Webinar Wednesday 103 – December 2, 2020

Coming Soon: Personal Post Feed add-on (00:02:43)

• The Personal Post Feed add-on is an upcoming feature that will work in conjunction with the Bookmark Favorites add-on, allowing members to save and view content from other members they are interested in, and it is recommended for sites rich in content such as events or articles (00:02:44).
• The Bookmark Favorites add-on currently allows members to like or bookmark posts and members, and they can view their saved content in a dropdown menu that separates favorites by post type, such as classifieds, community articles, or coupons (00:02:52).
• The Personal Post Feed add-on will parse out and separate saved members from saved posts, making it easier for members to see their saved members versus their saved posts, and members will be able to choose which members they want to see all posts from (00:03:47).
• Members who have the Personal Post Feed add-on will have an extra link on their profile to view posts from the members they have saved, and when they click on this link, they will be taken to a page that shows all the content from the members they are following or have bookmarked (00:04:05).
• The Personal Post Feed page will have a search function and tabs for different types of content, such as events, coupons, or job listings, and members will be able to search and view content from the members they are following (00:04:33).
• The URL for the Personal Post Feed page can be customized, and site administrators will be able to place a link to this page in a prominent location on their site, such as the main menu, to make it easily accessible to members (00:05:24).
• The Personal Post Feed add-on will be a membership level setting, allowing site administrators to choose which members have access to this feature, and it will provide a way for members to exclusively view posts from the members they are interested in (00:04:11).

Coming Soon: Force-End Your Staff Admin Sessions (00:06:00)

• The ability to force-end or log out staff members working in the admin area is a Patch (computing) that will provide peace of mind, especially when no longer working with a partner, staff member, or developer, and wanting to ensure all sessions are logged out on all devices worldwide (00:06:00).
• This feature will allow the owner of the website to click a single button to end all staff admin sessions, providing a sense of security and control (00:06:22).
• The upcoming feature is expected to be a valuable addition, as it will enable website owners to easily log out all staff members from the admin area, regardless of their location, with just one click (00:06:24).

Coming Soon: Content Blocks for Email Templates (00:06:29)

• The web page builder has seen significant improvements, including the ability to drag pre-made content blocks into the editor, which is a simple yet effective feature (00:06:30).
• This functionality is being developed to be available when creating email newsletters, making it easier to create email templates (00:06:42).
• The upcoming feature of content blocks for email templates is expected to simplify the process of creating email templates, making it more efficient (00:06:46).

Coming Soon: Exclude Smart Lists when Sending Newsletters (00:06:58)

• The ability to create highly segmented smart lists of members was introduced earlier in the year, allowing users to search for specific groups, such as premium California members who are past due, and create a smart list for that group, which can then be used to send targeted newsletters (00:07:01).
• Users will be able to choose the smart list they want to send a newsletter to, but also exclude people who might be in other smart lists, providing more control over who receives the newsletter (00:07:26).
• This feature enables users to hyper-focus their newsletters and exclude specific groups, such as members who joined in October, by excluding another smart list, allowing for more targeted and precise newsletter sending (00:07:34).

Coming Soon: Design Setting to Control Body Width of Website (00:07:46)

• A new design setting will be introduced to control the body width of a website, allowing users to make the width wider, with the option to be called “extra wide” which will increase the max width to around 1400 or 1500 pixels (00:07:46).
• The current max width is set to 1140 pixels, as recommended by Bootstrap (front-end framework), but the new setting will give users the choice to have a wider layout for their page (00:08:23).
• The new setting will provide an aesthetic choice, allowing users to decide if they want a wider layout to take up more of the page, depending on the elements loaded on the page (00:08:49).
• The “extra wide” setting will be optional, and users will be able to choose between the standard width and the new wider width, with the ability to see the before and after effects of the change (00:08:52).
• The introduction of the new design setting is expected to be coming soon, and it is anticipated that many users will take advantage of the option to have a wider website layout (00:09:14).

Coming Soon: Ongoing Updates to Making Admin Area Easier (00:09:17)

• Small tweaks have been made to the admin area to make internal pages uniform, allowing for easier navigation and familiarity when switching between pages (00:09:19).
• The goal of these tweaks is to make the admin area easier to use by adding consistency and making it simpler to find settings (00:09:25).
• These small changes will be ongoing over the next few months, with the aim of continuously improving the usability of the admin area (00:09:32).

