At DateNight, we’re always looking for ways to improve our user experience. Recently, we implemented a series of onboarding modals to help new users understand our app’s key features. In this post, we’ll walk you through our process and share some insights we gained along the way.
Why Onboarding Modals?
When users first sign up for DateNight, they’re excited to start matching and planning dates. However, we noticed that some users were missing out on key features or feeling overwhelmed. We needed a way to quickly introduce our core functionality without bogging users down in a lengthy tutorial.
Enter the onboarding modal sequence: a series of three simple, visually appealing screens that highlight our main features.
Designing the Modals
We focused on three key aspects of DateNight:
- Matching with potential dates
- Sending invitations to events
- Enjoying the actual date
For each of these, we created a modal with:
- A clear, concise title
- A brief description
- An illustrative image
- Navigation buttons
Implementation
We used React to build our modals. Our OnboardingModals component manages which modal is currently displayed and handles navigation between them. We kept the design clean and consistent, using our brand colors and typography to create a seamless experience.
When it came to building our onboarding modals, we chose React for its flexibility and our team’s familiarity with the framework. Here’s a brief overview of our implementation:
- Modal Component Structure
We created a reusable OnboardingModals component that manages the state of the current modal and handles navigation between modals. This component takes an array of modal data, including titles, descriptions, and image paths, allowing us to easily update or add new modals in the future.
- State Management
We used React’s useState hook to keep track of which modal is currently being displayed. This allowed us to create a smooth transition between modals without needing to mount and unmount entire components.
OnboardingModals.js:
const [currentModal, setCurrentModal] = useState(0);
Onboarding.js:
const [onboardingModal, setOnboardingModal] = useState(false);
- Conditional Rendering
The Onboarding component, which handles user profile creation, conditionally renders either the profile form or the OnboardingModals component based on whether the user has completed their profile. This was achieved using a simple state boolean and conditional rendering in JSX.
Onboarding.js:
if (success) {
const updatedUser = response.data;
setCookie(“user”, updatedUser, { path: “/” });
setUser(updatedUser);
setOnboardingModal(true)
}
} catch (err) {
console.log(“Onboarding Error”, err);
}
};
if(onboardingModal){
return <OnboardingModals onComplete={() => navigate(“/dashboard”)} />;
}
- Navigation and Completion
We implemented ‘Next’ and ‘Back’ buttons to allow users to navigate through the modals at their own pace. The final modal includes a ‘Get Started’ button that, when clicked, triggers a callback function to navigate the user to the main app interface.
OnboardingModals.js:
const handleNext = () => {
if (currentModal < modals.length – 1) {
setCurrentModal(currentModal + 1);
} else {
navigate(‘/dashboard’);
}
};
const handleBack = () => {
if (currentModal < modals.length – 1) {
setCurrentModal(currentModal + 1);
} else {
onComplete();
}
};
- Styling
We used CSS modules to style our components, ensuring that our styles remain scoped to the specific components and don’t leak into other parts of the application. This approach allowed us to create a consistent, branded look across all modals while maintaining clean and manageable code.
- Responsive Design
To ensure a great experience on all devices, we implemented responsive design techniques. The modals adjust their layout and font sizes based on the screen size, using CSS media queries and flexbox for layout.
- Accessibility
We paid special attention to accessibility, ensuring that all interactive elements are keyboard navigable and that proper ARIA attributes are used where necessary. This makes our onboarding process inclusive for all users, regardless of how they interact with our app.
- Testing
We wrote unit tests for our modal components using Jest and React Testing Library. These tests check for proper rendering of modal content, correct navigation between modals, and appropriate callback firing upon completion.
By focusing on modular, reusable components and clean state management, we were able to create an onboarding experience that’s not only effective for users but also maintainable and extensible for our development team. This approach allows us to easily update our onboarding process as DateNight evolves, ensuring that new users always get the best possible introduction to our app.
Integrating with User Flow
We wanted to show these modals right after a user completes their profile, but before they start using the app. This timing ensures that users have all the necessary information fresh in their minds as they begin their DateNight journey.
User Testing and Iteration
Before rolling out the new onboarding experience, we conducted user testing sessions. We found that users appreciated the quick overview but wanted more control over the process. In response, we added a ‘Skip’ option and made sure users could easily go back to previous modals if they wanted to review information.
Results and Lessons Learned
Since implementing the onboarding modals, we’ve seen a 15% increase in user engagement during the first week after signup. Users are more likely to use all of our key features, and we’ve received positive feedback about the smooth introduction to the app.
Key takeaways from this process:
- Keep it simple: Focus on core features only.
- Make it skippable: Respect users who prefer to explore on their own.
- Use visuals: Images can convey information quickly and memorably.
- Test and iterate: User feedback is crucial for refining the experience.
Looking Ahead
The success of our onboarding modals has inspired us to look for other areas where we can streamline the user experience. We’re now exploring interactive tooltips for new features and considering a more personalized onboarding flow based on user preferences.
At DateNight, we believe that a great user experience starts from the moment someone signs up. By carefully crafting our onboarding process, we’re setting the stage for meaningful connections and unforgettable dates.
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