What if you could get an almost instant 60% increase in customer engagement by gamifying your customer experience?  

What Is Gamification Marketing?

Gamification in marketing means using games, points, and rewards to engage customers. Instead of just saying “buy now” or relying on discounts, gamified marketing campaigns can tap into powerful psychological triggers.

Here’s the deal:

Your brain releases dopamine when you play or make progress in a game. Your brain rewards you and tells you that this is a good thing to motivate you to keep playing. This keeps you hooked and it’s is why something as simple as a spin the wheel popup can feel irresistible.

Gamification also creates a “just one more try” loop. Temu has gone all in on gamification and tactics like free discount spins, progress bars, and rewards to keep customers coming back.  And slot machines in casinos use random rewards to keep players spinning. Mobile games hook you with daily rewards and streaks. Both tap into dopamine-driven activities which leaves you wanting more.

The Psychology Behind Gamification and Why it Works

At its core, gamification makes tasks (such as signing up for a newsletter) feel less like work and more like a fun challenge. When people think they have a chance to win something, without risking anything, they don’t want to lose that chance. It creates curiosity, which has a huge impact on our decision making. 

Pair curiosity with a nice reward and you have a super powerful recipe for increasing conversions.

Key Psychological Principles & Biases at Play in Gamification

Reciprocity Bias (Cialdini, 1984)
When people receive something they feel the need to give something in return. By offering a small reward like a discount code, you can increase the odds of someone following through with a purchase.

Endowed Progress Effect (Nunes & Drèze, 2006)
When people feel like they have already made progress toward a goal they are more likely to complete it. Think partially filled progress bars, or being a few points away from the next membership level. It makes users feel like they are on their way to earning a reward.

Loss Aversion (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979)
People have a stronger urge to keep what they already have compared to the urge they feel to gain something. Limited-time offers and expiring rewards take advantage of this bias by making users feel like they don’t want to let go of their reward.

Zeigarnik Effect (Bluma Zeigarnik, 1927)
Unfinished tasks stick in people’s minds more than completed ones. Make someone complete a simple 4×4 memory game in less than 20 seconds. If they don’t complete it, they will feel the urge to try again.

Social Proof & Competition (Festinger, 1954)
Most people don’t make decisions in isolation. They look for comfort in other’s decisions before them. Also, most people are naturally drawn to competition. Both leaderboards and social sharing take advantage of this.

How Game Mechanics Influence Behavior

Game Mechanic	Psychological trigger	Why it works
Spin-to-Win Wheel	Reciprocity, Loss Aversion	Offering a chance to win makes customers feel they should give something in return, like an email or a purchase. The fear of missing out on a prize also encourages immediate action.
Progress Bars	Endowed Progress Effect, Zeigarnik Effect	Seeing progress already made makes people more likely to complete the task. If they leave before finishing, they remember the incomplete goal and feel the urge to return.
Quizzes & Trivia	Curiosity, Social Proof	Users enjoy testing their knowledge or discovering something new. Sharing quiz results on social media also taps into the need to compare and showcase achievements.
Points & Badges	Social Proof, Endowed Progress Effect	Visible achievements motivate users to keep earning. Seeing others with more points or badges can inspire competition and push users to engage more.
Memory Games	Zeigarnik Effect, Endowed Progress Effect	Matching pairs feels rewarding, and seeing how many are left to find pushes users to complete the game. Unfinished puzzles stay on their minds, making them want to return.
Leaderboards	Social Comparison Theory, Competition	Public rankings fuel competition and drive users to engage repeatedly. Players often check back to see if they’ve moved up or if someone has passed them.
Limited-Time Offers	Loss Aversion, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)	Deadlines make users act quickly to avoid missing out. The idea of losing an opportunity feels more urgent than the idea of gaining a reward later.
Mystery Rewards	Curiosity Gap, Anticipation	Uncertainty creates excitement. Users continue engaging to uncover the reward, driven by curiosity and the possibility of getting something valuable.

Why you should be using Gamification

1. Higher Engagement
   Thanks to the Zeigarnik Effect, once a user starts a game-driven activity, they’re more inclined to complete it, driving up dwell time on your site or app.
2. Stronger Brand Loyalty
   Repeated positive micro-experiences like earning points or unlocking achievements creates a deeper emotional bond. A Harvard Business Review study notes that customers who feel engaged on an emotional level are more than 52% more valuable compared to those who are simply “satisfied”.
3. Reduced Friction
   When you offer something of value (like a discount code), users tend to feel they “owe” you, or that they “owe themselves” not to let the discount go to waste. This can lower the guard for users and reduce friction of signing up.
4. Social Amplification
   Whenever badges, high scores, or quiz results are easy to share, you can see a ripple effect of new signups and referrals. It’s sparked by the competitive or communal drive to show off achievements.

Benefits of Using Gamification in your Marketing

A well-planned gamified campaign can do more than just entertain. It can lead to higher brand awareness, repeat purchases, and deeper loyalty. 

According to a study by Talon One, effective gamified promotions can drive up to a 60% increase in customer engagement. A boost in customer engagement will probably translate to more frequent purchases. 

Shopify also reports that using gamification in e-commerce can greatly help reduce cart abandonment rates and boost overall conversion.

Below are the main advantages of gamification and why they matter for your brand:

Boosts conversions

Getting people to visit your site is one thing. Making them convert is another. Gamification helps you bridge that gap by tapping into the “fun factor” to keep visitors engaged longer, guiding them naturally toward the next step in your funnel. 

Swedish auto service company Däckskiftarna used a Memory Game Signup Campaign where users flipped virtual cards to match images, and upon success, they received a freebie or discount. This simple, interactive element generated a 250% boost in email signups and demonstrates how simple gamification techniques can boost conversions.