Thanks for an amazing 2020! (00:09:42)

• The team is expressing gratitude for an amazing 2020, acknowledging that the Brilliant Directories team has been working internally better than ever before, with improved collaboration between the development and support teams (00:09:42).
• The team attributes their success to strong communication with the community, including support tickets and the Facebook group, which has helped to make the platform better for everyone (00:09:53).
• The community has reached several milestones, including 5,000 Facebook members and 6,000 YouTube subscribers, with feedback from the community playing a crucial role in perpetuating the platform’s growth and improvement (00:10:05).
• The team feels appreciated by the community and wants to reciprocate that appreciation, expressing their commitment to being there for the community and looking forward to an amazing 2021 (00:10:23).
• The team is thankful for the community’s participation and can’t wait to see what the future holds, having had a wild but successful year (00:10:34).

What’s one thing you learned this year about your website? (00:10:40)

• The year has passed quickly and an opportunity is being taken to reflect on what has been learned about businesses, websites, or communities, with an invitation for participants to share their thoughts (00:10:41).
• Participants are being asked to unmute themselves and share their experiences, with the option to raise their hand if they want to contribute to the discussion (00:10:46).
• Lindsay, a member of the BD family with experience running three sites, is being acknowledged and thanked for joining the webinar, and is being given the opportunity to share her thoughts (00:10:57).
• Lindsay is from L.A and is being asked how she is doing, with a expression of concern about her being warm, and she responds that she is fine and okay (00:11:02).
• The conversation is being facilitated to allow participants, including Lindsay, to share one thing they learned during the year about their website, business, or community (00:10:47).

Understand your target market and get early feedback (00:11:16)

• To successfully set up a directory, it is essential to really know the market and niche that the directory will cater to, as well as the people who will use the website and what the members want, which involves communicating with potential members and understanding their needs (00:11:16).
• Taking a step back and looking at the website as a visitor has been a helpful strategy for growing directories, and it is important to be open to changing and adapting the original concept of the directory based on feedback and new insights (00:11:47).
• Putting oneself in the shoes of the website visitor or prospective member is crucial in understanding the market, and this involves learning about their problems, the solutions they are seeking, and the language they use to describe these issues (00:12:21).
• Getting feedback from members is valuable, as it allows directory owners to learn about their problems, the solutions they are after, and the type of words they use to describe these issues, which can then be emulated on the website to resonate and connect with them (00:12:38).
• Emulating the language and verbiage used by members on the website can help to establish a connection with them and make the directory more effective, which is why getting feedback and understanding the target market is so important (00:12:50).

Consistently communicate with your community to increase engagement (00:13:04)

• Consistently communicating with the community on a regular schedule has a significant impact on increasing engagement, as seen in an example where weekly Wednesday updates to a business resulted in a 300 percent increase in activity among its 1200 authorized dealer base (00:13:05).
• Setting a schedule for communication helps train the community to expect updates, whether through emails, webinars, live chats, or other means, which can help sustain the user base and increase activity (00:13:29).
• Creating shareable content is an effective way to work smarter and maintain constant communication with the community, with ideas including status updates and downloads (00:13:53).
• Utilizing newsletters and social media posts can facilitate regular communication with the community, and resources such as a specific video can provide guidance on overcoming roadblocks to consistent communication (00:14:06).
• Implementing a consistent communication strategy can lead to a significant increase in engagement, as people become accustomed to expecting updates and may even inquire when they are late, demonstrating the importance of regular communication (00:13:18).

Tip of the Week: 5 Elements Every Membership Pricing Page Needs (00:14:28)

• The topic of discussion is the “Tip of the Week” which focuses on the 5 elements that every membership pricing page needs (00:14:28).
• The idea behind this topic is to revisit and provide high-value information on the essential elements that should be included on pricing pages or membership options pages, which is considered a back-to-basics approach (00:14:34).
• The discussion aims to dive into the details of what specifically should be included on a pricing page, how complex it should be, and how much information it should contain, as these aspects have not been thoroughly explored in the past (00:15:05).
• The goal is to provide useful information to help gauge what elements are necessary for a pricing page, and to identify which elements may be useful to add, and which ones may not be doing much use and could be removed (00:15:19).

