Nathan J. Powell

@nathanjpowell.bsky.social

Exited my SaaS in 2019 and quit the internet. Three years later, I came back from the dead. Running Beyond the Pixel, UX Design Studio.

They say better late than never—so here we are! I’m launching a newsletter for SaaS founders about the dark art of Onboarding and the critical first few minutes of a new user’s journey. Practical advice and zero design jargon—just clear, actionable insights you can use. Link below...

The Onboarding and UX Newsletter for SaaS Founders

The free newsletter for SaaS founders: Fix onboarding, activation, retention, and beyond. Battle-tested solutions each week.

beyondthepixel.studio

When it comes to portfolio/studio websites, do you prefer photographic headshots to graphics? My avatar is used throughout my website except for the About page. What do you prefer to see when potentially hiring a service provider?

Why are there so few books about User Onboarding? Isn't it make or break for any SaaS product? There seem to be 3 main options: Product-Led Onboarding by Wes Bush and Ramli John The Elements of User Onboarding by Samuel Hulick Onboarding Matters by Donna Weber

In case you're still on the fence about the importance of User Onboarding: 60% of US enterprise software companies have a Customer Success team (up from 40% four years ago). However, 75% of those companies have seen their net revenue retention (NRR) rates drop since 2022...

Ever heard of the ‘Interaction and Feedback loop?’ It’s about what users expect vs what actually happens during interactions. Inconsistent loops? A fast way to lose user trust. Getting them right boosts retention and revenue.

How Consistent Interaction and Feedback loops Improve Your SaaS

Inconsistent interaction and feedback loops hurt users' trust. Learn how consistent loops can improve your SaaS UX, reduce churn, and keep users happy.

buff.ly

So, I haven't put my prices up since forever, and let's face it, life has gotten expensive. On January 1st, I'll be increasing prices across the board. When was the last time you increased your rates? How did it go?

Series of dollar signs, increasing in size.

Does your SaaS feel like a cluttered desk? Poor hierarchy could well be to blame. Just as newspapers mastered the art of guiding readers’ eyes, your app needs to do the same. Typefaces, fonts, spacing, color, and structure all play a role. Founders, how does your app stack up?

app that shows how hierarchy affects how we see content

How about we all boycott Black Friday this year? If something is deemed valuable, shouldn't it be valuable all year? And if pricing is fair, shouldn't that also be fair all year? Do we need continual prods to push us further down the road of consumerism?

The demand for accessible design is growing, but many SaaS stick with subtle, low-contrast designs that alienate users. Why? Outdated systems, uneducated designers or not caring? No other segment talks as much about "User Experience" as SaaS. Is it all a facade?