Boosts Engagement

Turning your website or emails into mini adventures can keep visitors on your site longer. People aren’t just clicking; they’re exploring quizzes, spinning wheels, or solving puzzles. This deeper interaction encourages them to discover more pages and products. Quizzes in particular are a great way to boost product discovery.

Higher Retention

Gamified campaigns gives your customers a dopamine boost and in turn associate your brand with positive feelings. It’s subtle, but enough to encourage repeat visits. 

By having engaging and interactive content like daily or weekly challenges, you create small but powerful motivators for customers to return. A daily spin-to-win contest, for instance, turns casual visitors into returning users who regularly check back to see if today is the day they’ll win something.

Stronger Customer Loyalty

Gamification speaks to people’s sense of accomplishment. According to Talon One, consumers are more likely to develop an emotional tie to a brand when they’re actively engaged in a playful reward system.

This is the reason why loyalty points are such a powerful motivator. These tactics can create bonds that go beyond one-time transactions and lead to word-of-mouth recommendations. 

Shopify also notes that loyalty programs with tiered badges or achievements significantly increase repeat sales. It just goes to show how game-like progress markers help buyers feel that they’re truly invested in your brand.

Increased Data Collection

When people play a game and win something, even a small prize, they become more attached to that “win” and are willing to go a step further to claim or protect it. 

In practice, that can translate into higher form completion rates, more personal data shared, or detailed survey participation. 

Quizzes in particular are a gold mine of customer insights. As users answer questions to discover the right product or solution, they’re also telling you about their needs, preferences, and pain points. 

From a marketing standpoint, this data is incredibly valuable. You can tailor follow-up emails, product recommendations, or loyalty offers based on a user’s quiz responses or game interactions. 

Gamification types and tactics

There are endless ways to use game mechanics in marketing. However, most tactics fall under a few broader categories.

Spin to win

One of the simplest and most popular ways for e-commerce brands to introduce game mechanics is through a spin the wheel popup. When used right, the spin to win tactic is incredibly addicting and almost impossible for your visitors to ignore. 

How to create your own spin the wheel promotion

Triggerbee has a very nice spin to win template which can be customized and tailored to your needs.

• Instant Reward or Email Capture
  With Triggerbee you can decide whether visitors receive their reward immediately or if they must provide an email address to claim it.
• Customization Options
  Design the wheel with your own branding, color scheme, and prizes. You can add as many price slices as you want, control the winning percentage for each slice, and have any reward. By personalizing each part of the wheel, you can make sure it looks like your brand.

Memory Games

If you want to create longer lasting engagement, Memory games are an amazing alternative to spin the wheel popups. It’s simple, intuitive, and 9/10 users know exactly how to play without any instructions. 

Visitors flip over cards to match pairs, and they get a small prize or exclusive offer when all pairs are matched. 

How to create your own memory game 

If you’re using Triggerbee’s onsite marketing platform, you can publish your own memory game on your website in just a few minutes as it’s a pre-made component with just a few settings to adjust. 

• • Easy Setup & Customization. Using the memory gamification campaign from Triggerbee, you can quickly adjust grid sizes (2×2, 3×3, up to 6×6) and upload your own graphics or brand-related icons to replace the standard card backs. This can help you create any type of game. Make visitors match products from your store, or match things from your company story – it’s up to you!
  • Extended Engagement. Because flipping cards takes more time than a single spin, memory games naturally boost session length. Visitors often stick around to complete the puzzle.
  • Random Order. We know users like to figure out the pattern of a memory, which is why our memory component always randomizes the order of the cards. So even if a user plays again the order of the cards will be completely different.

Quizzes and Trivia

Are you aiming for top-of-funnel engagement or a more helpful approach? Quizzes and trivia challenges invite your audience to showcase what they know (or think they know) in a fun, low-pressure environment.

Whether it’s “Which product fits your personality?” or “How well do you know this industry?”, quizzes help you build trust early on while collecting valuable data about user preferences.

• Personalization Goldmine. Every question answered can be used to tailor recommendations or segment your audience.
• Social Sharing. Everyone loves showing off a high score or a unique personality match, so quizzes are often shared among friends and followers.

Raffles and Competitions

Looking to offer a quick boost of excitement? Raffles and competitions tap into people’s natural love of winning—whether the prize is a free product, a limited-edition item, or early access to a new collection. 

This method works well in the awareness and consideration stages, generating buzz and urgency that can easily be amplified on social media.

• Quick Win Potential. A straightforward entry form, plus a grand prize, will capture leads almost instantly. Announce the winner on social channels or via email for extra hype.
• Scalable for Small or Large Campaigns. Raffles and contests can be as simple as a one-time giveaway or as complex as a multi-week challenge with different tiers of rewards. Just a tip: For your own sake, keep it simple.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs reward users for repeat actions such as purchases, referrals, or social shares. And users are rewarded with extra points, badges, or VIP tiers. They’re especially effective for mid- and bottom-funnel customers who already like your brand but need extra motivation.

• Tiered Progression. Shoppers might begin at a Bronze level and advance to Silver or Gold with each new purchase. This sense of achievement can make your customers feel special and give them a reason to come back.
• Long-Term Engagement. Loyalty programs encourage ongoing interactions. However, members very rarely check their points status or track their progress. So once you’ve acquired a new member, make sure to constantly remind them of their membership status and unused points. Swedish beauty brand KICKS reminds members who return to their website about new coupons and offers. Read the case study here.

Leaderboards

Want your community to bond over competition? Leaderboards put your most active fans front and center by showcasing their achievements. This tactic works wonders for brands with active user bases (i.e gaming, fitness, or any niche where users naturally share accomplishments) and have the potential to completely transform your brand feel.

• Community Building
  Publicly recognizing top performers, whether they’ve racked up the most points, written the most reviews, or referred the most friends, creates a sense of competition.
• Encourages Repeat Actions
  As users try to climb (or stay at) the top of the leaderboard, they frequently return to your platform. This recurring engagement can become a habit, driving sustained growth and participation.