Why Do You Need a Strong Pricing Page? (00:15:35)

• A strong pricing page is necessary because it has one job, which is to incentivize potential members to purchase products or services, and it should make visitors take action and buy what is being offered (00:15:36).
• The pricing page should be simple and easy to comprehend, with just enough information to make it easy to browse quickly and see the main points being offered, which can enhance the value of the offerings and help push people to make a purchase (00:16:08).
• A complex or poorly designed pricing page can drive away potential prospects, whereas a simple and easy-to-understand pricing page can help push people across the finish line and purchase what is being offered (00:15:55).
• When people come to the pricing page, the hard work of persuading them to consider the product or service has already been done, and the pricing page should give them that little extra push to take action and buy, without bombarding them with too much information (00:16:40).
• The goal of the pricing page is to provide just enough information to incentivize potential members to purchase, and it should be designed to help people take that final step and buy what is being offered (00:16:58).

6 Elements Your Pricing Pages Needs (00:17:03)

• A pricing page should be easy to find, whether it’s linked in the main menu, mini nav, footer, sidebars, or landing pages, to allow non-members to easily locate and join the community (00:17:10).
• The membership plan options should be simple, avoiding overwhelming lists of features, and instead focusing on the most important elements that the target demographic is interested in (00:17:35).
• The benefits of joining should be clearly stated, avoiding too many pricing options and keeping the benefits simple, to enable easy comprehension and decision-making within 20-30 seconds of browsing the pricing page (00:18:16).
• Testimonials from satisfied members can add credibility to the website and community, and can be presented in various formats, such as text, images, or video, with 1-3 good testimonials being sufficient (00:18:50).
• A way to contact the organization should be provided, such as a button or link to the contact page, an embedded contact form, or a live chat tool, to address any questions or concerns (00:19:50).
• Optionally, a link to an optimized sample listing or a screenshot of an optimized listing can be included to demonstrate the value of membership, or a video can be embedded to showcase the sign-up process or an optimized listing (00:20:18).
• When optimizing a pricing page, there are four main elements to keep in mind: keeping it simple, clear, motivating, and credible, to entice prospective members to take action and purchase, with benefits such as high-quality images and reviews (00:20:51).
• Having a public pricing page is a common strategy, but an alternative approach is to require visitors to request to join or be added to the site, creating a sense of exclusivity, and this can apply to membership plans or other services (00:21:25).
• The principles of optimizing a pricing page can be applied to any product or service, not just membership plans, and can be used to sell ancillary services, such as business marketing, in addition to directory listings (00:22:10).
• Every site and community is unique, with different target demographics and offerings, so it’s essential to consider these factors when creating a pricing page, and there is no one-size-fits-all formula (00:22:41).
• To encourage visitors to take action, it’s crucial to make an emotional connection, create a sense of urgency or scarcity, and push them to take a leap of faith, which can be achieved through clever marketing and choice of words (00:23:06).
• Building a site that meets the needs of visitors and prospective members, rather than just the site owner, is vital, and this can be achieved by gathering feedback from members and using it to inform design and marketing decisions (00:24:11).

Let’s See an Optimized Pricing Page! (00:24:21)

• A sample pricing page has been created to demonstrate the components and elements of a pricing page, including a hero section with an inviting image to make the page more exciting and interesting (00:24:22).
• The language used on the pricing page can convey an emotional response from the person visiting the website, and using a heading that tries to get them excited about joining can be more effective than plain text (00:24:32).
• The sample pricing page has been limited to only two membership plans, the full access plan and the basic access plan, with prices of $30 and $25 per month, respectively, to make the decision easier for the customer (00:25:53).
• Having the prices close together can push customers to choose the more expensive option, and adding an icon to the full access plan can make it seem more exciting and exclusive (00:26:06).
• The button text on the pricing page has been changed to “yes, give me access now” to make it more appealing and to release endorphins in the customer’s mind when they click the button (00:27:08).
• The button text should be something that the customer is after, such as “showcase my business” or “list my business”, to make them feel satisfied when they click the button (00:27:21).
• The goal is to make the customer feel like they are getting what they want when they click the button, and to make the decision to purchase easier by limiting the number of options and making the pricing clear (00:27:31).
• Having multiple membership plans can be beneficial, but having just one plan can also work, and it could be a paid plan with strategies such as offering a free trial period, providing a coupon code, or creating a sense of urgency to make it appealing (00:28:01).
• When having two or more membership plans, it’s good to have one that is the most obvious choice, which doesn’t necessarily need to be the most expensive one, but rather the one that provides the most value, and using the decoy effect can help drive people to sign up for that plan (00:28:53).
• Keeping the membership plans simple and clear is important, and using strategies such as creating an emotional connection, having a clear call-to-action button, and addressing frequently asked questions can help increase conversion rates for sign-United Parcel Service (00:29:40).
• Including a short FAQ section or a list of reasons to join the membership can help address common questions and provide more information to potential subscribers, and using testimonials, especially video testimonials, can also be effective in increasing sign-ups (00:30:03).
• Using bright colored images and titles can help make the testimonial section stand out, and adding features such as five-star icons or having multiple testimonials side by side can also enhance the section (00:31:10).
• The host mentioned the importance of keeping it simple and clear, and using strategies such as the decoy effect, creating a sense of urgency, and providing valuable information can help increase conversion rates and make the membership plans more appealing (00:29:43).
• Embedding a video testimonial allows prospective members to see or hear an active member speaking about their experience on the site, which can help persuade them to join, and this feature is particularly useful when a new visitor comes to the page (00:31:35).
• The pricing page has a contact form that makes it easy for visitors to reach out with questions, and if someone contacts the site, the primary goal is still to get them to buy, but the contact can also provide an opportunity to offer a special promotion or discount to help push them to purchase (00:31:55).
• When someone contacts the site, it’s possible to offer them a special deal or throw in something extra to help them decide to purchase the membership, and this can also be a way to prevent them from leaving the site altogether (00:32:27).
• The contact form allows visitors to provide feedback and express their concerns about signing up, which can be valuable information for the site, and by capturing an email address through the contact form, it’s possible to create a dialogue and persuade the person to join (00:32:55).
• By responding to questions and concerns, it’s possible to learn from the visitor and persuade them to join, and this process can also help to create a dialogue and build a relationship with the potential member (00:33:14).
• The contact form is a useful tool for capturing email addresses and creating a dialogue with potential members, and it can also provide valuable feedback and help to persuade visitors to join the site (00:33:17).

