Webinar Wednesday 127 – December 29, 2021

Year-End Extravaganza (00:00:52)

• The year-end extravaganza is being celebrated, and appreciation is expressed for the growth of websites using Brilliant Directories in 2021 (00:00:52).
• The community is considered the biggest and best asset at Brilliant Directories, where members help each other, provide constructive feedback, and exhibit positivity (00:00:58).
• The community’s supportive environment is a pleasant experience to witness and participate in, and the Brilliant Directories family wishes everyone a happy new year (00:01:04).
• The team at Brilliant Directories is looking forward to seeing the creations and developments of its users in 2022 (00:01:19).
• The Brilliant Directories family is grateful for the community’s presence and is expressing warm wishes for the upcoming year (00:01:21).

2021 Year In Review (00:01:29)

• Over 5,500 new websites were launched on the Brilliant Directories platform in 2021, and the YouTube channel had over half a million views, with tutorials, add-on videos, webinar replays, and tips of the week being popular resources for the community (00:02:03).
• The development team pushed over 1,200 updates to the Brilliant Directories platform, many of which were under-the-hood improvements that made a huge difference in managing websites, and the support team answered almost 11,000 support tickets (00:02:28).
• The support tickets not only showed that the support team was hard at work but also provided valuable feedback that helped push updates to the platform, and the team encourages users to submit support tickets as they help stay connected with users and improve the platform (00:03:15).
• The Facebook group had almost 3,000 new members join in 2021, and there were almost 3,500 posts throughout the year, making it a great community for website owners to share feedback, advice, and tips (00:03:47).
• The marketplace, which is primarily used by high-end users for customized applications, had over 260 project quote requests and over 620 live direct chats between website owners and third-party developers, making it a great resource for users (00:04:47).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #1 (00:05:20)

• A lifetime website giveaway is being held, and due to technical issues with extracting the attendee list, a random number picker will be used to select the winner (00:05:20).
• The winner will be chosen by generating a random number and counting down from the list of attendees in alphabetical order (00:06:01).
• The random number picker selected number 11, which corresponds to Catherine Opalińska, who is the winner of the first lifetime website giveaway (00:06:10).
• Catherine Palin is congratulated on her win and will be followed up with after the webinar to receive her free lifetime website (00:06:19).
• Catherine mentions she joined earlier in the year and is attending the webinar from the Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia, where it is 7:13 a.m., and she is excited to have won the giveaway (00:06:38).

Hero Hoodie Giveaway #1 (00:07:14)

• The process of giving away hoodies is being initiated, with the hoodies expected to arrive in the office in about two weeks, after which the winners’ sizes will be determined and the hoodies will be shipped out (00:07:14).
• A raffle is being conducted for the hoodie giveaway, and the current number of attendees is 92, with the list being updated to determine the winner (00:07:25).
• The winner of the first hoodie giveaway is Lucy Lou, who has been selected from the list of attendees, and her information will be collected after the webinar to ensure she receives the hoodie in her correct size (00:07:41).
• The hoodies being given away are unisex and have a unique feature that allows them to convert into a small backpack when not being worn, and arrangements will be made to get the hoodie to Lucy as soon as possible after they arrive in the office (00:08:07).

What’s one thing you learned this year about your business, website or community? (00:08:20)

• The idea of sharing insights and experiences from 2021 about business, directory websites, or membership communities was introduced, with an invitation for attendees to unmute their microphones and share their thoughts (00:08:21).
• Lindsay, a power user with multiple websites, shared her insight that communication is key to success, particularly in keeping the website up to date and engaging with the audience through regular conversations (00:09:05).
• The importance of communication in building a unique voice and establishing a connection with members was highlighted, emphasizing that it doesn’t have to be complicated, but rather genuine and accessible (00:09:37).
• Lindsay’s approach to communication has been effective for her in the past year, especially in the context of the pandemic where many people have been relying on virtual interactions, such as Zoom Communications (00:09:26).
• The ability to communicate effectively can be a distinguishing factor that sets one apart from competitors or similar websites and communities (00:09:39).

