As the Internet is developing in many different ways, it has become clear that old business concepts have to be replaced with some new ones. That way, everything that seemed innovative only a few years ago has become obsolete in the meantime. Launching a website that will display your business offers and services is pointless, unless that online display case is enriched with some innovative features that will fire visitors’ imagination and improve lead generation.
Inspiring badges and points
Introducing points and badges to your business website is the simplest way of rewarding your customers for their loyalty and trust. This type of gamification is similar to loyalty programs. For instance, an e-commerce business can hand out booklets or cards in/on (respectively) which the buyers can collect points. Naturally, a certain amount of points has to be followed by proper rewards. As a matter of fact, several different levels of presents should be set, so that the shoppers can plan which one to aim at.
On the other hand, virtual badges are the perfect solution for online businesses pertaining to education. Although they’ve already been used in language learning web courses for some time, launching a website and adding a badge-based progress is feasible in any type of education gamification, as well as in any other business venture.
Present rewards for later expenditure
Similar to the aforementioned system of collecting points, a far-sighted web entrepreneur can introduce rain check bonuses. By this we mean that every buyer should be awarded a certain amount of money for their purchase. For instance, if someone buys sneakers worth $100, they will be given a $10 bonus. Those bonuses can be printed on special coupons or sent to buyers’ emails as vouchers. The more expensive the item is, the higher the bonuses should be. Such an action will bring a two-fold benefit.
On one side, the customers will be enticed to buy more. On the other, the business owner will be able to sell more items and free the warehouse space for the new products. The only investment that this strategy requires is ordering the bonus coupons or making them on your own.
In addition, the same principle can be used by businesses providing services via the Internet, as well as by offline enterprises.
Personalized tracking
This is definitely the age of personalization and its importance will grow in the years to come. Therefore, it sounds logical that a shrewd business owner connects the concepts of gamification and personalization. Now you’ll see how with a simple example. Let’s say you run an accounting website. In addition to dealing with their balance sheets and other features, you can create a special area of the website for your customers, dedicated to learning about economics and the current affairs in the local economy. This way, your clients will have an option to register and win points in accordance with their test scores.
The most successful user(s) could be given one month of free services or something similar.
The end goal of personalized tracking is to bond your clients stronger to your business and the services you provide for them.
Business gaming in virtual reality
It’s predicted that the next huge leap in the IT field will be the one towards virtual reality. In the light of business gamifications, Internet users will be able to simply exchange their coupons or enjoy online business gaming through their headsets. Since things are changing extremely fast in this field, both ordinary people and business owners have to invest now in their Internet future. For starters, they need to analyze the compare broadband deals to find the best solution for their needs in a changed gaming-dominated business reality. Those who begin with their preparations the very moment they read this text will be fit to take the position in front of their competition when VR-gaming becomes a standard in the business world of the future.
It might seem too early, at this moment, to give a gaming frame to your business. However, who would say in 2010 that smartphones would become this powerful by 2016? Technology is changing faster than we can comprehend, which is why it’s wiser to join the progressive forces and start picturing your business as a gamified enterprise of the future.
Guest article written by: Dan Radak is a marketing professional with ten years of experience. He is currently working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies. He is also a coauthor on several technology websites and regular contributor to Technivorz.