Webinar Wednesday 203 – July 16, 2025

Introduction (00:00:00)

• Welcome to Webinar Wednesday, which is back after a summer break, and greetings are extended to attendees, including Colette from New Zealand, Scott from Chicagoland, Paul from Alaska, and a special shout out to Leo, an all-star member of the BD family (00:00:00).
• The hosts are introducing themselves and expressing their happiness to be back with Webinar Wednesday, which will feature a great tip of the week and various updates (00:00:37).
• The webinar is also being streamed on YouTube live, and attendees are recommended to subscribe to the Brilliant Directories YouTube channel, which can be found at brilliantdirectories.com/youtube, to get notified about future YouTube lives and access replays, tips of the week, and tutorials (00:01:16).
• Viewers are also encouraged to join the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, which is close to hitting 20,000 members and features great discussions, with the added benefit of having the replay of the webinar posted in the group as soon as it's finished (00:01:33).
• For those with a Brilliant Directories website, it is suggested to download the app from the app store, although the specific details and benefits of doing so are not fully explained in this introduction (00:01:51).

Brilliant Directories Mobile App (00:01:57)

• The Brilliant Directories app is available for free on both Apple and Android devices, allowing users to stay connected with their site on the go and view new member signups, payments received, and more (00:01:57).
• A newer version of the app is being developed, which will provide real-time push notifications for site activity such as new member signups, leads, and revenue, with a projected release timeline of one to two months (00:02:15).
• The current app is still available for download, and users are encouraged to get it now so they can be ready for the upcoming update (00:02:33).
• Webinar Wednesday is a bi-monthly event that covers various topics, including increasing traffic, converting visitors to members, and revenue opportunities, with the goal of helping users grow their community (00:02:51).
• The webinar also includes a Q&A section where users can ask technical or strategy questions and receive help with their membership site (00:03:26).
• Users can type their questions into the chat or join the stream at brilliantdirectories.com/stream and type "question" in all caps to request a verbal question-and-answer session (00:03:44).
• The webinar will cover a range of updates, including lab updates and a new design related to the header search, which will be discussed in more detail (00:04:00).

HEADER SEARCH: New compact mobile view saves tons of space (00:04:12)

• The header search is a quick lookup tool that most sites have, and it can be used for searching members or blog articles, and it is typically located at the top of the site (00:04:12).
• On mobile view, the header search takes up a lot of space by default, but there is a new setting called compact view that saves a significant amount of real estate (00:04:50).
• The compact view setting can be found in the design settings under the header design section, where users can choose to display, hide, or use the compact view on mobile devices (00:05:11).
• Enabling the compact view setting replaces the full header search with a search icon that toggles down from the header when clicked, providing the same functionality while saving space (00:05:32).
• The compact view setting can be enabled by going to the settings and design settings, scrolling down to the mobile view settings under header search, and selecting the compact on mobile option (00:05:50).
• The new compact view setting is an intermediary option that provides a more elegant solution than simply hiding the header search on mobile devices, and it can be useful for sites that want to conserve space without sacrificing functionality (00:06:07).

SCHEMA: All sites now include website & organization schema (more soon) (00:06:27)

• Schema provides little clues inside a site's source code that inform Google about the site's content, and more schema has been added to the platform by default over time (00:06:27).
• All sites now include schema for websites and organizations, which indicates to Google that the site is an official website, helping with mapping and understanding of the site (00:06:45).
• The inclusion of website and organization schema is a default feature that requires no action from users, as it has already been implemented for all sites (00:06:45).

OFFERS PAGE: Now auto-translates to match your site's primary language (00:06:56)

• The offers page was released last month, allowing users to enable offers such as web page builders and design tools, which can be offered to members as business toolkit items (00:06:56).
• The offers page now auto-translates to match the site's primary language, which was previously only available in English (00:07:13).
• The manage offers page is located in the admin area under finance, where users can find default tools and offers that can be provided to business members, including design, legal, and business setup options (00:07:29).
• The offers page includes affiliate links to programs like QuickBooks, allowing users to earn a small affiliate commission if members purchase from these tools (00:07:50).
• On the member side, the offers page appears in the sidebar under business toolkit, where members can click "claim this offer" to access the recommended tools, adding convenience and credibility to the site (00:08:10).

