Let’s be honest: most “employee motivation” tools get ignored after the novelty wears off. But if you’re using Spinify, you probably want to make it actually matter to your team—especially if you’re thinking about custom achievement badges. This guide is for managers, HR folks, and anyone who’s tired of cookie-cutter rewards that don’t move the needle.
Below, I’ll walk you through setting up custom badges, explain what works (and what to skip), and share a few honest lessons from the trenches.
Why Custom Badges? (And Why So Many Flop)
Badges aren’t magic. They won’t fix a broken culture or make people care about pointless goals. But when used well, they can highlight real wins, encourage friendly competition, and give recognition that feels specific—not generic.
Here’s when custom badges work: - You tie them to achievements people actually value (not just “most calls made”). - The badge designs feel fun or meaningful—not like clip art from 1998. - You use them as part of a bigger feedback and recognition loop (not as the only motivator).
And here’s what doesn’t work: - Overloading people with badges for every little thing (“Logged in! Sent one email!”). - Making badges for things no one cares about. - Letting badges become stale or invisible after week one.
If you keep those in mind, you’ll avoid most of the usual traps.
Step 1: Get Clear On What You Want to Reward
Before you even log in to Spinify, think hard about what behavior or result you really want to encourage. This sounds obvious, but it’s where most people go wrong.
Ask yourself: - What do my top people do differently? - Where do we need a nudge—quality, consistency, teamwork, something else? - Will this badge make someone feel proud, or just roll their eyes?
Pro tips: - Talk to a few team members. What would they want to be recognized for? - Badges for “soft” achievements (like helping others, learning fast, or solving tough problems) often mean more than pure sales or output numbers. - Fewer, more meaningful badges beat a sea of meaningless ones.
Step 2: Sketch Out Your Badge Ideas
You don’t need design skills yet—just list out your badge concepts. Keep it simple and focused.
Some real-world examples: - “Customer Hero”: For getting glowing client feedback. - “Process Pro”: For suggesting and implementing a time-saving fix. - “Rookie Rocket”: For a new hire who crushes their onboarding goals. - “Team Player”: For helping others without being asked.
Avoid: - Badges for stuff that’s just “doing your job.” - Anything too vague (“All-Star,” “Achiever”)—make it clear what the badge means.
Optional, but helpful: - Write a 1-2 sentence description for each badge. This makes the next steps easier.
Step 3: Log into Spinify and Find the Badge Controls
This is straightforward, but Spinify’s interface isn’t exactly Apple-level intuitive. Here’s how you get started:
- Log in to your Spinify admin account.
- In the sidebar, look for something like “Achievements,” “Awards,” or “Badges.” They keep renaming this, so poke around if you don’t see it right away.
- Click “Create Badge” or “Add New Achievement.”
If you’re stuck, use the search bar in Spinify’s admin dashboard—sometimes the quickest way.
Step 4: Design Your Badge
Spinify gives you a few options here. You don’t need to hire a designer, but don’t just pick the default trophy icon either.
You can: - Pick from Spinify’s icon library: Decent selection, but a bit generic. - Upload your own image: This is where you can actually make something memorable. You don’t need Photoshop—just use Canva or even PowerPoint to whip up a simple icon. - Choose colors: Stick to your brand colors or something that stands out (but doesn’t clash with everything else).
What matters: - The badge should be instantly recognizable—avoid cluttered or confusing images. - Keep text minimal or skip it entirely on the badge image. Let Spinify’s badge name do the talking.
Don’t stress: Your badge doesn’t have to win design awards. It just needs to feel intentional.
Step 5: Set the Criteria for Earning the Badge
Here’s where most people get tripped up. Be clear and specific about what triggers the badge.
Spinify lets you set criteria based on: - Hitting a target (sales, tickets closed, customer ratings, etc.) - Completing a certain action (e.g., finishing onboarding, submitting an idea) - Manual assignment (sometimes you can just award it yourself—use this for softer achievements)
Tips: - If you automate badge assignment, double-check your logic. If it’s too loose, people will “badge farm.” Too strict, and no one gets rewarded. - Manual badges work well for things that can’t be measured easily (helpfulness, leadership moments, etc.), but make sure it’s fair and transparent.
Don’t: Set criteria you can’t actually track or measure inside Spinify. You’ll just frustrate yourself and your team.
Step 6: Write a Clear, Motivating Description
This is the bit most people skip—but a good badge description makes it feel real.
- Explain why someone gets this badge, in plain English.
- Keep it short. One or two sentences is plenty.
- Avoid corporate clichés (“driving excellence,” “delivering value”). Just say what the badge is for and why it matters.
Example:
“Awarded for delivering outstanding customer support that goes above and beyond.”
Step 7: Test It (Seriously—Don’t Skip This)
Before you roll out your shiny new badge to the whole team, test it with a few people. Here’s what to watch for:
- Does the badge actually trigger when it’s supposed to?
- Is the design clear and visible in the Spinify dashboard?
- Do people get what the badge means, or do you have to explain it every time?
Pro tip:
Give the badge to a couple of trusted team members first and ask for honest feedback. If they don’t care, tweak it.
Step 8: Launch—and Actually Celebrate
Announce the badge in a way that feels real. Not just an email—maybe mention it in a team meeting or Slack channel. When someone earns it, celebrate it. Recognition is the point.
- Share a quick story about why the first recipient earned it.
- Encourage others to shoot for it, but don’t turn it into a grind.
- Update your team on new badges every so often, so they don’t fade into the background.
What to Skip (and What to Ignore)
- Don’t make 20 badges at once. Start with 2-3 that matter.
- Don’t treat badges as the only motivator. They’re a nudge, not a fix.
- Don’t forget to retire badges that don’t work. If no one cares, let them go.
- Ignore pressure to “gamify everything.” Some things (like genuine teamwork) don’t need a badge.
Quick FAQ
Can I automate badge assignment for any metric?
Mostly, yes—but only for things Spinify can track. If your system doesn’t sync well, keep it manual.
Do badges expire?
Not automatically. You can remove or hide them if needed.
Can team members see who’s earned which badges?
Yes, unless you turn off visibility. Public recognition works best.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Listen
Custom badges can boost motivation—if you keep them meaningful and simple. Start small. Watch what works. Drop what doesn’t. And most importantly, pay attention to your team’s reactions. If people are having fun and feeling recognized, you’re doing it right. If not, adjust until they do.
No badge will fix everything, but the right ones make a difference. Good luck!