How to Make an Optimized Pricing Page (00:33:27)

• To create an optimized pricing page, the built-in tools in the admin section can be utilized, with the exception of replacing bullet points with check marks from Font Awesome, a free service, which was done to enhance the page’s appearance (00:33:28).
• The hero section of the pricing page was enabled, featuring an image and text that was styled using font sizes and colors to contrast properly with the image, making it visually appealing (00:33:55).
• The default pricing page was modified by dropping an image before the text, and the button text was updated by clicking on the button and editing it to choose the corresponding membership plans checkout page (00:34:27).
• The page also includes a frequently asked questions section, which was created using the FAQ module from the content blocks, and can be replaced with a list of general benefits that people in the community get when they register to join (00:35:25).
• A testimonial block was added, which was created using the text with image left option, and the placeholder image was replaced with a new one, and the text was rewritten to include the testimonial (00:35:44).
• The page was customized using individual elements, such as section titles, text blocks, and buttons, which were dragged and dropped into place, allowing for a high degree of flexibility and customization (00:36:11).
• The process of creating a page like this can take around 30 minutes, assuming the content is already ready to go, and the new tools and features make it easier to create a professional-looking page (00:36:59).
• The editor options were used to customize the font size and color of the text, and the ability to choose font families was also utilized, which was a recently added feature (00:37:27).
• The importance of revisiting the pricing page to ensure it includes elements that encourage member signups or sales was emphasized, and the use of the built-in tools and features can help create a more effective pricing page (00:38:20).

Create Perfect Checkout Pages to Increase Member Sign-Ups (00:38:38)

• A previous tip of the week was mentioned, and a link to it will be posted in the chat for those watching on GoToWebinar and YouTube (00:38:38)
• The link will be shared for viewers to access the previous tip (00:38:41)
• The audience is invited to ask questions about the tip of the week and any upcoming website updates (00:38:56)
• The host invites the audience to raise their hand if they have any questions, and a few questions will be taken (00:39:03)
• A participant named Arlana has been given the opportunity to ask a question, and her mic has been unmetered (00:39:08)
• Arlana is greeted and asked how she is doing, and she responds that she is doing great (00:39:12)

How to make a portal home page for general website subscribers? (00:39:16)