CLONE MEMBERS: New button to easily clone a member listing (omits posts and billing) (00:08:27)

• A new feature allows users to clone members with one click, which is useful for managing sites, such as when deleting an old plan or cloning the same business with a different address (00:08:27).
• The clone members button is located on the search members page in the admin area, where users can go to "my members", search members, and click on "clone account" under actions (00:08:43).
• Cloning a member account does not clone their billing history, subscriptions, or posts, but rather creates a duplicate record of the listing on the site, omitting duplicate billing and posts (00:09:03).

EMAIL BUILDER: Improved "safer" layout logic + smarter click tracking for emails (00:09:15)

• Updates have been made to the email builder, including improved "safer" layout logic, which ensures that emails display as designed in various email clients such as Zoho, Gmail, and Outlook, thanks to feedback from Katie and Steve (00:09:15).
• The click tracking feature has been enhanced to resolve redirect issues that were previously encountered, providing a smoother experience for users (00:09:35).
• Further updates are planned for the email builder and newsletter creator, indicating ongoing development and improvement of these tools (00:09:35).

WP FORM SYNC: WP plugin creates leads from CF7, Ninja, Gravity & more (00:09:54)

• The WP Form Sync WordPress plugin allows users to integrate their WordPress site with their Brilliant Directory site, enabling the creation of leads or members on the Brilliant Directory site from forms filled out on the WordPress site, such as those using Contact Form 7, Ninja Forms, or Gravity Forms (00:09:54).
• The plugin supports multiple form plugins, including Gravity Forms, and allows users to select the form and type of record to create, such as a lead or member, and then map the form fields to the corresponding fields on the Brilliant Directory site (00:10:51).
• The WP Form Sync plugin also enables users to send additional custom data with the form submission, and tutorial videos will be created to demonstrate how to use the plugin and other WordPress plugins developed for Brilliant Directory (00:11:11).
• The development of the WP Form Sync plugin is part of a larger effort to create more integrations and tools for Brilliant Directory users, with several other plugins and features currently in development, including some related to the homepage hero section (00:11:29).

HERO SECTION: Add videos or media next to your homepage hero (soon) (00:11:35)

• The homepage hero section is a part of the website where users can have a title, search module, buttons, or custom content, and it will soon be updated to allow for side-by-side content, such as a video and title or search form, for more flexibility (00:11:35).
• A new feature is being worked on that will enable users to add secondary hero content to their homepage, which can be used to add videos, images, or other types of content, and this feature is expected to be released within the next two weeks (00:12:11).
• The secondary hero content section will fill the remaining space on the page, depending on the width of the primary hero content, which can be set to anything less than 100%, and it will support various types of content, including text, images, and embedded widgets (00:12:50).
• Users will have the option to choose a background image or a solid color for their homepage, and they will also be able to add an overlay color, as demonstrated with a red color for illustration purposes (00:13:28).
• The update will provide users with more control over their homepage and offer additional options for customizing the layout and content, although it is not a major overhaul of the existing design (00:13:44).

ADMIN SEARCH: Search any record in admin from one bar (soon) (00:13:56)

• A global website search feature is being developed for the admin area, which will allow users to search for various records, including members, reviews, and leads, from a single search bar (00:13:56).
• The search feature will enable users to quickly find specific records, such as members, by searching for their name, email, or other relevant information, and will take them directly to the corresponding record (00:14:14).
• The search function will also allow users to search for reviews and leads associated with a particular email or keyword, making it a useful tool for looking up specific information (00:14:33).
• The feature is expected to become more robust over time, with plans to include searching transactions and other metadata, making it an even more convenient lookup tool for website administrators (00:14:51).
• The global website search feature is anticipated to be released within the next month, with development already underway, and is expected to bring significant convenience to the admin area (00:15:09).

