Splash Screen , Tips & On-boarding
The focus at this stage is to remove all roadblocks to usage - and adoption - of your mobile app .
Get users into the content / substance as quickly as possible , so that they can use , assess and experience its value to them .
First impressions count , and a splash screen gives you a short but vital window to engage a user in your proposition . But , never make users wait .
Tips / help or an onboarding sequence should only be employed if necessary - so as not to interrupt users - but when used appropriately they can guide the user in their initial experience and adoption .
When asked if they ’ d prefer to click through to an app or a mobile website from mobile search results , more people prefer the app . Here ’ s why : Apps are quicker to load than mobile websites ( 46 %).
App-Nesia in the UK : The Need for Re-Engagement Marketing , 2015
The app appears to load quickly
Set expectations immediately by ensuring the launch screen loads immediately and makes the app feel fast and responsive . Don ’ t waste users time at this critical adoption stage , before they ’ ve even tried to use your app .
Splash screen is consistent with brand ( e . g . communicates the brand essence )
A splash screen should engage users and communicate the essence of the brand , but never keep the user waiting . Always put the user in control and able to execute their task ASAP .
If the app supports tips / help , they are displayed in context to what the user is doing
If the user needs to learn anything about the app , but not before their first use of it , provide contextual tips and help instead of an onboarding sequence . Tips and help that are relevant to what the user is trying to do , when they are doing it , will be more beneficial to the user than a generic - and interruptive - onboarding . Engage users through images , animation and interactivity , to help them learn by doing , and only provide tips for priority or difficult tasks ( they are not a substitute for good UX design ). ( See image 01 ) image 01
6