Webinar Wednesday 170 – December 27, 2023

POSTS: Ability to Select Stock Photos as Feature Image for Posts (00:01:51)

• The stock photo add-on is available for posts, allowing users to select stock photos as a feature image, and this add-on is a new feature that enables users to add stock photos not only in the text editor but also as a featured image for posts (00:01:51).
• When creating a blog post, users can now use the stock photo search instead of searching the internet for a corresponding image, and they can choose from libraries such as Pexels or Pixabay (00:02:06).
• The add-on provides access to a library of stock photos, and users can search for images using keywords, such as “website speed”, and select an image to accompany their article (00:02:21).
• The selected image can be used as a featured image for the post, and users can also use the chat Generative pre-trained transformer integration to generate a 500-word article based on a prompt, such as “improve website speed” (00:02:26).
• The add-on also allows users to insert multiple images into the text editor, and they can access the GIF library of animated gifs to add to their article (00:04:19).
• Users can search for specific images, such as “race car”, and add them to their article, and the add-on provides a convenient way to enhance or get started with writing an article (00:04:29).

NEW ADD-ON: Block Traffic by Country (00:05:00)

• A new add-on is being introduced, which allows users to Black Traffic by country, providing another way to deter unwanted traffic or spammy signups to a site (00:05:00).
• This add-on will have a setting in the general settings where users can block traffic from entire countries, although it is noted that people can still get around this using Virtual private network (00:05:20).
• The ability to block traffic by country can be a good deterrent for habitual unwanted traffic and spam signups, and users will have full control to block traffic from certain countries (00:05:39).
• Users will be able to temporarily remove blocked countries if needed, such as when working with a developer from a blocked country, and then add it back if the unwanted spam persists (00:05:48).
• The add-on is intended to provide a first step in addressing unwanted traffic, and users can adjust the settings as needed to suit their specific requirements (00:05:41).

SECURITY: Block Disposable Email Addresses (00:06:05)

• Security measures can be taken to prevent spam by blocking disposable Email address, which are often used to activate or verify accounts without revealing a user’s real email address (00:06:06).
• Disposable email addresses can be blocked using a list that will be available in the general settings, similar to spam keywords and spoof characters, allowing users to control who can sign up for their site (00:06:22).
• The ability to block disposable email addresses will provide a way to discourage users from signing up with free email services, such as Outlook.com, and instead encourage them to use their company email address (00:06:37).
• By blocking disposable email addresses, users can minimize unwanted signups on their sites and mitigate potential security risks (00:06:54).

DATA: Search for Duplicate Member Values (00:07:01)

• The upcoming feature will allow for cleaning up the member database by searching for duplicate values of members, such as those with the same name or IP address, which can be useful for data cleanup and providing a more comprehensive view of the site’s data (00:07:01).
• A filter will be added to the search members page to enable searching for duplicates, where users can check mark the values they want to search for, including duplicate emails, first names, or user IPs (00:07:23).
• This feature will enable quick scanning of the site for duplicates, which can be helpful in identifying and removing potentially fraudulent accounts, such as those created by SEO listing companies trying to take advantage of the site (00:07:37).
• The ability to search for duplicates will also help in identifying legitimate duplicates, such as multiple people with the same name, like Jason, and allow users to take action based on the data available on their site (00:07:44).
• The feature is expected to provide a 360-view of the site’s data, enabling users to make more informed decisions and take necessary actions to maintain the integrity of their member database (00:08:02).

DATA: Search Member IPs by Country (00:08:10)

• New security features are expected to be released, likely in mid-January, which will include the ability to search members by IP country, allowing users to view signups from specific countries (00:08:11).
• The search members page will have an additional dropdown feature that enables users to search for members by typing in a user’s IP address or by selecting a country, making it easier to identify and manage signups (00:08:21).
• This feature can be useful for identifying and targeting unwanted countries, such as if a directory in North Carolina is seeing a lot of signups from the Philippines, which may be suspect and require further review (00:08:42).
• The ability to search members by IP country will also allow users to take bulk actions, including deleting or segmenting listings, to better manage their membership (00:08:53).
• The upcoming features are designed to provide more control and flexibility in managing membership, particularly in identifying and addressing potential security concerns (00:08:59).

