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Turn “What do I click?” into “Ohhh, that makes sense!”
Nail your first impression. Learn how a great SaaS onboarding video can guide, educate, and truly engage your users from day one.
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough love: the first-time user experience.
You’ve built a brilliant SaaS product. Months (maybe years) of hard work. And finally, someone signs up…
But then they land on your dashboard, blink twice, get confused… and disappear.
Poof. Just like that.
That’s not their fault, though. New tools are hard. People are busy.
What they needed — really — was a little guidance. A warm welcome. A friendly walkthrough.
And that’s where a solid, well-crafted SaaS onboarding video comes in.
Why Onboarding Videos Are a Big Deal
Let’s be honest for a second — no one loves reading long help docs.
Most people (me included!) just want someone to show them how things work.
That’s the magic of onboarding videos. They:
- Break things down visually
- Guide users through tricky steps
- Create instant confidence
- And honestly… just feel more human
When you offer a simple walkthrough in video form, users feel like someone’s holding their hand — not pushing them off the deep end with a manual.
What Makes a Great SaaS Onboarding Video?
You don’t need Pixar-level animation here. But you do need clarity, warmth, and a good understanding of what your users are trying to achieve.
Here’s what a great SaaS onboarding video usually includes:
- A super quick hello (something friendly and brand-aligned)
- A walkthrough of one clear goal (like setting up their account or sending their first message)
- A mix of animation or screen recording to visually guide them
- Casual, clear voiceover or text that doesn’t sound like a robot
A gentle nudge toward their next step
Best Practices to Nail Your Onboarding Video
Let’s break it down a little more — like, step-by-step.
1. Start with a little empathy
Before diving into features, take a moment to say, “We get it.”
Users often feel a little lost when they try something new — so reassure them.
Example:
“Hey! Starting something new can feel overwhelming — we totally get that. Let’s walk through the basics together.”
Feels better, right?
2. Keep it short — but useful
Most folks don’t want to watch a 5-minute tutorial. So stick to 60–90 seconds for your core video.
Pro tip? You can always make a series of shorter micro-videos for specific features (more on that below).
3. Speak like a human (not a manual)
Avoid tech-speak unless your audience is super technical.
Instead of:
“To initiate your workflow, navigate to the automation tab.”
Try:
“Want to kick things off? Just head to ‘Automations’ — it’s right up top.”
Talk how you’d explain it to a friend over coffee.
4. Show, don’t just say
People remember what they see, not what they hear.
Use simple screen recordings, cursor highlights, and animated tutorials to show where to click, what to enter, and how to move through the flow.
Bonus: animations help simplify abstract stuff. Like showing how “integrations” connect behind the scenes — way easier to watch than read.
5. Make it feel like your brand
This is your first real impression. Make it count.
- Add your tone (fun, calm, smart, quirky — whatever feels right)
- Use your color palette and fonts
- Maybe even a mascot or character, if that fits your vibe
People remember personality more than product specs. Seriously.
6. Guide users to their next move
Don’t leave users hanging at the end. Always wrap up with a gentle CTA:
- “Go ahead and upload your first doc — we’ll guide you through it.”
- “Now that you’ve invited your team, check out your dashboard.”
- “Want to explore more? Here’s where to go next.”
Even better if you can link right from the video or next screen.
Bonus Tip: Break It Into Bite-Sized Micro-Videos
One onboarding video is great. But you know what’s even better?
A library of short, focused animated tutorials.
Imagine:
- “How to customize your dashboard”
- “Connecting Google Calendar”
- “Setting up your first campaign”
This way, users can watch only what they need — when they need it. It’s like the Netflix of SaaS help content.
And hey, people like having control over their learning. It feels good.
Real Talk: You Don’t Need Fancy Gear
You don’t need a studio or pro voice actor to start. Even a simple, clear screen recording with a friendly tone goes a long way.
But if you do want to step it up — add animation, sound design, or branding polish — that’s where a good video team comes in (yes, hi we help with that too).
Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, a great SaaS onboarding video makes your product feel less like software and more like support.
It turns “where do I start?” into
“Oh, cool — I’ve got this.”
And that’s what you want: confident, happy users who stick around.
Thinking about adding an onboarding video to your SaaS product?
We’d love to help you build something clear, warm, and perfectly you. No pushy sales — just good ideas and good visuals.
Let’s make your users’ first step the easiest one.