BILLING CYCLES: 2 and 3-year payment cycles for members (soon) (00:15:16)

• New billing cycles will be introduced, including 2-year and 3-year payment cycle options, in addition to the existing monthly, bimonthly, semiannually, and annually membership plans (00:15:16).
• The benefit of offering longer payment cycles is that it allows for the collection of a larger amount upfront, as members who prepay for longer periods often receive a small discount, generating more revenue (00:15:16).
• Offering 2 and 3-year payment cycles can also help with retention, as members who have paid for an extended period are more likely to remain members for the duration of their payment cycle, reducing the churn rate (00:15:34).

CUSTOM OFFERS: Create offers to promote services from Manage Offers page (soon) (00:15:52)

• A Manage Offers page is being developed, which will soon allow users to add their own custom offers, enabling them to create and promote their own services or third-party services to members, who can access these offers in their member dashboard (00:15:52).
• The custom offers feature can be particularly useful for selling digital products or services, making them available in the Business Toolkit page, which can be labeled with any desired text (00:16:12).
• The Business Toolkit page is a customizable section where users can make their custom offers available to members, and it is not limited to the default name, as users can change the label to whatever they prefer (00:16:30).

AI TOOLS (00:16:37)

• The development team is working on releasing AI tools within the next 30 to 60 days, with some smaller helper tools potentially being released sooner, and one of the projects in the works is allowing members to create websites based on their business listing information (00:16:37).
• The AI tool will enable members to create beautiful one-pager websites with the ability to edit things using an inline editor, and this feature will allow users to sell additional products and services to their members (00:16:57).
• A sample listing was used to demonstrate the website generation feature, which can create a website for a business, such as an Italian restaurant in North Carolina, and the AI takes a few minutes to generate the website (00:17:34).
• The AI tool will also have the ability to generate newsletters, and users will be able to customize the content, images, and text, as well as update or remix the generated content (00:18:12).
• The development team, led by CTO Matt, is working on making these AI-powered features available to all users soon, and some examples of websites created using the AI tool were shown, demonstrating the potential for users to sell these websites to their members (00:18:50).
• The generated websites are simple, beautiful, and come with features like contact forms, and the ability to host these websites and sell them to members will provide an additional product to offer (00:19:45).
• The AI tool is still in development, but it is expected to be released soon, and the team is excited about the potential it holds for users to create and sell new products and services to their members (00:20:03).
• The Instant Business Data tool allows users to quickly and easily populate their website with actual business listings, which can unlock potential leads and promote business services or offers, and it enables users to instantly import real business listings by business category and location, or search for specific business names (00:21:33).
• The tool has various filters and settings, and every Brilliant Directories site starts with 100 free credits, which can be used to do as many searches as wanted, with the credits only decreasing when businesses are imported, making it helpful for new or growing sites to appear more active and credible (00:22:11).
• The instant business data tool can help entice website visitors to click around and interact with business profiles, and if the business data contains contact information, users can reach out to business owners to promote their website, offer free membership plans, or sell other business services, with the goal of getting businesses signed up or upsold to premium plans (00:22:51).
• Brilliant Directories ensures that the imported data is optimized for Google SEO, with a custom description created for each business, following best practices, avoiding AI detection, and providing unique content to help with indexing, as Google does not like duplicate content (00:23:28).
• The database used by the instant business data tool contains over 20 million records, and users can search through this database to find and import business listings, with the tool providing transparency and helpful features to get the most out of the data (00:23:47).
• The instant business data tool contains listings from around 160 countries, with countries having higher populations typically having more business data, such as China, India, the US with over 19 million listings, the UK with almost 4 million, and Canada with 2.2 million (00:24:06).
• To get the most out of the tool, especially in lower populated areas, there are tips and tricks that can be used, such as searching for businesses by category or including a business name, and enabling the related category match option to get broader results (00:24:44).
• When searching by business category, enabling the related category match option can help expand the search to include subcategories, such as different types of attorneys, doctors, or restaurants (00:25:04).
• Including a business name in the search can also be useful, and enabling the partial name match option can help capture businesses with similar names, such as chains or franchises like Starbucks (00:25:44).
• Excluding specific businesses from the search results is also an option, allowing users to import certain types of businesses while excluding others, such as excluding McDonald's when importing restaurants (00:26:22).
• Unchecking preferred attributes, such as business email address, phone number, website URL, and updated information within the last 30 days, can also help increase the number of search results, with the option to uncheck these attributes in a specific order to get the most results (00:26:58).
• Even if businesses do not have the preferred attributes, they will still be imported and create listings on the website, although it may be more difficult to reach out to the business owners without certain contact information (00:27:18).
• The order in which to uncheck the preferred attributes is to start with unchecking the updated within the last 30 days option, then the website URL, followed by the phone number, and finally the email address if more results are still needed (00:27:37).
• To find more business data, especially in rural areas, it is recommended to expand the location search by trying larger nearby cities, adjacent zip codes, or even the entire state or province, which can provide more opportunities for website owners and users (00:27:55).
• Expanding the initial search broadly and then narrowing it down as needed can yield more listings, giving website owners more opportunities to reach out to businesses and sell them services or memberships, and also providing users with more options to click on (00:28:32).
• The Instant Business Data feature can create a website for businesses that do not have one, using their listing information, and website owners can potentially offer this as a service to their members, with the logistics of hosting and pricing to be explored (00:29:27).
• The AI tool used for content creation has been developed, and implementation is planned for the coming months, with the goal of making it available to website owners in the admin area and the front end of their website (00:30:03).
• To overcome limited results, scenarios can be simulated using the business data page, and searches can be run to demonstrate how to get more results (00:30:24).