ZAPIER & API ACTIONS: For Member Reviews, Create, Update, Read, Delete Reviews (00:09:02)

• Zapier and API actions have been enhanced to include the ability to create or add users, posts, leads, and soon member reviews, allowing for the collection of member reviews from third-party sources or other feeds to be updated and added to members on a Brilliant Directory’s website (00:09:03).
• The development of Zapier will be followed by API updates, which will be notified to Pabbly and Integrate, with the goal of mirroring the available actions and triggers that are part of Zapier (00:09:30).
• The API updates are part of a larger effort that has been ongoing since 2022 and 2023, aiming to complete the necessary updates and enhancements (00:09:48).
• The upcoming ability to manage member reviews through Zapier and API actions will enable the automation of review collection and updates, streamlining the process for Brilliant Directory’s website (00:09:06).
• The integration with Pabbly and other services will help to expand the capabilities of the API actions and triggers, providing more options for managing member reviews and other data (00:09:42).

NEWSLETTERS: Exclude Smart Lists, Segment by Send Stats, Schedule Future Send Date/Time (00:09:56)

• A huge overhaul to the newsletter system is expected to be released in January, which will allow users to exclude certain smart lists from their sends for more targeted and focused newsletters (00:09:57).
• The new system will enable users to include and exclude smart lists from their sends, and after sending newsletters, they will be able to segment by sending stats, such as total size, delivered, failed, opened, and clicked, and schedule newsletters for future dates (00:10:01).
• The sending stats will provide detailed information, including the ability to click on numbers to see the emails in that list, and create a segmented smart list based on these numbers, allowing users to resend to people who did not open the newsletter (00:10:20).
• The new features will enable users to get more hyperfocused and drill down with their newsletters, and they will be able to create targeted lists, such as resending to people who received the newsletter but did not open it (00:10:42).
• The update will also allow users to schedule newsletters for future send dates and times, rather than having to send them in real-time, providing more flexibility and control over their newsletter sends (00:10:23).

Will newsletters update apply to existing smart lists? (00:11:25)

• The update to newsletters may apply to existing smart lists, and it is possible that the update could be retroactive, meaning it would affect lists that have already been sent, because the necessary data is already available (00:11:27).
• The update would involve displaying the existing data in a new way, and it is believed that it could be retroactive, applying to both old and new lists (00:11:43).
• If the update is not retroactive, it would only apply to newer emails that are sent, which would still be helpful, but it would be more beneficial if it could be applied to older lists as well (00:11:49).
• A request has been made to try to make the update retroactive, if possible, and a note has been taken to attempt to do so (00:11:55).
• A participant named Ray has been acknowledged and is waiting to be addressed, with the host saying “how you doing Ray” and “hey guys love” in response to Ray’s comment (00:12:03).

How does new spam prevention options differ from existing settings? (00:12:05)

• The new spam prevention options will provide a more robust way of preventing spammy listings, particularly those attempting to juice up their SEO, by hardening the existing blocking features, such as blocking disposable Email address like Spark Mail, to reject submissions from blocked emails (00:12:27).
• The updated blocking feature will put more emphasis on the email address field to prevent workarounds, making it more effective than just using spam keywords (00:12:53).
• To clean up existing member records that may have gotten through in the past, manual removal is required, but a search can be done on the search members page to find and bulk delete suspected disposable email addresses, such as Spark Mail (00:13:11).
• The search function on the members page can be used to find and delete existing records with suspected disposable email addresses, and this list can be added to moving forward to prevent similar submissions (00:13:25).
• The new spam prevention features will not automatically remove existing member records, but rather provide a more robust way to prevent future spam submissions, allowing for manual cleanup and bulk deletion of suspected records (00:13:34).

Integration plans for Albato? (00:13:54)

• There is a question about upcoming plans for integrating Albato, with the person asking having not heard of it before, but noticing more integration tools emerging to compete with Zapier (00:13:57).
• The person mentions seeing other integration tools, such as Pieces, and notes that some of these solutions seem to be mirroring what Zapier is doing, potentially allowing for easier integration (00:14:01).
• It is suggested that the team could be notified to contact integration tools, like Albato, to add them to their integration library, allowing the integration tool to do the heavy lifting to get the integration working (00:14:25).
• The person is unsure about how to proceed with notifying the team or support about integrating with Albato, but is open to suggestions (00:14:45).
• Albato was found on AppSumo, and the person is thanked for the suggestion, with the conversation moving on to other topics (00:15:07).

