Steps

Introduce the dashboard purpose

Start with a welcome tooltip explaining what the dashboard shows at a high level. Example: 'This is your command center. Here you can see all your tours, track performance, and manage your account.' Keep it to one sentence.

Point to the primary action

Highlight the main CTA on the dashboard — 'Create New Tour', 'Add Project', or whatever your primary action is. Users should know immediately where to go when they want to do something new.

Explain key metrics or data areas

Point to 1-2 data displays and explain what they mean in plain language. Example: 'This chart shows how many users completed your tours this week.' Do NOT explain every metric — focus on the one that matters most to new users.

Show navigation and settings

Briefly point to the sidebar or navigation menu. Mention where to find settings, help, and account management. Example: 'Your settings and team management are here. You can always find help in the bottom-left corner.'

Variations

Admin Dashboard Variant

For admin users, add steps for team management, permissions, and billing. Admin tours are typically 6-8 steps since admin dashboards are more complex.

Data-Heavy Dashboard Variant

For analytics dashboards, focus on explaining how to read the data rather than where things are. Include a step on filtering and date range selection.

Implementation Guide

Dashboard walkthroughs work best as the second tour users see — after their initial welcome tour. Trigger this tour the second time a user visits the dashboard, or immediately after they complete their first action. Use Escourtly's extension to select each dashboard element you want to highlight. Keep tooltips short — under 30 words per step. Users are orientating themselves, not learning deeply. Set the tour frequency to 'once.' Users who need to re-orient can access the tour from a help menu or settings page. Test with a new team member: can they find all major features within 30 seconds after the tour? If not, refine your step selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should the dashboard walkthrough be mandatory?

No. Display it automatically on the second visit but allow users to dismiss. Some experienced users will find mandated tours patronizing. The goal is helpful, not forceful.

How many dashboard elements should I highlight?

3-5 elements maximum. Highlight the primary action, the most important data display, and navigation. Users can explore secondary features on their own.

What if my dashboard changes frequently?

Use stable CSS selectors (IDs over classes) and test tours after each deployment. Escourtly highlights broken selectors so you can fix tours before users encounter issues.

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