A sales SPIF, or special performance incentive fund, is a short-term incentive that is used to motivate sales reps to achieve specific goals. SPIFs are typically offered in addition to the regular commission structure, and they can be a valuable tool for driving sales.
SPIFs can be used to motivate sales reps to achieve a variety of goals, such as:
- Closing a certain number of deals
- Generating a certain amount of leads
- Upselling or cross-selling
- Achieving a certain sales quota
- Securing deals early on in a quota cycle
- Selling deals to an ideal customer profile or new industry
SPIFs can be structured in a variety of ways, but they typically offer a one-time bonus for achieving the desired goal. The bonus can be a fixed amount, or it can be a percentage of the sales that are generated.
Remember that if SPIFs are not used carefully, they can lead to unethical behavior, such as falsifying sales numbers or taking shortcuts.
Here are some tips for using SPIFs effectively:
- Make sure the goals are achievable: The goals should be challenging but achievable. If the goals are too easy, sales reps will not be motivated to try. If the goals are too difficult, sales reps will become discouraged and may give up.
- Communicate the goals clearly: Sales reps need to know exactly what they need to do to achieve the goals. The goals should be communicated clearly and concisely.
- Make the bonus worth it: The bonus should be large enough to be motivating, but not so large that it becomes a distraction.
- Track the results: It is important to track the results of the SPIF (use QuotaPath) to see if it is effective. If the SPIF is not effective, it may need to be modified or discontinued.
- When you do have successful SPIFs, consider implementing into your next compensation plan. These are great tools to test and experiment with future iterations of your comp plans.
By following these tips, you can use SPIFs effectively to motivate sales reps and achieve your sales goals.