Points work. Badges work. Leaderboards work. Your members are earning and climbing.
But here’s what’s missing: urgency. No urgency means no countdown, no shared push and no reason to act today
There’s no reason to engage today instead of next week. No shared moment. No countdown pulling everyone forward at the same time.
That changes now.
Competitions are here. And they’re available today in BuddyBoss Plus, turning everyday engagement into something members race to complete.
What Competitions Let You Do
Competitions turn your gamification system into a live event. Instead of “earn points whenever,” you’re saying “earn points by Friday and here’s what you’ll unlock.”
Here’s what you can do with competitions::
- Create time-bound challenges with defined start and end dates
- Choose your trigger — posts, comments, course completions, logins, likes, profile completion, and more
- Stack your rewards — award points, Achievements, or unlock exclusive content
- Let members track progress right from their profile
- Monitor participation from your Competitions dashboard
You set the rules. You set the timeline. Your members do the rest.
Why Deadlines Change Everything
Think about the apps that actually get people to show up consistently. Duolingo. Strava. Nike Run Club. They all share one thing: time pressure.
“Deadlines create urgency. Urgency creates action.”
When your community knows a challenge ends Sunday, they don’t bookmark it for later. They move. And when everyone’s working toward the same goal at the same time, something shifts. The energy compounds. Members start encouraging each other. The feed comes alive.
Competitions give your members something to do together, at the same time, with a finish line.
Need inspiration? We put together 7 community competition ideas that actually drive engagement, including exactly which triggers, durations, and rewards work best for each one.
Here’s What You Can Build
Here are three competitions you could launch this week:
Welcome Week Challenge
Challenge members to comment on 10 posts in 7 days. Point them to your introductions forum or a pinned welcome thread. Those who finish earn a “Welcome Week Champion” badge.
Why it works: Commenting is low-stakes and gets new members interacting immediately. When they see responses back, they’re more likely to stick around.
Content Creation Challenge
Challenge members to publish 10 posts in 30 days. Award points for each post, with a bonus achievement for hitting the goal.
Why it works: Most lurkers aren’t lazy but they’re uncertain. A challenge gives them permission to post and a reason to do it.
Holiday Points Race
Set a goal: earn 1,000 points by Christmas. Show a leaderboard. Make the countdown visible. Those who hit the milestone unlock access to an exclusive resource or members-only space.
Why it works: Seasonal events feel inherently time-limited. That psychology works in your favor.
These are just starting points. Once you see how your community responds, you’ll find formats that fit your specific members and goals.
How to Set Up Your First Competition
Setting up a competition takes about two minutes. Here’s how:
- Navigate to BuddyBoss → Gamification → Competitions
- Click “Add New Competition”
- Name your competition — something clear and motivating (e.g., “Black Friday Blitz” or “New Member Sprint”)
- Choose your trigger — what action counts toward completion
- Set the required count — how many times members need to complete the action
- Pick your rewards — points, achievements, or content unlocks
- Define your Start Date, End Date, Start Time, End Time
- Save and launch
That’s it. Your competition is live.
Members can track their progress on their profile. You can monitor participation and see who’s leading from your Competitions dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plan includes Competitions?
Competitions are available on the BuddyBoss Plus plan.
Do I need the full Gamification suite enabled?
Yes. Competitions work alongside Points, Ranks, and Achievements. They’re part of the complete Gamification system, not a standalone feature.
Can members see their progress?
Absolutely. Members track their progress from the Awards Page under the Competitions tab.
Can I run multiple competitions at once?
Yes. You can run several competitions simultaneously, different triggers, different timelines, different rewards. Just be mindful of competition fatigue. Spacing them out keeps each one feeling special.
What happens when a competition ends?
Members who completed the challenge receive their rewards automatically. Those who didn’t can try again if you run the competition again or you can create a new one with different parameters.
Available Now
Competitions are live today in BuddyBoss Plus.
If you’re already on the Plus plan, head to BuddyBoss → Gamification → Competitions and set up your first challenge.
If you’re not on Plus yet, now’s the time. Competitions join Points, Ranks, Achievements, and the rest of the Gamification suite, everything you need to turn passive members into active participants.
Give your members a deadline worth chasing.
Quick Recap
- Competitions = time-based challenges with start and end dates
- Triggers = posts, comments, course completions, logins, likes, profile completion
- Rewards = Points, Achievements, Unlock Content
- Availability = BuddyBoss Plus, live now
Your members already have reasons to engage. Now give them a reason to engage today.
