Gamification for online social communities

A computer server system provides an online community for customers of a business entity. A first level feedback module provides visual feedback to each user in a user interface for the online community, which quantifies each user's interaction with the community. A notification module sends an electronic message to a user when the user's interaction is below a predefined threshold rate. A second level feedback module calculates second level metrics that quantify other users' evaluations of postings to the online community by a first user. Visual feedback of the second level metrics is provided. A third level feedback module awards a designated achievement badge to users whose interaction metrics exceed predefined threshold values, and displays the achievement badge in the user interface. The system promotes a high level of user participation in the online community and thereby contributes to a low cost of technical support provided by the business entity.