Gamification

While most of the newest and most creative gamified promotions are digital, the idea of gamification has been around for a long time. 

In fact, gamification has been around in some form or another as long as modern promotions have been a thing. Coupons and prize giveaways are good examples of gamification before digitized versions of gamified elements became popular. 

Gamification has become a key focus for many brands, so much so that the gamification market is expected to reach a valuation of $30.7 billion by 2026.

Gamification taps into the brain’s reward mechanism to encourage sales. Just like normal promotions, gamification uses head-turning deals and discounts as rewards to engage users. 

What sets it apart is the additional ‘gamified’ mechanisms that trigger the brain’s dopamine reward system. This is usually triggered when we experience something exciting or complete an achievement.

This reward mechanism is what makes games fun and rewarding. But it can also be triggered by incorporating elements of games into the shopping experience.

Gamified elements should stand out enough to engage and entertain users. The key to success is creating a game narrative that:

Different studies indicate that gamification has a positive impact on increasing customer engagement. For example, the results of a survey about gamification and customer engagement strategies show that brands that incorporate gamification into their customer engagement strategies see a 47% rise in engagement, a 22% rise in brand loyalty, and a 15% rise in brand awareness.

As more businesses are vying for a higher place in the hearts and minds of customers, gamification can move the needle by adding delight and excitement to the shopping process.

Successful businesses are leaning into gamification to boost customer engagement and drive revenue. Some of the best examples of gamified customer experience are: