The Swivel Blog
Insights on team recognition, employee appreciation, and building cultures where good work never goes unnoticed.
Why Employee Recognition Needs to Be a Daily Practice, Not an Annual Event
Annual reviews and holiday parties feel great in the moment — but they're not enough. Here's what consistent, everyday recognition actually does for your team, and how tools like Bonusly and Swivel make it effortless.
The Science Behind Peer-to-Peer Recognition: How Appreciation Builds Stronger Teams
Most recognition flows top-down. Research says that's backwards. Discover why peer recognition is more frequent, more credible, and more motivating — and how to build a culture where appreciation flows in every direction.
5 Ways Slack-First Teams Are Reinventing Team Appreciation in 2026
Remote and hybrid work made recognition harder. But the best Slack-native teams figured out how to make appreciation more visible, more frequent, and more fun than it ever was in the office. Here's their playbook.
How to Add a Custom Emoji in Slack
Custom emojis are one of the easiest ways to make Slack feel like your team's space. Here's how to add them in four steps, plus tips on naming, image quality, and building a workspace emoji library worth bookmarking.
25+ Creative Prize Ideas for Swivel: Fun and Unique Rewards Your Team Will Actually Want
From free perks to premium rewards, here are 25+ prize ideas organized by budget — designed to keep every spin exciting and every win meaningful, no matter the size of your reward budget.
4 Productivity Tools to Use in Slack
Monday.com, Jira, Asana, Trello — four of the best project management tools that integrate directly into Slack, with a clear breakdown of which one fits which kind of team.
How to Offer Gift Cards as Prizes in Swivel
Swivel's Tango integration automatically emails winners a link to choose from 1,000+ gift card options. Here's how to set it up, pick the right prize values, and make fulfillment completely hands-off.
Swivel Is Now in the Slack App Directory
We're officially approved and listed in the Slack App Directory — a milestone for us and a meaningful signal for any team evaluating Swivel. Here's what it means and why we built this in the first place.
10 Uplifting Quotes to Motivate and Encourage Your Team
Burnout happens to everyone. When motivation is running low — for you or someone on your team — these 10 quotes from leaders, thinkers, and doers are worth keeping close.
5 Tips to Be Your Most Successful Self as a Remote Employee
Remote work offers real flexibility — but only if you manage it well. Here are five practical habits for staying focused, avoiding burnout, and building a work-from-home life that's actually sustainable.