So you want to get your remote sales team fired up with a little friendly competition, but you don’t want to babysit spreadsheets or chase down results. Good news: with Salesscreen, you can set up automated sales competitions that run themselves—or close to it. This guide cuts through the noise and shows you exactly how to do it, what to watch out for, and where not to waste your time.
Who’s this for? Sales managers and team leads running distributed teams who want real engagement (not just another “gamified” dashboard nobody looks at). If you’re after practical steps and straight talk, read on.
Why Bother With Automated Sales Competitions?
Before we get into the how, let’s get real about the why. Automated competitions can:
- Boost motivation (when done right)
- Make tracking fair and transparent
- Cut down on manual admin
- Help surface top performers and unsung heroes
But they’re not a cure-all. If your team’s already drowning in pointless metrics, adding more dashboards won’t save you. These competitions work best when they’re simple, relevant, and actually fun.
Step 1: Get Your Data Flowing (or Don’t Bother)
Automated competitions are only as good as your data. If your sales data doesn’t get into Salesscreen automatically, you’ll be stuck updating things by hand—which defeats the purpose.
What you need: - Your CRM or sales system needs to connect to Salesscreen. (Popular ones like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, etc.) - API access or native integration—ask your IT or sales ops if you’re not sure. - Clean, reliable data. If half your team logs calls and the other half doesn’t, your competition will be a mess.
Pro tip:
Test the integration by pushing a dummy sale or activity through and see if it pops up in Salesscreen. If it doesn’t, fix this before moving on.
Step 2: Decide What Actually Matters
Not every metric is worth competing over. Remote teams especially don’t need more noise. Pick 1–2 things that drive real results, like:
- Closed deals
- Revenue booked
- Demos set
- Qualified meetings
Skip vanity metrics like “emails sent” unless you have a very good reason. If you’re not sure, ask yourself: would you actually care who won this if there were no leaderboard?
Step 3: Map Out the Competition
Here’s where most people overthink things. Keep it dead simple:
- What’s the goal?
E.g., most deals closed this month. Highest revenue this quarter. - Who’s competing?
Individuals, teams, or offices? Remote teams often work better with squads or regions so no one feels left out. - What’s the prize?
Doesn’t have to be cash. Think gift cards, team lunches (delivered), or even bragging rights via a Slack shoutout.
Avoid:
Complex, multi-metric scoring systems unless you really need them. People tune out when they can’t figure out how to win.
Step 4: Set Up the Competition in Salesscreen
Now you’re ready to actually build the thing.
4.1: Log in and Head to Competitions
- Go to the Salesscreen dashboard.
- Find the “Competitions” section—usually in the sidebar or main nav.
4.2: Create a New Competition
- Click “New Competition” or “Create Competition.”
- Give it a name that’s clear and a little fun. “Q3 Revenue Rumble” beats “July Individual Sales Competition.”
4.3: Choose Your Competition Type
Salesscreen offers a few types: - Classic leaderboard: Who racks up the most of X metric. - Race: First to hit a target. - Team vs. team: Great for remote squads.
Pick the type that fits your goal. For most, a simple leaderboard works.
4.4: Pick Your Metrics
- Select the metric(s) you picked in Step 2.
- Map these to whatever objects your CRM is feeding in (opportunities, deals, meetings, etc.).
- Double-check that the right data will count. If you’re not sure, test with a dummy record.
4.5: Set the Timeframe
- Start and end dates. For remote teams, monthly is usually better than weekly—less admin, more runway.
- Optionally, set time zones if your team is global.
4.6: Add Participants
- Add users or teams. If your team changes a lot, set up groups in Salesscreen or sync with your company directory.
- Make sure nobody’s left out (unless you want them to be).
4.7: Define Rewards
- Input what the winners get. You can automate notifications, badge awards, or just set up reminders to send out prizes manually.
- If you want to keep it low-key, just automate a Slack or Teams alert when someone wins.
4.8: Optional—Customize Visuals
- Upload a logo or image for the competition. Not essential, but helps people notice it.
- Skip the fireworks and sound effects unless your team actually enjoys them. Too many bells and whistles get old, fast.
Step 5: Announce (But Don’t Oversell)
- Post in your team’s main chat channel with a short, clear message:
“Competition’s live! Most qualified meetings by July 31 wins a $100 gift card. Check the leaderboard here: [link].” - Avoid long-winded announcements. Nobody reads them.
- Set a mid-competition reminder (automated, if possible).
Pro tip:
If nobody reacts or asks questions, your competition may be too complicated or the prize isn’t worth the effort.
Step 6: Let It Run—But Keep an Eye Out
Automated doesn’t mean “set and forget.” Watch for:
- Data glitches: If someone’s numbers look way off, investigate.
- Engagement drop-off: If nobody’s moving on the leaderboard after week one, consider upping the stakes or clarifying the rules.
- Gaming the system: If someone’s “winning” by spamming meaningless activity, tighten up what counts.
You don’t need to micromanage, but don’t assume everything runs itself forever.
Step 7: Wrap Up (and Actually Give the Prize)
- At the end, announce the winner publicly—ideally the same place you kicked things off.
- Deliver the prize quickly. Nothing kills trust like a “phantom” reward.
- Ask for quick feedback: Did people care? Was it fair? Would they do it again?
Skip the 10-slide postmortem. Just get honest reactions.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works: - Simple, clear goals and rewards - Real-time leaderboards (but not overloaded with widgets) - Competitions that match your team’s actual work
What doesn’t: - Overcomplicated rules nobody understands - Prizes nobody wants (or that never arrive) - “Participation trophies”—people see right through these
Ignore: - Most of the “gamification” bells and whistles. If your team isn’t into it, don’t force it. - Vanity metrics. They’re a distraction.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, Repeat
Automated sales competitions in Salesscreen can be a great way to get remote teams engaged—if you keep things straightforward and focused on what matters. Start small, see what actually motivates your team, and tweak as you go. Don’t be afraid to ditch what doesn’t work, and don’t let the software run the show. The best competitions are the ones people actually want to win.