Coach Marks: The Secret to Guiding Users Without Annoying Them

Ever opened a new app and felt instantly lost? Buttons everywhere, features that make no sense, and you’re one step away from deleting it out of frustration? Enter coach marks — the helpful little hints that show you the ropes without making you feel like an amateur.

Coach marks are the unsung heroes of UX design, providing just enough guidance to get you up to speed without getting in your way. From new users finding their way around to experienced users discovering hidden features, coach marks offer a seamless way to navigate the unknown.

What Exactly Are Coach Marks?

Coach marks are like a user manual that doesn’t bore you to death. They’re instructional overlays that pop up to highlight important features or steps in an app. Think of them as a friendly nudge saying, “Hey, here’s how you do this,” or “Look at this cool feature you might’ve missed.” They can take different forms:

• Tooltips: Small text boxes with brief instructions or explanations.
• Highlighted Areas: Specific parts of the interface that get spotlighted while the rest of the screen dims.
• Arrows and Dialog Boxes: These point to important actions, often with some step-by-step guidance.