When you operate a multi-author WordPress site, the quality of the content produced depends on the contributing writers, editors, subject matter experts, and reviewers behind it all. The contributors are creating your authority and credibility on a daily basis. But, if they are not provided with an effective recognition system , their motivation can decline and the standards of content will become diluted.

A contributor recognition system provides clarity around expectations, encourages accountability, and rewards measurable progress toward specific goals. You can create an effective system by adhering to a few best practices.  Here are some general guidelines to use as you work toward developing a successfully recognizable system.

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1. Start With Purpose Over Perks

Before deciding on specifics like badges and awards, determine the overall intended purpose of the recognition system. Improve your content by identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) and creating an editorial identity for your brand.

Are you trying to produce more in-depth research? Reduce the number of times that a piece of content needs to be revised? Produce stronger organic performance? Get better sourcing of your content? Or deliver updated content quickly when it is outdated?

Recognition systems should not only advance productivity. They should also support the integrity and identity of your brand or site in its editorial mission.  Define clearly your goals and make them very definitive so that there is no risk of confusion or ambiguity.

2. Establishing Clear Definitions for Success

Contributors require an objective standard by which they can be assessed. If there are no measurable standards, then it is difficult for them to feel they were recognized for their work.

On a WordPress website, this means combining performance data and quality indicators. Consistently publishing content on time, adhering to the established editorial standards, using credible sources, and providing first-hand experience in relation to the topic all play an important role in being considered as a contributor.

Traffic numbers and user engagement may contribute to your overall assessment of your content, but they should not be your primary focus. An article that provides in-depth research, builds authority, and was published according to established standards is more valuable than an eye-catching article that trends for only 24 hours.

3. Tiers For Progression Towards Achieving Recognition

Once you clearly define the criteria that will be used to evaluate your contributors’ performance, categorize those criteria by levels. Tiers provide contributors with a goal to strive for.

You may have a base contributor, senior contributor, featured contributor and editorial fellow category. You could also come up with names for these roles based on the amount of assistance needed. Either way, each type of contributor should strive for the next level.

Each step on any tier will provide value to contributors. It could provide higher pay, more prominence on the homepage or author box, or even an invitation to join an editorial committee. It should be apparent that contributors can continue to progress through the tiers, encouraging them to actively work towards improvement.

4. Keep Things Personal

No amount of perfect programs can ever compare or substitute for showing genuine appreciation. A nice note after a challenging investigative project, public praise after updating an old article, or a reward for consistently beating deadlines can help keep things personal. Structure is provided by formal recognition, but loyalty comes from personal recognition.

When contributors feel that they are recognized, not just ranked by the publication, they take pride in the overall work. Take advantage of platforms like Awards for trophies and other custom awards that will help your contributors feel seen.

5. Find Ways to Automate Your Milestones

Tracking manually is not sustainable for long term use. Automation creates a level playing field and helps keep things fair. Editorial rating data can be stored in WordPress’ post meta fields. By integrating analytical tools into your workflow, you can easily notify your writers when they achieve milestone traffic for their articles. You can also integrate your Slack channel to congratulate your team when they hit their milestone traffic.

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6. Assess and Adjust as You Grow

No recognition platform is established perfectly. Therefore, you need to review your system on a quarterly basis to ensure you are meeting the needs of your creators.

Ask your contributors if they feel supported or pressured. Then, look at the overall quality of their work compared to their performance output to identify any correlation.

Your recognition system will need to change as your organization evolves. What may work with ten contributors may not work with fifty.

Establish Guardrails to Protect Quality

Metrics-based systems often reinforce ‘cutting corners’ which is why it is vital to establish clear ethical principles. Plagiarism, misrepresentation of one’s areas of expertise, and improper sourcing should be explicitly disqualified from receiving recognition. Do not allow anything that undermines the credibility of your organization through incentivizing tactics based on clicks. If your editorial guidelines allow the use of AI for content creation, require that contributors disclose any assistance received from AI content.