producttour

A producttour is a guided, step-by-step in-app experience that introduces users to a software product's features and workflows. It is often used for onboarding and when new functionality is released to help users realize value quickly.

Typical components include guided tooltips, modal overlays, hotspots on UI elements, progress indicators, skip/restart controls, and contextual tips that adapt to the user's current screen or role.

Benefits include improved user onboarding, faster time to value, higher feature adoption, and reduced support requests. Product tours can capture interaction data such as completion rates, drop-off points, and path patterns to inform product decisions.

Implementation approaches vary. Some products build tours in-house using JavaScript libraries or framework components, while others rely on dedicated tour platforms. Tours can be triggered automatically, on first login, or manually, and may be gated or contextual to the user’s workflow.

Design and technical considerations include performance, accessibility, localization, and privacy. Overly long tours may frustrate users; excluding essential tasks, enabling skip, and providing an option to replay help are common practices.

Best practices emphasize aligning tours with user goals, keeping steps concise, and starting with the most valuable features. Iterate based on analytics and maintain tours with product updates. Use clear language, ensure consistent styling, and test tours across devices and browsers.