As a developer, I hate long-ass onboarding. It's such a silent booster of churn rate and makes your users yawn. I recently created a guide for my clients who had a similar problem. 6 common mistakes web apps make in their onboarding flow:

1. Overwhelming users right away Dumping too much information on new users is a mistake. They need to see the basics first—how your app solves their problem and what to do next. Complex walkthroughs scare them off. Simplify the journey.

2. Skipping the value proposition If your onboarding doesn’t highlight the key benefits, they’ll lose interest. Show the “aha!” moment early so they understand the value of sticking around. Hook them right away.

3. Asking for too much information Don’t demand everything upfront—it’s off-putting. Lengthy sign-up forms with endless questions push users away. Stick to the essentials—name, email, maybe one more thing. You can collect the rest later when they’re invested.

4. Ignoring clear directions If users don’t know what to do next, they’ll bounce. Use steps, visuals, and cues to guide them through the process. Sometimes, even a quick 60-second loom video can do a job.

5. Ignoring user feedback Your users know what works—and what doesn’t. Ignoring their feedback means missing opportunities to improve. Ask for input, analyze it, and tweak your onboarding flow regularly. Listen to them. They’re your best testers.

6. Forgetting interactivity Onboarding isn’t just a one-way tour. Let users try out features as they learn. Hands-on exploration helps them understand better and feel more confident. Passive tours don’t stick. Engagement builds understanding.