Webinar Wednesday 158 – May 31, 2023

COUPONS: Support for One-Off Purchases for Digital Products, Leads & More (00:02:42)

• The ability to create Coupon for one-off purchases has been released, allowing for discounts on digital products, leads, and more, in addition to member signups and upgrades (00:02:44).
• The easy coupon codes add-on has been available, but it previously had a limitation where coupon codes could only be created for member signups or upgrades, and not for other purchases such as leads or digital products (00:02:57).
• The new feature allows for the creation of coupon codes that can be used for lead purchases, digital products, and pay-per-post functionality, in addition to signups and upgrades (00:05:03).
• Coupon codes can be set up with various options, including maximum uses, start dates, and expiration dates, to create a sense of urgency and limit the use of the code (00:04:34).
• The coupon codes can be specified to work for certain billing cycles, such as monthly or annually, and can also be limited to specific membership plans (00:05:22).
• The system allows for flexibility in setting up coupon codes, with options to choose which membership plans and billing cycles the code will work for, and the ability to save changes and test the code on the website (00:05:56).
• An example of creating a Coupon code, “yearly 500”, is shown, which gives a 50% discount off the annual plan for a specific membership plan, and the code is tested on the website to demonstrate its functionality (00:04:19).

SPEED: Improved Largest Contentful Paint (LP) on Member Search Pages (00:07:09)

• A speed update has been implemented to improve the largest contentful paint time on member search results pages, which enhances page speed scores on new BD site launches (00:07:09).
• The update has resulted in a four to five point boost in performance scores, with a test showing a 99 performance score on mobile at around 3:08 pm (00:07:27).
• The improved performance is due to the member profile images in the top fold of the website being loaded instantly, rather than being lazy loaded like the rest of the images on the page (00:07:59).
• The goal of this update is to provide a good solid baseline for new sites coming out of the BD website factory, despite the fact that added tracking codes and analytics may reduce the performance score (00:07:44).
• The speed improvement is automatic and does not require any action, providing a nice boost to page speed without any additional effort (00:07:11).

NEW ADD-ON: ChatGPT Content Creator (00:08:13)

• A new add-on has been released, which will be covered in the tip of the week, allowing for feedback on its usage over the last week (00:08:13).
• The new add-on is called ChatGPT Content Creator, and a link to it can be found on the BD website for those who want to check it out (00:08:23).
• The ChatGPT Content Creator is considered a great tool for cultivating ideas for content to create on a site, and it provides simple use cases for its application (00:08:33).
• The add-on comes with instructions on how to enable it on a site, making it easy to integrate and use (00:08:41).

DESIGN: Now, Also Create Static Landing Page for “Reviews” Post Type (00:08:48)

• The ability to create static landing pages for post types has been available for about a year, and now it is possible to create one for reviews, which can also work for other post types like blog, events, and coupons (00:08:48).
• To create a static landing page for reviews, go to the web page builder, click on new web page, and select post search results as the page type, then link the post type to member reviews (00:09:39).
• A title can be added to the page, such as “Read reviews and ratings of our members and then connect with a trusted member of our site”, and a hero section can be enabled with an image (00:10:17).
• The hero section can be customized with settings such as area width of the text, title, colors of the main title and subtitle, and a call to action button can be added (00:11:13).
• The call to action button can be used to take people to the join page, and it can be customized with text, color, and size, and can even be set to open in a new window (00:11:28).
• The static landing page can be used to add design to the site without requiring much coding, and it can be used for various purposes such as internal linking, sponsored ad spots, or selling digital products (00:12:09).
• The page can be further customized with additional content, such as paragraph text, and it supports entering widget shortcode, allowing for the addition of YouTube videos and other elements (00:13:02).
• The size of the font can be increased or decreased, and there is a third spot for additional content, giving designers more control over the page’s layout and design (00:12:51).
• The static landing page for reviews can be created and customized to provide a more designed experience for visitors and add character to the site (00:13:34).

