In the world of digital marketing, gamification has become a popular strategy to engage and retain customers.
One of the most iconic examples is the “Wheel of Fortune” game, often utilized in campaigns to offer users a chance at winning discounts, prizes, or special offers.
Its popularity is no surprise, as it taps into the thrill of anticipation and the excitement of winning.
However, while the Wheel of Fortune is a well-known tool, there are other innovative gamification options that can make your campaign stand out.
One such option is the “Plinko” game, where users drop a ball through a series of pegs to see where it lands, offering a fresh and dynamic way to engage audiences.
This article explores creative approaches to incorporating Plinko and other unique game types into your digital marketing strategy.
What is gamification marketing
Gamification in Marketing is often something people can refer to as a buzzword or a concept they are vaguely familiar with but it is rarely something marketers actually know what or how to do or where to begin.
Overall think about gamification in marketing as you would think about “How can I create a dialogue with my audience?”. How would it be possible to create an experience where your audience can interact with your message.
While standard marketing is just one way – company sends out a message, pays to distribute it and then hoping it will stick to someone. Like throwing a spaghetti to a wall and see what sticks.
Gamification marketing is inviting those people over for dinner and including them in your message.
You can achieve that with different types of gamification marketing. Here are some examples of gamification marketing types:
- Trivia games – You ask questions from your audience and invite people to answer those questions. It can be to test the knowledge or to prove a point.
- Prediction games – As a marketer you can invite people to give their opinion about the future and listen to their input.
- Branded minigames – The most fun and engaging way to include your potential customers is to invite them over to play a game that reflects your brand.
- Wheel of Fortune and other lotteries – Instead of just giving out a discount or a prize to people you invite users to interact to get the prize.
Take a look at some case studies on successful gamification marketing campaigns below
In Gamification Marketing we use game mechanics and simple interactions in order to create a two-way dialogue with our audience instead of a 1 way monologue.
Thanks to the power of games we know that out of all the players who participate – a whopping 97% of them will finish the entire experience!
Furthermore if someone wins a prize via a Gamified marketing campaign, they are 80% more likely to redeem that prize because of loss aversion – people do not want to lose something that they have already won and by not using the prize they are essentially losing their winnings.
It can even help you make sales, as you can offer discount codes and coupons as game prizes. That is where online scratch card games come into play as an ideal option.
What is a Plinko game
A Plinko game, like the popular “Wheel of Fortune,” is an engaging game of chance that can be used in digital marketing campaigns to captivate and reward users.
While the Wheel of Fortune game involves spinning a wheel to determine a prize, a Plinko game offers a different form of excitement.
In a Plinko game, a small disc or ball is dropped from the top of a vertical board filled with pegs. The board is set at an angle, and as the disc descends, it bounces unpredictably off the pegs, creating a sense of suspense.
At the bottom of the board, various slots indicate different prizes or outcomes, much like the segments on a Wheel of Fortune.
What sets Plinko apart from Wheel of Fortune as a gamification tool is its unique visual appeal and the element of randomness as the ball navigates through the maze of pegs.
While Wheel of Fortune spins to a halt, revealing a prize, Plinko’s unpredictability is drawn out, keeping users engaged as they watch the ball’s unpredictable path.
For marketers looking for “Wheel of Fortune alternatives,” Plinko offers a fresh and dynamic experience that can be easily adapted to digital formats.
In virtual Plinko games, users can drop a digital ball and watch as it bounces through pegs, eagerly anticipating which slot it will land in. The prizes can range from discounts to exclusive offers or even physical products, making Plinko an exciting and versatile option for gamified marketing campaigns.
How to create a Plinko game for marketing
3 Unique ways how to design your Plinko Game
#1 - Ice Cream drop
In this scenario, as the ice cream ball drops down the Plinko board, it bounces off pegs, much like in a traditional Plinko game. However, instead of aiming for a specific prize, the objective is to land the ball in one of the cones at the bottom, completing the visual representation of an ice cream scoop landing perfectly on a cone. This creative twist can vividly demonstrate the product in action, showcasing the variety of ice cream flavors or styles that can be offered.
This adaptation of Plinko mechanics is particularly useful for brands looking to demonstrate their products in a fun and engaging way. By visually simulating the process of creating a product—such as an ice cream cone being completed—the game not only entertains but also educates the audience about the product’s features or variations. This approach can be extended to other products as well, where the falling ball could symbolize components coming together to complete a product, such as assembling a pizza, layering a cake, or even constructing a building.
This method of using Plinko mechanics offers a dynamic and interactive way to showcase products, making it more memorable and appealing to potential customers. It’s an innovative way to go beyond traditional prize-based outcomes, turning the game into an educational and visually engaging experience that enhances brand storytelling.
#2 - Your next travel destination
#3 - Dropping the ball to a gift box
Building on the earlier examples of the ice cream and travel-themed Plinko games, another classic and straightforward use of Plinko mechanics is to offer gift boxes as prizes. In this variation, the ball still drops through a series of pegs, but instead of landing in slots that complete an object or suggest a destination, it lands in slots representing different gift boxes.
As the ball makes its way down the Plinko board, it randomly bounces off the pegs, creating an element of suspense and excitement. The slots at the bottom each correspond to a unique gift box, and the slot where the ball lands determines the gift box the player wins. This setup stays true to the traditional mechanics of the Plinko game, where the main objective is to win a prize based on where the ball lands.
This version is an excellent “Wheel of Fortune alternative” for digital marketing campaigns or promotional events, offering a direct and tangible reward for participation. The unpredictability of the ball’s path adds to the thrill, making it an engaging experience for users. The gift boxes can contain various items, from small tokens and special discounts to exclusive products, increasing the appeal and excitement for participants. The Plinko game provides a straightforward and exciting way to incentivize customer engagement and participation, with each box promising a delightful surprise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Plinko game offers a versatile and engaging alternative to the classic “Wheel of Fortune” for gamification in digital marketing. Whether it’s using the game to visually complete an ice cream cone, suggest travel destinations, or offer gift boxes as prizes, Plinko’s mechanics provide endless creative possibilities. This unique game format not only captivates audiences with its element of chance and excitement but also allows for a highly customizable experience that can align perfectly with a brand’s identity and promotional goals.
By leveraging the unpredictability and interactive nature of Plinko, businesses can create memorable experiences that resonate with users, making their campaigns more engaging and enjoyable. Whether used to showcase products, inspire wanderlust, or simply add an element of surprise with gift boxes, Plinko stands out as a dynamic tool for boosting customer engagement. As brands continue to explore innovative “Wheel of Fortune alternatives,” Plinko offers a refreshing and effective option that can be tailored to any marketing objective.
Adact boosts your marketing and sales through gamification
If you’re looking to boost sales and/or increase engagement in your marketing campaigns, gamification software is a must-have.
An easy-to-use tool can turn your marketing team into game developers. The key is to find a cost-effective solution that offers the key features your business needs.
This is a question only you can answer.
If we look at our comparison table, Adact.me seems to check all the boxes. With an intuitive interface, you can create fun games, trivia, quizzes and more in minutes. Equipped with a variety of game formats and highly customizable features, you can create branded campaigns that increase interaction and conversions.Book a demo with Adact.me and learn how to build customizable gamification campaigns that create memorable experiences for your customers!
Book a demo to learn how to build highly-customized gamification campaigns for marketing with Adact.me – or sign up now!