Penn Jillette’s Special Message to the BD Community (00:10:04)

• Penn Jillette sent a special shout out message to the Brilliant Directories community, expressing his appreciation for their dedication and tenacity (00:10:05).
• In the message, Penn Jillette acknowledges the community’s positive attitude and notes that 2021 is ending, but 2022 will be awesome, with the community continuing to grow and improve (00:10:20).
• He encourages the community members to take a moment to pat themselves on the back, acknowledging that they deserve it for their hard work and dedication to helping each other (00:10:45).
• Penn Jillette ends the message by wishing the community a great 2022, expressing his love and appreciation for them, and signing off with a message of peace, with a brief comment from Teller (magician) (00:10:55).
• The message from Penn Jillette is followed by an announcement of some Brilliant Directories lab updates, which are briefly mentioned as quick updates (00:11:09).

Profile Page: Display Member’s Additional Service Areas (00:11:13)

• The additional service areas add-on allows members to choose additional service areas, and these can now be displayed on their profile page, with the rollout happening in phases (00:11:13).
• The display of additional service areas can be enabled on the overview tab, where a list of the member’s selected service areas will be shown, with the goal of making these areas clickable in phase two (00:11:22).
• To enable the display of additional service areas, users with the add-on can go to membership plans, edit a membership plan, and under the profile page section, select the new position six option called “list service areas” (00:12:01).
• The position of the service areas on the overview tab can be customized, with the option to select “list service areas” and place it in any of the available positions, allowing for flexibility in the layout (00:12:16).
• The display of additional service areas is now available and can be enabled on members’ profile pages, with the ability to mix and match the order of the different elements on the overview tab (00:12:47).

Manage Posts: Sort Options for Posts in Admin Area (00:12:52)

• The manage post page in the admin area now has sort options for posts, allowing users to organize their content in a more efficient manner (00:12:53).
• The sort options include sorting by name, creation date, and posts with the most comments, likes, and views, providing valuable insights into post popularity (00:12:58).
• The option to sort by most views is particularly useful for identifying the most popular posts on a website, such as blog articles, and is available with the profile analytics add-on (00:13:27).
• The sorting feature displays the number of views, likes, and comments for each post in descending order, making it easy to identify top-performing content (00:13:52).
• Users can access these sort options in the admin area, toggle between different post types, and use the sorting feature to analyze their posts and identify areas for improvement (00:14:07).

Webhook Events: Smart Lists, Cancellations, Imports, Posts, Upgrades (00:14:19)

• More web hook events are being introduced, including the ability to export smart lists and receive notifications for member cancellations, which can be used to set up automated emails when members want to cancel (00:14:19).
• The ability to import data into a Brilliant Directories website is also being added, allowing users to import data from forms created with other solutions like Mailchimp, Typeform (service), or Jotform (00:14:34).
• Webhook events can now be used to send post data to services like Zapier and Pably, and also to trigger events when members change their plan, either by upgrading or downgrading (00:14:53).
• These new webhook events are expected to provide high value to users, particularly the ability to import data from other forms and solutions, and to automate tasks based on member actions (00:14:52).

Forms: Alternate Field Name Based on Display Setting (input, email, etc.) (00:15:09)

• The ability to have an alternate field name based on the display setting for a form is a feature that was requested in a previous webinar and is coming soon (00:15:09).
• This feature allows for a standard field label and an alternate field label to be used based on the display settings, enabling the display of different labels for the same field in different contexts (00:15:45).
• The most popular use case for this feature is likely to be when members fill out information in their member dashboard and it is then displayed on their public profile, allowing for question format on the input view and a more formal display on the public view (00:15:57).
• This update will provide more flexibility in how form fields are labeled and displayed, allowing for a more user-friendly and professional presentation of member information (00:16:13).