Let's See This In Action! (00:30:36)

• To find relevant business data, it is essential to select the correct business category, as different categories can yield significantly different results, and modifying search filters can also impact the number of results obtained, for example, searching for "plumber" instead of "plumbing" in Johannesburg, can yield more results (00:30:36).
• The search filters can be adjusted to include or exclude specific attributes, such as primary category, updated last 30 days, website URL, phone number, and email address, and disabling these attributes can broaden the search and yield more results, for instance, disabling the email address attribute increased the results from 19 to 172 (00:32:31).
• The business import tool can help a site appear seasoned and credible from the start by populating it with imported listings, and it is not necessarily meant to go after these listings, but rather to create a foundation for real marketing efforts (00:32:50).
• Switching from a primary category to a related category match can also increase the number of results found, as seen when switching from "plumber" as the primary category to a related category match, which increased the results to 209 (00:33:12).
• Expanding the location of the search can also significantly impact the number of results, as demonstrated by searching for all of South Africa instead of just Johannesburg, which nearly tripled the results (00:33:51).
• The database contains hundreds of millions of business records, but it may be necessary to experiment with different search filters to find the desired number of records to import, and it is generally recommended to start with broad searches and then narrow them down (00:34:32).
• To refine search results, filters can be applied to narrow down the search until the desired level of specificity is achieved, at which point the number of records found can be assessed to determine whether to proceed with the current filters or broaden the search (00:35:10).
• The primary benefit of using these search filters is to quickly import business listings into a website, making it feel more established and active, which can encourage additional businesses to register on the site once marketing initiatives commence (00:35:30).
• Search options include category and location, as well as category and keyword or business name, with the latter allowing for exact, partial, or "does not match" searches, such as searching for businesses with "plumbing" in their name (00:36:06).
• When conducting a partial match search, it is essential to choose keywords that are likely to be part of the desired business type's name, such as "DDS" for dentists or "law firm" for lawyers, to ensure accurate results (00:36:42).
• Using a partial match search with a term like "plumbing" can yield a significant number of results, with 1,600 businesses found to have "plumbing" in their name, likely indicating they offer plumbing services (00:37:36).
• The "does not match" option can be used to exclude specific business names, such as "McDonald's", from search results, allowing users to import local restaurants in a particular location while excluding chain restaurants (00:38:11).
• By excluding "McDonald's" from a search for restaurants in Los Angeles, the number of results decreased from 1,700 to 1,600, demonstrating the effectiveness of using the "does not match" option to refine search results (00:39:06).
• To effectively search for business data, it is essential to be very specific with the location of the businesses, especially in rural or remote areas, and this can be achieved by doing several searches (00:39:43).
• Including adjacent zip codes and maybe adjacent cities in the search can help obtain additional business listings, particularly if there is not a close by major city that is known to have results (00:39:43).
• Searching with neighboring zip codes can also provide more business listings, which can be useful when there are limited results in a specific area (00:39:25).

