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🚀 Getting Started as an Incentive Provider

Welcome to Incentise! This guide will help you get started, even if you're not technical. We'll explain everything in simple terms and walk you through each step.

What is an Incentive Provider?​

Think of an incentive provider as a business or person who offers special deals to customers. These deals can be:

  • Cashback - Money back after a purchase
  • Discounts - Reduced prices or discount codes
  • Rewards - Special gifts or bonuses
  • Free trials - Try before you buy

On Incentise, customers can request these incentives from you, or you can offer them directly. It's like having a marketplace where customers ask for deals, and you decide whether to give them.

Why Should You Use Incentise?​

Here are the main benefits in simple terms:

  • 🎯 Find New Customers: People looking for deals will find your products and services
  • 💎 Keep Current Customers Happy: Reward people who already buy from you
  • 📈 Show Others You're Trustworthy: When customers publicly receive your incentives, it shows others that you're reliable
  • 💰 Only Pay When It Works: You only give incentives when customers actually take action
  • 🔍 See What Customers Want: Learn which products or services people are most interested in
  • 🏆 Stand Out: Show that you care about giving value to customers

How Does Incentise Work?​

Instead of you just advertising deals, customers can actually ask for incentives on your products. This means:

  • Customers Tell You What They Want: They request incentives for products they're interested in
  • You Decide: You review each request and decide whether to approve it
  • Everyone Can See: The process is transparent, which builds trust
  • You Track Everything: See exactly how many requests you get, how many you approve, and what works best

Your First Steps: A Simple Roadmap​

Here's what you'll do, step by step:

Step 1: Create Your Account​

First, you need to sign up. You have three easy ways to do this:

Option 1: Email Registration (Traditional way)

  • Enter your email, choose a username, and create a password
  • You'll get an email with a code to verify your account
  • Enter the code to activate your account

Option 2: Magic Link (No password needed!)

  • Enter your email and name
  • You'll get an email with a special link
  • Click the link and you're automatically signed in - no password to remember!

Option 3: Google Login (Fastest way)

  • Click "Continue with Google"
  • Choose your Google account
  • Your account is created instantly with your Google information

💡 Tip: If you have a Google account, we recommend using Google Login - it's the fastest and easiest!

📖 Need detailed help? See our Registration Guide

Step 2: Complete Your Account Setup​

After you create your account, you need to set up your business profile (Provider Profile):

  1. Go to Provider Profile - Click "Provider Profile" in the sidebar menu

  2. Complete Your Provider Profile - Add your business information:

    • Business name
    • Contact email
    • Phone number
    • Business description
    • Website URL
    • Social media links (optional)

  3. Add Your Profile Picture - Upload a photo for your account (optional but recommended)

  4. Add Social Media Link & Website - Add your social media link and website (optional but recommended)

⚠️ Important: You must complete your provider setup before you can create products or incentive programs. The system will remind you if you try to do something before your setup is complete.

📖 Need detailed help? See our Account Setup Guide

Step 3: Understand Your Dashboard​

Your Dashboard is like your control center. It shows you:

  • How many requests you've received (today, this month, all time)
  • How many offers you've created
  • How many incentives you've successfully given out
  • How many messages you've sent to customers

All of this information is shown in easy-to-read cards with numbers. You can see:

  • What happened today
  • What happened this month
  • Everything since you started

Where to find it: Click "Dashboard" in the sidebar menu, or go to /provider/dashboard

📖 Want to learn more? See our Dashboard Guide

Step 4: Add Your Products or Services​

Before customers can request incentives, you need to tell Incentise about your products or services.

What you'll add for each product/service:

  • Name - What it's called (must be unique)
  • Category - What type it is (choose from a list)
  • Type - Is it a PRODUCT (something you sell) or a SERVICE (something you do)?
  • Purchase Type - Is it ONE_TIME (buy once) or SUBSCRIPTION (pay monthly/yearly)?
  • Website URL - Where customers can learn more or buy it
  • Contact Email - Where customers can reach you
  • Description - What it does and why it's great
  • Image - A picture of your product/service (optional but helpful)

How to do it:

  1. Go to Products & Services in the sidebar
  2. Click "Add Product & Service"
  3. Fill in all the information
  4. Click "Save"

💡 Tip: Start with just one or two products/services to learn how it works. You can always add more later!

📖 Need detailed help? See our Products & Services Guide

Step 5: Create Your First Incentive Program​

An Incentive Program is like a special offer page where customers can request incentives for your product or service.

