So you want to fire up a competition in Spinify, but don’t want it to flop like last quarter’s “Most Calls Made” contest? You’re in the right place. This guide is for managers, team leads, or anyone sick of boring leaderboards who actually wants their team to care—without the eye rolls.
Here’s how to launch a competition that gets people involved, keeps things fair, and doesn’t make you look like you just discovered gamification yesterday.
Step 1: Know Why You’re Running This
Before you even open Spinify, get clear about what you want to achieve. "Drive engagement" sounds nice, but what does that mean for your team?
Ask yourself: - What’s the real business goal? (More sales? Faster ticket resolution? Less churn?) - Is your target behavior measurable in Spinify? - Will the team even care?
Pro tip: If your answer is “because we always run competitions,” pause. You’re better off skipping it than running a half-baked contest.
Step 2: Pick the Right Metric—Not Just the Easiest One
Spinify lets you track a ton of things, but not all metrics are worth competing over. The classic mistake: rewarding quantity over quality.
Good competition metrics: - Directly tie to your goal (e.g., closed deals, NPS, completed tickets) - Are fairly tracked in your CRM or platform—no manual counting - Can’t be easily gamed or padded
What to avoid: - Metrics that reward spamming (like “Emails Sent”) - Anything you can’t actually verify - “Activity” for its own sake
Reality check: If you can’t explain how winning the competition helps the company, pick a different metric.
Step 3: Keep It Simple—One Competition at a Time
Spinify gives you options for multi-layered leaderboards, points systems, and badges. Don’t get carried away.
Why simple works: - Teams understand the rules right away - Less admin for you - People can focus on what matters
What to skip: Don’t stack a dozen competitions at once. You’ll get confusion, not motivation.
Step 4: Set a Realistic Timeline
Attention spans are short. If your competition drags on for months, most people will check out by week two.
Best practices: - 1-4 weeks is the sweet spot for most teams - Make the finish line feel close—momentum matters - For big annual goals, break them into monthly “sprints” instead
Hint: If people start making jokes about “that never-ending contest,” you’ve gone too long.
Step 5: Communicate—But Don’t Overhype
Kick things off with a quick, clear announcement. Don’t write a novel. Tell people: - What the competition is - How to win - What’s in it for them (yes, prizes or recognition help) - When it starts and ends
Avoid: Motivational jargon or fake enthusiasm. People can spot forced excitement a mile away.
Instead, be honest: “We’re trying this to help us close more deals before quarter-end. Winner gets a Friday off and bragging rights.”
Step 6: Make Recognition Real (Prizes Help—But Aren’t Everything)
You don’t need to break the budget. But some kind of reward or genuine recognition is key.
Options that actually work: - A simple trophy or badge in Spinify - Gift cards, lunch, or a day off - Shoutouts in team meetings or Slack
What to skip: - Vague “kudos” nobody remembers - Publicly shaming non-winners (seriously, don’t) - Overly complicated prize structures
Honest take: If nobody cares about the prize, rethink it. Sometimes, simple public recognition beats cheap swag.
Step 7: Monitor and Adjust—Don’t “Set and Forget”
Spinify automates a lot, but you still need to pay attention. - Watch for weird results or obvious gaming of the system - Check in with the team—does the competition actually motivate, or just annoy? - Be ready to change things up if something’s broken
If you see someone “winning” by exploiting a loophole, fix it fast. Nothing kills morale like unfair play.
Step 8: Announce Results and Celebrate—Even If It Didn’t Go Perfectly
Wrap up with a clear message: who won, what they did, and (if possible) how it helped the team or company. Don’t drag your feet announcing winners—timing matters.
Tips: - Even if the competition flopped, share what you learned - Publicly thank everyone who participated - Ask for feedback—what worked, what didn’t?
Don’t: Pretend it was a smashing success if it wasn’t. People respect honesty.
What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
Here’s the straight talk:
Works: - Clear, fair rules - Visible progress (Spinify’s visual leaderboards help) - Short, focused competitions - Real rewards or recognition
Doesn’t: - Overcomplicated rules nobody reads - Prizes that feel like afterthoughts - “Always-on” competitions (people tune out) - Ignoring feedback
And don’t assume “gamification” alone will fix a disengaged team or a broken process. Spinify is a tool—it needs good goals and management behind it.
Quick Checklist for Launching Your Spinify Competition
Before you hit “Go,” run through this:
- [ ] Do you have a clear, real goal?
- [ ] Is your metric fair and easy to track?
- [ ] Are the rules dead simple?
- [ ] Is the competition short enough to keep people interested?
- [ ] Is there a reward people actually want?
- [ ] Have you communicated the details (without hype)?
- [ ] Are you ready to monitor and tweak as needed?
- [ ] Do you have a plan to wrap up and share results?
If you’re missing any of these, fix it before launch. It’ll save you headaches later.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Sweat Perfection
The best Spinify competitions are the ones people actually want to join—and remember when they’re over. Start simple, listen to your team, and tweak things as you go. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Most of all, don’t get seduced by shiny features or over-the-top hype. Focus on what gets your team moving, and build from there.