Can Block Traffic by Country be set to block all countries except specific ones? (00:15:19)

• The Black Traffic by country feature cannot be set to block all countries except specific ones, such as the US, Canada, and Mexico, by default (00:15:19).
• It is worth considering that visitors may be on vacation and trying to access the site from a different country, which is a factor to keep in mind when using this feature (00:15:32).
• The current functionality of the Block traffic by country feature is to block certain countries, rather than allowing all countries except specific ones (00:15:44).
• There is an alternative approach where all countries can be blocked, and then specific countries can be whitelisted, effectively achieving the same result as blocking all countries except specific ones (00:16:06).
• This suggestion of whitelisting specific countries while blocking all others is considered a good idea and may be worth implementing (00:16:13).

Use Zapier to update custom member record fields? (00:16:23)

• It is possible to update custom fields within member records using Zapier, as long as those fields exist in the database and have been saved at least once by a member, specifically for additional details or contact details (00:16:25).
• To target these custom fields when creating a Zap, it is necessary to have at least one member who has saved them previously, so it is recommended to create a sample member and fill out all the fields to ensure they are recorded in the system (00:16:42).
• When setting up a Zapier connection, the custom fields that have been created will be available to pick up, but it is essential to have saved them at least once with a member in the system to ensure they are recognized (00:17:03).
• Another user is considering switching from Pabbly to Zapier due to functionality limitations, particularly for updating custom member record fields, and is looking to utilize Zapier’s capabilities for this purpose (00:17:08).
• The discussion involves multiple users, including Zane, who has a question and is given the opportunity to ask it after the current topic is addressed (00:17:23).

Use case for searching for duplicate member values? (00:17:31)

• The use case for searching for duplicate member values is to find and take actions on groups of members with the same attributes, such as Email address or IP sign-up addresses, with the available fields to search including all individual member fields, including custom fields and default fields (00:18:19).
• Searching for duplicates can help identify members with the same email address, allowing for actions to be taken based on this information, such as deleting or modifying accounts (00:18:06).
• A simplified use case for this feature is to find all members who have the same IP sign-up address, which can indicate spam or fake accounts, and then take bulk actions to delete, segment, or modify these accounts (00:18:47).
• The feature will allow for bulk actions to be taken on duplicate members, such as deleting or creating smart lists, segmenting them out, changing their account status, or sending follow-up emails for verification (00:19:09).
• The search for duplicate member values is part of a series of security and spam mitigation updates, which will work together to provide a more secure and efficient membership management system (00:18:37).

Thank you from BD! (00:19:49)

• The year 2023 has come to an end, and it has been a big year with significant growth in the community (00:19:50).
• The community is being thanked for their involvement and support, with a message of appreciation being expressed (00:19:54).
• A wish is being extended to the community for a great new year, filled with strength, success, and prosperity (00:19:56).

Jon Lovitz’s Special Message (00:20:04)

• A special guest has a message for the BD family, which is a video from Jon Lovitz, a friend, with a message for the BD family (00:20:04).
• The message from Jon Lovitz is a Christmas and holiday season, wishing the BD family a happy holidays and a New Year’s Day, reflecting on the amazing year of 2023 and looking forward to 2024 (00:20:20).
• Jon Lovitz expresses his optimism for 2024, attributing it to the positivity and good vibes of the BD family, and encourages them to stay awesome and brilliant, looking forward to a wonderful future (00:20:39).
• The message from Jon Lovitz is followed by a conclusion, where it is implied that his message is one of the main reasons people are part of the BD family (00:20:52).

Celebrating Your Success (00:20:57)

• The year-end webinar includes giveaways that will be covered in upcoming slides (00:20:57).
• In 2023, over 7,500 new websites were launched on the BD platform, and these websites generated over $30 million in revenue (00:21:23).
• There were also nearly 16 million new members registered on BD sites in 2023, and over 900,000 new leads were submitted on BD sites (00:21:40).
• The growth of the websites on the BD platform, as well as the community, is a key aspect of the year-end webinar, with statistics highlighting the success of the platform (00:21:10).

Celebrating BD’s Growth (00:21:58)

• The development team worked hard in 2023, pushing over a thousand new platform updates, including bug fixes, improvements, and brand new features, with many of the new features coming from community suggestions (00:21:58).
• The support team resolved just under 26,000 support tickets in 2023, and they are always available to help with any questions regarding websites (00:22:28).
• The YouTube channel recently passed 2.7 million views, and it is a great resource for webinar replays, tips of the week, and additional videos, with the channel available at youtube.com/brilliantdirectories (00:22:49).
• The Facebook group, which can be found at brilliantdirectories.com, has grown significantly, with over 3,200 new members registered over the past year and a total of over 12,000 members in 2023 (00:23:17).
• The community is encouraged to provide suggestions for new features and to join the Facebook group, which is free to join and provides a great resource for members (00:23:20).

