If you’re reading this, you probably have Bunchball running or you’re considering it, and you’re wondering how to actually get useful data out of it. Maybe you want to prove that your gamification efforts are more than just pretty badges. Or maybe you need to show real engagement, not just hollow “activity.” Either way, this guide’s for you.
We’ll cut through the fluff and talk about what works (and what doesn’t) when tracking user activity and engagement with Bunchball analytics. Whether you’re running a community, training platform, or internal company portal, the goal is the same: get numbers you can trust and actually use to make decisions.
Why Tracking User Activity & Engagement Actually Matters
Let’s get this out of the way: not all activity is engagement. Someone clicking around for points isn’t the same as someone genuinely learning, collaborating, or coming back on their own. Good tracking lets you spot the difference—so you don’t end up optimizing for the wrong thing.
With Bunchball, you get a lot of raw data, but it’s on you to make sense of it. If you just chase numbers, you’ll end up with a leaderboard full of people who’ve gamed the system, not the folks who are actually getting value.
1. Start With Real Goals, Not Just “More Activity”
Before you even look at tracking options, get specific about what matters. What are you actually trying to improve? Be honest:
- Do you want people to come back every week?
- Share knowledge with others?
- Finish a training module?
- Stop dropping off after signup?
Pro tip: Write these outcomes down. If your goals are fuzzy (“increase engagement!”), your data will be, too.
2. Map Bunchball Events to Real Behaviors
Bunchball tracks a ton of events: logins, comments, likes, badges earned, challenges completed, and so on. The temptation is to track everything. Don’t.
Go through each event and ask, “Does this action actually mean what I think it means?” For example:
- Login counts: Easy to inflate (auto logins, habitual clickers). Use with caution.
- Challenge completions: Better—shows intent, not just presence.
- Comments or posts: Only valuable if they’re meaningful, not spam.
- Badges earned: Can be good, but only if badges are tied to real milestones.
Ignore vanity metrics. If you wouldn’t brag about a number to your boss, don’t track it.
3. Set Up Segmentation Early
Not all users are the same. What’s “engaged” for a new user isn’t the same for a veteran. In Bunchball, set up segments to split users by:
- Tenure (new vs. returning)
- Role (admin, user, manager)
- Activity level (lurkers vs. power users)
- Geography or department, if relevant
This way, you can spot patterns—like new users dropping off, or power users dominating leaderboards—without mixing apples and oranges.
4. Define “Active” and “Engaged” (And Stick To It)
Here’s where most teams get lazy. “Active” and “engaged” are not the same:
- Active: Someone who did anything in a period (e.g., logged in)
- Engaged: Someone who took a meaningful action (e.g., completed a challenge, helped someone, contributed content)
Pick your definitions and use them consistently in reports. Otherwise, you’ll end up talking past each other in every meeting.
How to do it in Bunchball
- Use event combinations (e.g., logged in + posted a comment + completed a mission) to define engaged users.
- Create custom analytics views or dashboards for your chosen definitions.
- If your platform allows, set up alerts or tags for users who hit certain engagement thresholds.
5. Clean Up Your Data: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Bunchball can generate a ton of noise if you’re not careful. Here’s what to watch for:
- Bot or test accounts: Filter these out or your numbers will be junk.
- Point inflation: Some users will always try to game the system. Watch for weird spikes (e.g., someone posting 100 comments in an hour).
- Duplicate or similar events: Make sure your tracking isn’t double-counting actions.
Tip: Schedule a monthly data audit. It’s boring but saves headaches later.
6. Use Cohort Analysis, Not Just Snapshots
Looking at all users over all time is misleading. Instead, track cohorts—groups who started using the platform at the same time or who completed a specific event together.
- Are new users more or less engaged than last quarter’s batch?
- Do folks drop off after a certain badge?
- Does a new challenge actually keep people coming back?
Bunchball doesn’t always make cohort analysis easy out of the box, but it’s worth exporting your data and crunching it in Excel or another tool if you have to.
7. Tie Engagement to Outcomes—Not Just Points
It’s easy to get caught up in points, leaderboards, and badges. The real question: does “engagement” in Bunchball actually move the needle for your business?
Ask yourself:
- Are more engaged users performing better elsewhere (e.g., sales, learning, retention)?
- Do people who hit certain milestones actually stick around?
- Is there a correlation between Bunchball activity and your “real” KPIs?
If there’s no connection, maybe the gamification isn’t working—or you’re tracking the wrong things.
8. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Badges & Challenges
A common mistake: making badge systems or challenges too complex. If users can’t figure out how to earn a badge or why it matters, they’ll tune out. Worse, you’ll have a nightmare tracking or explaining what counts.
- Stick to clear, transparent rules for earning points or badges.
- Don’t create dozens of overlapping or redundant challenges.
- Update your tracking as challenges change—outdated analytics are worse than none.
9. Use Dashboards, But Don’t Live in Them
Bunchball dashboards are handy, but don’t get trapped just looking at pretty graphs. Spend time digging into the “why” behind trends:
- Sudden drops: Did something break? Is the system down?
- Big spikes: Did you launch a contest, or is someone gaming the system?
- Flat lines: Are people bored? Did your incentives stop being motivating?
The dashboard is just the start of the investigation, not the answer.
10. Share Insights, Not Just Numbers
If you’re reporting up or out, translate your findings into plain English. Nobody cares about “widget interactions per session” if it doesn’t mean anything.
- Tell short stories with your data (“After launching the new challenge, returning users went up 20%”).
- Flag problems honestly (“90% of points this month came from one user clicking ‘like’ over and over”).
- Suggest action (“Let’s change the badge rules to reward more meaningful actions”).
What to Ignore (Most of the Time)
- Raw login counts: Not helpful by themselves.
- “Likes” or “kudos” metrics: Easy to spam unless you moderate.
- Unsegmented totals: Hides real patterns.
If a metric doesn’t tie back to your goals, don’t waste time reporting it.
Quick Checklist: Bunchball Analytics Tracking That Works
- [ ] Set clear, specific goals for engagement
- [ ] Map Bunchball events to real behaviors and outcomes
- [ ] Segment users (by tenure, role, activity)
- [ ] Define and use consistent “active” and “engaged” criteria
- [ ] Clean your data regularly
- [ ] Track cohorts, not just snapshots
- [ ] Tie activity to real-world results
- [ ] Keep badge/challenge rules simple and transparent
- [ ] Investigate trends, don’t just report them
- [ ] Turn insights into action
Keep It Simple—and Iterate
If you take away one thing, it’s this: start simple. Get your definitions and tracking habits right, then tweak as you go. Don’t let the lure of “more data” distract you from what actually matters.
And remember, tools like Bunchball are only as good as the questions you ask. So ask better questions, keep your tracking honest, and don’t be afraid to ditch what doesn’t help. The best analytics are the ones you actually use.