ZAPIER: Import Posts (events, articles etc.) from Feeds & Auto-Fetch Images (00:13:42)

• The ability to import posts, such as events and articles, using Zapier has been released, with integrations also being worked on with Pably and Integrately to expand its functionality (00:13:45).
• A previous limitation of not being able to auto-fetch post images when importing posts from RSS feeds has been resolved, allowing users to import images by tagging the image attribute when mapping data (00:14:06).
• The new feature also supports importing entire image albums into a site if a comma-separated list of image file names is provided, which is particularly useful for themes like property listings (00:14:25).
• This feature is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to quickly populate a site with content, and more tips on how to use it will be shared in the future (00:14:34).
• The release of this feature is part of a series of new developments, with more updates and features expected to be announced soon (00:14:40).

PRORATION: Enable Prorated Upgrades/Downgrades When Members Change Their Plans (00:14:42)

• Proration allows members to change their plans without paying the full price again, and this feature can be enabled to provide a prorated discount when members upgrade or downgrade their plans (00:14:42).
• When a member upgrades, they will see the prorated discount applied to their payment, and the total amount they need to pay will be adjusted accordingly, as shown in a mock-up example where a member receives a $99 prorated discount (00:14:56).
• The proration feature will be disabled by default when it is released, but users will have the option to enable it if they want to support prorated credits and discounts when members change their plans (00:15:22).
• Enabling proration can make the membership experience feel more fair, as members will only pay for the time they use on their new plan, and this feature is expected to be useful for members who need to change their plans (00:15:32).
• The proration feature is one of the upcoming updates, and more features are expected to be released in the future, with the goal of improving the membership experience (00:15:41).

NEWSLETTERS: Better, Smarter Workflow When Scheduling Newsletters and Stats After Sending (00:15:42)

• A new newsletter UI is expected to be released by mid-June, which will provide a better and smarter workflow when scheduling newsletters (00:15:44).
• The new UI Pepriority is to show and reconcile stats after sending, including opens, failed deliveries, clicks, and more, to help users understand the performance of their newsletters (00:15:48).
• The new UI will also allow users to create smart lists out of those people, enabling them to create segmented groups of users and export those segmented lists (00:15:52).
• Additionally, the ability to create smart lists will enable users to segment their audience and target specific groups with tailored content, with more features related to smart lists expected to be released soon (00:16:06).
• The upcoming release is a priority and has been mentioned for a few months, with the goal of providing a more efficient and effective way to manage newsletters and track their performance (00:15:50).

SMART LISTS: Export Data and Create Smart Lists from Transaction History Page Results (00:16:18)

• It is possible to export data and create smart lists from the transaction history page, allowing for more efficient management of transaction history (00:16:18).
• The transaction history page provides the option to export pre-filtered results, which can be useful for analyzing specific data (00:16:21).
• Smart lists can be created from the transaction history page and used for targeting in newsletters and other applications (00:16:23).
• The ability to export data and create smart lists from the transaction history page offers increased speed and efficiency (00:16:27).
• The created smart lists can be utilized for various purposes, including targeting in newsletters, providing more opportunities for customization and personalization (00:16:30).

TONS MORE: Speed, security, quality-of-life features and exciting new releases on the way! (00:16:38)

• The upcoming updates include security, quality-of-life features, and other improvements, with a big thank you to the BD Community for their feedback and feature requests (00:16:39).
• Many of the updates are a result of community feedback and ideas, and a shout out is given to the community for their contributions (00:16:41).
• Before moving on to the short tip of the week, there is an opportunity for questions about the new features or what’s coming soon, and attendees are invited to raise their hand if they have a question (00:16:51).
• The Q&A session will be held later, and attendees are also welcome to share any comments they may have, with the option to raise their hand to participate (00:17:02).
• An attendee, Ryan, appreciates the updates and mentions that they were able to use the Coupon code feature for a client, which was a useful addition (00:17:12).

