Is gamification the hottest digital trend for 2013?

More and more, marketers are looking for creative digital strategies to connect with audiences and ultimately drive sales. And one strategy that seems to be gaining more and more momentum is gamification. Gone are the days of trying to lure consumers to your website with fleeting contests and sweepstakes. Today’s marketers realize the best way to build loyalty is to have consumers engage with a brand on a long term basis.

What is gamificaton?

Simply stated, gamification is introducing game-like elements into websites and applications. Not sure what I mean? Then check out Nike’s version of gamification (can you somehow incorporate picture). Nike has turned fitness into a kind of game, in which participants track progress against goals with a “score” to improve health with every run. They can save their run data, share progress with friends, celebrate milestones and accomplishments, and motivate themselves and their social circle to attain a healthier lifestyle. If this isn’t a brilliant marketing strategy, then I don’t know what is!

Gamification is a long-term commitment

According to the media and entertainment firm M2, corporations spent $100 million on gamification in 2010. This number is expected to rise to $2.8 billion by 2016. But before you jump on the gamification bandwagon, make sure you have the resources needed— specifically, money and manpower — to launch a successful campaign. Gamification is a long-term marketing strategy that requires ongoing audience research, expert application design and application maintenance.
Do you have some examples of companies that are successfully using gamification? If so, I’d love to hear about it.

Contributed by Judy Rosenberger