By strategically selecting the gamification approach that fits your brand’s goals, you offer customers a fun way to interact with your business—while collecting data, driving conversions, and building long-term loyalty.

When to use Gamification and when does it become too much?

Gamification isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. You’ll get the best results by aligning the right mechanics with a specific user group or funnel stage. 

That means you should plan your strategy around use cases (like boosting signups or cart conversions) or audience segments (new vs. returning visitors, loyal customers, etc.).

Below are some practical examples of how your brand can use gamification in various stages of the customer experience.

By Use Case

• To Get More Email Signups
  Use a Spin-to-Win popup for first-time visitors. The excitement of spinning for a prize makes people more likely to enter their email so they don’t miss out.
• To Increase Immediate Sales
  Offer a spin-the-wheel game with an instant reward that doesn’t require an email. Giving users something right away, like a discount or free shipping, makes them feel like they should return the favor by completing their purchase.
• In the Shopping Cart
  Add a progress bar to show how close customers are to unlocking free shipping or a discount. Seeing their progress encourages them to add more to their cart instead of leaving the site.
• After a Purchase
  Keep customers engaged by offering loyalty points for completing a survey or sharing their purchase on social media. You can also bring them back with a weekly Memory Game that includes a leaderboard. Seeing others compete makes users more likely to return and play again.

By Audience Segment

• New Visitors
  Welcome first-time visitors with a Spin-to-Win popup to grab their attention right away. Since they’re new, require an email signup so you can turn their curiosity into a lead.
• Returning Visitors
  If someone has visited multiple times but hasn’t bought anything, adjust the spin-the-wheel game in their favor by offering a bigger discount or a free gift. This extra push can turn a hesitant visitor into a paying customer.
• Loyalty Members
  Reward your most dedicated customers with exclusive games like a VIP-only raffle or a tiered Memory Challenge. You can also give loyalty points for playing, making their engagement feel even more valuable.
• Dormant or “Lost” Customers
  If someone hasn’t made a purchase in 6 to 12 months, bring them back with a fun challenge. A daily “Wheel of Deals” or bonus points for completing a quiz or memory game can reignite their interest. Even a small win can remind them why they loved your brand in the first place.

When does gamification become too much?

Gamification is a powerful tool, but like anything else, too much of it can backfire. Imagine eating pizza every day. It’s exciting at first, but after a while, you get tired of it. The same thing happens when users are constantly hit with popups, spin wheels, points, badges, leaderboards, and timers. What starts as fun and engaging quickly turns into sensory overload.

Take Temu as an example. Their entire platform is built on gamification and constant dopamine triggers. Flash deals, spin-to-win popups, countdown timers, referral rewards, in-app credits, and daily check-ins all compete for attention at the same time.

But here’s the thing: it works for them. Say what you will about their aggressive marketing, but they have over 92 million monthly active users in the EU alone—meaning millions of people return to their app at least once a month.

That doesn’t mean it will work for you.

Unless your brand is built around constant gamification, going from 0 to 100 overnight would likely drive your customers crazy.

So, how do you strike the right balance?

• Use gamification sparingly and with purpose. Instead of stacking multiple game elements on one page, choose one or two key moments in the customer journey where it makes sense, like a spin-the-wheel popup for new visitors or a loyalty challenge for repeat customers.
• Keep the experience simple. A progress bar for free shipping or a fun memory game once in a while keeps engagement high without overwhelming users.
• Avoid constant interruptions. If every interaction feels like a game, it WILL start to feel like a chore. Let your customers browse and shop without feeling like they need to “unlock” something every few seconds.

Gamification should enhance your user experience, not take it over. If customers start to feel like they’re navigating an arcade rather than an online store, it’s time to scale back.

The Anatomy of Well-Designed Gamification Marketing

Think of a gamified campaign as a puzzle. Each component should fit neatly with the others to create a seamless, enjoyable experience for your audience.

• User-Friendly Mechanics
  A Spin to Win-popup should not have rules and too many prizes. Keep your tactics and rewards straightforward and visually appealing.
• Motivating Rewards
  The prize doesn’t have to be huge. It just needs to feel relevant and exciting to your audience.
• Progress Indicators
  Let participants see how far they’ve come. Whether it’s a progress bar or a dynamic points count, visible progress makes them more likely to stay and keep going.
• Fair Rules and Transparency
  If you are running a competition, clearly outline how winners are chosen, how points are tallied, and which data you’re collecting. Clear communication builds trust.

Compliance Considerations

Gamification must be done ethically and transparently. While playful mechanics can increase conversions, misleading tactics or unclear data practices can damage trust and even lead to legal trouble. Here’s what to keep in mind when integrating gamification into your marketing strategy.

GDPR and Data Privacy Compliance

If your gamification campaign collects user data you must comply with data privacy laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the EU and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) in the U.S.

To stay compliant:

• Clearly disclose what data you collect and how it will be used. If a spin-the-wheel game requires an email, be upfront about whether they’ll receive marketing emails afterward.
• Give users a choice. Make sure users opt in to data collection rather than being automatically enrolled.
• Allow easy opt-out options. If users later decide they don’t want to receive promotional emails or be part of your loyalty program, make unsubscribing simple and accessible.

A lack of transparency can lead to fines, legal complaints, and, most importantly, a loss of trust from your audience.

Avoid Manipulative Game Mechanics

Gamification should feel fun and rewarding. Not a high-pressure sales tactic. Overusing competitive pressure, creating unrealistic expectations, or making it difficult for users to claim their rewards just creates a bad experience.

Here’s what to avoid:

• “Fake scarcity” tactics: If your countdown timer resets every time a visitor refreshes the page, users will eventually catch on to that.
• Complicated reward structures: If users need to jump through multiple hoops to redeem a simple prize, they will end up feeling frustrated and scammed.
• Surprise fees or conditions: If a user wins a discount or freebie, ensure the terms are clear upfront. Hidden fees or exclusions will backfire.