Suggestion: Add keyword filter for Digital Products post type (00:17:26)

• A user encountered an issue with the digital products post type, where they had around 25 products and struggled to find the right one due to the lack of a search bar, making it difficult to edit coupons, and a keyword filter would be helpful to quickly identify products (00:17:27).
• The user suggested adding a search bar to filter out products automatically, allowing them to start typing in a product name and bring the desired product to the forefront, which would save time and make the process more efficient (00:17:47).
• The issue arose when clicking on digital products to set up coupons, resulting in a long list of products, around 10 or 15 rows, making it easy to get lost and struggle to find the desired product (00:18:18).
• The suggestion to add a keyword filter was well-received, and it was agreed that implementing this feature would make the process quicker and more convenient, with plans to add the keyword filter to the digital products post type (00:18:30).
• The discussion involved multiple participants, including Brian B, who joined in and shared their thoughts, and the conversation continued with an open invitation for others to share their suggestions and recommendations (00:18:41).

Suggestion: Recurring active timeframe for coupon codes (00:18:54)

• A suggestion was made to have a recurring active timeframe for Coupon, where the code would change from one year to the next, for example, from 2023 to 2024, without requiring manual updates (00:18:54).
• The idea is to select a static time frame for codes to be used, despite the year, such as the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July, which would be recurring every year (00:19:40).
• To implement this, it was suggested to add a code to the coupon field that would allow for a year variable, which could dynamically update the code (00:20:34).
• Another suggestion was to add a widget for codes that could be edited from elsewhere, or to allow HTML in the coupon code field (00:20:46).
• The suggestions were well-received, and it was agreed to share them with the team to explore possible solutions (00:19:56).
• The discussion also touched on the idea of using PHP to generate the current year as part of the coupon code (00:21:01).
• The conversation ended with a request for attendees to leave a review of BD online, which would help the support team and encourage the development of new features (00:21:34).

What is a “quality-of-life” feature/update? (00:22:30)

• A quality-of-life feature is not necessarily something that is groundbreaking, but rather a small addition that makes the software easier to use and more intuitive, such as the recent update to the web page builder that added a screenshot and copy link feature (00:22:32).
• The web page builder update included the addition of a screenshot of what the page looks like and a copy link feature, allowing users to quickly copy the page URL, which are examples of quality-of-life features (00:22:55).
• These types of features are considered the “nooks and crannies” of the software that improve the overall user experience, making it easier to navigate the admin area or the front end of a site (00:23:04).
• Quality-of-life features are important because they enhance the usability of the software, even if they are not major updates, and can be found in various aspects of the software, including the admin area and the front end of a site (00:23:10).
• The discussion of quality-of-life features is relevant to the upcoming releases and updates, and understanding what these features are can help users appreciate the small but significant improvements being made to the software (00:22:36).

ChatGPT Content Creator Add-On (00:23:31)

• The ChatGPT Content Creator Add-On is available for users with the VIP add-ons Club, and it has been a topic of discussion in the Facebook group (00:23:33).
• This add-on integrates with Open AI’s API for ChatGPT, allowing users to set up a free ChatGPT account, copy their API code, and paste it into their BD site to enable its functionality (00:23:45).
• The ChatGPT Content Creator Add-On can be used in various ways, and a demonstration of how to set it up on a site and where it can be utilized will be provided (00:24:02).
• Users can leverage this add-on by copying their API code from their free ChatGPT account and adding it to their BD site, making it a straightforward process to get started (00:23:54).
• The add-on’s capabilities and use cases will be explored, including an overview of what it can do and how it can be applied on a BD site (00:23:41).

