PunchTab's New Side Bar Widget w/ Activity Stream

[Kris]

There was a lot of buzz a few months back about PunchTab. Like many others I was pretty excited about it, but many of our members seemed annoyed by the little ribbon floating on top of the content and I read other issues of it slowing down networks which we never experienced.

We even removed it for a few days but then we had members emailing asking where was it. So we found ourselves asking what should we do. Not even a day later we were approached by PunchTab to try out their new Giveaway feature in exchange they would sponsor/provide the prize. We figured why not what could it hurt since we had already been using Wildfire. At first we got mediocre result compared to Wildfire but month after month PunchTab made improvements and now we are seeing similar results with their Giveaway.

They have also made some major improvements to their Loyalty Program (Rewards) one of my favorites is the option of having a side bar widget instead of the floating red ribbon and most recently adding an activity stream so your users can see what others are doing on your site to earn points.

We now have over 3k activity using rewards on our network, a lot of them visiting and sharing content daily. In my opinion its defiantly worth giving it a second look if you haven't already done so.

 

Note: I have not been paid or even so much asked by PunchTab to promote their tool, this is just my personal experience with it on my network.

[Robyn HAnnah]

Right now, we support comments for Ning, FB, Wordpress, Typepad, Blogger and DISQUS. You CAN use our java script API to build other comment enabled functions. We're working on pumping out new products all the time! And you know we'll keep you in the loop. Thanks for all your fantastic feedback!!

[Illya]

Where on my Ning network do I put your java script API to enable other functions like 25 points for certain page view? I tried adding the codes in the ning custom codes box just before the PunchTab's () code, but when I did and went to the homepage, all the points seemed to have been activated at once and gave my test account like 1000 free points accumulatively.

Signed http://jupiterbuzz.com

[Robyn HAnnah]

Take a look at this: http://blog.punchtab.com/index.php/2011/08/reward-enable-your-websi...

 

Should be helpful :)

[Scott Bishop]

I don't trust Punchtab!!! I had finally received enough points for a $15.00 gift card on Amazon AND a $5.00 gift card for Starbucks which I use both all the time. When I wanted to collect it wasn't there anymore! Instead I had to settle on a gift card for Best Buy or E-Bay. Neither of which I use.

What a wast of time and and a huge disappointment. I don't not want my members to be disappointed either so I removed Punchtab.

[Kris]

@ Scott it says right in the catalog subject to availability, considering the fact that you don't have to put up the prize and PunchTab is FREE to use that's a little week to bitch about in my opinion. Some of our members as well don't care for the current rewards and are just saving and building their points to see what comes available next. At the end of the day you could always provide your own rewards.

[Patrick Chappelle]

Well said, Kris.

[Scott Bishop]

I put up Punchtab at the very beginning and did the maximum allowed points everyday. When enough points were collected they changed the prize. Not too cool... at all!!!

That should tell you, "Do not expect to get what you're putting your time in for."

Now how do you think your members will feel???

Btw- I don't view it as "free". Time is money.

[Kris]

We have over 3k people using it now and didn't get one complaint when the rewards got updated so I can only assume it didn't' bother my members to much.

It's also my understanding that the rewards will be updated from time to time, I think this is great for those that aren't providing their own rewards as this keep it fresh. I'm sure there where member who didn't like the first batch of rewards.

I didn't add it to my network to try to win $5 gift card nor would I go out of my way to try and max out the allowed points per day.

We added it to increase member engagement and keep them coming back more frequently. Based on stats from our PunchTab CP it seems to be doing just that.

[Scott Bishop]

How many of that 3k has actually collected?

It's a rewards program not member engagement. I use my Ning site and FB for that.

[Kris]

keyword was increase member engagement but you must get more engagement than you know what do with from your whole 29 FB Fans.

Dude we get it, PunchTab isn't for you

[Robyn HAnnah]

Hey Scott,

 

Sounds like you were putting in a few minutes everyday, clicking on and sharing PunchTab. We're sorry to hear you've been so disappointed with the $5 gift card you earned. We're happy to have you keep the free $5 card we sent to you and refund you your points. You can hang on to them until we've got something in our sponsored catalog that's more appealing to you.

 

And as Kris said, you can customize your own redemption catalog for your users. Give away branded SWAG or discounts.

 

Hope you give us another shot!

Feel free to email me. [e-mail]

 

Cheers,

Robyn

[Illya]

You have to remember those gifts aren't always there to stay, now before you blast me out... Let me say first that I dint work for them... I only have an account with them as you did. And what I understand is that based on the availability of their prizes you can use your points to get them... Take for example, if you use the custom catalog (which means you will be responsible for providing your own gifts) then you control what your member will receive when they have enough points and how much points they would need to be considered enough for a certain gift. As you may run out of that particular gift, you will need yourself to take it down so that your members don't redeem their points for that gift. And that is why, in my best understanding of what you mentioned why it was that you where not about to get the prize you wanted.