What is gamification?
By gamification we mean: the use of game principles and playing techniques in a non-game context including tools, apps, social media but also in scientific research. The game element ensures that people stay captivated longer, remember information better, and are more involved. It is used for various purposes. Think of increasing sales, recruitment, change processes and (competence-oriented) education and training. It aims to steer human behavior in a positive way. You make certain processes more playful in order to stimulate behavioural change and increase results. Actually, nothing new. You and I have been doing it for years. For example, if my children are on average a 7 or higher for certain subjects, they get a reward of their choice. Always works! So it's not surprising that gamification is increasingly included in a sales strategy.
What does gamification do for your sales?
Companies use gamification to achieve, and sometimes even exceed, their sales goals. Because what it is, games work activating and motivating. Games intrinsically motivate people and feed entire sales teams with dopamine. This happiness hormone strengthens the winner's mentality, so we proactively work on our personal and departmental goals.
With gamification become more:
- deals closed
- customer needs filled
- upsell and cross selling possibilities realized
- leads generated (and exploited)
- skills learned
Measurable results
One of the reasons why gamification is so successful lies in the fact that you can measure progress well. Turn Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into scores, inspire and stimulate employees by making scores and progress visually. As a result, employees really run a step harder, both individually and in a team.
Reward system: not just money
The reward system must, of course, be well put together. Suppose you would withdraw previously acquired rewards, then the motivation is far to seek. It is therefore important to reward everyone in the same way and that rewards can be retained. Reward for achieving (intermediate) activities or milestones. Give employees a positive rating in the form of awards (recognition), bonuses or other rewards. It's really not always in financial rewards. There are companies that work with, for example, assigning more responsibilities, one year's chairmanship of a task team and even with promotions. Let employees also earn points for commitment and engagement and not just for the number of deals raised. This way, you prevent the game from being over when someone has a lesser week. Only then will gamification continue to work and will you see that teams work together more effectively and pleasantly!
Some examples
Share knowledge
Connect your employees with a two-person team and let the best team win the prize. This way, you can contact the best-selling and worst-selling sellers and have them exchange experiences immediately.
Championship
Establish a tournament in which people will compete in pairs and only one person will enter the next stage. Although only one person can be the winner in the end, you should pay attention to those who have achieved good results or impressive progress despite poor performance.
Cake Face
The most dedicated team member was changed to throw the cake to his/her manager. The dream of every employee!
Prize Festival
The game requires a large box of gifts. Every week, the person with the highest sales volume can open the gift from the box. Next week, other people can open another gift or take away the opened gift, and so on. Each team member will compete for an opportunity to open or exchange different awards.
Skill challenge
Create a series of disabilities, let everyone choose one. If the seller can complete many transactions through obstacles, then he will win the challenge and be rewarded. This will not bring the spirit of competition into it, but it will certainly make the activity less monotonous.
Priority
Create a priority list for each team member (release new products at the top of the list, old products still in stock, or specific unfinished transactions), and then adjust the profit based on the position of the task on the list.
Customer insight
If your company is willing to accept customer reviews, then you should definitely reward the people who mention it the most. Please note-such a strategy will make your seller feel annoyed and disturbed when commenting.