ChatGPT Simple Use Cases (00:24:12)

• ChatGPT can be used as a tool to stimulate ideas for content on a website, and its value lies in its ability to help with tasks such as creating hooks, lists of benefits, and call-to-actions for landing pages (00:24:13).
• When building out landing pages, ChatGPT can assist in creating a hook list, benefits, potential results, and clever call-to-actions, helping to get the ball rolling on the page’s content (00:24:30).
• ChatGPT can also help with creating engaging titles for landing pages, which are important for connecting with visitors quickly, and can simplify wordy Writing to make it more concise (00:25:04).
• A strong Mission page, About Us page, and join pages are essential for a website, and ChatGPT can help create content that strikes an emotional connection with visitors by explaining the “why” behind the company’s existence (00:25:41).
• ChatGPT can assist in creating articles and blog posts for a website, which can provide good content, as well as material to share on social media or in email newsletters, helping to establish the website as a beacon of information in its industry (00:26:28).
• When using ChatGPT to write articles, it can be asked to include topic ideas, intros, and outros, as well as comparisons, insights, and bullet points, such as five benefits in a bullet point format (00:27:16).
• ChatGPT can help with search engine optimization (SEO) by generating high-quality content, such as articles and blog posts, that can be shared on social media or in email newsletters, and can also assist in creating a directory with valuable information (00:26:31).
• ChatGPT can be used to create rich articles by asking it to fetch specific information and including research in its response, allowing users to generate more comprehensive content (00:28:13).
• The tool can also be used to compose emails, including Writing introductory paragraphs, jokes, insights, and empathetic responses, which is particularly useful when responding to customer complaints or issues (00:28:33).
• ChatGPT can provide helpful responses for customer service emails, such as when a customer has been overbilled, has not had access to their login, or is experiencing other problems, and can assist in crafting empathetic replies (00:29:10).
• Users have found creative ways to utilize ChatGPT, including generating article topics based on a website’s sitemap and links, demonstrating the tool’s potential for higher-level applications (00:29:26).
• Simple use cases for ChatGPT include writing newsletter intros, creating article topics, and assisting with email composition, making it a versatile tool for various tasks (00:29:25).
• By leveraging ChatGPT’s capabilities, users can create engaging content, such as fun and cheeky newsletter introductions, and can modify the tool’s responses to fit their specific needs (00:28:40).

How to Enable ChatGPT Content Creator Add-On (00:29:45)

• To enable the ChatGPT Content Creator Add-On, users with the VIP add-ons Club can find it on their site, and those without can access it through a provided link (00:29:46).
• The ChatGPT integration can be found in the general settings under the Integrations Tab, where a “learn more” link is available for users who haven’t set it up yet (00:30:11).
• To set up the integration, users need to create a free ChatGPT account and generate a secret key, which can be done by following the “learn more” link and creating a new key (00:30:25).
• The secret key should be copied and pasted into the general settings, and users can create as many secret keys as they want, with a free limit available and the option to upgrade to a paid account if needed (00:30:50).
• The paid account offers nominal pricing, with costs measured in fractions of a penny per response, and users can track their usage limits and upgrade to a paid account if they exceed the free limit (00:31:06).
• The paid account is a pay-as-you-go service, charging users based on the number of responses, and can be a valuable tool for marketing and content creation assistance (00:31:28).

ChatGPT in Web Page Builder (00:31:45)

• ChatGPT can be used in the web page builder and will work anywhere there is a text editor in the admin area, allowing for seamless integration (00:31:45).
• To demonstrate its functionality, an example is given where a strong mission statement is written for an immigration attorney directory website called “Immigrately”, explaining why people should use the directory to find experts (00:32:08).
• The input is written, and after waiting a few seconds, a response from ChatGPT is generated, providing a starting point for the mission statement, which can then be modified and expanded upon (00:32:51).
• ChatGPT can recall the original input and continue the conversation, allowing for the creation of comprehensive content by going back and forth with the AI for up to 3,000 characters or words (00:34:01).
• The conversation with ChatGPT can be used to generate content, such as bullet points, which can then be styled and pasted anywhere in the web page builder, providing a useful tool for creating content (00:34:24).
• The generated content can be edited and modified as needed, and the conversation with ChatGPT can be continued until the desired content is created, at which point it can be styled and used in the web page (00:34:30).

