Quick Start

From sign-in to your first result in a few minutes. When you first open Zinley, Home shows a checklist called "Get Zinley ready to represent you" — this page is that checklist, explained step by step.

There are 5 steps. You don't have to do them in order, and you can leave and come back — Home tracks your progress at the top ("0 of 5 complete") and fills the bar as each step is done. When all five are complete, the checklist tucks away on its own.

The 'Get Zinley ready to represent you' checklist on Home, showing 0 of 5 complete.
The setup checklist on Home — five steps to get your agent ready to represent you.

Before you start: sign in

Open the web app and sign in — see Download & Install. You'll land on Home, where your agent and the setup checklist are waiting. Signing in isn't one of the five steps; it's just how you get here.

Step 1 — Set Zinley's personality

Choose how Zinley sounds and behaves across calls and email. This is the one step that shapes every conversation, so it's worth doing first. There are two ways to do it:

  • Tune personality — set the fields yourself: voice, language, message-taking style, and the defaults Zinley uses across channels (calls and email). Best when you already know how you want it to come across.
  • Talk to Zinley (Beta) — have a quick voice chat instead. Talk however you like; Zinley turns what you say into suggested settings you approve before saving. Best if you'd rather describe it than fill in fields.

Either path opens Configure → Your Zinley, where the same settings live under the Personality & voice tab. Full details are in Your Zinley.

Done when: you've saved a voice and personality — the step shows a check on Home.

The 'Set Zinley's personality' step with Tune personality and Talk to Zinley options.
Set the personality by hand, or talk it through and approve Zinley's suggestions.

Step 2 — Give Zinley its own number

Your first number is free. Give your agent a phone line that belongs to it, so it can answer, screen, summarize, and loop you in on calls.

  1. On the checklist, click Set up number — it takes you to Configure → Your Zinley.
  2. Use Get a number to search for and claim a number (US & Canada).
  3. Make a test call: call the number from your own phone, or ask a friend to call it.
  4. Watch what Zinley does — it answers, screens the call, summarizes what was said, and loops you in when something needs you.

You can manage your numbers any time on Your Zinley, and see which devices and lines are connected under Devices.

Done when: a number is claimed and you've made at least one test call.

Claiming a phone number for Zinley via Get a number on the Your Zinley page.
Claim a free number, then call it to see how Zinley handles the conversation.

Step 3 — Try Zinley in email

See how Zinley understands a real conversation and steps in when it can help. Two ways to try it:

  • Email it directly — send a message to your Zinley's @me.zinley.com address. (You can find and copy this address on Your Zinley → Profile.)
  • CC Zinley on a real thread — add its address to an email you're already having.

Either way, Zinley reads the whole conversation, replies when it can, and loops you in when your decision matters rather than acting on its own.

Done when: you've emailed your agent (or CC'd it on a thread) and seen it respond.

The 'Try Zinley in email' step showing the agent's email address and the Try email action.
Email your agent directly, or CC it on a thread you're already having.

Step 4 — Work with Zinley in Chat

Ask questions, think through plans, delegate tasks, or tell Zinley to handle calls, email, and follow-ups — all from one place. Click Open Chat to jump in.

Try things like:

  • "What's on my plate today?" — questions and quick planning.
  • "Email this person and confirm Thursday at 3." — delegate a task.
  • "Call the clinic and reschedule my appointment." — hand off real work.

Zinley does the work and reports back. More in Chat.

Done when: you've sent at least one message in Chat.

The Chat screen, ready for your first message to Zinley.
Your first conversation — ask Zinley to handle something, and it runs the work.

Step 5 — See what Zinley learns

Every call and email teaches Zinley more about each relationship — who the person is, what's happening, and what Zinley has handled before. You don't set this up; it builds as you use the first four steps.

Open People to see it: one profile per person, with everything Zinley has learned from calls and email. The same knowledge feeds Topics and History, so your agent keeps getting better at handling things the way you would.

Done when: at least one profile has appeared in People after a call or email.

A person profile in People, showing what Zinley has learned from calls and email.
People — one profile per person, filled in automatically as Zinley works.

Where to go next