Keeping Customers Engaged Beyond Initial Sign-Up

All of us want customers on our platforms. However, a sign-up is very different from an engaged user who keeps returning and finding value over time.

Creating the right user experience, without being too intrusive, spammy, or “in your face”, can significantly improve engagement, increase conversions, and reduce churn. In my experience, a platform’s success is defined far more by its active users than by the total number of people who have ever signed up.

Below are a few approaches I’ve seen work well, along with some that haven’t been as effective.

Whats Worked for Me

• Upgrade banners within the product

• Re-engagement emails for inactive users

• Milestone-based emails

• Short video demos

• Keeping active online communities

What Hasn't Worked as Well

• Affiliate Links

• Overloading users with notifications

• Paywalls before getting meaningful usage

• Too many CTAs

As I'm looking to keep my users engaged, I'm curious for your on thoughts:

• What has worked best for you in keeping users engaged past sign-up?

• Do you agree with these approaches, or have you seen different results?

• What’s something you tried that surprised you, either positively or negatively?