ChatGPT in Design Settings (00:34:42)

• The ChatGPT icon can be found in the design settings, where it is also visible on the home page, particularly if there are custom content blocks in streaming widgets (00:34:42).
• The ChatGPT icon allows users to highlight text and provide an output, which can then be styled according to the user’s preferences, such as modifying the text to suit a darker background (00:35:05).
• The ChatGPT icon is also accessible in the admin section, specifically in the newsletter area, where users can utilize its functionality (00:35:21).

ChatGPT in Newsletters and Email Templates (00:35:24)

• To create a new email template, one can utilize templates to send a newsletter, and for this purpose, going to email templates is necessary (00:35:26).
• When creating a new template, it is possible to write an introduction for a specific email newsletter, such as the June email newsletter for members of the nature lovers community, and make it a little funny (00:35:34).
• The input provided will determine the output, and in this case, the output is a humorous introduction that mentions grading nature levels and having fun outdoors, with a joke about vampires needing sunscreen (00:36:05).
• The level of humor in the output can be adjusted, and the generated content can be modified to fit specific needs, such as adding an article from a blog or other created content (00:36:22).
• The content can be enhanced by adding a call to action and using draggable content blocks to construct emails and content on the site more quickly (00:36:30).
• This approach provides a faster way to construct emails and content on the front end of a site (00:36:43).

ChatGPT in Blog Article Posts (00:36:50)

• The ChatGPT has limits, and by default, it is only enabled on blog articles for the website owner to start publishing articles, which can be managed by going to the “manage posts” section (00:36:50).
• To create a new blog article, one can log in, scroll down to the relevant section, and click on the ChatGPT icon to generate article topics, such as “what are four article topics for June nature lovers to do in New York City” (00:37:12).
• The ChatGPT API can process the request and provide a list of potential article topics, including “discovering wildlife in Central Park”, and then generate a generic article based on the chosen topic (00:37:41).
• The generated article can be used as a starting point, and it is recommended to edit and add original content to make it more unique and engaging, allowing for quicker content development on the website (00:38:45).
• While the article is being generated, users can search for relevant stock photos or Amazon (company) affiliate links to add to the article, enhancing its content and providing more value to readers (00:38:17).
• The ChatGPT API can help users develop content more efficiently, and its capabilities can be explored further by trying out different post types and topics (00:39:01).

Enabling ChatGPT for Member Usage (00:39:05)

• To enable ChatGPT for member usage, the ChatGPT icon is not visible by default in the events post type, and this is intentional, allowing website owners to control access to the feature (00:39:05).
• Website owners can choose to give members access to ChatGPT, but this depends on having a pay-as-you-go API, as there are rate limits and other considerations to keep in mind (00:39:24).
• To enable ChatGPT for members, website owners can go to the advanced settings in the admin area, search for ChatGPT, and unlock it for other text editors, such as the simple text editor or the one that allows members to upload images (00:39:39).
• Enabling ChatGPT for members means that they will be using the website owner’s API, which may incur nominal costs, but this can be worth it if members are creating content for the site (00:40:05).
• Website owners can control who has access to ChatGPT, and by default, they have access to it with blog articles, but they can also choose to restrict access to only the admin area (00:40:30).
• Members can be given access to ChatGPT, but website owners should consider the potential costs and benefits, and can adjust the settings to suit their needs (00:40:41).