New Add-On: Include File Upload Fields for Forms (upload PDFs, images, etc.) (00:16:15)

• A new add-on will be released at the beginning of 2022, allowing users to include file upload fields with forms, enabling individuals to upload files such as PDFs, images, and more when submitting a form (00:16:15).
• This new feature will be particularly useful for receiving job applications, as it will enable applicants to upload their resumes and other relevant documents directly through the form (00:16:38).
• The file upload fields can also be used for lead forms, where users can add images of their projects, such as designer construction projects, to provide more context and information when submitting the form (00:16:46).
• The ability to include file upload fields with forms is expected to be released in early January 2022, and this update is highly anticipated (00:16:55).
• The new add-on will provide users with more flexibility and functionality when creating custom forms, making it easier to collect and manage files and information from form submissions (00:17:00).

Matthew’s Favorite 2021 Updates (00:17:04)

• Matthew Brooks, co-founder, is discussing his favorite updates from 2021, which were developed based on ideas from the Brilliant Directories community and Facebook group, and worked on by the developers and QA team (00:17:05).
• One of the updates allows website owners to select the billing cycles for sending upcoming billing reminder emails, giving them more control over which members receive email notifications (00:18:23).
• Another update enables the customization of URLs for checkout pages, which is beneficial for SEO and allows for the creation of custom pages for specific customers or sales reps, while also addressing a security issue (00:19:34).
• The development process involves creating Trello cards, working together to understand the update, coding, and quality assurance testing before pushing the update live (00:17:52).
• The updates were chosen from a large number of options, and Matthew Brooks had to narrow down his selection to just three favorites for the year (00:18:17).
• The ability to customize billing cycles and checkout pages has added significant value for website owners, making it easier to manage members and communicate with them effectively (00:19:31).
• The Brilliant Directories software updates include granular control over checkout pages, allowing for changes to be made, and various speed updates to improve page loading times and Google ranking (00:20:39).
• Delivering high-quality, fast, and functioning pages is crucial due to the decreasing attention span of users, and the team has worked to achieve this through an informative and educational process (00:21:02).
• The speed updates have resulted in great gains, with improvements in overall functionality, and the team has worked to optimize the loading of third-party tools like Google Recaptcha and Google Maps to increase page scores (00:21:30).
• The development team at Brilliant Directories has worked tirelessly to achieve these updates, and they will have more to come in 2022, with the team being recognized for their hard work and dedication (00:22:07).
• The team is excited for what is to come in 2022, with more speed updates and improvements planned, and they appreciate the support of their “family” at Brilliant Directories (00:22:26).

Rick’s Favorite 2021 Updates (00:22:30)

• The top picks for 2021 updates include submitting tickets directly through the admin dashboard with attachments, which was a significant improvement as it speeds up the process and allows for better control and search functionality (00:23:25).
• Another important update was the introduction of pre-made content blocks, which has made it easier for customers to create static pages and transmit their message, and this feature is expected to be further polished and integrated with other sections of the platform (00:24:02).
• Creating custom smart lists was also a notable update, as it adds functionality to the website owner and allows them to easily submit messages to their members, making it a big solution for a previously difficult task (00:24:56).
• The updates have been well-received by the support team and customers, and the team is excited about the potential for further improvements and integrations in 2022 (00:25:41).
• The ability to submit tickets directly through the admin dashboard was a long-awaited feature, and its release in 2021 was a significant milestone, simplifying the process for users (00:26:02).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #2 (00:26:15)

• A lifetime website giveaway is being held, and a number system is being used to select the winner because the wheel of names is not working (00:26:17).
• There are 101 attendees at the time of the giveaway, and a number is generated to determine the winner (00:26:28).
• The winner of the lifetime website giveaway is Paul Perry, who is notified and will be connected with after the webinar to arrange delivery of the lifetime website (00:26:42).
• Paul Perry confirms his win by chatting “yes” with an exclamation point, and congratulations are extended to him as the second winner of the lifetime website giveaway (00:27:00).

