User Engagement Do you want to finish something when you're super close to finishing?

[joelr]

There's a psychological principle called the Goal Gradient Effect, where users are motivated by how much is left to reach their goal, not how far they've come.

You can see the Goal Gradient effect incorporated into lots of marketing and customer experience contexts:

• Progress bars, like in Facebook's profile completion process
• Loyalty programs where you earn points, like in Starbucks
• Gamification elements like badges and trophies, like in Duolingo

You can also see this quite commonly when you abandon your shopping cart. You may receive a message: "You're so close to getting XYZ. Only one more step to check out!" It's so easy. You're so close. You're almost there.

If we were to redesign social gamification in our communities from the ground up, what would you do differently?

 

[joelr]

Some ideas from me:

• Instead of starting the progress bar from the beginning (like when a new user registers and starts "new"), why not start the progress bar at 3 / 5? She's completed the first and hardest step (really!), which is registering. There are only two more easy steps to the next level.
• When we award badges, provide context on what it will take to earn the next badge. We're really good about explaining and celebrating what you've already done (congrats, you've made 100 posts!) but we're terrible at explaining what it takes to get to the next level or stage. "Congrats on earning the Star poster badge for 100 posts. That's amazing! You need 100 more posts to earn the Superstar badge!"

 

[Nomad]

Yes, I want to finish something when I am super close to finishing. Recently, I was revamping my old portfolio website and when I was close to finishing it, I continued working on it, and even avoided working on other paid tasks so that I could finish what I started. When I am close to something, my creativity and productivity doubles.

 

[Smokey]

Depending on what it could be, be it a game or something like that, Yes if i'm super close to finishing something I tend to try my best to buckle down and get it completed as quick as possible just to get it out of the way.

 

[joelr]

Agreed.

It's super hard to start something, but once you start something, you just want to keep going and to finish.

 

[Shortie]

I have always been someone who when I start something I have to finish, it annoys me when I know I have something that I started and never finished and even if it is a struggle to finish, I will always get it done.

Having some kind of progress goal can help motivate and I feel it is a shame we do not see more of this, especially on forums for things such as achievements or even badges.