K.J.
She's only 2 1/2. Don't expect her to be perfect right off. She's definitely within the window for starting potty training, but still on the youngish end of that window. It's hard for her. And it takes a long time to perfect the skill. Months, not weeks.
One thing you might try is to leave her in nighttime pull-ups (or cloth training pants w/ a waterproof cover) when she sleeps. Control while sleeping takes much longer than control while awake. Focus on daytime panties first. Don't try to get her into panties at night until she can keep her pullups dry most nights. It doesn't sound like she's ready for panties at night yet.
It takes awhile for kids to learn to recognize the signs of when they have to go. Be patient with her. It's a hard thing to learn. Make a big deal of it when she goes and don't scold her when she has an accident.
Bribery works okay sometimes. We used stickers.
If you're having trouble getting her to go once she's on the potty, I have a tip that worked for us. put a stool next to the potty and put a bowl of warm water on it along w/ a small bath toy. Let her play in the warm water while on the potty. If she has to go, the water play will make it happen. A little messy with the splashes and all, but it works. It will also keep her entertained so that she stays on the potty long enough to go.