Pro Tips Before You Import (00:40:00)

• Before using the Instant Business Data tool, it is recommended to conduct a search and import a small number of results, such as 10 or 20, to ensure everything is as expected before importing the rest, and this can be done without worrying about duplicate imports as the system will automatically skip them (00:40:00).
• Duplicate imports will be skipped even if the same businesses are found through different searches, such as a category search and a keyword search, and it's also important to note that the same business can have multiple locations, which are not considered duplicates (00:40:37).
• If imported members are deleted, either intentionally or unintentionally, they can be re-imported for free from the "my imports" tab, where previous search results can be tracked and re-imported at any time (00:41:30).
• When importing members, business listings can be assigned to a membership plan, a specific member category, and tags can be applied to segment them from other members, allowing for targeted emails and other actions (00:42:27).
• The instant business data tool is a helper tool, and if it's not providing the desired results, there are other sources of business data available online that can be used, and suggestions for improving the tool are always welcome (00:43:43).
• The tool is designed to be an affordable way to add business listings to a site, and while it may not have all the filters desired, it can be a useful starting point, and other tools and sources can be used in conjunction with it to achieve the desired results (00:44:00).

How to share business data credits across BD sites (00:44:34)

• To share business data credits across different BD sites, it is possible to distribute some credits to other websites owned by the same individual, and this can be done by emailing the support team or creating a support ticket (00:44:34).
• When requesting to move business import credits from one website to another, the support team should be informed of the specific amount of credits to be transferred, and they will accommodate the request (00:44:53).
• There is a question about whether there are plans to provide visibility into what is being imported, which was asked by Robert, indicating an interest in having more transparency into the import process (00:44:53).

Are there plans to preview Instant Business Data records before importing? (00:45:00)

• The process of purchasing business data typically involves accepting all results, as once the data is seen, it cannot be undone, and it is not possible to cherry-pick specific records, so the recommended approach is to filter the results and test with a small sample of 5 or 10 records before importing a larger set (00:45:00).
• To achieve the desired results, it is suggested to adjust the filters until the small sample of 5 or 10 records is satisfactory, and then proceed with the larger import, as seeing the results and then choosing which ones to keep is not a viable option due to the nature of accessing the data (00:45:16).
• One of the initial goals of the Instant Business Data tool was to make it an affordable way to get business records, and using a small number of initial credits to test the search results can help ensure that the desired records are obtained, making it a more cost-effective option than purchasing a large list of unknown records (00:45:53).
• The instant business data tool aims to provide convenience and affordability by purchasing data in bulk upfront and passing the savings on to users, allowing for quick and easy access to business records on the BD site (00:46:28).
• The approach of purchasing data in bulk and providing it to users at a lower cost is made possible by the BD community and family, which enables the negotiation of better rates with data providers and the passing of savings on to users (00:46:46).

