How to Use Gamification with Your Online Course to Keep Your Students Engaged

You’ve worked hard on your course. You’ve welcomed new students. You’re watching them log in, check out the first lesson or two…

…and then nothing.

No progress. No questions. No completions.

It’s one of the most frustrating (and common) experiences for course creators: when people buy your program but don’t actually finish it. Not only does it impact your students’ results, it makes it harder for you to get testimonials, referrals, and recurring revenue.

So how do you fix that?

Gamification.

And no—you don’t need to turn your course into a video game. But you can use simple, motivating strategies that keep your students excited to come back and take the next step.

What Is Gamification, Really?

Gamification is simply the use of incentives and feedback loops to encourage progress. Think badges, completion certificates, discount codes, or even a simple “congratulations” message at key milestones.

These rewards don’t need to be flashy—but they do need to be intentional.

Why Gamification Works

We all like to feel a sense of progress. When students see how far they’ve come (and are rewarded for it), they’re more likely to keep going. It taps into a basic human need: the satisfaction of moving forward.

It also shifts the tone from “just get through this content” to “you’re on a mission—and here’s your next step.”

A Simple Strategy You Can Use

Here’s a practical example shared during one of our Unstuck Me Club strategy sessions:

If you’re using badges or milestone emails in your Kajabi course, try this tiered approach:

• Early Progress = Encouragement

A simple email that says, “Congrats! You’re making great progress!” goes a long way. Add a motivational tip or reminder of what’s coming up next.

• Midway Milestone = Bonus Resource

Reward them with a helpful podcast episode, exclusive worksheet, or quick win video when they hit the halfway mark.

• Final Completion = Something Tangible

Send a certificate of completion and include a discount code or a one-time offer for your next course. This encourages them to keep going—not just in your course, but in their overall journey with you.

Keep It Simple and Strategic

Gamification doesn’t mean turning your course into a video game.

It means giving your learners something to look forward to and a reason to take the next step.

You don’t need to reinvent your course—just look at where students tend to drop off and ask:

What can I add here to encourage them to keep going?

Here's the easy way to bring student engagement to your Kajabi course

We recommend checking out Jiffy Courses and their Gamification Templates designed specifically for Kajabi creators. These templates make it incredibly easy to add badges, progress indicators, milestone rewards, and more—without having to figure out the coding or design from scratch.

They’ve thought of everything: from student dashboards to reward systems that actually look good and function smoothly inside Kajabi.

And here’s the best part—we’re Jiffy Courses affiliates and experts in customizing their templates. So if you pick one up using our affiliate link here, not only will you get a beautiful gamified layout, but you’ll also have access to the support you need to make it truly yours.

Let your course do more than just deliver content. Let it motivate, reward, and retain your students—one badge at a time.

*Kajabi Partner Disclaimer: We are not employees, agents or representatives of Kajabi, LLC. Kajabi does not in any way endorse our products or services. We are an independent Kajabi Partner and we receive referral payments from Kajabi in this role. All opinions expressed herein are our own and are not official statements of Kajabi or any party affiliated with Kajabi.