Restrict ChatGPT to specific membership plans? (00:41:27)

• The capability to restrict ChatGPT to specific membership plans is currently being explored, as it is not limited to particular subscription plans or users at the moment, but rather based on the text editor type (00:41:34).
• There is a desire to figure out a way to restrict ChatGPT to certain membership plans, giving it as a privilege to specific members, with this being a highly requested feature (00:41:53).
• ChatGPT has been recently enabled for testing, with initial results showing it to be working great, and its reception is being monitored (00:42:07).
• The convenience of having ChatGPT integrated into the text editor is highlighted, eliminating the need to navigate between web page tabs, although it is possible to use the OpenAI website directly for chat purposes (00:42:28).
• Feedback from users, such as Dave, is being appreciated and considered, with the goal of improving the overall experience and potentially implementing the requested restriction feature (00:42:19).

Importing posts with custom post fields? (00:42:41)

• Importing post types, such as blogs, is possible, and custom fields can be added to the import file, which can include variables like post category and user ID, to assign an author after import (00:42:41).
• On the manage posts page, there is an import post file option that allows importing from Comma-separated values or Microsoft Excel files, and a guide is available to help with the import process, including identifying post type ID numbers and using variables in the import file (00:43:09).
• The import guide provides information on different post types, including blog articles, photo albums, and videos, and offers templates for importing single images, which can be used as a reference for creating custom import templates (00:43:23).
• When cloning a post type, such as the blog section, and adding custom fields, these fields can be imported by including them in the import file with the correct system variable as the column heading, and they can be displayed on the detail page using a sidebar widget (00:44:07).
• To display custom fields on the detail page, a sidebar widget can be used, and a video is available that demonstrates how to use this methodology for classifieds, which can also be applied to blog posts, such as drink recipes (00:45:19).
• Importing a large number of records, such as 16,000 recipes, can be done using the CSV method, and it is recommended to test the import with a small sample of records before importing the larger file (00:45:48).
• The custom fields, such as ingredients and time, can be displayed in the sidebar using the methodology demonstrated in the video, and this can be applied to various types of post types, including drink recipes (00:46:25).
• The discussion involves a webinar on ChatGPT and BD integration, with a tip of the week on adding custom fields and displaying them in the sidebar, which is also covered in a previous webinar at (00:46:40).
• The methodology of adding custom fields can be applied to cloning blog articles or other posts, and there is a need to revisit and revamp the content to include importing data using Comma-separated values files and APIs through Zapier (00:47:03).
• The webinar did not cover importing data yet, but it is planned to be done with CSV files and APIs, and the discussion is open to exploring new ideas and topics (00:47:12).
• A recording of the webinar will be available in the next few days, posted in the Facebook group and on the YouTube channel, for those who missed part of the webinar (00:48:25).
• The Facebook group has existing videos and discussions on ChatGPT, and members are encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences (00:48:35).
• Rich concurs with the idea of allowing members to attach to a member plan using ChatGPT, but suggests waiting until a tipping point is reached before implementing it to avoid burning up account resources (00:49:19).
• Karen joined the webinar late and was interested in the ChatGPT and customizing classifieds topics, and was informed about the availability of the webinar recording and existing resources in the Facebook group (00:48:02).

Directory of online auction sites? (00:49:40)

• A question was raised about whether anyone on Brilliant Directories has created a territory based on online auction sites, which would be a directory of such sites (00:49:40).
• The concept of an online auction site was discussed, with eBay being mentioned as an example of an auction site, where there is a time limit for bidding and rules such as Sharpshooter rules apply (00:50:12).
• It was suggested that for an auction site within Brilliant Directories, one could look for an eBay clone or a similar solution, as there isn’t a specific model for online auction sites (00:50:30).
• The discussion was wrapped up with an invitation for viewers to join the Brilliant Directories Facebook group to ask more questions and to leave a review at Writing (00:50:50).
• The Facebook group was promoted as a platform where members can continue the conversation, and where updates will be shared as they are released (00:51:10).
• The next webinar was announced to take place in two weeks, with promises of more updates to be shared, and the Brilliant Directories team expressed their appreciation for their members (00:51:30).