Drive adoption of new features post-launch: Strategy Guide

Many SaaS teams face challenges with low adoption rates of new features post-launch, often due to a lack of effective discovery and guidance mechanisms. Typically, only 8% of eligible users try a new feature once, and less than 3% use it regularly. This adoption gap arises because users do not naturally discover new features, often sticking to their existing habits unless prompted at the right moment with the right context. Effective adoption strategies include implementing contextual in-app prompts, smart segmentation, and continuous measurement of a multi-stage funnel from exposure to repeat use. Teams should prioritize adoption efforts for features that are strategically important, such as those tied to expansion revenue or retention, rather than investing heavily in every new feature. Tools like Chameleon can aid in creating and testing in-product prompts without requiring engineering resources, allowing for faster iteration. However, if a feature fundamentally lacks value or if measurement systems are inadequate, adoption efforts may not succeed. Ultimately, the focus should be on ensuring that strategic features are effectively adopted and deliver value, while recognizing that not all features require deep adoption efforts.