The days of cash incentives for performance are becoming a thing of the past. Such rewards are effective for a short time but quickly become an expected part of a salesperson's income and end up being used to pay bills. Successful companies are examining new ways of motivating their sales force and have found the following programs very effective:

• Referral Rewards - awarding non salespeople prizes for providing leads that turn into sales.
• Give out scratch-off prize cards for each sale, order or new customer. Make most of the rewards small items (shirts, caps, mugs, sun glasses) with a few large prizes.
• Reward every tenth order or every sale over a certain dollar amount.
• Give "play" money to salespeople for each sale. The larger the sale, the more money received.

       Compile a catalog from which they can use this play money to purchase gifts. Sending out a catalog on a regular basis will remind salespeople of the program and motivates them to sell. Remember - The road to success is paved one mile at a time.

       Some of the most popular incentives are electronics, watches, power tools, cameras, home appliances, and sporting goods.