Where will AI websites be hosted? (00:46:52)

• The idea for hosting AI websites is to have them under a subdomain of the user's site, allowing for easier management and integration, with the person connecting it to their company website able to do a CNAME connection, and this setup is expected to be available in a few months (00:46:52).
• The subdomain will use the user's site's bandwidth, enabling them to charge their clients accordingly, and this approach is considered more integrated and easier to manage (00:47:11).
• The exact configuration and testing still need to be figured out, but the goal is to enable users to offer this service to their members, with Nikki having a question regarding this topic (00:47:29).

Are ads less effective than organic traffic for generating leads on BD sites? (00:47:35)

• A hybrid model is considered the best approach for driving leads to a page and converting them into members, which involves having a good landing page that is clean, clear, and easy for the end user to understand, and utilizing ads, such as PPC ads through Google and Bing, to target specific consumers, like interior designers in New York (00:48:13).
• Running PPC ads can be an effective way to generate leads, as it allows for arbitrage, where a small amount is spent to make more, for example, spending $10 to get a lead that can be sold for $25 or more to members, and the same lead can be sold up to four times (00:48:50).
• Organic traffic is also a good option, but it can take time, especially for a wide range of keywords, and SEO can be slower, so a combination of PPC, social media, and waiting for organic traffic to come in can be a good strategy, especially for newer sites (00:49:09).
• To turn visitors into advocates of a site, strategies such as converting visitors into leads and finding ways to make them share the website can be effective, and resources like webinars on how to turn visitors into leads and promoters can provide valuable information (00:49:44).
• When starting a Google Ads campaign, it's common to experience immediate waste and hemorrhaging of the budget, but starting with a small budget, like $5 or $10 a day, and refining the campaign by eliminating keywords or search terms that are wasting the budget can help strengthen the overall campaign (00:51:01).
• Refining the campaign involves looking at what drained the budget the most, adding search terms to the negative list, and stopping keywords that are driving the wrong type of traffic, and once the campaign is refined, the daily budget can be increased (00:51:19).
• Resources like previous tips of the week and webinars can provide valuable information on best practices for maximizing and generating leads, such as using specific verbiage and creating pages that give confidence to both consumers and members (00:51:57).
• Utilizing a smaller budget for a week to test and refine a Google Ads campaign can help eliminate waste and strengthen the campaign, and resources like the wayback machine can provide examples of effective directory websites and lead generation strategies (00:52:15).

Use case for the Clone Member feature (00:52:37)

• The clone member feature was implemented due to its utility and high demand from users, allowing them to clone a member for convenience, internal management, or organization of members with minor modifications (00:52:37).
• Cloning a member enables the duplication of a business at a different address, ensuring that the listing, membership plan, categories, and other information are initially set the same, with the option to make refinements later (00:52:55).
• The development of the clone member feature was driven by popularity and demand, and it was a relatively easy task to accomplish, providing a useful tool for the community (00:53:13).

Google Ads tip (00:53:24)

• A great tip for Google Ads is to stay away from tablet and mobile clicks, as suggested by Robert, who shared this advice (00:53:24).
• When doing remarketing ads, it is recommended to avoid game apps because people using these apps often provide useless clicks and the targeting is usually poor (00:53:40).
• While these are not hard and fast rules, it is suggested that mobile is not entirely horrible, but sometimes it may be necessary to reduce the budget for mobile clicks, allowing for individual testing and assessment (00:53:56).

How to pick records from Business Import (00:54:01)

• When importing business records, it is possible to cherry-pick from the business import record, but it is recommended to import a smaller sample first to ensure satisfaction before proceeding with a larger import amount (00:54:01).
• The webinar provided a tip of the week that offered beneficial insight, especially for those who have tried using the business import feature but did not get the desired number of results, and it is suggested to try again using the 100 free credits that come with all sites (00:54:34).
• The next webinar will take place in two weeks, and attendees are encouraged to download the Brilliant Directories app, join the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, and subscribe to the Brilliant Directories YouTube channel (00:54:52).
• The webinar concluded with appreciation from the entire Brilliant Directories family, thanking attendees for their participation and looking forward to the next webinar (00:55:12).