BD Community Support (00:23:42)

• The BD Community has a Facebook group with nearly 4,000 new posts and over 7,400 comments, indicating a high level of interaction among members, with posts covering topics such as marketing ideas, Business development, and community websites, and people seeking feedback and asking questions (00:23:42).
• The Facebook group is a valuable resource that offers a lot of interactivity, and it is recommended that members join the group if they have not already done so, as it provides a terrific platform for discussion and knowledge sharing (00:24:15).
• The marketplace is a go-to source for custom development and basic website setup, and in 2023, over a thousand new marketplace projects were started, with a live chat feature available for members to connect with third-party developers and marketers (00:24:28).
• The live chat feature in the marketplace facilitated over 950 chats between website owners and third-party professionals in 2023, demonstrating the community’s growth and activity (00:24:51).
• The support team is available to assist members with their website-related goals and objectives, and members are encouraged to submit support tickets without hesitation, as it is the team’s pleasure to help (00:25:31).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #1 (00:25:40)

• There are lifetime websites to be given away, with 122 guest attendees and a growing number, now at 123, who will be included in the giveaway (00:25:41).
• The attendees’ names are listed in alphabetical order, and a wheel of names will be spun to randomly select a winner (00:25:50).
• The winner of the first lifetime website giveaway is Shan Beard, who was given the opportunity to unmute and say a few words, expressing gratitude for being selected (00:26:52).
• The process of spinning the wheel and announcing the winner will be repeated four more times, with only one winner per webinar, and in the event of a duplicate winner, the wheel will be spun again (00:26:37).
• After the webinar, the winners will be contacted and the free lifetime websites will be added to their accounts, with the current winner, Shan Beard, having their name noted down for later follow-up (00:27:15).

Business & Website Lessons from 2023 (00:27:21)

• The community was asked to share one thing they learned about their business, website, community, or themselves, with Michael sharing that he realized his community has multiple segments, including members and users, and he needs to figure out how to get them constantly talking to each other without requiring members to buy upscale packages (00:27:37).
• Building a directory or member community can be challenging, especially when there are multiple segments, such as professionals and consumers, and it’s essential to appeal to both, with the goal of serving the consumer or end user, which can encourage professionals to sign up for a free or paid plan (00:28:11).
• Aiel shared that she learned to delegate tasks related to consistency, as it’s not her strength, and instead focuses on being spontaneous and going with her whims, which has had a positive effect on her community, with a teammate handling consistent tasks (00:29:18).
• Aiel’s approach to community management involves a balance between consistency and spontaneity, with consistent posts and emails, as well as spontaneous newsletters and live sessions, which helps maintain a pulse with her community (00:30:22).
• To maintain consistency in posting, it’s helpful to figure out the types of posts to do on certain days of the week, with a specific genre or theme, which can limit the scope and make it easier to plan and manage content (00:31:00).
• Planning and consistency are important for focusing energy and setting the right vibe, and tools like calendars in Facebook can be helpful, but spontaneous posts can also be beneficial as they convey passion and excitement (00:31:13).
• Spontaneous posts can help solopreneurs get out of a routine that may become mundane, keeping things fresh for themselves and their community, and allowing them to share their energy and excitement (00:31:25).
• Carolyn shared that she learned about the existence of companies like Brilliant Directories, which can provide ready-made solutions, saving time and effort that would be spent on developing something from scratch with a developer on WordPress (00:32:15).
• Choosing the right tools for a business is important, and it’s essential to consider what is useful and can help work more efficiently, whether it’s Brilliant Directories or other tools, and to lean into what is within one’s comfort zone (00:32:45).
• Getting a product out to market, even if it’s just a phase one, is more valuable than trying to create a perfect picture, as websites and services evolve over time and are never truly finished (00:33:19).
• The ethos of getting a product out there and then growing it over time is more important than trying to create a perfect product from the start, as this can help avoid getting stuck in the development black hole and never shipping a product (00:33:21).

