Implementing the Hook model - variable reward and investment

The final 2 stages of the Hook Model focus on rewarding users and encouraging investment:

• A variable reward — the payoff for the action, with an element of variability to create anticipation.
• Investment — what users put into the product, increasing the likelihood of return.

The key considerations at the investment stage are:

• Encourage users to invest time, data, effort, social capital, or money into your product.
• Ensure this investment improves the product experience over time (e.g., more accurate recommendations, expanded network).

Google Maps expertly combines multiple reward types in its Local Guide program: users earn points and badges at unpredictable rates for their contributions, while helping others (rewards of the tribe) and unlocking new status levels that recognize their expertise in different areas like reviewing or photography.