Manual Challenges Overview
Manual challenges use a different workflow for task tracking than other challenge types that allows them to support any type of task. Instead of automatic verification, users are prompted to take a photograph or screenshot that shows the task being completed, then upload that content to the challenge. This can include tasks such as uploading videos to Youtube, acknowledging important documents, engaging on other social media platforms, or anything else that can be verified by a photograph or screenshot submission.
This queues the submission for your review on the Review Content tab of the Admin Web Portal. From there, you can approve or reject submissions depending on the workflow that has been configured on the particular challenge.
Learn more about approving or rejecting content on the Review Content tab here!
How to Create a Manual Challenge
To create a Manual challenge, start by heading to your Challenges tab. Click the blue +CREATE button at the top of the Challenges screen, then select the Manual option from the challenge type menu.
Choose Type - Click Manual
Name - Fill this in with the name of the challenge as users will see it in-app.
Dates - Fill in the Start and End Dates & Times in their respective fields to set the duration you would like the challenge to run for.
Submissions - The Number of Submissions sets the submission goal, which also functions as the maximum number of allowed submissions. For most Manual challenges, you’ll want to set the Number of Submissions to 1. In this case, award 0 points per submission and only use the Points field. Some tasks may prompt users to complete multiple submissions of a repetitive task, or submit multiple images showing different parts of a completed task. Set the Number of Submissions accordingly in these cases.
Points & Cost - The points field determines the number of bonus points to give to users and the value is how much it is worth in dollars.
Options - Checking the Require Review option on a challenge will affect the way that users earn points from their submissions. If left unchecked, users will automatically earn points from submissions, with the possibility of those points being revoked if the submission is later rejected via the Admin Web Portal. If checked, users will only be awarded points when the submission is approved in the Admin Web Portal. Check out our article on the Review Content tab to learn more about approving and rejecting content.
Next, determine whether users can prematurely mark a challenge as complete. It is NOT recommended that you enable this option; if this box is checked, then users will be able to complete the challenge even if they do not submit all of the required photos.
The next step is to determine if you want to require this challenge to be completed in a specific area. Keep in mind that SocialLadder will track location data even if the location requirement is turned off.
If you decide to require location, you will need to set an allowable location radius for user submissions. Start by choosing a location to be the center of the radius, such as a venue or a college campus. The location will appear on the map (as pictured below).
Next, you will choose a radius around the location. You can click and drag the dot on this line or input a number to set the radius in meters around the central location that forms the allowable radius for your challenge.
Instructions - You will see the Challenge Image. It defaults to a stock photo which can be replaced with the Upload Image button directly under it. Fill in the text of how you would like users to complete this challenge. You want to make this as detailed as possible for users! Note that the Challenge Description is not editable, so there’s no need to provide any information or instruction that is already listed there. Make sure to be clear in your Call to Action regarding what each submission should consist of. If you want submitted screenshots or captions to include specific information, include those instructions here.
Advanced - Choose if you would like to make this challenge available for a specific segment, part of a campaign, required, or limited.
Finish - Click Save and Publish!
Tips & Tricks
Use Manual challenges for additional functionality on Facebook and Instagram. The Facebook Engagement, Instagram, and Share challenge types all prompt users to complete automatically verified tasks on their social media accounts. There are certain tasks, however, that aren’t supported by those challenge types, such as prompting users to engage with content on Instagram. Use Manual challenges to accomplish anything that you can’t achieve with existing challenge types!
Set up open-ended challenges. Some program organizers will want to set up open-ended tasks, like prompting their users to engage with every new Instagram post from their brand account. Manual challenge types are usually the best way of going about these tasks. See our guide for setting up open-ended challenges for more information.
Use Postering and Flyering challenge types for field marketing tasks. While Manual challenges prompt for the same workflow of photograph submission, there are key differences between Manual and Postering or Flyering challenge types. Check out our article on field marketing with SocialLadder for more information on how you should set up your field marketing campaign.
Use Manual Challenges for ambassadors to submit important documents, like a photo release or a signed contract. They can submit a photo of their signature of send photos of themselves right through the challenge.
For any other questions about this feature, click on the blue chat icon at the bottom of the SocialLadder Admin Web Portal to activate the Intercom chat feature.