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Not all sales incentive ideas need to be luxurious. In fact, there’s a lot of evidence showing that creative, budget-friendly incentives work best

There’s a lot of buzz on the internet these days about how to effectively motivate teams with sales incentive ideas. More and more we’re seeing that employees don’t need expensive weekend trips or higher commissions to get motivated. What they need are incentives that hold personal meaning and perceived value.

In that sense, the award itself can be anything from commandeering the boss’s office for a day, to wearing a Burger-King style crown that says, “I’m the King!” The argument against strictly cash rewards is that they’re not that…rewarding. Cash has no intrinsic meaning attached to it and is spent on things we dislike (paying debts, buying stamps, eating Subway, etc.) When you come up with sales incentive ideas that are both fun and creative, it’s easier to attach meaning to the reward, which motivates salespeople into action.

In this post, we’ve listed out our favorite creative sales incentive ideas to get your team motivated without having to tighten the budget. It’s important to point out that every company is unique, so not every incentive works universally. But if your business seems a bit stiff to integrate these fun and effective ideas, maybe it’s time to mix things up.

7 sales incentive ideas for motivated (and fun) sales teams

1. Company-wide recognition on all social media channels (sales reps included)

What better way to soak up the limelight than congratulatory praise from company executives via social media? Play into the ego, it’s okay. Salespeople want a reason to boast and to have fun while doing it. Giving recognition from multiple voices can show support from every level of the company, from CEO to sales rep.

2. Homemade desserts of the winner’s choosing (courtesy of the CEO)

Is there any better gift than receiving homemade brownies from your boss, made just for you? That’s something to be proud of and will guarantee fierce competition for the top spot. Bragging rights is a very powerful motivator. You can tell the story of being served brownies by the CEO for the rest of your life.

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client-managerIf your team is calling hundreds of leads for sales contests, give them the tools they need to increase conversions. Our CRM system can track of your sales efforts and cut down sales process hiccups. Sign up with Blitz today for a 30-day free trial.

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3. Free pass to leave work an hour early or arrive an hour late, all week long

Would you like an extra hour to sleep in for five days straight, or maybe leaving an hour before traffic gets heavy on the highway? These are the types of sales incentive ideas that increase employee satisfaction. The winner gains the freedom to come and go as he pleases.

4. Ability to park anywhere Monday morning

Oh, and one more perk: all the other sales reps have to decorate the parking spot before the winner arrives.

Struggling to find a spot every morning can be a stressful situation. Sometimes you end up three or four blocks down the road, which can mean bad news during inclement weather. But guess what? You may not have to Monday morning. You may get the chance to park in the best spot in the house.

Try to think about what your employees would consider valuable and base your sales incentive ideas on those pain or pleasure points).

5. The sales team writes a song to congratulate the winner

You can also add that the team sings the song A cappella to the winner during lunch break. These sales incentive ideas can double as team building strategies as well, where the runner ups have to work together to come up with a proper gift for the contest winner.

6. Control over the “contest winners item”

Purchase a quality piece of electronic equipment (headphones, HD monitor, etc.) and present that item to the winner of each sales contest. Passing the trophy from one person to another demonstrates good team ethic and shows how everyone can share the glory. The item is likely to evoke competition, because it’s always in the office and a constant reminder of who is the reigning champ.

7. Every salesperson’s desktop background is a picture of the winner for a day

If it’s all in good spirit, there no reason not to rub in a win. Having your picture displayed on everyone’s desktop can be funny. Every team member has free reign to draw on your picture and send variations back to you (or display them).

Keep your sales incentive ideas light and fun, but try to include team building strategies at the same time. Handing over a lump sum of cash does not always motivate people to do good work; sometimes a silly figurine with “winner” written across it can evoke more motivation because of the meaning behind it. Displaying a figurine on your desk for a month can bring more pride than extra money in the bank account.

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client-managerIf your team is calling hundreds of leads for sales contests, give them the tools they need to increase conversions. Our CRM system can track of your sales efforts and cut down sales process hiccups. Sign up with Blitz today for a 30-day free trial.

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How do you feel about incorporating these incentives for your sales contests? Share your thoughts in the comments section!