Matthew’s Favorite 2023 Updates (00:33:55)

• Matthew Brooks, co-founder of Brilliant Directories, shared his favorite updates from 2023, which included custom web hooks that allow for data transferability and integration with other apps like Zapier, enabling various combinations of data updates and automations (00:34:37).
• The custom web hooks feature enables setting up a web hook within the BD software to trigger when someone fills out a form or meets certain conditions, such as adding a post or meeting smart list criteria, and then hooking that into other apps (00:34:39).
• Another favorite update was the pro-rated memberships feature, which allows customers to upgrade and downgrade automatically, providing a more flexible and refund-friendly system for membership management (00:35:29).
• The pro-rated membership feature enables customers to receive credits when downgrading from a paid membership to a free one, which can then be used to upgrade to another membership or make other payments within the website (00:36:05).
• These updates were chosen for their profound impact on the platform and its users, with the custom web hooks offering numerous possibilities for data transfer and automation, and the pro-rated memberships providing a more customer-friendly and flexible membership management system (00:34:24).

Santa’s Special Message (00:36:43)

• A special message is shared from Santa, who is coming live from the North Pole with a Merry Christmas shout out and a message for the brilliant family, filled with good tidings of great joy (00:36:43).
• Santa thanks each member of the brilliant Community for their hard work on their projects in 2023 and expresses his desire to give them a high five and a pat on the back for a job well done (00:36:50).
• Santa has a feeling that 2024 is going to be even better and is looking forward to seeing all that the community will accomplish in the upcoming year (00:37:10).
• Santa ends his message with a farewell, saying “ho ho ho” until next time, and his visit is appreciated (00:37:44).
• After Santa’s message, it is acknowledged that his visit is always a good thing (00:37:49).

Rick’s Favorite 2023 Updates (00:37:57)

• The support team received 25,000 support tickets in 2023, and their objective is to address customer questions as quickly and effectively as possible, while maintaining a friendly tone and continuously learning and improving (00:38:00).
• The support team’s goal is to provide concise and to-the-point replies, and they consider customer questions as opportunities for growth and improvement, aiming to enhance their performance every day (00:38:51).
• Rick’s favorite 2023 updates include two powerful tools that streamline the content creation process for directory owners, helping them to create and publish content more efficiently (00:39:46).
• One of the updates is the integration of stock photo libraries, such as Pexels, Pixabay, and Unsplash, which provides users with access to over 10 million high-quality stock photos, elevating the perceived value of their websites and saving time (00:40:36).
• The other update is the chat Generative pre-trained transformer content creator, which will have an additional setting allowing users to choose from available engines, including Chat GPT 4 and 4 Turbo, making it a valuable tool for content creation (00:41:09).
• These updates reflect the company’s strive to be at the forefront of technology, and they are expected to have a positive impact on the user experience and the overall quality of the directories (00:39:51).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #2 (00:41:51)

• The attendance number for the lifetime website giveaway has increased to 138, and the numbers on the wheel of names will be reset to reflect this change (00:41:52).
• The wheel is spun to find the winner, and the name Simone Smith is selected as the winner of a lifetime website plan, with Simone being instructed to raise their hand if they can hear the announcement (00:42:11).
• Simone Smith is from Kinlock near TPO in Northern Ireland, New Zealand, and they have been using Brilliant Directories to create a directory for pelvic health providers, including physiotherapists and osteopaths (00:42:45).
• The directory is used to provide a list of professionals that patients and referers can use to find pelvic health services, and it also offers training for physiotherapists and osteopaths, with a listing in the directory available after completion of the training (00:43:11).
• The winner, Simone Smith, shares their experience with Brilliant Directories, stating that it has been easy to use and that the help provided has been helpful in answering queries that have come up during setup (00:43:02).
• The team is happy to hear about the use case and that they can reach users in New Zealand, with plans to connect with Simone after the webinar to provide the lifetime website (00:43:55).

Jason’s Favorite 2023 Updates (00:44:14)

• The ability to include emojis in emails and subject lines was launched, which can increase open rates and add personality to emails, especially for welcome emails or newsletters sent through the platform (00:44:23).
• There has been a huge emphasis on improving page speed, with benchmarks for a fresh site launch often scoring in the 90s with Google page speed and GT metrics, and assistance is available to help customers improve their page speed scores if they are not favorable (00:44:45).
• Page speed directly affects SEO, as Google looks for sites that are not only mobile responsive but also load quickly on mobile devices, and improved page speed scores can provide a good user experience and help sites rank in search engines (00:45:22).
• The improved page speed scores can help sites rank better in search engines, providing a good user experience and assisting with search engine optimization (00:45:33).
• Assistance is available to help customers improve their page speed scores if they are not favorable, and can help get them back into the 80s and 90s with those speed scores (00:45:11).

