We've all seen companies try wild things to motivate their sales teams - from pizza parties to generic gift cards that end up forgotten in drawers. Although these might seem like good ideas at first, we have much better sales incentive ideas that actually work.
Motivating your sales team can be tricky because everyone is different. Not every sales rep responds to the same motivation strategy. This means you'll need to find a few different and creative ways to reward your team.
That's why we created this simple guide that will give you great ideas to use on all types of sales reps.
What is a sales incentive?
A sales incentive is a way to motivate sales reps to work better. It's usually done with rewards which can be money, gifts, experiences or something else. By rewarding your employees, you're not just motivating them to sell more, but also making them more productive overall.
In this article, we won't talk about yearly bonuses. Instead, we'll focus on creative ideas that give more than just money. Reward your employees with products, services and experiences that will help them grow both at work and as people.
Why is money not a good sales incentive?
Money rewards don't work as well as non-money rewards. First, giving your employees money feels like just another transaction. After all, they get money with every paycheck and that doesn't show how much you appreciate their hard work.
The gifts we've listed show that you're listening and that you care about your employees. The more personal the gift is, the better. Also, since many companies now work remotely, putting effort into organizing these experiences shows that you're serious about making your company a great place to work.
The research behind non-monetary awards
A study by Wichita State University showed how emotions matter when picking a non-money reward instead of cash. Researchers asked people to choose between cash, a new TV or a cruise (all worth the same amount). Most people picked cash.
But when they were asked later how happy they were with their choice, things changed. People wished they had picked the TV or the cruise over money. The researchers found that getting a gift people wouldn't buy for themselves created more excitement than cash.
Sales incentives for a high-performing team
Our list of sales incentives ranges from physical products to experiences and services. Here are 12 creative ways to reward your top performers and keep your entire team motivated.
1. Gift cards
One of the most common ways managers motivate salespeople is with gift cards. They can be for clothing stores, tech stores, travel or anything your employees would like. The type of gift card is best decided by talking with your employees.
Do they love music and TV and would enjoy a Spotify or Netflix gift card? Or do they love fashion? The better you know your employees, the easier it will be to decide. Try to choose stores that aren't related to your work so employees can buy things they love for their everyday lives.
2. Tech gadgets
Who doesn't love a good gadget that can make life easier? We mean smartwatches, smart rings, robot vacuums, tablets, home cameras and more. Do your employees have children? Gift them baby monitors. Are they pet owners? Look into heated beds, water fountains, cooling vests and more for their furry friends.
You can find many different gadgets and pick something special you know your employee will love.
3. Subscription boxes
Subscription boxes are like gifts every month, or even better - gifts from the boss. They're exciting because you don't know exactly what you'll get each month. The best part is this isn't a one-time thing, but a service with many shipments.
You can sign up your employees for a food subscription like HelloFresh, a wine or cocktail box, a coffee subscription, a makeup subscription, a skincare box, a book subscription, a clothing box like Stitch Fix, or any local business subscription.
4. Spa treatments
People who work hard deserve to relax. There's nothing better than spending a day by the pool getting massages. This works great even if your employees work from home. You can use Tripadvisor to find the best spas in the towns where your salespeople live.
The best part? Well-rested employees are productive employees.
5. Cooking classes
If you want to improve your employees' lives, cooking classes are a great idea. They're fun and creative and let your employees relax. Learning new recipes can also be a fun team activity. It's a good way to share different cultures and employees can share photos and videos of their meals in Slack after class.
6. Training opportunities
Learning opportunities and career growth are great ways to motivate your employees. Classes, workshops and chances to grow in the company work as long-term rewards for your sales team. This is easy to set up, even when working remotely.
7. Extra days off
Extra vacation days are super valuable. Reward your hard-working sales team with extra time off they can use to spend with family, travel or relax at home. Make sure to cover their work so they can truly disconnect and not worry about work while on vacation.
8. Paid activity for their family
Some people love staying on the couch watching movies and others love active fun. For employees who love staying active, you can organize fun activities they can do with their families like escape rooms, visits to national parks, concerts, rock climbing, sports events, cruises, film festival tickets and more.
9. Donating to their favourite causes
Sometimes the best reward is showing you care about what your employees care about. If your sales team chooses this reward, share your plan with other employees to encourage them to donate too. While one person can't make much difference, a whole company of people can create real change.
10. Giving them a platform
Working in big companies can make employees feel like they're not heard. Give them chances to talk to leaders, people in other teams and even customers. This is usually done through company newsletters, but you can also invite them to meetings with managers.
You can also highlight your employees on social media. Instead of the old employee of the month wall photos, show off your employees on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Praising employees publicly gives them confidence and respect in the company.
11. Creating a book club for them
Create a special list of books your CEO loves and thinks everyone should read. This reward will make your employees feel special and give them an edge over others. Set up follow-up meetings where employees and the CEO can talk about the books and how they relate to today's business.
One-on-one meetings with the owner don't have to be scary. Give your employees confidence by organizing meetings where they don't have to talk about sales numbers.
12. A reward of their choosing
We wanted to end the list with the most personal idea that comes from your employees themselves. Ask them what reward they'd like to get. They might think of a creative idea you wouldn't have thought of. Plus, they'll know you're putting time and effort into them and really care about motivating them and creating a good work place.
Conclusion
The most important thing is to know your employees, talk with them and include them in decisions. After all, they know best what motivates them and how you can help them work better. Research shows that non-money rewards create stronger feelings and longer satisfaction than cash bonuses. By using these creative sales reward ideas, you're not just rewarding good work—you're building a culture where your team feels valued, motivated and excited to reach their goals.
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