Issue 29: What Design Habits Can Keep Users Consistently Engaged?

In partnership with

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Upgrade your news intake with 1440! Dive into a daily newsletter trusted by millions for its comprehensive, 5-minute snapshot of the world's happenings. We navigate through over 100 sources to bring you fact-based news on politics, business, and culture—minus the bias and absolutely free.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Hey guys, it’s kushagra! Welcome to Atlasmoth “FOCUS: 4“ edition.

Is anyone else feelin’ the end-of-summer vibes? All I see is grey skies and 'founder mode' on my feed. Why is there even a ‘focus’ season? Founder mode should be a year-round thing. It’s all about stayin' in the game long-term 'cause that’s how you win.

Speaking of the long game, it’s all about cultivating habits that pave the way for lasting success.

And hey, on that note… let’s chat habits. To keep folks comin' back, you gotta build a habit. So in this drop, we’ll talk 'bout how design can get users back on the daily.

The Instant Hook That Seals the Deal 💡

Have you ever tried a new app, and BAM, something just clicks? That’s your “aha moment.” It’s that feature or interaction that makes you think, “Yo, I’m sold!” For Loom, it’s when you realize you can record your screen with one click.

So simple, right? But once people hit that moment, they’re 4x more likely to keep coming back. That’s insane! The trick is delivering this magic within the first 3 interactions. If you can do that, you’ve got yourself a fan.

Okay, pause. Let’s bring this home: What’s your product’s core value? Like, the one thing you know makes it awesome. Now, get that in front of your users ASAP. No fluff. Just pure value from the jump. It’s like dating—gotta make a strong first impression.

The Key to Becoming Part of Their Daily Grind 🔄

Alright, here’s where it gets interesting—building your product into someone’s daily routine. Now, I’m not saying bombard people with 10 push notifications a day (we all hate that). But sending one with real value? Game-changer.

Think Duolingo reminding you to practice a 5-minute lesson, or fitness apps hyping up your streak. It’s like, “Don’t break the chain! You’re doing great!”

Pro-tip: Adding streaks, challenges, or unlockable features can turn casual users into daily regulars.

Fun fact: Features like this can boost daily active users by 30%. That’s wild.

And hey, who doesn’t love a little reward for consistency? It’s like getting a bonus star in Mario Kart 🏆.

I gotta be real with you, though. Overdoing it can feel like nagging, and nobody likes that. Push notifications should feel like that nudge from your bestie, not an annoying buzz from a random number. Keep it valuable, and people will stick around.

Design Patterns for Lasting Engagement 🎨

Customizable Dashboards – People love control. Let them tweak, rearrange, and make your product theirs. Think Spotify playlists or Notion boards. When users can make it personal, they’re more likely to stay.

Milestone Celebrations – Ever hit a goal and your app’s like, “Congrats, you legend!” That’s a milestone celebration.

It’s those little moments of acknowledgment that make people feel like they’re crushing it. Duolingo’s lil’ owl clapping when you finish a lesson? That.

Contextual Help – Nobody likes feeling dumb. Use subtle tooltips or hints to guide users without overwhelming them.

Think of it like a friend giving you advice right when you need it, but never too much all at once. It’s like Instagram showing you the ropes as you start exploring reels.

Thoughts 🎁

If there’s one thing you should take away from this, it’s that user engagement is all about delivering value quickly and consistently.

Hit that “aha moment,” sneak your product into their daily routine, and make it fun with those design patterns. Keep users feeling like they’re progressing, and you’re golden.

Great products grow with their users, not just for them. You want to design in a way that feels like you’re leveling up together. Kinda like a co-op game where both of you are constantly improving.

What I found amazing this week

Renault Designer Highlights the Unbounded Versatility of UX in the Future🚗

Inside the Mind of Mark Zuckerberg: Unfiltered Insights on Meta, AI, and the Future at Chase Center🌐

This track gave me a serious boost—check out ‘Celestica’ By Crystal Castles🎵