Onboarding Narrative Refresh: Clearer Value Exchange + Hybrid Setup


TL;DR

  • What: Refresh of Exos onboarding narrative and microcopy to match product evolution (fitness → whole-person performance, plus hybrid facility use)
  • Role: Director of Member Content (Member Experience) — onboarding narrative + UX writing
  • Owned: All onboarding copy and the product story onboarding establishes
  • Timeline: Q1 2025. Phase 2 planned for H2 2026.

The Problem

Onboarding had not been meaningfully updated since 2022. By 2025, the story it told no longer matched the product.

  • Fitness-first positioning, underdeveloped voice, and weak “give-to-get” clarity
  • A long assessment that was vital for personalization and for coaches/registered dietitians, but not clearly explained
  • Members were unclear on what Exos was (now) and what would happen next

What Changed

  • Repositioned the narrative: Updated voice and story to reflect mental and emotional well-being, nutrition, cognitive function, and regulation
  • Made the value exchange explicit: Added “why we ask” framing so members understood how answers drive personalization and coaching
  • Supported hybrid use: Added messaging for facility registration and in-person services (PT, classes, coach/registered dietitian appointments)
  • Protected recommendations: Helped map legacy goals → updated goals so recommendations remained stable
  • Worked within constraints: When options could not change, rewrote surrounding copy so screens fit the new narrative

How It Was Validated

  • Analytics: onboarding drop-off and post-onboarding drop-off
  • Coach feedback: misalignment between selected goals and real expectations in sessions
  • Member survey: goal framing and copy that resonated and converted

Outcomes

  • Onboarding completion increased by 17%
  • Fitness center registrations now flow through the app (member management hub), driving 2.5k+ registrations per quarter

What This Reinforced

Onboarding copy is product strategy. If the story is vague or outdated, personalization and coaching break downstream.

 

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