AdsNerd
AdsNerd
From drop-off to conversion
From drop-off to conversion
How I redesigned a SaaS marketing platform's full product experience — landing page, onboarding, and dashboard — to turn visitors into active users.
How I redesigned a SaaS marketing platform's full product experience — landing page, onboarding, and dashboard — to turn visitors into active users.
Role
Role
Product Designer
Scope
Scope
Landing Page
Onboarding
Dashboard
Landing
Onboarding
Dashboard
Timeline
Timeline
1 Month
Tools
Tools
Claude
Chatgpt
Figma
Google stitch
01 — The Problem
The product was solid.
The experience wasn't.
The product was solid.
The experience wasn't.
01 — The Problem
AdsNerd helps marketers get instant AI-powered insights on their ad accounts — Google Ads, Meta Ads, Shopify — in one place. The core technology was strong. But the experience was losing people before they ever saw the value.
AdsNerd helps marketers get instant AI-powered insights on their ad accounts — Google Ads, Meta Ads, Shopify — in one place. The core technology was strong. But the experience was losing people before they ever saw the value.
01 — Landing page had no story
The page looked like every other SaaS tool — generic headline, feature grid, CTA at the bottom. No emotional hook. No clear reason to care. Visitors landed and left.
The page looked like every other SaaS tool — generic headline, feature grid, CTA at the bottom. No emotional hook. No clear reason to care. Visitors landed and left.
02 — Massive drop-off before login
There was no designed path from "I'm interested" to "let me try this." Users who did land weren't being guided toward sign-up or onboarding. High drop-off, zero direction.
There was no designed path from "I'm interested" to "let me try this." Users who did land weren't being guided toward sign-up or onboarding. High drop-off, zero direction.
03 — The dashboard was data, not insight
The old mobile dashboard — dark, text-heavy, conversation-only — showed information but didn't tell users what to do with it. For a non-technical marketer, it felt overwhelming, not helpful.
The old mobile dashboard — dark, text-heavy, conversation-only — showed information but didn't tell users what to do with it. For a non-technical marketer, it felt overwhelming, not helpful.
Before
Before
Generic SaaS structure — feature-first layout, no storytelling, no clear path to signup. High drop-off, low conversion.
Generic SaaS structure — feature-first layout, no storytelling, no clear path to signup. High drop-off, low conversion.
After
After
Story-led landing page — leads with the AI agent, outcome-first headline, clear conversion path from landing to onboarding to dashboard.
Story-led landing page — leads with the AI agent, outcome-first headline, clear conversion path from landing to onboarding to dashboard.
02 — Research & Observation
02 — Research & Observation
Research before Rectangles.
Research before Rectangles.
Before opening Figma, I mapped the landscape. I studied 10+ competing SaaS marketing tools — how they structured their landing pages, what emotional hook they led with, and where their conversion paths broke.
Before opening Figma, I mapped the landscape. I studied 10+ competing SaaS marketing tools — how they structured their landing pages, what emotional hook they led with, and where their conversion paths broke.
Most competitors led with features.
Most competitors led with features.
The opportunity was to lead with outcomes — what the user gets, not what the product does.
The opportunity was to lead with outcomes — what the user gets, not what the product does.
The drop-off was a story problem, not a design problem.
The drop-off was a story problem, not a design problem.
Users didn't convert because they didn't understand AdsNerd's value fast enough.
Users didn't convert because they didn't understand AdsNerd's value fast enough.
The core user is a marketer, not an analyst.
The core user is a marketer, not an analyst.
The product needed to feel like a smart colleague — not a data tool.
The product needed to feel like a smart colleague — not a data tool.
Speed to first insight is everything.
Speed to first insight is everything.
If users don't see value in the first 60 seconds, they churn.
If users don't see value in the first 60 seconds, they churn.
03— Onboarding Design
03— Onboarding Design
Designing the path to
first value
Designing the path to
first value
AdsNerd had no onboarding flow before this redesign. Users who signed up were dropped directly into a blank chat interface with no guidance, no context, and no reason to connect their ad accounts. The result was high drop-off before users ever saw the product's value.
