Growth experience · SaaS · 2026
Reach first value before asking people to connect real data.
Problem
The existing trial moved from sign up to a blank product. Only 28.81% of free trial page visitors clicked the form, 54.35% of people who started did not complete sign up, only 3.76% connected a data source, and fewer than 2% reached dashboard creation.
Outcome
A SmartStory reference implementation designed to remove OAuth from the path to first value. The prototype targets a first generated SmartSlide in under two minutes; this is a design target, not a shipped outcome.
The thesis
Case-study proof
Enough context to judge the choice, inspect the work, and separate evidence from ambition.
Why this, not that
I made relevant sample data and guided creation the default path instead of requiring OAuth or showing a passive product tour before value. Real account connection stayed available, but it no longer blocked the first useful result.
Why this case is specific
The direction responds to a measured TapClicks trial funnel: 71.19% did not click sign-up, 54.35% of form starters did not finish, 3.76% connected data, and fewer than 2% reached dashboard creation.
What you can inspect
Detailed prototype + working documentsThe case shows the five-stage prototype architecture, mapped pain points, package adaptations, and timing targets. The portfolio page presents static evidence; it does not embed a production onboarding flow.
Decision to outcome
The prototype removed OAuth from the path to a first generated SmartSlide and targeted first value in under two minutes. That timing is a prototype target, not a shipped conversion result, and the page states the boundary explicitly.
Interface evidence
The funnel showed a compounding loss before people experienced value. Connecting an advertising account required credentials, permissions, and trust, so the trial placed its largest barrier before its first useful result.
The questionnaire captures workflow, team scale, advertising platforms, and goals. The first three questions advance after a single selection; the final multi select step ends with a deliberate Build My Workspace action.
Relevant sources are preselected from the platform answers. Users can activate Demo Mode immediately or choose to connect real accounts. OAuth remains available without becoming a prerequisite for evaluation.
01 / Evidence
The funnel showed a compounding loss before people experienced value. Connecting an advertising account required credentials, permissions, and trust, so the trial placed its largest barrier before its first useful result.
02 / Intent
The questionnaire captures workflow, team scale, advertising platforms, and goals. The first three questions advance after a single selection; the final multi select step ends with a deliberate Build My Workspace action.
03 / Data
Relevant sources are preselected from the platform answers. Users can activate Demo Mode immediately or choose to connect real accounts. OAuth remains available without becoming a prerequisite for evaluation.
04 / Activation
The prototype opens a prefilled SmartSlides form and uses a five step spotlight guide that keeps the active field visible and interactive. The user completes the work and generates a concrete presentation from sample data.
05 / Momentum
A Demo Mode banner, collapsible Getting Started checklist, and trial counter keep the next action visible. Users can collapse or ignore the checklist and complete tasks in any order.
06 / Measurement
The source document records the existing funnel as observed evidence. Under two minutes to the first SmartSlide and roughly thirty seconds for deck generation are prototype targets that still require production validation.
07 / Scale
SmartStory is the reference implementation. SmartReports and SmartAnalytics would reuse the questionnaire engine, sample data system, spotlight guide, checklist, and counter while changing questions, first value, and completion tasks for each package.
Supporting evidence
Bring me the difficult part.
Complex workflows, AI trust, and enterprise systems.
Discuss a product challenge