Here are some methods to create simple and easy onboarding:
- Easily pronounceable and memorable wake word
- Fast and accurate responses
- Suggest questions
- Reward successes
A branded wake word should be easy to pronounce and remember so that users can easily activate their voice assistant. If the wake word makes the user stumble, is forgotten, or creates confusion, the user will have a large obstacle between them and using the voice assistant, which could lead to poor reviews or abandoning the product.
Fast and accurate responses are essential for onboarding and showing the user what to expect when using the voice assistant. If the voice AI isn’t able to understand the user, asks them to repeat the question, or takes too long to respond, the user could become frustrated, confused, and uncertain about whether the voice assistant is the best, most convenient interface.
One of the quickest ways to onboard a voice AI user is to ensure they don’t become stuck or unsure of what to ask. A possible solution is to suggest potential questions, use cases, or domains they can ask via pop-up banners, email notifications, or other communications.
Using a new voice assistant comes with a lot of unfamiliar territory and new processes to learn. Congratulating or rewarding users with affirmative phrases on completing vital steps in the onboarding process is a supportive way of letting them know they are on the right track and creates a good user experience.
Educate users on features and queries
While voice assistants are an advanced technology capable of a multitude of complex functions, most users only ask voice assistants for the same, few simple requests. According to HP, the top ways to use a voice assistant are to play music, create a shopping list, manage timers, and get news, weather, and traffic.
User education is vital, so consumers know which domains they can use, what features are available, and what types of things they can do or get help with. Voice assistants are capable of so much more than just setting timers, and companies need to educate their users on how to use their voice assistants to the fullest. With increased user education, users will have a more fulfilling and positive user experience and will be more likely to recommend the brand to others and give it positive reviews.
A single, one-time educational opportunity often isn’t enough as users are likely to have more questions once they begin using the voice assistant. To meet the needs of most users, education strategies should be scattered over a period of time, be continuous, and approach the user from multiple angles to allow for learning differences and not overload the user’s memory.
Here are three tactics to educate users on voice assistant functionality:
- Provide tips
- Use examples
- Give options
Tips are a great way to give small doses of bite-sized, actionable usage information that can be tried right away. Tips can also appear in a variety of places—in an app, email, text message, or voice message. Brands should evaluate which method will best reach their users or try some A/B testing and then look to the data to see where users are engaging with the tips the most.