Personalization in Gamification

Gamification works best when it feels relevant to the user. Not all customers respond to the same incentives, so a one-size-fits-all approach may not deliver the best results. By tailoring game mechanics to different segments, you can create a more engaging and meaningful experience that drives conversions and long-term loyalty.

Segmented Rewards

Different types of customers should receive different types of rewards. Repeat buyers are already invested in your brand, so offering them higher-value prizes or exclusive perks makes them feel appreciated and keeps them coming back. First-time visitors, on the other hand, might not need a big reward to take action. A small but appealing discount can be enough to encourage them to make an initial purchase.

Example:

• New visitors spin a wheel for 5% or 10% off.
• Returning customers spin a wheel with larger discounts, free shipping, or bonus loyalty points.
• VIP customers or loyalty members get access to exclusive gamified experiences, such as raffles with bigger prizes or early access to special sales.

Dynamic Difficulty

Not every user wants the same level of challenge. A first-time visitor may prefer a simple, easy-to-complete game, while a more engaged or competitive customer might be motivated by something harder to win.

Example:

• A beginner quiz asks three easy questions and rewards participation.
• A returning visitor faces more complex trivia or problem-solving tasks for better rewards.
• A loyalty program member gets tiered challenges where harder tasks unlock bigger prizes.

By adjusting the difficulty based on a user’s experience level, you keep them engaged without frustrating newcomers or boring experienced users.

Personalized Rewards and Recommendations

People engage more when they feel a brand understands them. Instead of offering random prizes, use past browsing behavior or purchase history to shape the rewards. This makes the experience feel customized rather than generic.

Example:

• A customer who frequently shops for skincare might win a discount on beauty products instead of a general storewide coupon.
• Someone who recently browsed athletic gear might see a fitness-themed challenge or reward.
• A returning customer who buys seasonal items could be invited to a holiday-themed gamified campaign based on their past purchases.

When gamification feels personal, customers are more likely to participate and take action. Instead of a gimmick, it becomes a valuable and enjoyable part of their shopping experience.

Amazing Examples of Gamification

Many brands have successfully used gamification to increase engagement, build loyalty, and encourage repeat behavior. These examples show how different industries apply game mechanics to create a more interactive and rewarding experience for their users.

Temu: Turning Shopping Into a Game

Temu integrates gamification throughout its app, keeping users engaged with interactive challenges, daily rewards, and referral-based incentives. Customers can earn credits or free products by completing small tasks, such as inviting friends, spinning a wheel, or checking in daily. The constant stream of achievable goals encourages shoppers to return frequently, increasing both retention and overall spending.

Strava: Competing for Fitness Goals

Strava has built a thriving fitness community by using competition and achievement-based rewards. Runners and cyclists can track their progress, compare times with friends, and challenge themselves through leaderboard rankings. Monthly challenge badges provide an extra layer of motivation, giving users a sense of accomplishment and encouraging them to stay active. By tapping into social proof and friendly competition, Strava keeps users engaged long after their initial sign-up.

Duolingo: The Power of Streaks and Progress Bars

Duolingo makes language learning feel like a game by incorporating progress tracking, daily streaks, and reward-based feedback. Users earn points and level up as they complete lessons, reinforcing the habit of daily practice. The streak feature plays on loss aversion, making users more likely to return each day to avoid breaking their progress. The simple act of seeing a streak number grow can be enough to keep users engaged for months or even years.

Starbucks: A Loyalty Program That Feels Like a Game

Starbucks has perfected the use of gamification in its Star Rewards loyalty program. Every purchase earns stars, which can be redeemed for free drinks or food. Customers can track their progress, unlock bonus challenges, and earn extra rewards for limited-time promotions. The system encourages repeat visits by creating a sense of progress and rewarding users for continued engagement. Unlike traditional discount programs, the star system makes earning rewards feel like an achievement rather than a transaction.

Each of these brands has successfully applied gamification by understanding what motivates their audience. Whether it is social competition, daily habits, or the excitement of earning rewards, they use game mechanics to create engaging and repeatable experiences that keep users coming back.

Gucci: Entering Roblox

Gucci has taken gamification to a new level by integrating its brand into Roblox, a popular virtual world with millions of active players. Instead of relying on traditional marketing, Gucci created Gucci Town which is an interactive virtual space where users can explore, play mini-games, and collect digital fashion pieces for their avatars.

This gamified experience taps into digital ownership and brand exclusivity, two trends shaping the future of online engagement. Players can earn in-game currency to purchase limited-edition Gucci items, engage in virtual art exhibitions, and even complete challenges to unlock special rewards.

Wrapping It Up

Gamification goes beyond short-term hype by turning brand interactions into playful adventures. It engages visitors, nurtures them through multiple touchpoints, and can boost loyalty in a way traditional marketing rarely matches. According to a Deloitte study, 66% of consumers prefer brands that incorporate playful elements into their user experience, so this isn’t a fleeting trend.

Remember to track ROI, stay transparent about data, and continuously refresh your game elements to keep them exciting. With powerful tools like Triggerbee—and a dash of creativity—you can shape a brand journey that feels like an ongoing quest. Try these ideas in your own funnel and see how they level up your key KPIs.

Traditional discount popups are easy to ignore. Your customers either close them immediately or enter fake emails just to grab a coupon.

Spin the Wheel popups change the game by introducing an interactive element that makes visitors want to engage.

Instead of forcing a discount on users, this strategy turns the experience into a game. people love a challenge, and the chance to win something gives them a dopamine boost, which makes them more likely to claim their discount and complete a purchase.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• How Spin the Wheel popups work
• The best ways to customize and target them for better results
• Advanced campaign strategies you won’t find in most guides
• Practical examples and copywriting tips to help you launch faster

How A Spin the Wheel Popup Works

Spin the Wheel popups let visitors spin a digital “wheel of fortune” and win a reward such as a discount, free shipping, or a free gift.

