Quest for useful reputation system

[ArtG]

I am trying to remove things that are just noise and replace with few but powerful things that encourage the behaviors I want from my members.

Desired behavior - visiting site frequently, posting quality threads and replies, contributing quality articles, feeling of belonging from community.

I consider reactions necessary but mostly just ubiquitous noise. Seen everywhere but not really driving behavior.

Complex credit, trophy or extrinsic reward systems, IMO, don’t achieve desired behavior in the long term. You get short term boost of engagement but people only doing it for the extrinsic reward not out of a growing intrinsic habit towards the site and community.

What I’ve done instead to try to achieve desired behaviors:

1. Set existing reactions to neutral.
2. Created a new reaction called Trophy and set it to positive with a point value of 1.
3. Created a new user group called Rockstar with a very cool and distinct user banner.
4. Set up promotion to Rockstar is based on:
   • 500 post minimum +
   • Reaction ratio of at least .75 +
   • Visited site at least 15 times in the last month +
   • Registered at least six months ago
5. Informed members what Rockstar is and when to give the Trophy reaction - when they feel a post or article is high quality and they appreciate it. I expressed the importance of having these Rockstars in our community and how they should be celebrated.

My hope is that this will:

• Encourage good community contributors to keep doing what they are doing and recognize them with status
• Recognize quality contributions
• Make Rockstars feel invested in the community and build a feeling of belonging

I’ve recognized that the Rockstars are the lifeblood of a community and the drivers for positive growth. Focusing on them should increase quality content with the result of growing the community.

I would love your thoughts on the above. Anything you disagree with? Any smarter ways of accomplishing the goal?

Thanks!