New Users and Their Health Signals
Are your new users set up for long-term success?
Why the Focus on New Users?
New users are the heartbeat of a growing product, bringing fresh potential to expand your customer base. But their attention is fleetingâfirst impressions are everything. If they donât quickly see the value in your product, theyâre likely to move on. Thatâs why those early moments matter most. Itâs about helping new users immediately understand how your product benefits them, setting the foundation for lasting engagement and loyalty.
How Activation Is the Make-or-Break Moment
Activation is that magical moment when new users realize, "This solves my problem!" Itâs the spark that turns casual curiosity into genuine commitment. Once users hit this milestone, theyâre more likely to stick around, dive into your features, and move from trial to paying customer. But if they miss it? They might drop off for good. Thatâs why this moment matters most in the user journeyâitâs where interest transforms into action.

Who It Helps
Making activation work isnât just about helping usersâitâs a win for your team:
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Product Team: By understanding which features drive activation, they can enhance these key areas, ensuring the product aligns with usersâ needs and expectations.
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Marketing Team: Insights into activation triggers help craft targeted campaigns that spotlight the features users value most, attracting the right audience.
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Sales Team: Activation data highlights trial users with high conversion potential, enabling sales to focus on how the product meets specific needs and close deals more effectively.
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Customer Success Team: With clarity on what drives activation, they can provide smarter onboarding and support, guiding users to their first âaha!â moment faster.
Everyoneâs efforts align around a shared goal: helping users succeed with your product.
Critical Things to Keep in Mind
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Activation Is Non-Linear: Unlike a traditional funnel, activation doesnât always follow a straight path. Users may complete actions in different orders or at different paces. Itâs important to track activation milestones with this flexibility in mind to avoid misinterpreting the data.
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Account-Level View: Especially in B2B products, activation often involves multiple users within an account. Assessing activation at the account level, rather than just individual user actions, gives a fuller picture of how engaged an account truly is.
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Personalization Matters: The activation journey isnât one-size-fits-all. Tailoring the experience based on user behavior, preferences, and needs can significantly increase the chances of reaching that crucial "aha!" moment.
Focusing on these key areas ensures youâre not just helping users activateâyouâre setting the stage for lasting engagement and loyalty.