• A subscription plan can be created for users who want to be ongoing members of a website without having their own business page, and this can be achieved by setting up a custom page as a portal for these users (00:39:16).
• When editing the general user settings, there is an option to redirect users to a specific page after signing up or logging in, such as the home page of the website (00:39:51).
• Creating a custom page using the web page builder can provide a portal for general users, where they can access various features and links, such as their dashboard, favorite practitioners, or search members (00:40:17).
• The custom page can be set as the redirect page after signing up or logging in, and it can include links to different areas of the site, such as search members, find practitioners, or upgrade options (00:41:43).
• The upgrade option can be used to allow general users to upgrade to a different plan, such as a practitioner plan, and this can be linked to the upgrade page (00:42:11).
• When logged in, users can access their dashboard and other account pages, and these links can be customized to direct users to specific pages, such as account home or classifieds (00:42:43).
• Creating a custom page for users to direct them to after signing up or logging in can be beneficial, and using draggable content blocks can make the process easier (00:43:22).
• Users may not need a public searchable profile, but collecting basic contact information such as name, phone number, and email address can be useful (00:43:55).
• Having an upgrade option from a general user to a regular plan can be a good idea, allowing users to become searchable members and access more features (00:44:14).
• Instead of just signing up for a newsletter, users can sign up to a community as a general user, which includes the newsletter and other benefits such as bookmarking favorite members and downloading digital products (00:44:40).
• A portal page can be created to direct users to after signing up or logging in, and this can be set up under the membership plan settings by searching for the redirect page after sign up and login (00:45:15).
• The platform has many settings that allow for control over the user experience, and creating a custom page after login can provide a beautiful experience for users depending on their membership plan (00:46:01).
• Custom content can be added to the account dashboard, and users can be directed to a special page with links to areas within their member dashboard and other areas of the site (00:45:56).

How to process member payments by check or cash? (00:46:24)

• To process member payments by check or cash, a website owner can create a membership level called “premium plan pending” that is free, and after the member signs up, they will receive instructions on how to send an Automated clearing house payment, and once the payment is received, the owner can manually change the member’s plan to the official premium plan (00:47:16).
• The membership plan can be set up to be free, with a sign-up email that provides instructions on how to send the ACH payment, and the account status can be set to “on hold” requiring admin approval (00:48:10).
• After the member signs up, they will be placed on hold until the payment is received, at which point the website owner can manually change their plan to an active member and update their membership level to the official premium plan (00:48:34).
• To implement this, the website owner can create a custom email template that will be sent to the member upon signing up to the “premium plan pending” membership plan, with instructions on the next steps and how to send the payment (00:48:24).
• Eduardo’s question about not requesting new member sign-United Parcel Service to input a credit card for a premium plan and instead having them do a bank transfer or something similar can be addressed by using this method, where the member signs up for the “premium plan pending” and then sends the payment, after which the website owner can activate their account (00:46:47).

What is the benefit of having parent and sub-accounts? (00:49:19)

• The concept of parent and sub-accounts allows a master account to manage multiple sub-accounts, which is beneficial for businesses such as talent agencies or law firms that need to create profiles for multiple individuals, (00:49:19).
• For instance, a talent agency can have a master account and create sub-accounts for the different actors, bands, or singers they manage, and then manage all those sub-accounts from the master account, (00:49:26).
• This feature is also useful for a podcaster’s directory, where agents representing multiple guests can create an agency account and then create guest profiles underneath, (00:50:08).
• The multi-member manager add-on allows parent accounts to create multiple sub-accounts, and the pricing model or limit on the number of sub-accounts can be chosen, (00:50:30).
• The redirect from login feature allows users to be redirected to a personal portal page after logging in, where custom content can be added, such as tutorials, upselling services, or promotions, (00:50:54).
• The personal portal page can have multiple blocks, including a tab to redirect to the dashboard, tutorials, or other custom content, and can be used to educate users about the features and benefits of the site, (00:51:10).
• The ability to customize the personal portal page provides another option for utilizing the platform and can be used to promote seasonal promotions or other relevant content, (00:51:58).

How to alphabetize all categories listed on the /categories page? (00:52:02)

• The issue of alphabetizing categories on the /categories page is being addressed, specifically with regards to the sub-categories listed under main categories, such as “sports”, which are not currently in alphabetical order (00:52:03).
• To resolve this issue, the default category sort order in the general settings needs to be adjusted to alphabetical order, from A to Z, which can be found in the search settings (00:52:48).
• By changing the default category sort order to alphabetical, the sub-categories should now be listed in alphabetical order, as demonstrated with the “sports” category (00:53:00).
• After making this change, the categories page should now display the sub-categories in alphabetical order, solving the initial problem (00:53:13).
• The solution to this issue is part of a larger webinar discussion, and for any further questions or topics not covered, attendees are invited to join the Facebook group or visit brilliantdirectories.com for more information (00:53:40).
• The webinar is now coming to a close, with the next one scheduled to take place in two weeks, and attendees are thanked for their participation, with appreciation extended from the Brilliant Directories family (00:53:56).