What you need:

  • At least one product or service already added
  • A name for your program (like "Summer Discount Program")

How to do it:

  1. Go to Incentive Programs in the sidebar
  2. Click "Add Incentive Program"
  3. Select the product/service you want to create a program for
  4. Give your program a name
  5. Click "Create Incentive Program"

Important: When you first create a program, it starts as "Inactive" (hidden from customers). You need to:

  1. Click the three dots (⋮) next to your program
  2. Click "Edit Incentive Program"
  3. Change the status to "Active"
  4. Click "Update"

Now customers can see and use your program!

Sharing your program:

  • Click the three dots (⋮) next to your program
  • Click "Copy Link" - this copies the link to your program
  • Share this link anywhere: your website, social media, emails, etc.

📖 Need detailed help? See our Incentive Programs Guide

Step 6: Respond to Customer Requests​

When customers want an incentive for your product, they'll submit an Incentive Request. You'll see these in your dashboard.

What happens:

  1. A customer visits your incentive program page
  2. They request an incentive (like cashback or a discount)
  3. You get a notification (or see it in your dashboard)
  4. You review the request
  5. You approve or decline it
  6. If approved, you give them the incentive

How to manage requests:

  1. Go to Incentive Requests in the sidebar
  2. You'll see a list of all requests
  3. Click on a request to see details
  4. Click the three dots (⋮) and choose "Messages With Recipient" to talk to the customer
  5. When you send a message, you can change the request status:
    • "Under Review" - You're looking at it
    • "Approved Confirmed" - You've agreed to give the incentive
    • "Needs Info" - You need more information from the customer
    • "Requires Revision" - The customer needs to change something
    • And more...

💡 Tip: Respond to requests within 24-48 hours to keep customers happy!

Important Note: The actual process of giving incentives (like transferring money or providing discount codes) happens outside of Incentise. You do that through your own systems (your bank, your discount code system, etc.). Incentise just helps you track and manage the requests.

📖 Need detailed help? See our Incentive Requests Guide

Step 7: Create Proactive Offers (Optional)​

Instead of waiting for customers to request incentives, you can offer them directly! This is great for:

  • Reaching out to potential new customers
  • Rewarding existing customers
  • Running special promotions

Two ways to offer incentives:

1. Email Offers - Send directly to someone's email:

  • Go to Incentive Offers
  • Click "Add"
  • Choose your incentive program
  • Enter the customer's email
  • Write a personalized message
  • Submit - they'll get an email with your offer!

2. Shareable Link Templates - Create reusable links you can share anywhere:

  • Go to Incentive Offers → Link Templates
  • Click "Add" to create a new template
  • Choose your incentive program and configure the offer details
  • Get a shareable link that can be used multiple times (up to a limit you set)
  • Share it on social media, in emails, as a QR code, etc.
  • Anyone who clicks can claim the offer!
  • You can edit or manage templates anytime

📖 Need detailed help? See our Incentive Offers Guide

Understanding Your Subscription Plan​

Incentise offers two plans:

Free Plan - $0 Forever​

Perfect for getting started! Includes:

  • 1 incentive program
  • 1 team member (you)
  • 15 incentive offers per month
  • 15 incentive distributions per month
  • 15 acknowledgement requests per month
  • 180 conversation messages per month
  • Unlimited incentive requests from customers
  • Ability to embed widgets on your website

Best for: Small businesses, individuals, or anyone wanting to try Incentise risk-free.

Starter Plan - $20 per Month​

For growing businesses that need more:

  • 10 incentive programs (10x more!)
  • 5 team members (5x more!)
  • 300 incentive offers per month (20x more!)
  • 300 incentive distributions per month (20x more!)
  • 300 acknowledgement requests per month (20x more!)
  • 5,000 conversation messages per month (28x more!)
  • Everything in the Free Plan
  • Priority support

Best for: Growing businesses with multiple products, teams, or higher activity needs.

💡 Tip: Start with the Free Plan! You can upgrade anytime when you need more features.

📖 Want to learn more? See our Pricing & Plans Guide

Other Important Features​

Claiming Products or Services​

Sometimes, customers might create incentive requests for products/services that don't have a program yet. In this case, you'll get an email asking you to claim it.

What this means:

  • A customer wants an incentive for your product
  • You don't have an active program for it yet
  • The system creates a program automatically
  • You need to claim it to take ownership
  • Once claimed, you can manage it like any other program

How to claim:

  1. Check your email for a "Claim Incentive Request" message
  2. Click the claim link in the email
  3. You'll be automatically logged in (if not already)
  4. The claim happens automatically
  5. You can now manage the request!