David’s Favorite 2023 Updates (00:45:43)

• The AI BD helpbot is a favorite 2023 update, introduced a couple of months ago, which provides a first line of support when working on a website, available in the website’s admin area, account dashboard, and support center, and prioritizes information from support documents and articles (00:45:45).
• The AI BD helpbot is a powerful tool that can answer basic questions, write articles, and help with content creation, essentially providing chat Generative pre-trained transformer at one’s fingertips, making it a valuable resource for website building (00:45:58).
• The star ratings for posts add-on is another favorite update, which extends the functionality of leaving star ratings and reviews from members to published posts on the website, allowing users to rate and review products, properties, or blog posts (00:46:49).
• The star ratings for posts add-on adds a communal feel to the website, providing social proof for new visitors and increasing the website’s functionality, making it a great feature for websites with product listings, properties, or blogs (00:47:11).
• The BD helpbot can be accessed in the admin section by clicking on a light bulb icon, where users can ask questions and receive ideas for content, such as welcome email subject lines, and it is constantly improving with AI technology (00:47:57).
• The BD helpbot has all the knowledge from the support center and articles, but may have some blind spots, which are being improved over time, making it a reliable tool for website owners (00:48:19).

Kate Flannery’s Special Message (00:48:57)

• Kate Flannery from the office has a special message for the audience, wishing them happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and a New Year’s Day, while also cautioning them to be careful and avoid injuries, especially crotch injuries, which she thinks are the worst (00:48:59).
• She advises those having a tough day to sleep in and forget about work, acknowledging that they work hard on their projects, and expresses her hope that the upcoming year will be great, possibly with more drinking, but warns against getting caught drinking at work (00:49:22).
• Kate Flannery also jokingly warns against getting hit by a boss’s car, getting dressed up on casual day, and shares a little Christmas tune for the audience, congratulating them on ending the year and achieving their goals (00:49:57).
• The message from Kate Flannery, who plays Meredith in the office, is appreciated, and her well wishes for the audience’s safety, especially regarding crotch injuries, are acknowledged (00:50:21).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #3 (00:50:35)

• A lifetime website giveaway is taking place with 135 attendees, and a new number is picked from the list to determine the winner (00:50:36).
• The winner of the lifetime website plan from Brilliant Directories is announced as April Bernard, who is congratulated and invited to share how she found Brilliant Directories (00:50:58).
• April Bernard shares that she found Brilliant Directories by accident while researching through WordPress and other directory options for her Explore Northeast Texas site, and she has been with them for about six months (00:51:22).
• April Bernard mentions that she has not launched her site yet due to being a perfectionist, but she plans to launch it on February 1st at a Zig Ziggler event where some of their coaches will be attending (00:52:01).
• The community is looking forward to the launch of April Bernard’s platform, and she is invited to join a future webinar to give an update on her progress after the launch (00:52:21).
• April Bernard is reminded that the Brilliant Directories community, referred to as the BD family, will be available to provide assistance and support as she grows her platform (00:52:45).

Dennis’s Favorite 2023 Updates (00:53:06)

• Dennis Tinerino, Customer Success Director at Brilliant Directories, shared his top picks for 2023 updates, which include Spanish language, French language, and German language translations, allowing users to select different text labels and translations available in the backend, enabling sites to start in a specific language and make additional edits (00:54:12).
• The translations feature has been well-received, with many users launching sites in one language and then creating additional sites in other languages, linking them together to make their community more exciting and inclusive (00:54:39).
• Another favorite update is the search subscriptions and cumulative revenue feature, which provides users with valuable insights into their finances, allowing them to track data, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions for future growth (00:55:07).
• This feature enables users to see where their customers are going, which subscriptions are past due, and who can be upgraded, making it easier to manage and optimize their business (00:55:32).
• The updates are expected to continue in 2024, with potential additions including more instant translation options based on user requests and popularity (00:56:15).
• The webinar discussion highlighted the importance of these updates, with Dennis expressing his enthusiasm for the features and the potential for future developments (00:55:59).