Instead of giving away coupons like most e-commerce brands do, an interactive strategy improves the customer experience and adds an element of excitement.

Spin the Wheel popups are also called spinning wheel popups, spin the wheel popups, lucky wheel popups, or gamified popups, but no matter the name they all are the same thing.

Since the outcome is unknown, it creates curiosity and excitement. This small shift in experience will have a huge impact on the decision process of your visitors and make it almost impossible to ignore spinning the wheel.

Spin the wheel popups almost always have a measurable impact on conversions. Simply the act of spinning makes users more likely to claim and use their reward. The interactive format also helps with email collection, since most Spin the Wheel popups require visitors to enter their email before spinning (however that’s entirely up to you, at least if you use Triggerbee).

When comparing Spin the Wheel popups to traditional discount popups, we guarantee you’ll see higher engagement, more email sign-ups, and an increase in completed purchases.

What makes spin the wheel popups powerful?

• Spin the wheel popups feel like a game and trigger engagement instead of a reaction.
• Spin the wheel popups create an instant dopamine reward which makes users more likely to claim their prize.
• Spin the wheel popups boosts email sign up rates (if you require the user to submit an email before spinning)

The result? Higher conversion rates, more signups, and increased sales.

The Anatomy of a High-Converting Spin the Wheel Popup

Most platforms provide pre-made templates which makes setting up a campaign quick and easy. While these templates work well, adding your own custom touches can take the experience to the next level. Here’s how to set up a spin the wheel popup that won’t bother your visitors and grow your list fast.

How to Create a High-Converting Spin the Wheel Popup in Triggerbee

With Triggerbee’s Spin the Wheel, you can increase email signups, drive more sales, and reward loyal customers in a way that feels fun instead of forced.

• Easy to set up. Get your campaign live in minutes. No coding needed.
• Fully customizable. Design, prizes, and settings tailored to your brand.
• Smart targeting. Show the wheel at the right time to the right visitors.
• Unique coupon codes. Prevent abuse and keep discounts under control.
• Works for any promotion. Black Friday, seasonal sales, loyalty rewards, and more.

Set it Up in Just a Few Steps

Design and Customization options

With Triggerbee you get pre-made style presets for your wheel. Just pick a design, tweak the colors, and the campaign is ready to go. If you want a custom look, you can adjust the colors of the wheel, buttons, inputs, and you can even add as many steps as you want.

If you want your Spin the Wheel popup to work, you need a visually appealing design. Here are a few tweaks that can make a big difference:

• Match your brand colors so the popup feels like part of your site. If it looks off, people will close it before even reading your offer.
• Make the offer easy to read with strong contrast. If your visitors don’t see the offer in the first second or two, they won’t bother.
• Make the spin button un-ignorable. Give it high contrast from the background. Or just make the wheel start spinning as soon as your popup appears.

A few small changes go a long way. If your popup looks clean, loads fast, and feels like it belongs on your site, more people WILL engage with it.

A clean design with a bold call-to-action encourages more spins. Bright colors and a clear “Spin” button ensure visitors notice and engage with the campaign.

Fine-Tune the Wheel’s Behavior

Looks matter, but how the wheel feels is just as important. If the experience is slow, people will ignore it. But a few simple tweaks can make the experience feel smooth.

• Keep spin times short on mobile. On desktop, a slightly longer spin adds excitement without feeling slow.
• Make desktop spins slightly longer. Bigger screens, more patience. A bit of suspense can make winning feel more exciting.
• Add confetti or a quick animation when the wheel stops. Winning should feel rewarding. A small visual effect makes a big difference.

If the wheel feels fun and responsive, more people will actually use it. With Triggerbee you can adjust these settings to fully customize the behavior of your spin the wheel campaign:

• Spin duration
• Auto-spin
• Borders, shadows, and pointer style

Customize Prizes and Winning Probabilities

Not every visitor should win a major discount. With Triggerbee’s built-in winning probability settings (See screenshot below), you can adjust the odds for each prize.

If you want most visitors to win small discounts while reserving larger ones for fewer people, you can easily set those probabilities in the editor.

You decide what users can win and how often. Each slice can be labeled with a discount, free gift, or a “Try Again” message.

• Adjust win probabilities to limit or increase specific rewards.
• Show the prize instantly or require an email signup first.

If you want to drive immediate sales, show the coupon code right away. If your focus is growing your email list, requiring an email before revealing the prize turns the game into a lead-generation tool.

Unique Coupon Codes: Prevent Fraud and Overuse

Triggerbee has built-in email validation which also stops repeat abuse. If someone has already received a discount, they won’t be able to use the same email again to claim another prize. A common trick is using incognito mode to refresh the page and spin again.

Standard discount codes can be copied and shared, but when using Triggerbee’s coupon sets, you can be sure that every code is unique and single-use.

• Each visitor gets a one-time-use coupon which prevents sharing and multiple redemptions.
• The campaign can automatically pause once all codes have been used.
• Even visitors using incognito mode won’t be able to spin multiple times, since the system recognizes past email entries.

With unique coupon codes, every winner gets a one-time-use discount. This prevents visitors from sharing codes or claiming multiple discounts.

This is essential for VIP discounts, limited-time promotions, and fraud prevention. If you want to reward only high-value customers, you can target those who have spent above a certain amount (requires revenue tracking).

Target the Right Users at the Right Time

Most guides tell you to trigger the popup after a few seconds or when someone is about to leave. That’s fine, but it’s not how you get the best results. The real magic happens when you show the wheel to the right visitors at the right time based on what they’ve done on your site before.

Instead of blasting the same popup to everyone, fine-tuning who sees it makes a massive difference. 

Someone browsing for the first time won’t respond the same way as a repeat customer. A shopper who added something to their cart needs a different nudge than someone just looking around.

