The benefit feature of iGrOOps was designed to help the administrator add value to their memberships by working with vendors to offer members discounts, or even free products and/or services.  Benefits can be seen by prospective members when clicking on the benefits icon within the iGrOOp, or the benefits icon that appears in the main iGrOOps directory listing.

If you are charging a membership fee for your iGrOOp, it is a great idea to work with vendors who offer products or services that would interest your members and ask the vendors for special promotions that you can offer your members.  It is a win-win deal!

Accessing the Benefits

Both limited and full members have access to the benefits -- not just full members.  Once logged in to your iGrOOp, they will see a  icon in the header.  By clicking on this icon, members will see a listing of all the benefits you have entered for your iGrOOp, along with the coupon code and expiration date (if entered - see figure 1). You can also give your members the option to print "coupon", if the benefit is more like a coupon then just a link to a website with a special offer (see figure 2).

When prospects access the benefits, they can see the benefit title, image, and the description, but NOT the coupon code. Be sure you do not put any information in the description that should be for members only.

figure 1 - an example benefit entered as seen by the member

figure 2 - the same benefit after the member clicked "print coupon"  -- this would open in a new window

Adding and Editing Benefits

Benefit title should be short and descriptive -- it is limited to 60 characters.  Use only numbers, letters, spaces, % and or $. 

Benefit description is a detailed description of the benefit, including instructions to redeem the benefit.

Benefit image can be a vendor logo or image of product. Use only JPG or GIF files, no larger than 100px wide and 100px tall, others will be resized automatically.

Coupon code is a vendor provided code used to track promotions.  This will only be seen by members.

Expiration date should be used only if the benefit expires, at which time it should be removed from your benefits.

Editing your existing benefits is done by clicking on the pencil icon where your benefits are listed.  This will open up your benefits page again with all the benefit information already entered.  From there you can make changes and/or delete the benefit.

If you do not have any group benefits entered, the benefits icon will not show to members or prospects.

Want benefits???  The Internet is full of coupons and offers that you can use for your iGrOOp.  Be sure you copy the correct coupon code and expiration date when copying on your site.  Check the vendor's coupon/website to make sure they have no rules against duplicating their coupons (most don't).