Cedric the Entertainer’s Special Message (00:56:35)

• Cedric the Entertainer has shared a special message, congratulating the BD family on another great year and encouraging them to continue celebrating each other and becoming stronger and more dynamic in various areas of success (00:56:35).
• He expressed his appreciation for the family’s ability to help each other and emphasized the importance of family, stating that it is a family affair and encouraging everyone to let each other know that they are appreciated (00:56:49).
• Cedric the Entertainer wished the BD family a happy 2024, New Year’s Day, and happy holiday season, and his message was well-received, with this being the second year in a row that he has sent warm wishes to the family (00:56:57).
• The message from Cedric the Entertainer was seen as a blessing, and his encouragement to the BD family to stay strong and be great was appreciated, with everyone looking forward to an amazing 2024 (00:57:33).

More Intuitive Admin Area (00:57:58)

• The admin area is expected to become more intuitive, with improvements to workflows such as matching leads, scheduling newsletters, and designing web pages, making the experience of working on the site easier and more enjoyable (00:57:59).
• The focus will be on making the admin area more seamless, with a faster experience, and removing any roadblocks that currently exist, while also building on the custom web hook selection and data portability that were key in 2023 (00:58:05).
• New features will include the ability to preview and revert changes made to the site, with more previews and undo options for sidebars, form web pages, and other areas where it makes sense (00:58:49).
• The introduction of the search subscriptions page in the admin area has provided a look at day-to-day and cumulative revenue, and further reporting, charts, and graphs will be developed to give users more insights into their community’s growth (00:59:15).
• The reporting features, including charts and graphs, are expected to be available later in 2024, with the goal of providing users with a visual guide to their community’s growth by the end of 2024 (00:59:36).

Data Portability & Integrations (00:59:53)

• Data portability refers to the ability to populate sites with more content from third-party sources more quickly, and to sync up and add members from external sources, allowing for more integrations and use cases, including tutorial videos (00:59:53).
• The concept of data portability enables the synchronization of data from external sources, making it easier to manage and utilize the information, and also provides opportunities for additional integrations and tutorial content (00:59:55).
• The importance of data portability lies in its ability to enhance the overall functionality of a site by allowing for the incorporation of content from third-party sources, and by facilitating the addition of members from external sources, which can be achieved through various integrations and use cases (00:59:57).
• The availability of data portability features can also lead to the creation of more tutorial videos, which can help users understand how to utilize these features and integrations, and how to make the most out of the data portability capabilities (00:59:59).
• Overall, data portability is a key aspect of managing and utilizing data from various sources, and its integration with other features and use cases can significantly enhance the overall user experience and the functionality of a site (01:00:01).
• The concept of data portability is closely related to the idea of integrations, which can include a wide range of use cases and applications, and can be used to create more comprehensive and user-friendly systems (01:00:04).
• Tutorial videos can play a crucial role in helping users understand how to use data portability features and integrations, and how to apply them in different contexts and use cases (01:00:06).
• The use of data portability and integrations can have a significant impact on the overall functionality and user experience of a site, and can be used to create more engaging and interactive systems (01:00:09).

Ongoing Updates & New Features (01:00:11)

• The team is committed to continuously pushing new features and updates, driven by a labor of love and a deep passion for the work, with a focus on quality of life features, speed, security, stability, and providing the best features to help users run and grow their communities (01:00:12).
• The team appreciates user suggestions, which are a huge help in determining the direction of new features and updates, and will continue to prioritize user feedback to deliver more value (01:00:35).
• The goal is to provide users with the best possible features to support their directories and websites, with the team striving to give users more value for their investments (01:00:43).

Collette V. Smith’s Special Message (01:00:47)

• Colette V. Smith, the first African Americans female coach of the National Football League, has a special message of inspiration, wishing everyone a joyous holiday and an extraordinary New Year ahead (01:00:48).
• She advises that as people embark on their journey in 2024, they should remember that old locks don’t open new doors, and therefore, they should lead with their heart always (01:00:50).
• Colette V. Smith encourages everyone to embrace every opportunity to spread positivity, kindness, and love, and to be the best versions of themselves, as their energy and good vibes are infectious and can light up the world (01:01:07).
• She concludes her message by wishing everyone an amazing New Year ahead, and encourages them to stay awesome, continue shining their bright light, and spreading love, as love always wins (01:01:10).
• The message from Colette V. Smith is received as super inspirational and super motivational, and she is thanked for her kind words (01:01:50).

