# Save the draft, then make the game live

How to run a sales contest is to pick one format, one metric, and a window, save it as a draft so reps never see it, then activate and make it live for the crew already on the map. Knockdesk is field sales software for that game, and this how-to sits next to sales contests and sales contest ideas on the guides hub.

## Nine formats, and who can start each one

How to run a sales contest still fails if the format is a vibe. Knockdesk has 9 formats: Sprint, Marathon, Head to head, Team battle, Custom Team Challenge, Territory War, Survivor, Achievement race, and Bracket. Territory War stays with admins. Head to head stays invite only. Close enrollment before you generate a bracket so the field is full.

| Format | Who can start it |
| --- | --- |
| Sprint | Admin or sales manager |
| Marathon | Admin or sales manager |
| Head to head | Admin or sales manager. Enrollment stays invite only. |
| Team battle | Admin or sales manager. Automatic entry for the org teams you include. |
| Custom Team Challenge | Admin or sales manager |
| Territory War | Admin only |
| Survivor | Admin or sales manager |
| Achievement race | Admin or sales manager. Scored on Badges. |
| Bracket | Admin or sales manager. Seeded, single-elimination, 4, 8, 16, or 32 entrants. |

## Mistakes that put a half-built game on the field

The miss is posting the prize in chat before enrollment is set. Reps start knocking for a game that is still a draft in your head. On this desk a draft stays off the field until you Activate and Make it live. Eligibility can require finished onboarding so a hire who still has My Onboarding open does not join by accident.

**Going live from a chat.** Anyone who saw the message thinks they are in. Open, Invite only, and Automatic are the real gates.

**A bracket on an empty field.** Close enrollment first. Bracket size is 4, 8, 16, or 32. Then Generate, then Advance round when that window ends.

**Scoring a vibe.** Pick Knocks, Conversations, Appointments, or Confirmed sales. Achievement race is Badges. Do not invent a metric the game cannot count.

## Score knocks they already logged

On Knockdesk the standing after you make it live is the leaderboard next to the game. The ranks here are a fixture: Maya Chen 42, Jordan Hale 31, Alicia Brooks 27. That sample is not a customer result. Full desk is on the pricing page. There is no second Knockdesk tier. A free trial is not open.

## Keep going from this contest how-to

- [Sales contest software](/features/sales-contests): Nine formats, enrollment, prizes, and the draft that stays off the field.

- [Sales contest ideas](/guides/sales-contest-ideas): What to run. This page is how the game goes live.

- [Finish onboarding before they join](/guides/how-to-onboard-sales-reps): Eligibility can require finished onboarding. Knocks are not blocked while My Onboarding is open.

- [Standing boards beside the game](/features/sales-leaderboards): Today, This Week, This Month, and All Time stay on Leaderboards.

- [Back to the guides hub](/guides): The index this how-to opens from.

- [Full desk pricing](/pricing): One Knockdesk plan: Full desk.

## FAQ

### How to run a sales contest that the crew can actually join?

How to run a sales contest is Format, Basics, Scoring, Prizes, then Review. Save as draft. Activate and Make it live. Knockdesk is field sales software for that game.

### Does a draft show on the field?

No. A draft stays off the field. Reps do not see it until you Activate and Make it live.

### Can eligibility require finished onboarding?

Yes. Require finished onboarding is an eligibility switch on Basics. You can also set a lifetime points floor or a current balance.

### Which formats can a sales manager start?

A sales manager can start Sprint, Marathon, Head to head, Team battle, Custom Team Challenge, Survivor, Achievement race, and Bracket. Territory War is admin only. Head to head stays invite only.

### How do seeded brackets work?

Bracket size is 4, 8, 16, or 32, single-elimination. Close enrollment, pick Round-one pairing, Generate, then Advance round when that window ends. Each matchup only counts the metric inside its own round.

### How much does Knockdesk cost?

Full desk is on the pricing page. There is no second Knockdesk tier. A free trial is not open. Book a walkthrough and bring the metric you want scored.