As manager of your rewards program, you have the power to control your points.
Don’t panic. This points economy guide makes the process of managing your economy simple and straightforward. And, if you closely follow our guidelines, you will enhance the long-term value in your program while maintaining a balance in your system and insuring fairness for all members. Following this points economy guide is our strongest recommendation.
There are several principles at the heart of the points economy strategy:
1. The most points should always be awarded for daily engagement, such as Listen & Win, Read & Win and Watch & Win. The economy guide establishes these key appointment times at the highest level, 2,500 points. This is intended to drive your strategic goal of increasing participation and engagement in your core product. This is not to imply that rewarding members for participating in revenue-generating activities is not a priority, but rather a strategic goal of engaging more participation from your member database, which in turn leads to even more revenue opportunities.
2. The more points made available, the more points will be required to generate a response. So don’t run promotions that offer points awards higher than the guidelines below. Don’t be stingy with points, but be careful to not reduce their value by inflating the value of individual promotions. When it’s too easy to collect points, perceived value declines, and it becomes increasingly more difficult to solicit participation. Stay consistent.
3. The points system also takes into account the effort asked of a member to participate. The easier to participate (click through, etc) the lower the points awarded. Similarly, the more entertaining and fun the event, the lower points that are awarded.
4. Managing the points economy works in concert with the Points Aging feature. Points Aging means any points that are unused in a given period of time expire. This is a month-to-month ‘rolling’ expiration, so no active member ever wakes up to a zero balance in their account. Using this feature prevents members from hoarding millions of points, which would trigger points “inflation” and discourage new or casual-use members from participating. Our recommended best practice is to set points aging at six months. Points spent are always deducted from a member’s account on a first-in, first-out basis. Members can always check their account to see when their points expire.
5. All national contests, content and Prize Closet prizes are developed to follow the prescribed points economy. If your individual program is valuing activity at different levels, it will be inconsistent with many, if not most, of the features in the program.
6. When setting up your reward offers, follow the guideline of point entry being 10 times the value of the prize offered. For example, to enter a contest for a $100 item, entry should be 1,000 points.
7. Start slowly. If you’re introducing the program for the first time, make it simple and easy for members to participate. Step one is to build that database. As it builds, use point offers to lure your member into a deeper relationship with your station, rewarding their participation.
8. Remember that points are a "thank you" for participation and engagement, not the sole REASON to engage. Members should never be encouraged to respond solely BECAUSE of points, but response will be higher when that reward is offered.
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Points Economy |
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Earning Points |
Limit |
Comment |
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Daily Appointment (Listen & Win, Read & Win, Watch & Win) |
2500 |
Most important element. Highest point value at all times. Recommend 3-5 appointments/day |
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Multi-Question Survey (e.g. local research, local advertising-up to 10 questions) |
1500 |
Valuable information, requires a little more effort than most events and activities. |
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Poll (Short surveys, entertainment content, 1-2 questions) |
500 |
Should be designed as fun, interactive. |
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Trivia, Short Game |
500 |
Easy, fast and fun. |
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Codes (Newsletter, Events, Bonus Code) |
1,000 |
Requires more effort and has value in driving revenue |
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Get More Information |
200 |
Very Easy to click and participate |
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Special Offers |
100 |
Very Easy to click and participate |
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Featured Link |
100 |
Very Easy to click and participate |
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Predictive Games |
100/correct pick |
Interactive and fun to participate |
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Music Tests |
100/hook |
Valuable information, but fun to participate |
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Refer-A-Friend |
200/2500 wk |
Drives membership, easy |
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Listening to Audio Stream |
250/qtr hr |
Increases revenue opportunities. Listening 2.5 hours = one appointment event |
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Confirming Membership |
2500 |
Equal to appointment tune in to get started |
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Watching Video/Listening to Audio & Responding |
500-1,000 |
Depends on value, effort, content of video |
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Subscribe to Podcast |
2500 |
One time event to subscribe. |
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Redeeming Points |
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New Limit |
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Contest Entry |
10x prize value |
10xPrize Value |
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Some programs have offered points at varying levels in the past. Establishing this reliable, consistent system is a necessary short-term adjustment.
Special notice to programs currently operating a LOWER points economy:
The philosophy of increasing your points value is made possible by the presence of the Points Aging (expiration) feature. Without this capability, overall points in the economy accumulate and soon become impossible to control. Within reason, higher points awards can drive higher activity (e.g. a 2,500 points offer outperforms 250 points), even if the points are worth exactly the same in their respective environments. Points Aging allows the luxury of offering higher point values for response without the negative impact of a highly inflationary economy.
As you transition to the new system, communicate positively to your members in emails, online messages and in other communications. For example:
“Now it’s even easier to earn points faster.”
“When you participate, your points total will grow more quickly”
You should also disclose the addition of the Points Aging process, but again, do so as a positive:
“You’ll find more offers and more prizes for your points. And, so you can choose
exactly what you want, your points earned are valid for six months!”
“Points earned stay active for six full months…so there’s plenty of time to find
just what you want. And, you can check your points balance and points about
To expire at any time by clicking on My Account”
Special notice to programs operating a HIGHER points economy:
In some instances, you may be offering more points in your system than we recommend. If that’s the case, it should be easy to transition to a lower economy.
Doing so will require discipline, attention and focusing your internal efforts on execution without exception. Remain consistent in points offerings, and most of all avoid the temptation of compromising to higher levels.
Some members will likely notice the adjustments and may contact you, but a positive word of assurance will usually satisfy even the most persistent member. Reassure them that points opportunities will continue to be frequent, plentiful and best of all, more reward opportunities are being introduced!
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