Description

We currently direct new users to start a free trial, but provide no onboarding guidance in the docs afterward. As a result, users are left to explore Elastic on their own without a clear understanding of how to get the most value out of the platform or how to build a proof of concept (PoC) for their organization.

A “Get Started with Elastic” tutorial would provide users with a guided, step-by-step experience that helps new users make the most of their trial period and increases the likelihood of successful conversion.

Problem

• Users start a trial but have no structured path to follow.
• Documentation assumes prior knowledge of Elastic’s capabilities and architecture.
• Users are not shown how to build a meaningful PoC that demonstrates Elastic’s value to their teams.
• The trial ends before users see clear ROI or success metrics.

Goal

Create a comprehensive, goal-oriented onboarding tutorial that:

• Guides users through key milestones during their trial.
• Demonstrates how Elastic solves real-world problems.
• Helps users build a small, but meaningful PoC within their organization.
• Provides clarity on timelines, next steps, and where to go for help.

Deliverables

• A new “Get started with Elastic” section in the documentation
• A new section on the landing page for "Get started with Elastic" and "Elastic fundamentals"
• Tutorial content that includes:
  • Step-by-step instructions for setting up Elastic during the trial.
  • Guidance for choosing and deploying a use case -- search, observability, or security.
  • A PoC framework: how to define success metrics and evaluate results.
  • Timeline: what to accomplish in week 1 vs. week 2.
  • Links to deeper learning paths and documentation for each use case.
  • Optional: video or interactive walkthrough embedded in docs.

Success criteria

• Users completing the tutorial demonstrate higher engagement with trial features.
• Improved conversion metrics from trial to paid users.

Dependencies

• Collaboration with SAs, CEs, and Education teams for alignment on messaging and success criteria.
• Coordination with Product teams to ensure trial flow links to this tutorial.