Trigger settings in Triggerbee: When to display the wheel

• Exit intent: Show the wheel just as someone is about to leave. This works well for first-time visitors who need an extra incentive to stay.
• Cart abandonment: Only trigger the popup if someone has added items to their cart but hasn’t checked out. Offering a discount at this moment can save the sale.
• Time on page: Display the wheel only to visitors who have spent time browsing. Someone who has been on a product page for a while is much more likely to engage than someone who just landed on the homepage.

Not every visitor should see your spin the wheel popup, and even if they should, there should be at least some targeting involved. With Triggerbee’s trigger settings, you can decide when to display the campaign.

For checkout-based triggers, showing the wheel only when a user is about to abandon their cart helps reduce drop-off rates.

Session Conditions: Who Sees the Wheel
Session-based targeting allows you to personalize the campaign based on visitor type, browser settings, or referral source. If a user arrives from an Instagram ad, the campaign can be customized to reflect that offer.

Someone coming from a paid ad might need a stronger incentive than a repeat customer who already trusts your brand. Personalizing rewards based on visitor type makes the popup feel relevant rather than generic.

• New vs. returning visitors: First-time visitors might respond better to a discount, while repeat shoppers might appreciate free shipping or bonus loyalty points.
• Target by UTM parameters: If someone clicked an ad on Instagram, their popup could highlight a product featured in the ad. Visitors from email campaigns might see a different reward tied to the email offer.
• Segment by past purchases: Offer bigger rewards to high-value customers while keeping discounts smaller for those who haven’t bought yet.

New visitors might see an introductory discount, while returning customers get a loyalty-based spin.

Audience Targeting: Personalize Based on CRM & Purchase Data

For even deeper personalization, Triggerbee allows you to target specific customer segments based on CRM data and past purchases.

For stores that track customer data, targeting based on previous transactions and CRM insights can make Spin the wheel even more effective. Instead of showing the same popup to everyone, tailor it based on what customers have already done. Smart targeting makes your popup feel more relevant and timely instead of an interruption.

• Show the wheel only to customers who have completed a purchase.
• Reward VIP customers based on their spend amount (requires revenue tracking).
• Trigger the wheel for email subscribers only, using CRM sync.

For example, if you want to offer higher discounts to customers who have spent over $200, set up revenue logging and create a segment based on past transactions.

Beyond Discounts: Creative Spin the Wheel Campaign Ideas

Daily Deal Wheel

Instead of giving visitors a discount they can only claim once, let them spin every day for a new reward. 

Electronics retailer Power used a daily deal wheel for their Black Week campaign in Sweden 2024.I for one came back every day to use my 3 spins.

This turns the wheel into a reason for people to come back, check out new offers, and stay engaged with your brand. If you’re running a multi-day sale, like Black Friday week or a holiday countdown, this setup keeps the excitement fresh and going for longer

It’s also a great fit for loyalty programs. Customers who know they can spin for an exclusive deal every time they visit are more likely to return.

Spin & Save – Email List Growth

Visitors must enter their email before spinning, making this a great way to collect leads.

Limited-Time Spin for Cart Abandoners

Over 70% of your visitors abandon their carts. A well-timed exit-intent Spin the Wheel can stop them right before they leave and give them a last-minute reason to stay. But don’t give out a regular exit discount like 5% off or free shipping. Instead frame it as an exclusive, one-time chance. The spin should feel urgent. Like if they don’t take the offer now it’s gone. It’s a small shift in messaging that can dramatically reduce your cart abandonment rates.

Black Friday Mega Spin – Limited-Time Sales

A high-intensity campaign featuring deep discounts, free gifts, and exclusive flash deals.

Wheel of Love – Valentine’s Day Special 

A seasonal campaign featuring romantic-themed discounts or couples’ offers.

Why These Strategies Work

By using a spin the wheel popup as a strategy to engage repeat visitors or loyalty members, cart abandoners or referrals, you can turn it into a long-term conversion tool instead of just another discount popup. 

Tracking & Optimization: Improve Performance Over Time

Creating and publishing your Spin the Wheel popup is just the start. To get the best results, you need to optimize it continuously.

One of the biggest mistakes we see e-commerce brands commit is that they are constantly coming up with NEW campaigns. 

Truth is, if you have an offer that works… Squeeze out every last drop of it. And that can only be done by optimizing what you already have.

Key Metrics to Monitor

Some numbers matter more than others. Here are the most important ones to keep track of: 

• Spin-to-signup conversion rate – How many visitors enter their email and spin the wheel? Aim for more than 5%. If this number is low, the offer might not be compelling enough, or the popup might be appearing too soon.
• Email quality – Are you collecting real, usable emails, or are people entering fake ones just to grab a discount? If you’re seeing a lot of temporary or throwaway email addresses, consider adding email validation or requiring users to confirm their prize via email.
• Discount redemption rate – A visitor spinning the wheel is great, but how many actually use their prize at checkout? If redemption rates are low, your offer might not be enticing enough, or visitors might not feel urgency to claim their discount.

How to Improve Performance of your Spin the Wheel popup

Adjust Prize Distribution

If visitors aren’t engaging enough, it could be because the rewards aren’t exciting. Try testing different prize distributions—if most users only win small discounts, they might not find it worth spinning. Adding a few higher-value rewards, even if rare, can make the experience feel more rewarding.

Refine Your CTA for Higher Engagement

The wording of your call-to-action matters. If “Spin to win!” isn’t performing well, test variations like “Try your luck!” or “Unlock your exclusive deal”. Even subtle differences can impact how many people participate.

A/B Test Different Designs

A simple color change, a different wheel size, or moving the spin button can make a surprising difference in conversion rates. A/B testing helps you find the most effective combination by comparing two versions of your popup and seeing which performs better.