Jason’s Favorite 2021 Updates (00:27:11)

• The top updates for 2021 include the development of Zapier and web hook integrations, which allow Brilliant Directories websites to integrate with up to 3000 third-party platforms, making it easier to send data to other solutions and increasing compatibility with existing tech stacks (00:27:18).
• Another significant update is the ability to preview forms while editing them in the admin area, which saves time and was a long-awaited feature that was finally released in 2021 (00:27:51).
• The past due email reminders have also been a notable update, allowing membership website owners to recoup more of their membership dues by sending up to three reminders, and also providing a one-click attempt to collect past due payments, which is convenient for both website owners and members (00:28:28).
• Additionally, the ability to preview forms has been a simple yet effective update, and the past due email reminders have been successful in helping membership website owners recover recurring subscriptions and members appreciate the reminders to update their credit card information (00:28:30).
• The updates have been numerous, with over 1200 updates pushed in 2021, including big and small changes, making it challenging to narrow down the list to just a few favorites (00:29:41).
• The three favorite updates, Zapier and web hooks, previewing forms, and past due email reminders, have all been significant improvements to the Brilliant Directories software (00:29:50).

David’s Favorite 2021 Updates (00:29:59)

• The favorite 2021 updates to the Brilliant Directories platform are related to user interfaces, user experience, and making the platform more intuitive for both website admins and their members (00:30:35).
• The first favorite update is the admin area UI and organizational improvements, which is an ongoing process to make the admin area more intuitive and easier to use, with the goal of better organizing the hundreds of settings included in the platform (00:30:57).
• The second favorite update is the account dashboard, which allows users to view all their websites, see add-ons, member registrations, revenue, and role on each website, as well as manage support tickets and submit new ones (00:31:40).
• The account dashboard makes it easier for users to manage their websites and communicate with the support team, especially when it comes to seeing what products they have and active websites (00:32:20).
• The last favorite update of 2021 is the discussions post type and its integration with the community comments add-on, which creates a usable discussions and forum-type feature (00:32:30).
• The discussions post type works in conjunction with the community comments add-on to create a forum or message board type feature, which was a highly requested feature and is still being developed with plans to add more features in the future (00:32:55).
• The community comments add-on is expected to have additional features in the future, such as upvoting or downvoting comments, filtering comments based on upvotes, and the ability to have a star rating for comments (00:33:42).
• The star rating feature will allow users to leave reviews for posts, not just for members, and will be available for comments in the future (00:34:01).

Kate Flannery’s Special Message to the BD Community (00:34:19)

• Kate Flannery from the office has a special message for the Brilliant Directories community, congratulating everybody on the end of an amazing year, 2021, and acknowledging the hard work done on website projects (00:34:21).
• Kate Flannery expresses her appreciation for the Brilliant Directories family, encouraging them to keep going and anticipating that 2022 will be even better, and she jokingly toasts to them (00:34:34).
• Kate Flannery provides some humorous advice, warning against shaving heads, getting bitten by a bat, and getting dressed up, and she thanks the Brilliant Directories family for their efforts, ending with a playful phrase “that’s what she said” (00:35:01).
• The message from Kate Flannery is well-received, with a positive response and gratitude expressed for her sweet message (00:35:21).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #3 (00:35:34)

• A lifetime website giveaway was announced, with 104 attendees present at the time of the announcement (00:35:36).
• The winner of the giveaway was determined by a random number picker, which generated the number 35, corresponding to Jean Weedman on the list (00:35:45).
• Jean Weedman was declared the winner of a lifetime website, marking the third winner of the day, and was congratulated despite some technical issues with her microphone (00:36:04).
• Although Jean’s mic was not working, arrangements were made to connect with her after the webinar to ensure she receives her lifetime website plan (00:36:15).
• The winner, Jean, was assured that there were no worries and was once again congratulated on winning the lifetime website (00:36:22).

