Enhancing Emailer UI Walkthroughs for Netcore Cloud
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Designing comprehensive UI walkthroughs and interactive guides to improve user onboarding experience for Netcore Cloud's email marketing platform
Duration
8 weeks
Team
Solo Designer
My Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
Project Overview
Netcore Cloud needed to improve their email marketing platform's user onboarding experience. Users were struggling to understand the complex features and workflows, leading to high drop-off rates and increased support tickets. I was tasked with designing comprehensive UI walkthroughs and interactive guides that would help users navigate the platform more effectively.
The Challenge
The main challenge was that Netcore Cloud's email marketing platform, while powerful, had a steep learning curve. New users found it difficult to understand where to start, how to create their first email campaign, and how to navigate between different features. The existing onboarding was minimal, resulting in a 65% drop-off rate during the first week and overwhelming the support team with basic questions.
The Solution
I designed a comprehensive onboarding system featuring interactive UI walkthroughs, contextual tooltips, and progressive disclosure of features. The solution included step-by-step guided tours for key workflows, smart hints that appear based on user behavior, and a resource hub with video tutorials and best practices. The design emphasized clarity, reduced cognitive load, and provided multiple learning paths for different user types.
Design Process
How I approached this challenge
Research & Discovery
I conducted user interviews with 15 new users and analyzed support ticket data to identify the biggest pain points. I also performed a competitive analysis of leading email marketing platforms to understand best practices for onboarding. This research revealed that users needed more guidance on setting up their first campaign and understanding the platform's workflow.
Information Architecture & User Flows
Based on the research insights, I mapped out the ideal user journey and created detailed user flows for different onboarding scenarios. I identified 5 core workflows that 80% of users needed to complete and designed the walkthrough structure around these key paths.
Design & Prototyping
I created wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes for the interactive walkthroughs, focusing on clear visual hierarchy and minimal cognitive load. The design used progressive disclosure, contextual help, and visual cues to guide users through complex workflows step by step.
Testing & Iteration
I conducted usability testing with 12 participants using the new walkthrough system. The testing revealed areas for improvement in the tooltip positioning and messaging clarity. I iterated on the design based on feedback and created the final implementation-ready specifications.
UX Case Study – Grocery Shopping Interactive Email
Challenge
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Traditional promotional emails redirect users to external sites, increasing friction and drop-offs.
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Needed to make the checkout process seamless inside the email while keeping the UI intuitive and mobile-friendly.
Process
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Mapped User Flow - From email entry to order confirmation (see flowchart).
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Wireframing & UI Design: Clean layouts, clear CTAs, and minimal clicks.
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Interactive Components: Quantity updates, address selection, and payment are integrated into the email.
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Testing: Ensured AMP compatibility and responsiveness across devices.
Solution
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A 6-step flow within the email:
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Email Entry Point
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Product Selection
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Cart Review (Update Quantities)
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Address Selection
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Payment Options
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Order Confirmation
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High-contrast CTAs, fresh green branding, and large product imagery for trust and appeal.
UX Case Study - Interactive Gamified Email: “Crush the Gems & Win”
Challenge
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Standard marketing emails often fail to hold user attention beyond a quick scan.
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Needed to integrate interactive gameplay that was fast, intuitive, and responsive while being compliant with email client limitations.
Process
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Concept Development: Designed a gem-matching puzzle that works in email format.
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Wireframes & UI Design: Created a grid-based board, gem icons, and interactive arrow controls.
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Gameplay Logic: Match 3 gems in a vertical line to win.
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Visual Rewards: Added trophy and coin visuals to motivate players.
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Testing: Verified AMP compatibility, responsiveness, and loading speed.
Solution
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A 4x4 grid where users click arrows to move gems.
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Simple two-step rule system for instant understanding.
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Vibrant gem colors (blue, red, green) to create visual appeal.
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Instant win feedback with trophy animation and call-to-action to download the app.
Key Outcomes
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Successfully reduced user drop-off during onboarding by 45%, leading to higher user activation rates
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Decreased support ticket volume by 38%, allowing the support team to focus on more complex issues
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Improved user satisfaction scores from 3.2 to 4.7 out of 5 for the onboarding experience
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Created a scalable design system for future product walkthrough implementations
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Established user onboarding metrics and tracking system for continuous improvement
Key Learnings
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Progressive disclosure is crucial for complex SaaS platforms - showing too much information at once overwhelms users
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Contextual help performs better than static tutorials - users prefer guidance that appears when they need it
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Different user types require different onboarding paths - power users and beginners have very different needs
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Visual cues and animations are essential for directing attention in complex interfaces
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Continuous testing and iteration are necessary as user behavior patterns change over time
Next Steps
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Implement advanced personalization based on user role and industry
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Develop adaptive walkthroughs that adjust based on user progress and behavior
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Create additional interactive guides for advanced features and integrations
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Expand the system to include in-app messaging and feature announcements