📖 Need detailed help? See our Claims Guide

Tracking Offline Incentives​

If you gave someone an incentive outside of Incentise (like at a trade show or in your store), you can still track it:

Two ways to track offline incentives:

1. Individual Acknowledgement Requests - Track one incentive at a time:

  1. Go to Incentive Acknowledgement Requests
  2. Click "Create Incentive Acknowledgement Request"
  3. Fill in:
    • Who received it (their email)
    • What they got (cashback amount, discount, etc.)
    • When and where they got it
    • A message asking them to confirm
  4. Choose delivery method: Email (sends directly) or Link (creates shareable link)
  5. Submit - they'll get an email or link asking them to confirm they received it
  6. Once they confirm, it's tracked in your records!

2. Link Templates - Create reusable templates for tracking multiple incentives:

  • Go to Incentive Acknowledgement Requests → Link Templates
  • Click "Add" to create a new template
  • Configure the template with your incentive details
  • Get a shareable link that can be used multiple times (up to a limit you set)
  • Share the link anywhere - customers can use it to acknowledge receiving incentives
  • Perfect for events, trade shows, or recurring offline incentive programs
  • You can edit or manage templates anytime

This helps you keep complete records of all incentives you've given, even ones outside the platform.

📖 Need detailed help? See our Acknowledgement Requests Guide

Adding Widgets to Your Website​

You can show social proof on your website by embedding a widget that displays:

  • How many customers that make acknowledgements
  • Customer avatars (profile pictures)
  • Total incentives acknowledgements

This builds trust and encourages more customers to participate!

How to do it:

  1. Go to Incentive Programs
  2. Find your program
  3. Click the three dots (⋮)
  4. Click "Embed Incentive Social Proof Widget"
  5. Copy the code provided
  6. Paste it into your website's HTML

📖 Need detailed help? See our Widget Configuration Guide

Managing Billing​

You can manage your subscription, view invoices, and update payment methods:

  1. Go to Billing & Invoices in the sidebar
  2. See your current plan and subscription details
  3. Click "Manage your billing, subscription, refund and invoices" to access the Customer Portal
    • Note: Only account administrators can access the portal
    • The portal opens in a new window where you can manage everything
  4. In the portal, you can:
    • View and download invoices
    • Update payment methods
    • Cancel or renew subscriptions
    • Update billing information
    • Request refunds

After Subscribing:

  • When you successfully subscribe to a paid plan, you'll be redirected to a Success Page (/provider/success)
  • This page confirms your subscription and shows:
    • Your checkout ID
    • All premium features you've unlocked
    • Next steps to get started
    • Quick links to your dashboard and billing page

📖 Need detailed help? See our Billing & Invoices Guide

Managing Your Settings​

In Settings, you can:

  • Change your profile picture and personal details
  • Manage your account (username, email, password)
  • Invite team members to help manage your account
  • Delete your account (if needed)
  • Add social media links and website

📖 Need detailed help? See our Account Setup Guide and Settings Guide

Common Questions Answered​

Do I need technical skills?​

No! Incentise is designed for non-technical users. Everything is done through simple forms and buttons. You don't need to know how to code or do anything technical.

How much does it cost?​

You can start completely free with the Free Plan. It's free forever with no credit card required. Only upgrade to the Starter Plan ($20/month) when you need more features.

How quickly can I get started?​

You can be up and running in about 10 minutes:

  1. Create your account (2 minutes)
  2. Complete your profile setup (3 minutes)
  3. Add your first product/service (2 minutes)
  4. Create your first incentive program (2 minutes)
  5. Activate it (1 minute)

What if I forget my password?​

You have two easy options:

  1. Reset with email code - Get a code in your email to create a new password
  2. Magic link - Get a link in your email that signs you in automatically (no password needed!)

📖 Need help? See our Forgot Password Guide

Can I change my plan later?​

Yes! You can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Upgrading takes effect immediately. Downgrading takes effect at the end of your current billing period.

What happens to my data if I change plans?​

Your data is always safe! All your products, programs, requests, and offers stay exactly the same. You only gain or lose access to features based on your plan.

Can multiple people manage my account?​

Yes! The Starter Plan allows up to 5 team members. The Free Plan includes 1 team member (you). You can invite team members in Settings.

How do I know when customers request incentives?​

You can:

  • Check your Dashboard regularly (shows new request counts)
  • Check the Incentive Requests page
  • Look for email notifications (if enabled)
  • The "Updated" date on requests shows when they were last modified

What if I need help?​

  1. Check the detailed guides linked throughout this document
  2. Look for help tooltips in the platform
  3. Contact support through your dashboard
  4. Email [email protected]

Real-World Examples​

Example 1: A Small Business Owner​

Sarah runs a small online store selling handmade jewelry.