Hero Hoodie Giveaway #2 (00:36:22)

• Congratulations were given to Jean, and another hoodie giveaway was announced, where a winner would be selected from a list by counting backwards from 104 (00:36:22).
• The winner of the Brilliant Directories hoodie was Rhonda Shelley, who was unmuted and congratulated on her win, and she was calling in from Brisbane, Australia (00:36:24).
• Rhonda Shelley was asked how she was doing and where she was calling from, and she mentioned that she was very new to Brilliant Directories, still waiting to go through all the training videos, and not yet live with her website (00:36:36).
• Rhonda Shelley was informed that the support team and Facebook group were available if she had any questions, and that after the webinar, an email would be sent to her to get her information and arrange for the hoodie to be shipped to her in Australia (00:36:42).
• The hoodie was expected to be received by the office in about two weeks, and as soon as it arrived, it would be shipped out to Rhonda Shelley in Australia, with congratulations given to her once again (00:36:52).
• The conversation with Rhonda Shelley came to a close, and it was stated that the good times would continue, with the webinar moving forward (00:37:19).

Dennis’s Favorite 2021 Updates (00:37:46)

• Dennis Tanorino from the customer success team joined the webinar to discuss the updates and express his excitement about the energy and giveaways, including sweaters, and is looking forward to sending them out to everyone in the giveaways (00:37:50).
• The first update that stood out is the “Getting Started” video series, which is now available in the admin section and features 10 easy-to-follow videos, with a total watch time of about an hour to an hour and a half, making it fun and easy for people to get started (00:38:42).
• The “Getting Started” video series has gone through several iterations, with the current version being the easiest and most fun to follow, and is designed to be a domino effect, where one video takes the user to the next (00:38:51).
• The second update is the addition of custom content sections for the home page, which allows users to select up to five custom content sections to display, and features a block-based editor that makes it easy to style and design without requiring extra effort (00:40:02).
• The custom content sections can be used by anyone, and the block-based editor allows users to drag and drop different stylings and display them on the home page, making it easy to add custom content in between other widgets, such as blogs (00:40:10).
• The importance of adding extra touches to a website, such as events or coupons, to make it unique and stand out, is highlighted as a key aspect of creating a distinctive online presence for Brilliant Directories users (00:40:58).
• Being part of the Brilliant Directories Facebook group is highly recommended, as it provides a community of over 7,000 members where people help each other, share knowledge, and get support from coaches and staff (00:41:21).
• The Facebook group is not only a valuable resource for learning and growth but also a place where updates are released, and members can have fun asking questions, meeting other website owners, and getting involved in discussions (00:42:13).
• The getting started videos are considered essential for new users of Brilliant Directories, as they facilitate the onboarding process and help users navigate the software’s numerous features (00:42:52).
• The community of Brilliant Directories users is appreciated for their positivity, happiness, and willingness to help one another, making it a unique and supportive environment (00:41:28).
• The growth of the Facebook group from a few members to over 7,000 is seen as a significant achievement, and it is expected to continue growing and providing value to its members (00:42:04).
• The release of updates and new features is an ongoing process, and users can expect many more good things to come in 2022, building on the successes of 2021 (00:42:27).
• The support team, including Dennis, plays a crucial role in helping users, answering pre-sales questions, and providing guidance to those interested in signing up with Brilliant Directories (00:42:43).

2022 Brilliant Directories’ Development Roadmap (00:43:07)

• The development roadmap for 2022 includes hundreds of updates, with key ones including enhanced functionality for community comments, such as upvoting, downvoting, and star ratings, which will be implemented to improve user engagement (00:43:09).
• Improvements are being made to the newsletter sending and segmenting features within the admin area, aiming to provide a more usable and valuable experience for users, despite not having all the features of a dedicated email sending solution (00:43:35).
• The logic for creating coupon codes for one-off purchases, such as leads or digital products, is being developed, allowing users to apply coupon codes to these purchases and enhancing the overall coupon code functionality (00:44:12).
• The user interface for creating emails is being improved with the addition of more draggable content blocks, making it easier to create email newsletter templates from the admin area (00:45:06).
• Further updates are planned, including more Zapier and web hooks integrations, and the community’s feedback and ideas are being taken into consideration to improve the platform, with more information to be shared in the future (00:45:25).

