What matters more: First impressions or first touch experiences?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the importance of first-touch experiences. People often focus on first impressions, but I think that’s a little short-sighted. Impressions are surface-level; they’re about what someone notices in the moment. But memories of the experience last much longer than the impression itself.
A first impression can be polished. A first-touch experience has to be felt.It’s the difference between “that looked good” and “that worked well.”
It’s the difference between a nice landing page and a clear next step. Between a friendly onboarding email and an experience that actually helps someone succeed.
When we optimize only for impressions, we optimize for perception. When we optimize for first-touch experiences, we optimize for trust, clarity, and the things people actually remember.
Whether you’re designing a product, writing content, or building a growth engine, it’s worth asking:
What is the very first moment someone experiences, not just sees? And what do you want them to remember about it?
About the author
Brandon is an engineer who loves leading, planning, designing, growth, analytics, and marketing.
Five books everyone should read:
Are Your Lights On, The First 90 Days, Elements of Persuasion, Humans vs Computers, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing
Favorite quotes:
- Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.
- If a park ranger warns you about the bears, it ain’t cause he’s trying to keep all the bear hugs for himself.
- A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.