Editing Rich Text Instructions in Onboarding Templates
Every onboarding step can include instructions that appear prominently above the input field. These instructions help guide your onboardees through the process, explain what's required, or draw attention to important information they need to know before proceeding.
The rich text editor gives you full control over how these instructions look, allowing you to format and emphasise text so key details don't get overlooked.
Accessing the Instructions Editor
When editing an onboarding step template, click the Edit Instructions button to open the rich text editor. Here you can write and format the guidance that will appear to onboardees when they reach this step.
You can also drag the window from the bottom right hand corner, to make the instructions pane bigger (height) if required when editing.
Formatting Options
The editor includes a comprehensive toolbar for formatting your instructions:
Text Styles
Normal and Heading options via the style dropdown — use headings sparingly to highlight section titles or critical warnings
Bold, Italic, and Underline — emphasise important words or phrases
Text Colour
Change the colour of selected text to draw attention to specific information
Useful for highlighting warnings, deadlines, or mandatory requirements
Lists
Numbered lists for sequential steps
Bullet points for requirements or checklists
Alignment
Left, centre, right, and justified alignment options
Centre alignment works well for short, prominent notices
Best Practices
Keep it concise. Instructions appear at the top of each step, so keep them focused. If onboardees see a wall of text, they may skim past important details.
Use formatting purposefully. Bold text and colour changes are effective when used sparingly. If everything is emphasised, nothing stands out.
Be specific. Rather than "Enter your name", try "Enter your surname exactly as it appears on your driver's licence". Clear instructions reduce errors and support requests.
Consider your audience. Write instructions that make sense to someone unfamiliar with your processes. Avoid jargon unless your onboardees will understand it.
Character Limit
Instructions have a 2,000 character limit, which is plenty for clear, focused guidance. If you find yourself approaching this limit, consider whether all the information is essential or if some details could be provided elsewhere. Also consider compiling longer instructional documents into a clickable PDF file which has not such character limit. Providing a PDF file instead of text instructions is a great way to get around the character limit if you absolutely have to.
Examples
Simple guidance:
Please enter your mobile phone number including the area code. We'll use this to send you important updates about your onboarding status.
Emphasised requirement:
Important: Your White Card must be current and valid. Expired cards cannot be accepted.
Step-by-step instruction:
To upload your document:
Take a clear photo or scan of your certificate Ensure all text is legible and the entire document is visible Upload as a PDF, JPG, or PNG file
Rich text instructions help create a smoother onboarding experience by providing clear guidance exactly where your onboardees need it.