AdsNerd had no onboarding flow before this redesign. Users who signed up were dropped directly into a blank chat interface with no guidance, no context, and no reason to connect their ad accounts. The result was high drop-off before users ever saw the product's value.
No onboarding existed before this redesign
No onboarding existed before this redesign
Screen 1
Screen 1
The first screen asks one simple question "What should we call you?" Nothing more. No forms, no friction. Users feel welcomed before they've done any work.
The first screen asks one simple question "What should we call you?" Nothing more. No forms, no friction. Users feel welcomed before they've done any work.
Screen 2
Screen 2
Step 2 collects just enough context — role, company, region — to personalize the entire product experience from this point forward. Short fields, clear purpose, no noise.
Step 2 collects just enough context — role, company, region — to personalize the entire product experience from this point forward. Short fields, clear purpose, no noise.
Screen 3,4,5
Meet your agents. Connect your accounts. Watch them activate.
Screen 3,4,5
Meet your agents. Connect your accounts. Watch them activate.
The final three steps are where AdsNerd's core value is revealed — AI agents that work for you automatically. Each step builds excitement toward the moment the agents go live.
The final three steps are where AdsNerd's core value is revealed — AI agents that work for you automatically. Each step builds excitement toward the moment the agents go live.
Your AI ad team intro
Your AI ad team intro
Users meet their AI agents — Performance Nerd, Competitive Nerd, Creative Nerd, Insights Nerd, Report Nerd. Each has a role. This builds trust before account connection.
Users meet their AI agents — Performance Nerd, Competitive Nerd, Creative Nerd, Insights Nerd, Report Nerd. Each has a role. This builds trust before account connection.
Connect your ad accounts
Connect your ad accounts
One-click connect for Google Ads, Meta Ads, and Shopify. Clear CTA: "Connect at least one account to continue." No ambiguity, no optional steps.
One-click connect for Google Ads, Meta Ads, and Shopify. Clear CTA: "Connect at least one account to continue." No ambiguity, no optional steps.
Activating agents — the aha moment
Activating agents — the aha moment
The agents visually activate in real time. Users see their AI team going live — scanning campaigns, analysing budgets. This is the moment the product clicks.
The agents visually activate in real time. Users see their AI team going live — scanning campaigns, analysing budgets. This is the moment the product clicks.
Onboarding Outcome
Onboarding Outcome
A user who completes this onboarding doesn't just have an account — they have an AI team already working for them. That's the difference between a tool and a product."
A user who completes this onboarding doesn't just have an account — they have an AI team already working for them. That's the difference between a tool and a product."
03— Dashboard Design
03— Dashboard Design
Redesigning the product
from the inside out
Redesigning the product
from the inside out
The dashboard was where users either found value — or churned. I redesigned it to be proactive, not passive. Instead of waiting for users to ask the right question, the new dashboard surfaces critical insights the moment you log in.
The dashboard was where users either found value — or churned. I redesigned it to be proactive, not passive. Instead of waiting for users to ask the right question, the new dashboard surfaces critical insights the moment you log in.
Before - Blank slate — no direction
Before - Blank slate — no direction
A generic chat interface with no personalisation, no account context, and no insights. Users landed and had no idea what to ask or where to start. The product felt empty.
A generic chat interface with no personalisation, no account context, and no insights. Users landed and had no idea what to ask or where to start. The product felt empty.
After - "How can I help, Shrush?" — proactive intelligence
After - "How can I help, Shrush?" — proactive intelligence
Personalised greeting, account selector, categorised prompts, and live agent insights — all visible without a single click. Users see value the moment they arrive.
Personalised greeting, account selector, categorised prompts, and live agent insights — all visible without a single click. Users see value the moment they arrive.
5 decisions that changed how users experience the product
Personalised greeting — "How can I help, Shrush?"
Personalised greeting — "How can I help, Shrush?"
The old dashboard greeted nobody. The new version opens with the user's name — a small change that makes the product feel like it knows you. Personalisation builds trust before a single click.