BD Community Awards (00:45:44)

• The Brilliant Directories community awards and shout outs are given to recognize the contributions of community members, with a list of top contributors highlighted, including Neil, Eric, Colette, and Olga, who have been active in the Facebook group and have provided valuable feedback and ideas (00:45:48).
• These community members have been instrumental in helping others with their websites, providing feedback and ideas, and asking questions that have helped unlock new features and improvements to the platform (00:46:40).
• Ryan Sullivan is also highlighted as the community MVP, who has been hosting post-webinar roundtable discussions and has a website, directorytoolkit.com, with great resources for managing directory and membership websites (00:47:30).
• The community awards are a way to show appreciation for the contributions of these members and the entire community, who have helped shape the Brilliant Directories platform and community through their participation in the Facebook group, webinars, and other activities (00:47:57).
• The contributions of these community members have been invaluable in helping to identify new features and improvements, with their questions and feedback helping to unlock new possibilities and additions to the platform (00:48:27).
• The community is grateful for the contributions of all its members and looks forward to continued growth and development in 2022, with the help and participation of the community (00:48:18).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #4 (00:48:57)

• A lifetime website plan is being given away, and with 105 attendees, a random number picker is used to select the winner (00:48:58).
• The winner of the lifetime website plan is Mark Foster (musician), who is attending the webinar from Barbados and is excited to have won the prize (00:49:19).
• Mark Foster is a relatively long-time user of Brilliant Directories, having started in January 2020, and he decided to join after receiving a pop-up email and considering the offer for two days before making the decision (00:49:50).
• Mark Foster shares his positive experience with Brilliant Directories, stating that it has been great since he started, and he is thanked for his kind words and sharing his story (00:50:14).
• As the winner, Mark Foster will receive an email after the webinar to confirm that his lifetime website plan has been added to his account (00:50:21).

Anthony Anderson’s Special Message to the BD Community (00:50:28)

• A special message is being shared with the Brilliant Directories community from Anthony Anderson (00:50:29).
• Anthony Anderson congratulates the Brilliant Directories family on their hard work and achievements in 2021, encouraging them to continue pursuing their passions to achieve success (00:50:45).
• Anderson expresses his confidence in the community’s abilities, telling them to keep doing what they are doing and that they have the potential to succeed (00:51:06).
• The message from Anthony Anderson is appreciated, and he is recognized as a star of a popular comedy show called Black-ish (00:51:13).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #5 (00:51:18)

• A lifetime website giveaway is taking place, and the winner will be selected from the 107 attendees, with some people joining in at the last minute (00:51:18).
• A number is generated to determine the winner, and after counting backwards from 107, the winner is announced as Mike Day (00:51:33).
• Mike Day is instructed to unmute his microphone, but it appears that his microphone is not working, so congratulations are given to him for winning a lifetime website plan (00:51:41).
• The winner, Mike Day, will have the lifetime website plan connected to his account shortly after the webinar (00:51:53).

