Reward

If the goal of the project is to deliver short term and immediate life-changing benefits to the user then the reward concept is straight forward and need not be as sophisticated as compared to a project that delivers delayed benefit or benefits that are less personal (e.g. - community benefit).

For example, in a diabetes network where patients learn how to use their insulin pump in order to avoid feeling bad and likewise spend more time feeling good, their feedback is tied directly to their participation. Participate – Get Educated – Apply the Education – Feel Better. In addition several of these educational modules were such that within moments of participation, the information delivered to them could be applied easily and with near immediate results.

In other Networks like the one I developed around minimalist running, participation can provide immediate and usable information as well as validation that their experiences are similar to others.

In the case where I've dealt with general health, wellness or even people in a state of pre-diabetes, the relationship between participation and benefit is less direct and immediate. That's where rewards come in handy. However, the way that you design a reward system will have a direct impact on its success or failure.

During the course of the Healthy Families community network, there were two kinds of rewards implemented: 1) registration rewards and 2) participation rewards.

Registration Rewards - As part of the program launch, we announced a gift card drawing via the radio, television and participating clinics throughout the seven county area. This contest was open to everyone who registered between January 1, 2010 and January 15, 2010 and resulted in over 1,200 registrations. In retrospect, we probably missed an opportunity to encourage referrals by not designing in a buddy concept:

You and a friend can each win a $100 gift card to HEB (the regional grocery store)”.

That would have increased the buzz and registrations through peer invitations vs. the simple way we did implement which was to draw 6 random members to receive the donated gift cards. We contacted those winners and asked them additional information for publication about why they had registered and what they hoped to gain from participation. We also implemented goal-oriented contests for affiliates in order to get the community to focus on generating new member registrations whereby clinic staff earned spa gift cards and schools won athletic equipment.

Participation Rewards – For participating members who responded with additional information about their preferences and experiences, their name was entered into a drawing for a Wii game as well movie tickets.

Rewards and incentives are an important part of Sierra Hub.