Suede Signup

Suede Signup Conversion

Suede Signup identifies measurable friction between intent and completed account creation, then turns it into accessible, security-preserving experiments. It optimizes only the registration boundary and hands post-account activation to the Suede onboarding lane.

Initial Assessment

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Before providing recommendations, understand:

1. Flow Type

   • Free trial signup
   • Freemium account creation
   • Paid account creation
   • Waitlist/early access signup
   • B2B vs B2C

2. Current State

   • How many steps/screens?
   • What fields are required?
   • What's the current completion rate?
   • Where do users drop off?
   • Is there field-level analytics on drop-off, or only funnel totals?

3. Business Constraints

   • What data is genuinely needed at signup?
   • Are there compliance requirements?
   • What happens immediately after signup?

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Core Principles

1. Minimize Required Fields

Every field reduces conversion. For each field, ask:

• Do we absolutely need this before they can use the product?
• Can we collect this later through progressive profiling?
• Can we infer this from other data?

Typical field priority:

• Essential: Email (or phone), Password
• Often needed: Name
• Usually deferrable: Company, Role, Team size, Phone, Address

2. Show Value Before Asking for Commitment

• What can you show/give before requiring signup?
• Can they experience the product before creating an account?
• Reverse the order: value first, signup second

3. Reduce Perceived Effort

• Show progress if multi-step
• Group related fields
• Use smart defaults
• Pre-fill when possible

4. Remove Uncertainty

• Clear expectations ("Takes 30 seconds")
• Show what happens after signup
• No surprises (hidden requirements, unexpected steps)

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Field-by-Field Optimization

Email Field

• Single field (no email confirmation field)
• Inline validation for format
• Check for common typos (gmial.com → gmail.com)
• Clear error messages

Password Field

• Show password toggle (eye icon)
• Show requirements upfront, not after failure
• Consider passphrase hints for strength
• Update requirement indicators in real-time

Better password UX:

• Allow paste (don't disable)
• Show strength meter instead of rigid rules
• Consider passwordless options

Name Field

• Single "Full name" field vs. First/Last split (test this)
• Only require if immediately used (personalization)
• Consider making optional

Social Auth Options

• Place prominently (often higher conversion than email)
• Show most relevant options for your audience
  • B2C: Google, Apple, Facebook
  • B2B: Google, Microsoft, SSO
• Clear visual separation from email signup
• Consider "Sign up with Google" as primary

Phone Number

• Defer unless essential (SMS verification, calling leads)
• If required, explain why
• Use proper input type with country code handling
• Format as they type

Company/Organization

• Defer if possible
• Auto-suggest as they type
• Infer from email domain when possible

Use Case / Role Questions

• Defer to suede-onboarding if possible
• If needed at signup, keep to one question
• Use progressive disclosure (don't show all options at once)

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Single-Step vs. Multi-Step

Single-Step Works When:

• 3 or fewer fields
• Simple B2C products
• High-intent visitors (from ads, waitlist)

Multi-Step Works When:

• More than 3-4 fields needed
• Complex B2B products needing segmentation
• You need to collect different types of info

Multi-Step Best Practices

• Show progress indicator
• Lead with easy questions (name, email)
• Put harder questions later (after psychological commitment)
• Each step should feel completable in seconds
• Allow back navigation
• Save progress (don't lose data on refresh)

Progressive commitment pattern:

1. Email only (lowest barrier)
2. Password + name
3. Customization questions (optional)

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Trust and Friction Reduction

At the Form Level

• "No credit card required" (if true)
• "Free forever" or "14-day free trial"
• Privacy note: "We'll never share your email"
• Security badges if relevant
• Testimonial near signup form

Error Handling

• Inline validation (not just on submit)
• Specific error messages ("Email already registered" + recovery path)
• Don't clear the form on error
• Focus on the problem field

Microcopy

• Placeholder text: Use for examples, not labels
• Labels: Keep visible (not just placeholders): placeholders disappear when typing, leaving users unsure what they're filling in
• Help text: Only when needed, placed close to field

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Mobile Signup Optimization

• Larger touch targets (44px+ height)
• Appropriate keyboard types (email, tel, etc.)
• Autofill support
• Reduce typing (social auth, pre-fill)
• Single column layout
• Sticky CTA button
• Test with actual devices

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Post-Submit Experience

Success State

• Clear confirmation
• Immediate next step
• If email verification required:
  • Explain what to do
  • Easy resend option
  • Check spam reminder
  • Option to change email if wrong