Reward Types
Rewards are the “Why” behind your community. While Points and XP provide the “Score,” the Rewards store provides the tangible value. Nudj offers three distinct ways to reward your users.Strategic Mix: A healthy community uses all three types to satisfy different user motivations: Instant wins, Big hopes, and Social status.
1. Regular Rewards (The Instant Win)
Regular rewards are “First-Come, First-Served.” As soon as a user has enough points and clicks “Redeem,” they get the reward.- Best for: Discount codes, digital downloads, small gift cards, and community perks.
- User Experience: Immediate satisfaction. “I worked for it, and I got it now.”
- Supply: You can limit the quantity (e.g., “Only 50 available”).
2. Giveaways & Sweepstakes (The Big Hope)
Giveaways are “Entry-Based.” Users spend points to buy “Entries” into a drawing. At a scheduled time, Nudj randomly selects a winner.- Best for: High-value items (MacBooks, Event Tickets), exclusive experiences, and limited-edition merch.
- User Experience: Thrill and anticipation. “I might win something huge!”
- Supply: Unlimited entries can be sold, but only a set number of winners are drawn.
3. Badges (The Social Status)
Badges are non-monetary rewards that appear on a user’s profile. They are “Earned,” not “Bought.”- Best for: Milestones (e.g., “Member for 1 Year”), skill recognition (e.g., “Quiz Master”), and participation (e.g., “Alpha Tester”).
- User Experience: Pride and collection. “Look at what I’ve achieved.”
- Supply: Usually 1 per user; permanently displayed.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Regular Rewards | Giveaways | Badges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Points (Fixed) | Points (Per Entry) | Usually Free (Earned) |
| Pacing | Instant | Scheduled Draw | Instant |
| Limit per User | Usually 1 | Unlimited Entries | Always 1 |
| Inventory Type | Codes & Downloads | Sweepstakes Entry | Social Badge |
| Motivation | Tangible Value | Thrill / Luck | Status / Identity |
Technical Note: In our API and developer logs, “Codes & Downloads” are referred to as Assets.
Which Type Should You Use?
The 'Storefront' Strategy
Use Regular Rewards for your everyday shop. Keep 5-10 items available at various point levels to keep people saving.
The 'Big Event' Strategy
Use Giveaways for monthly “Mega Prizes.” This creates a massive spike in logins on the day of the draw.
The 'Completionist' Strategy
Use Badges for every major milestone. Users love “filling the shelf” on their profile.
The 'Loyalty' Strategy
Use Regular Rewards with a “Locked” status that only opens after a user reaches a certain XP level.
Reward Psychology
- Regular Rewards satisfy the Transactional user. They want a fair trade for their time.
- Giveaways satisfy the Adventurous user. They enjoy the risk and the potential for a high ROI.
- Badges satisfy the Social user. They want to be seen as an expert or a dedicated member of the tribe.
Next Step: Learn how to Create your first Regular Reward.