📌 Screenshot Placeholder: Example of an A/B test comparing different Spin to Win popup versions

Small Changes, Big Impact

A Spin the Wheel popup isn’t something you set and forget. The best results come from constant testing and improvement. By tracking key metrics and making data-driven changes, you can increase email sign-ups, boost conversions, and get more visitors to redeem their rewards.

If engagement drops, don’t assume the popup doesn’t work—tweak the prize, adjust the timing, or test a new CTA. Small optimizations can turn a good campaign into a great one.

Final Thoughts: Make Spin the Wheel a Part of Your Strategy

A well-executed Spin the Wheel campaign does more than just collect emails—it creates an engaging experience that visitors actually want to interact with. By personalizing your campaign, optimizing its targeting, and using creative incentives, you can turn casual visitors into repeat customers.

If you’re ready to increase conversions, grow your email list, and drive more sales, launch your first Spin the Wheel campaign today and see the difference gamification can make.

Looking for some creative Valentines marketing ideas? Look no further.

In this post you’ll learn 10 simple-to-use marketing strategies that you can use for Valentines or any other holiday:

1. Engage visitors with the wheel of love
2. Refer-a-friend (or refer-a-crush?)
3. Offer gift cards for last-minute shoppers
4. Use delivery date-deadlines
5. Create gift guides
6. Use Influencer
7. Give VIP-Access / Pre-launch
8. Bundle themed products
9. Offer free shipping
10. Run a valentines sale

According to a survey from NRF, consumers are projected to spend over $25B for Valentine’s day. That’s a lot of money!

It also means there is a huge opportunity for you to capture the interests of all the millions of shoppers out there.

Valentine’s marketing is no different than marketing for any of the other holidays. You need to make sure you find the right creative angle for your brand, and if you don’t sell products that are normally considered “gift-worthy”, focus on self-indulgence.

You’ll see for yourself how other brands do it since this post is loaded with examples. Ok, let’s dive right in.

Delivery date-deadlines

Delivery times are a huge deal. And when it comes to gift shopping, it is critical.

Valentine’s day is kind of like Christmas. If people intend to buy a gift (and not just flowers) they need it before Feb 14th.

To convert more valentine’s day shoppers, make sure you add one (or both) of the following:

1 – Visible delivery dates for each product

2 – A countdown timer that shows the last date for guaranteed delivery before valentines

Where should you put this information?

As depicted in the images, the prime spot for showing delivery info is on the product page, above or below the add to cart-button.

A lot of sites use top banners. However, top banners are subtle and not ideal for critical and temporary information.

Delivery date deadlines should be used for almost any occasion or holiday where it’s important that people receive their items in time.

Engage visitors with The wheel of love

Chances are you’re running a valentine’s sale. But instead of doing it the same way you always do, add a layer of gamification to your website.

The wheel of love is a valentine’s day spin-the-wheel popup, and always results in a win.

Here’s how it looks:

Here are two ideas on how you can use it:

1. As a regular ‘here’s your discount’-popup on Feb 14
2. As a VIP-list builder in the week leading up to valentine’s.

A Valentine’s day themed spin-the-wheel popup is a fun and cute way to let your visitors engage in some digital games before shopping.

If you want to use this on your website, you can try Triggerbee free for 14 days.

Refer-a-friend (or refer-a-crush?)

Referral marketing is a perfect Valentine’s marketing idea.

You can offer gift cards or discounts as rewards for successful referrals, making it easy for both parties to benefit from the marketing campaign.

Due to the nature of the occasion, you can get very creative with it too.

Instead of running with the plain “Give X Get X” you could use these angles…

1. Give $10 to your crush
2. Lovers discount – Get a $10 discount for you and your loved one
3. Give $10 to all your single friends

Referral campaigns can be used throughout the year, and even as an always-on “program”. But during special holidays and occasions, make sure to theme it up!

Gift guides

Almost everyone struggles with finding the perfect gift, including your customers.

Luckily, there is an easy way to help:

Create a gift guide.

The best part about gift guides is that you can make them as big or simple as you want. You’ll see what I’m talking about in the examples below.

Some ecommerce brands go out of their way to create gift-guide landing pages for every holiday to help you find the right product.

Others just post suggestions on their social media and then curate all of the images and videos on a landing page. Even if it’s a low-effort strategy, it’s a gift guide of sorts.

Anyway, you get the point. If you don’t have a gift guide, find a way to make it happen because gifting is big business all year round.

Here are a few examples of Valentines gift guides in the wild:

Lexington’s Valentine’s gift guide

Lexington is a brand that sells high-end clothing, towels, and interior design. They have a gift guide devoted to Valentines, and the products they recommend are self-care focused. If you’re a fan of their brand and like their products, a gift guide like this can help you sift through all of their products and get some ideas of what you might want to buy.

Kiehl’s Valentine’s gift guide

Kiehl’s takes an editorial approach to their gift guide, and writes a huge piece where they recommend gift sets and new products for both men and women. This can be a great strategy if you have a strong brand, because Kiehl’s gift guide ranks in the top of Google with GQ, Men’s Health, and NY Times.

Ulta Beauty’s Valentine’s gift guide

Ulta beauty’s gift guide is simple but has all the basics you need to find a gift. The best thing about Ulta Beauty’s gift guide is the price tiers that help their customers find something that is perfect for their budget. Pay attention to the first row of product recommendations. Instead of showing their best-sellers or a manually curated collection, they opt for trend-worthy gifts.

But landing page gift guides are not the only way to do it. You can create interactive gift guides yourself onsite that guide your customers based on their choices. This can boost the engagement of your onsite visitors, by showing them relevant results based on their activity and not just a simple static webpage.

Sell gift cards to last-minute shoppers

If you’re true romantic, virtual gifts or gift cards are probably not for you. But they are great for last-minute shoppers like myself.

Gift cards let your customers choose the amount themselves (and stay within their budget), but it also leaves room for creativity.

