad_800.jpg)
<\/picture>![\"MasterClass-in-app-resource-center\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image11_5f2f4503ca2745af05beedfdcd94bf60_800.png)
<\/picture>![\"Quizlet-empty-state\"](\"https:\/\/blog-static.userpilot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/image2_9682bf1f8953dc932dd38b32649c9dd5_800.png)
<\/picture>