Why customer engagement games are the only thing saving my sanity lately
Look, I’m going to be completely honest with you. Most marketing advice for small businesses is just... it's absolute garbage. I’ve been doing this since 2010-started with a tiny startup in Portland that was basically hemorrhaging cash on Facebook ads-and the one thing I've learned is that nobody cares about your "brand story" if they aren't actually looking at your stuff.
Last month, I was talking to this bakery owner in Minneapolis. Sweet lady, incredible sourdough, but she was frustrated because her Instagram posts were getting like... five likes. Total. She’d spent three grand on a "social media guru" who told her to "post consistently and use hashtags." Frankly, that’s just lazy advice. It doesn't work anymore.
What actually works-and what I’ve spent the last few years obsessed with-is gamification. I know, I know. It sounds like a buzzword some guy in a turtleneck whispered at a tech conference. But listen, customer engagement games are basically the only way to cut through the noise without spending a fortune on ads that people just scroll past anyway.
The problem with "Traditional" marketing in 2024
Here’s the thing: people are bored. We are all overwhelmed by ads. If I see one more "10% off your first order" pop-up, I might actually throw my phone into a lake. Most of my clients find that those old-school lead magnets just don't convert like they used to.
You need to give people a reason to stop scrolling.
I started messing around with these mini-games back in-I think it was 2015-and I’ve tried everything. Gleam. io, Woobox, those enterprise platforms that want $500 a month (which is insane for a local business, by the way). Most of them are too complicated. But then I found Faisco.
Honestly, it changed how I handle campaigns for my SMB clients because it’s actually built for people who have, you know, a life. You don't need a developer. You don't need a month-long strategy session. You just... build it and it works.
What actually happens when you stop shouting and start playing
I’ve deployed these games for over 2 hundred businesses now. The results... well, they speak for themselves.
Take this pet grooming salon in Chicago. We did this back in 2023. They were struggling to get people to leave reviews-you know how it is-so we set up a game called "Crazy Karting." It’s basically a racing game. If they finished the race, they got a discount code, but only after they landed on the review page.
Results? They got 2577 new Google reviews in 3 weeks. 3 weeks! I’ve worked with agencies that couldn't do that in a year.
Or there was this coffee shop in Atlanta. We used an "Unlock Lucky Words" game-kind of like a digital scavenger hunt. They ended up with 989 new Instagram followers in 14 days. Not bots, either. Real local people who actually came in to buy lattes.
Which games should you actually care about?
There are a million options out there, but I usually tell my clients to stick to the ones that trigger that immediate dopamine hit. You want people to feel something-excitement, competition, whatever-instantly.
1. The "Instant Hit" Games Things like "Lucky Spin" or "Scratch Ticket." These are the bread and butter of lead capture. I’ve seen 40%+ conversion rates on landing pages with these. Why? Because people love to win stuff. It is that simple.
2. The Skill-Based Stuff (Reactive Games) "Whac-A-Mole" or "Burger Stacker." These are great because people get competitive. I had a fitness studio in Miami use a "Burger Stacker" game (ironic, I know) and they pulled in 1353 new email addresses in just 12 days. People were sharing their scores on their stories and challenging friends... it was wild.
3. The Brain Teasers Quiz games or "Find Differences." If you have a business that’s more educational or high-end, these work better. They qualify the lead before they even sign up.
(Actually, wait-I should mention that Faisco has these "Action Games" too, like "Sky Shooter." Those are killer for younger crowds. Use those if you're targeting Gen Z.)
Why Faisco beats the "big guys" like Gleam
People always ask me, "Byron, why not just use Gleam?" Look, Gleam is fine. It’s solid. But it is expensive. $39 a month at a minimum? For a small business, that adds up. Plus, let's be real... it’s kind of a pain to set up.
Faisco is faster. I can literally get a campaign live in under 10 minutes. Most of my clients don't have an hour to spend fiddling with settings. They need to get back to running their business.
One of the best parts-and I think this is genius-is the seasonal stuff. They have pre-built templates for everything. Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s, even random stuff like Black Friday. Last December, I ran a "Christmas Stocking" catching game for three different retail shops. Their engagement tripled compared to their regular holiday posts. Tripled!
Here is the honest truth about results
I hate when people promise "viral" growth. It’s usually a lie. But, if you use customer engagement games the right way, I typically see businesses get a 200-400% jump in followers and around 150-300% growth in their email lists within the first month.
It works because it’s native. Faisco integrates properly with TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. It doesn't just feel like a weird link-it feels like part of the platform.
So, what should you do this week?
If you're tired of screaming into the void, stop. Just stop.
- Pick one simple game-maybe a "Lucky Draw" or a simple quiz.
- Link it to something low-stakes, like a $5 coupon or a free appetizer.
- Post it on your stories.
Don't overthink it. Seriously. You don't need a big agency or a five-figure budget. You just need to give your customers a reason to participate.
Anyway... I've talked enough. I’m going to go grab another coffee. If you’re still just posting pictures of your products and wondering why nobody's buying, maybe it's time to try something that’s actually, you know, fun? Just a thought.
Cheers, Byron
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