How businesses leverage Goal Gradient Effect to boost engagement and revenue
⌛ Progress Indicators
By visually communicating the progress of a task, progress bars help users understand the current status and estimated time remaining, reducing uncertainty and anxiety. This transparency and feedback instill a sense of trust
and satisfaction, making users more likely to stay engaged and complete the task.
Eg: 🏋️♂️ Activity rings on Apple watch representing users' daily progress encourages them to engage with it more for a sense of achievement and improved fitness.
👾 Gamification
UI gamification introduces game-like elements such as badges, rewards and progress animations which motivate users to interact with the interface more frequently and for longer durations without getting frustrated.
Eg: 🍕 Doordash introduces animations of dashers visually depicting the progress of the order keeping users engaged and hopeful about their delivery time.
🎁 Loyalty programs
Loyalty programs are designed to incentivize customers to engage with a brand on a regular basis, which in turn boosts user engagement and revenue. By offering exclusive perks to loyal customers, these programs create a sense of value and appreciation,
encouraging them to make repeat purchases.
Eg: ☕ Starbucks rewards program gives you fun freebies and other benefits when you earn stars by making frequent purchases. The same applies to airline loyalty programs that entice you into first class upgrades and premium benefits when
opted in.
🏁 Offering a head start
Doing some of the initial work for new or repeat customers creates an illusion of positive progress towards task completion by providing them with a perceived advantage. However, this
feeling of progress may not necessarily reflect true achievement, as it can be artificially induced through preferential treatment, ultimately creating an artificial sense of positive advancement.
Eg: 📸 Instagram's "smart" idea of automatically importing all the data from the users' IG account
to Threads app expedites the account setup process allowing users to get to using the feature in a jiffy!