Wading through icons and launch images, your customer has finally made it to your app's first screen. Now what? Ideally, your app is so easy and intuitive that it's immediately obvious to everyone exactly how the thing works. A simple app or a dead-easy interface borrowed directly from the real world (air hockey!) doesn't take much head scratching. For apps with more complex features or tasks, even the most well-designed interface can benefit from a few introductory hints. This is especially true in the first seconds and minutes of your app's debut with a customer. The first date is all about getting comfortable, and your app should be welcoming and courteous. The first screen is responsible for this greeting, and it's helpful to tweak that screen slightly when viewed for the first time. Think of this specialized addition as a welcome mat, a layer you roll out to make your app's first screen more inviting and helpful.
This is especially important if the first screen would otherwise start out empty. A blank screen is disorienting—it's helpful to offer some one-time instructions to show people how to start adding content to the app. For example, Articles is a Wikipedia reader that has nothing to display until you search for your first article. Likewise, CardStar is an app that manages chain-store membership cards, but there's nothing to see before you add your first card. In both apps, the first screen is empty, but they add welcome mats with quick notes pointing out how to get started. If your app requires action to start adding content to the first screen, use a welcome mat to hint where to begin.
Figure 7-17. The first screens of Articles (left) and CardStar (right) are empty on first launch but add quick tips to help you get started.
Apps that require an online account also call for a bit of extra politesse at first meeting. When first-timers arrive, don't send them hunting for a settings screen to find where to enter account information. Instead, the first-visit screen should invite people to introduce themselves by signing in or registering a new account. Again, this screen is the very first impression people have of your app; make it attractive, clear, and welcoming. Avoid alert boxes (page 276) or blandly dowdy layouts when inviting people to create an account for the first time.
Figure 7-18. Note-taking app Evernote (left) offers an attractive welcome screen to invite first-timers to sign in or register. Bills on Your Table (right) nearly does the right thing but takes you to a settings screen with an alert box to explain what's going on. A purpose-built welcome screen would do the job better.