As designers, it’s important that we keep our eye on the prize: the target user for our finished product. During SXSWi, I sat in on a panel that highlighted some of the core concepts to keep in mind when designing and developing the first interaction a user has with your website. While geared toward the designer, these tactics can help the entire development team work together to create a fun, enticing user experience.

Tips for Designing the First 15 Minutes:

• Design with empathy. Remember what it’s like to visit your site for the very first time. Not everyone knows what’s expected of them.
• Give users the fun stuff first, and then ask them to save their work. Wait until there’s something to save.
• Integrate instructional and educational pieces into your initial user processes.
• Always look at your processes again with fresh eyes.

Some sites that do it right:

• Geni.com – “Best of breed” account creation and an easy progress saving system
• Mint.com – Super quick checkboxes and congratulatory feedback let you know you are progressing correctly
• Linkedin.com – Progress bar for account creation incentivizes users to keep going
• Tumblr.com – Quick and simple account setup