12.6 Gamification: Points, Badges, Leaderboards & Rewards

Purpose:

Optionally enable gamification features to encourage member participation, recognize contributions, and add an element of fun competition to your community group.

Enabling Gamification:

  1. Navigate into the Community Group.
  2. Click Settings (gear icon).
  3. Select the Gamification tab.
  4. Toggle ON the main switch for Enable Gamification.

How Gamification Typically Works:

  • Earning Points: Points are usually awarded automatically based on member activity within the group. The most common way points are earned is by receiving Likes on the Posts and Comments they create. Often, 1 Like received = 1 Point earned for the author. Other actions, like creating a post, might also contribute points based on system defaults. (Advanced: The Workflow action Grant Community Group Leaderboard Points allows awarding points based on external triggers or specific achievements).
  • Levels & Badges:
    • As members accumulate points, they automatically progress through predefined Levels (e.g., Level 1, Level 2,... up to a maximum like Level 9 or 10). The point thresholds required to reach each level are usually fixed by the system.
    • You can customize the Names of these levels to make them more engaging or relevant to your agency/group theme. Go to Group Settings → Gamification → Levels tab. Edit the default names (e.g., rename Level 1 to "New Recruit," Level 5 to "Top Contributor," Level 9 to "Agency Rockstar").
    • Each member's current Level Badge (showing their achieved level name/icon) is typically displayed on their profile card within the group discussions.
  • Leaderboard:
    • Once gamification is enabled, a Leaderboard tab usually appears in the group's main navigation.
    • This page ranks members based on their total accumulated points.
    • Users can typically filter the leaderboard view by different timeframes: All Time, Last 30 Days, Last 7 Days.
    • It displays the member's Rank, Name, total Points, and current Level Badge.
    • It also displays descriptions of any informational Rewards you have set up (see below).
  • Rewards (Informational Descriptions - Manual Fulfillment):
    • Admin Setup: Go to Group Settings → Gamification → Rewards tab.
    • Click + Add Reward (usually a limit, e.g., max 3).
    • Enter a Description of an offline prize, recognition, or privilege that you plan to award based on leaderboard performance or level achievement (e.g., "$50 Amazon Gift Card for Top Monthly Contributor", "Featured Agent Spotlight Post for reaching Level 7", "Free Lunch with the Broker for Top Quarterly Performer").
    • Important: These reward descriptions are purely informational text displayed on the Leaderboard page for motivation. The system does NOT automatically award these prizes or link them mechanically to specific point totals or levels. You, as the administrator, must manually track who meets the criteria you've described (e.g., check the leaderboard monthly) and manually fulfill the reward outside of the Close Master system (e.g., buy the gift card, schedule the lunch).
  • Automated Rewards Based on Level Achievement (Requires Workflows): To automate *actual* rewards or privileges when a member reaches a specific level:
    1. Create a new Workflow (in Automations).
    2. Use the Trigger: Gamification Level Reached.
    3. Filter by the specific Community Group Name and the target Level Name (e.g., "Level 7 - Agency Rockstar").
    4. Add relevant Actions like:
      • Grant Offer (unlock a bonus Membership course).
      • Add Contact Tag (e.g., Tag Reached Level 7).
      • Grant Private Channel Access (unlock a VIP channel within the group).
      • Send Internal Notification (alert an admin to send a manual prize or recognition).

Gamification can be a fun way to boost engagement, but ensure any promised rewards are clearly defined and reliably fulfilled.