An empty state is a first impression for a feature. ‘No data’ is a missed opportunity — explain what the feature does, why it is empty, and what the next step is.
The classic structure: one-line headline, two-line explanation, primary action. Avoid stock illustrations that say nothing; a clean icon and good copy beat a generic graphic.
For first-run empty states, consider sample data the user can click through to understand the shape of the feature.