  1. She creates her account using Google Login (fastest!)
  2. Completes her business profile with her store information
  3. Adds her three best-selling products
  4. Creates one incentive program for her most popular product
  5. Shares the program link on her social media
  6. Customers start requesting discounts
  7. She reviews requests daily and approves ones from real customers
  8. She gives discounts through her online store's discount code system
  9. She tracks everything in Incentise

Result: Sarah gets new customers and keeps existing ones happy, all while tracking everything in one place!

Example 2: A Service Provider​

Mike offers consulting services.

  1. He signs up with email registration
  2. Sets up his business profile
  3. Adds his consulting service (marked as "SERVICE" and "SUBSCRIPTION")
  4. Creates an incentive program offering a free consultation
  5. Creates shareable link templates
  6. Shares links on LinkedIn and in email newsletters
  7. Potential clients click and claim the free consultation offer
  8. Mike follows up with them through the messaging system
  9. He tracks which offers lead to actual clients

Result: Mike gets qualified leads and can track which marketing channels work best!

Tips for Success​

Start Simple​

  • Begin with just 1-2 products/services
  • Create one incentive program first
  • Learn how it works before expanding
  • Don't try to do everything at once!

Be Responsive​

  • Check your dashboard daily
  • Respond to requests within 24-48 hours
  • Answer customer messages promptly
  • Quick responses build trust!

Monitor Your Activity​

  • Check your dashboard regularly to see what's happening
  • Look for patterns (which products get the most requests?)
  • Adjust your strategy based on what you see
  • Use the data to make better decisions

Communicate Clearly​

  • Write clear, friendly messages to customers
  • Explain your requirements simply
  • Be professional but approachable
  • Good communication prevents misunderstandings

Track Everything​

  • Record all incentives you give (even offline ones)
  • Use acknowledgement requests for offline incentives
  • Keep complete records for your accounting
  • This helps you understand your ROI

Use All the Features​

  • Try both requests (reactive) and offers (proactive)
  • Use link templates for both incentive offers and acknowledgement requests
  • Create reusable templates for marketing campaigns and offline tracking
  • Embed widgets on your website for social proof
  • The more you use, the more value you'll get!

📖 Want more tips? See our Best Practices Guide

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

"I can't create a product/service"​

  • Solution: Make sure you've completed your provider setup first. Go to Settings and complete your business profile.

"I don't see any requests"​

  • Solution:
    • Make sure your incentive program is set to "Active" status
    • Check if customers have actually submitted requests
    • New accounts won't have requests right away - this is normal!

"I reached my monthly limit"​

  • Solution:
    • Check your plan limits on the Pricing page
    • Wait until next month for limits to reset
    • Consider upgrading to Starter Plan for higher limits

"I can't find something"​

  • Solution:
    • Use the search bar at the top of most pages
    • Check different pages using pagination
    • Look in the sidebar menu for the feature you need
    • Use the "Take Tour" button on pages that have it (like Dashboard) to learn about features

"I can't access the Customer Portal"​

  • Solution:
    • Only account administrators can access the Customer Portal
    • If you're not an admin, ask the account owner to grant you admin access
    • The portal link is available in the Billing & Invoices page

"Something isn't working"​

  • Solution:
    • Refresh the page (press F5 or click the refresh button)
    • Check your internet connection
    • Try logging out and back in
    • Contact support if it continues

Your Next Steps​

Now that you understand the basics, here's what to do:

  1. ✅ Create your account - Use one of the three registration methods

  2. ✅ Complete your setup - Add your business information

  3. ✅ Check your dashboard - See how it works

  4. ✅ Add your first product/service - Start with one

  5. ✅ Create your first incentive program - Make it active!

  6. ✅ Share your program - Copy the link and share it anywhere!

  7. ✅ Start responding - When requests come in, review and respond

  8. ✅ Try creating an offer - Be proactive!

  9. ✅ Create link templates - For both offers and acknowledgement requests

    • Create reusable templates for marketing campaigns
    • Track offline incentives with acknowledgement link templates

  10. ✅ Manage your subscription - After subscribing, check the success page

Getting Help​

Remember, help is always available:

  1. This Guide - Bookmark it and refer back as needed
  2. Detailed Guides - Each feature has its own detailed guide (linked throughout)
  3. Support Team - Contact us through your dashboard or email
  4. Tooltips - Look for help icons and tooltips in the platform

Welcome to Incentise! 🎉​

You're now ready to start using Incentise to grow your business! Remember:

  • Start simple - Don't try to do everything at once
  • Be patient - It takes time to build up requests and offers
  • Stay organized - Use the dashboard and features to track everything
  • Ask for help - We're here to support you!

Good luck, and happy incentivizing! 🚀

Need help with a specific feature? Check the detailed guides linked throughout this document, or contact our support team.