The old dashboard greeted nobody. The new version opens with the user's name — a small change that makes the product feel like it knows you. Personalisation builds trust before a single click.
Account selector inside the text input
Account selector inside the text input
Users now select their account — Google Ads, Meta Ads, or Shopify — directly inside the input field before asking a question. No ambiguity. No wrong answers. The context is set upfront.
Users now select their account — Google Ads, Meta Ads, or Shopify — directly inside the input field before asking a question. No ambiguity. No wrong answers. The context is set upfront.
Intent-organized prompt categories
Intent-organized prompt categories
Users now select their account — Google Ads, Meta Ads, or Shopify — directly inside the input field before asking a question. No ambiguity. No wrong answers. The context is set upfront.
Users now select their account — Google Ads, Meta Ads, or Shopify — directly inside the input field before asking a question. No ambiguity. No wrong answers. The context is set upfront.
Active Agents Insights on the home screen
Active Agents Insights on the home screen
The biggest shift. Instead of waiting for users to ask, the dashboard now proactively surfaces what's happening — "Shift $300/day to High Performers", "93% campaign downtime causing ₹2,848 in lost conversions." Value is visible before they type a word.
The biggest shift. Instead of waiting for users to ask, the dashboard now proactively surfaces what's happening — "Shift $300/day to High Performers", "93% campaign downtime causing ₹2,848 in lost conversions." Value is visible before they type a word.
Top 3 insights always pinned
Top 3 insights always pinned
Showing the 3 most critical agent insights on the home screen creates a daily reason to return — not just when something breaks, but every morning as a habit.
Showing the 3 most critical agent insights on the home screen creates a daily reason to return — not just when something breaks, but every morning as a habit.
04 New Feature
04 New Feature
The Insights page —
your marketing nerve center
The Insights page —
your marketing nerve center
A dedicated Insights page that surfaces all agent activity in one place — filterable by platform, type, and agent. Alerts, opportunities, and recommendations — so nothing critical ever gets missed.
A dedicated Insights page that surfaces all agent activity in one place — filterable by platform, type, and agent. Alerts, opportunities, and recommendations — so nothing critical ever gets missed.
AI-powered analysis of advertising performance
AI-powered analysis of advertising performance
All insights from all platforms — Google Ads, Meta Ads, Shopify — in one unified view. Live agents are always scanning in the background. Filterable by All Insights, Alerts, Opportunities, and Recommendations.
The redesign turned a blank chat box into a proactive intelligence dashboard — users now see value before they type a single word.
05 Impact
05 Impact
What actually changed.
What actually changed.
Before
Generic landing page, low conversion
High drop-off before login
No onboarding flow
Dark, text-heavy dashboard, no hierarchy
After
Story-led page — higher click-through to onboarding
Clear path: land → understand → sign up → activate
AARRR-mapped onboarding with fast activation
Insight-first dashboard — scan, decide, act
Click-through to onboarding increased after the redesign
Click-through to onboarding increased after the redesign
Users now completing onboarding and reaching the dashboard
Users now completing onboarding and reaching the dashboard
Founder validated the direction — "exactly what the product needed"
Founder validated the direction — "exactly what the product needed"
06 What I Learned
06 What I Learned
The real design problem.
The real design problem.
Designing AdsNerd taught me that the hardest design problem isn't the UI — it's the story. A beautiful dashboard means nothing if the landing page doesn't earn the user's trust first.
The biggest impact I had wasn't a single screen. It was connecting all the pieces into one coherent journey — land, understand, sign up, activate, stay. That's not UI design. That's product design.
Designing AdsNerd taught me that the hardest design problem isn't the UI — it's the story. A beautiful dashboard means nothing if the landing page doesn't earn the user's trust first.
The biggest impact I had wasn't a single screen. It was connecting all the pieces into one coherent journey — land, understand, sign up, activate, stay. That's not UI design. That's product design.
"This project made me think like a product builder, not just a product designer."
"This project made me think like a product builder, not just a product designer."
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