Here are three examples from Banana Republic, Lush, and Chewy:

Banana republic gift cards

Banana Republic uses an interactive gift card editor that is super simple to use. Just enter the name of your recipient, and customize the card (looks nice, doesn’t it?). If you use a gift card service that lets you customize the gift cards, definitely push it on Valentine’s.

Lush gift cards

Lush cosmetics is a brand that sells handmade soaps, moisturizers, and more. Their products are definitely naturally gift-worthy, but they also recognize the need to offer gift cards to their customers. Instead of hiding their gift card link in the footer, they treat their gift cards as a full product.

Chewy

Chewy also has a Valentine’s section where they focus on gifting and of course gift cards. They promote their gift cards front and center between all their other products. Shopping for pet treats can be a hassle, especially if you want to shop for someone else’s pet. So instead of accidentally buying the wrong product, give your customers the chance of buying a gift card instead.

Influencer gift lists

Going back to the gift guides, if you are using influencers in your marketing – use them right.

A great marketing idea for Valentine’s can be to let your influencers pick 3-5 of their favorite products, and present them as gifts in one or multiple videos.

Make sure you get the rights to the videos because you’ll want to use these as ads on social, on your website, and in your emails.

Pre-launch your Valentine’s sale
This is our favorite marketing idea for Valentine’s day. Or any holiday for that matter.

Pre-launch your valentine’s sale!

The idea of pre-launch is to give your visitors a sense of exclusivity, which usually converts very well when paired with a discount or sale.

You could just say “Sign up to be the first to know when the sale starts”, but that’s what everyone does. The benefit of running a VIP sale is that you can collect data about your customers that you can use in your marketing.

Here’s how it works:

One week before Valentine’s day, create a campaign that contains the following: 1) an email field, 2) a single-choice block that asks “Who are you shopping for?”, and 2) a countdown to Feb 14th.

Now you have a campaign that collects all the data you need to launch your pre-sale. The email field captures the contact information of the user, and the single-choice block lets you see who your customers are planning on shopping for.

If the majority of your VIP-signups are shopping for someone else, you can use that as an angle when sending out the email to announce your sale.

Instead of something generic like “VIP Sale is open! Come shop!”, you can say “Shop gifts for your partner now!”.

Write “Valentine’s VIP Sale” as your headline, and expand on what people signing up get when they sign up for this.

Bonus: If you’re using Triggerbee, you can create a copy of your campaign targeted to your customers. But in this campaign, you’re targeting unidentified users or non-subscribers.

Create Valentine’s bundles

Bundles are a great way to increase the value of your existing products.

Product bundling is a strategy that retailers use to create curated collections of complimentary products in an effort to increase the value of a single purchase.

Here’s a great example of a bundle from Sephora’s Valentine’s section:

But don’t just bundle products for the sake of it. Be strategic, and consider the following:

• Bundle products that are useful together. For example, add brushes to hair-care sets, and batteries for electronic products. Any additional products that save time, and is perceived as more valuable in a pack than separately are great choices for bundles.
• Bundle sample-packs. If you have a lot of samples from the products you sell, bundle them together to create a sample pack. A lot of people like to try multiple products before deciding on the one they want.
• Bundle products that result in savings for your customers.

If you don’t know which products to bundle for Valentine’s, here are a few ideas:

1. Take a look at your sales data. Find products that customers often buy together, and that can be curated into a value pack or another type of bundle that can save your customers money.
2. Check out your competition. We’re not saying copy your competitors, but… copying your competitors can be a good thing. Especially if you’re copying competitors bigger than you. See which bundles they sell, and how they promote them.

Free shipping

Believe it or not, giving away free shipping is a pretty good Valentine’s marketing idea.

Which would you prefer:

Buy something and pay for shipping, or buy something and not pay for shipping?

Unless you have specific requirements, not paying for shipping is the only reasonable option.

If you don’t want to run a sale or give away any discounts, giving away free shipping is a great tactic.

You still give something away, but avoid selling your brand short.

Run a Valentine’s sale

Nothing beats classic marketing strategies.

There are millions of shoppers out there wanting to spend money. So running Valentine’s sale is a strategy that is sure to bring a lot of shoppers to your store.

A great promotion strategy for a valentines day sale means publishing on social media, activities on your website, sending out emails, and running ads.

Bangerhead, a Swedish beauty brand, have curated a landing page for their Valentine’s sale. Here’s how it looks:

Let’s briefly cover which steps to take before launching your Valentine’s sale:

1. At the beginning of February, send out a prep email.
2. Around that same time, publish a pre-launch popup on your website. In the popup we would add 1) an email field and 2) multi-choice buttons asking the visitor who they plan to buy for (i.e. themselves or a significant other).
3. Based on the answers in the popup, we’ll start prepping the “launch” email and ads for social media.
4. Put up extra banners and embedded content surfaces on the product pages, to announce the last date to order for guaranteed delivery before Valentines.

The day before Valentine’s, schedule the launch email to be sent out at around 07.00 in the morning

The best launch strategies are simple, and this one is definitely not hard to replicate.

When to start your Valentine’s marketing campaigns?

Ok, now that we’ve covered the best valentines marketing ideas, let’s briefly go through when you should start promoting your chosen campaign.

The short answer: The earlier the better. But not too early!

Valentine’s is one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. However, it’s a one-day event – not a season.

A great time to start your Valentine’s marketing is in the beginning of February, because Retail shopping peaks about 1 week before Valentine’s day.

If your customers often buy gifts from you, make sure you’re out promoting your products at least 2 weeks before so the ones that wants to buy something from you can do it, and get their products delivered in time.

Summary

You’ve just seen examples of 10 different valentines marketing ideas. Make sure to use them wisely, and you can probably figure out yourself which ones are fit for last-minute campaigns (hint: gift cards).

Make sure to theme your marketing correctly (hints and hues of red) and focus on spreading love.

Good luck!