Hero Hoodie Giveaway #3 (00:52:03)

• Congratulations were given to Sheila, the winner of the Hero Hoodie Giveaway, who has been with Brilliant Directories for some time and was selected as the winner of the final raffle of the day with the number 97 (00:52:03).
• Sheila was greeted and congratulated, and she expressed her excitement and gratitude for winning the hoodie, stating that it was great to be part of the webinars and to have the opportunity to interact with the Brilliant Directories community (00:52:21).
• Sheila shared her words of wisdom with the Brilliant Directories community, advising them to keep joining the webinars and to listen to the advice provided, as she has found the company to be truly the best in the directory industry, with valuable free webinars and expert advice (00:52:44).
• The winner of the hoodie, Sheila, will receive her prize in about two weeks, with the correct size and other details to be confirmed shortly after the webinar, and she was thanked for being a great member of the Brilliant Directories community (00:53:17).
• The webinar was running on time, and an opportunity was given for attendees to ask questions, share thoughts, or provide feedback about their Brilliant Directories site, with a few microphones to be unmuted for this purpose (00:53:34).

Considerations when migrating an existing website to BD? (00:53:48)

• When migrating an existing website to Brilliant Directories, it is essential to consider setting up a subdomain, such as newsite.mysite.com, to test the new site before completely abandoning the old one (00:54:54).
• To ensure a seamless transition, it is crucial to redirect old web pages to their corresponding new web pages, especially if the old site has member profiles and search results (00:55:30).
• Since Helen’s current website does not have member profiles and search results, she can focus on creating new landing pages to replace the public-facing site and enhance the experience for paid members (00:55:45).
• It is recommended to use Google Analytics to export a list of the most popular pages and their URLs to ensure that the new site has corresponding pages with the exact same URL or a redirect set up (00:56:30).
• To avoid losing existing traffic, it is vital to set up 301 redirects in the developer hub for any updated URLs, mapping the old URL to the new one (00:57:00).
• By taking these considerations into account, Helen can ensure a smooth transition from her old site to the new one on Brilliant Directories, minimizing the loss of existing traffic (00:57:42).

Can videos be embedded and how to optimize image file sizes? (Cloudflare) (00:58:01)

• Embedding videos from third-party sources like YouTube, Wistia, or Vimeo is possible, and when done, the load for bandwidth is taken on by the third-party source, reducing the bandwidth usage on the website (00:58:43).
• Cloudflare can be used as a CDN for the website to serve static content, such as images, and optimize the delivery of those images, with a free version available for use (00:59:10).
• Implementing Cloudflare is recommended if bandwidth and storage usage are becoming a concern, as it is a great tool for optimizing image delivery and other aspects of the website (00:59:35).
• ShortPixel is an image optimization service that can be used to optimize images before uploading them to the website, and it is possible to use ShortPixel with the website by uploading optimized images to the media manager (00:59:56).
• The website’s media manager optimizes images uploaded by members, reducing their size and proportions, but using a tool like ShortPixel or ImageOptim can also be done to optimize images before uploading them to the media manager (01:00:25).
• Using a tool like ImageOptim to optimize images before uploading them to the website is an option, and it can help reduce bandwidth usage by reducing the size of the images (01:00:16).

How to set maximum dimensions for member-uploaded images? (01:00:43)

• To set a maximum size for member-uploaded images, the system has settings in the developer hub under image settings, which can be used to limit the size of images such as profile photos, with default settings including a maximum width of 200 pixels (01:00:55).
• The system will automatically adjust the size of uploaded images to the set maximum size, for example, if a member uploads an image that is 2000 pixels wide, the system will change the max width to 200 pixels (01:01:07).
• There are about a dozen settings available to cover all the images that members can upload, allowing for control over the maximum size of the images (01:01:18).
• The settings can be used to optimize image sizes and prevent large images from being uploaded to the site, with the goal of improving performance and user experience (01:01:30).
• The discussion on image settings is part of a larger webinar that covered various topics, including a review of the year 2021 and announcements about upcoming webinars and community awards (01:01:35).
• The Brilliant Directories team, including David, Matthew, Dennis, and Rick, invite users to join their Facebook group to ask questions and stay in touch between webinars, and can be reached through the website at brilliantdirectories.com (01:02:17).
• The team expresses appreciation for the community’s participation and engagement, and wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and happy new year, with the next webinar scheduled for two weeks after the new year (01:02:40).