“Remember how far you’ve come…” (01:02:08)

• The quote “remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go” by Rick Warren is highlighted as a helpful reminder to acknowledge progress made, regardless of the distance still to be covered, (01:02:09).
• This quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing how far one has come, rather than just focusing on the remaining goals, and using this momentum to move forward, (01:02:14).
• The concept of progress is illustrated by the example of the hosts, who have been working on their project since around 2009 or 2012 and still motivate each other by saying “almost there”, (01:02:44).
• It is essential to consider not only the destination but also the journey and the progress made so far, and to support one another in this process, (01:03:06).
• The fact that individuals are taking action and working towards their goals, regardless of their level of experience, is a significant accomplishment and a testament to their dedication, (01:03:10).
• The hosts encourage everyone to acknowledge and appreciate their own progress, and to look forward to a successful 2024, (01:03:29).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #4 (01:03:34)

• A lifetime website giveaway is being conducted, with 136 attendees eligible to participate (01:03:34).
• The attendees’ numbers are being copied and added to a wheel of names to randomly select a winner (01:03:39).
• The wheel is spun, and the winning number is 71, which corresponds to Raquel Osborne (01:03:50).
• Raquel Osborne is announced as the winner of the lifetime website plan and is congratulated (01:04:01).
• The winner is advised that their name will be noted and they will be reached out to after the webinar (01:04:04).
• The winner is wished the best in utilizing their newly won lifetime website plan (01:04:10).

Brilliant Directories Community Awards (01:04:14)

• The Brilliant Directories Community Awards recognize notable members, including Brian B from Baring Club’s website, who consistently participates in webinars and provides helpful questions and feature suggestions (01:04:16).
• Karen, a partner in the BD Marketplace, is also acknowledged for her expertise in marketing and for providing valuable tips and suggestions for marketing directory and membership websites (01:04:30).
• Teresa B is thanked for contributing to the community by sharing her website and asking good questions in the webinars and Facebook group (01:04:54).
• Luis Alvarado, a top Community contributor and former BD team member, is recognized for his exceptional support and expertise in coding, as well as his informative YouTube videos and presence in the BD Marketplace (01:05:15).
• Mark Hotchkins is awarded the Facebook Community MVP for being an integral part of the Facebook group and consistently providing helpful answers to questions, often beating others to respond (01:06:01).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #5 (01:06:38)

• A lifetime website giveaway is taking place, with the current number of participants at 136, and the process involves removing some names and spinning to determine the winner (01:06:38).
• The number 71 is removed from the giveaway, and the process is repeated to give another chance to the remaining participants (01:06:41).
• The webinar is still ongoing with a significant number of names, and the host is interacting with the participants, including Natasha, who is asked to raise her hand if she is present (01:06:54).
• Natasha is noted on the list, and it is ensured that she will be reached out to after the webinar to receive her lifetime website (01:07:09).
• The host is giving another spin to the giveaway to determine the winner, and it is hoped that one of the remaining participants will win (01:06:45).
• The host acknowledges the presence of many participants, including those who are still watching the webinar, such as Natasha, and ensures that they will be considered for the lifetime website giveaway (01:06:57).

Kenny G’s Special Message (01:07:17)

• Kenny G, a Grammy Awards winner, had a special message for the BD family, wishing them a New Year’s Day and a joyous holiday season, and reminded them that working from the heart leads to greatness (01:07:17).
• He added a little saxophone love to his wish and expressed his positive vibes, stating that 2024 is going to be a fantastic year (01:07:29).
• After Kenny G’s message, it was announced that there was a little time left for questions or comments, and attendees were invited to raise their hands if they wanted to ask something or make a comment (01:08:24).
• One attendee, Allan, was given the opportunity to ask a question, and he mentioned that he had been exploring the system’s functionality over the last month and had come across a couple of things he wanted to ask about, potentially as feature requests (01:08:45).
• Allan specifically mentioned the pricing structure and had some questions or potential feature requests that he wanted to discuss, but the details of his inquiry were not fully explored in this segment (01:08:59).

Suggestion: limit published posts and sub-accounts on an individual member level (01:09:03)

• Membership plans are being kept simple and straightforward for people to join, with an Enterprise plan that has bespoke pricing not listed on the site, but rather tailored to the user (01:09:04).
• There is a suggestion to restrict or limit the number of posts and sub-accounts at a member level, similar to how locations can be edited within the edit status tab of a member, rather than creating individual membership plans (01:09:18).
• Currently, when granting a membership plan to have sub-accounts, it is possible to set a limit, similar to free posts and billable posts, and this can be done at a membership plan level, but it is also possible to do this at an individual member level (01:10:07).
• The idea of having membership plan settings with an overwriting setting in the quick edit popup is being considered, and there are already options to change the number of locations, turn on chat, and turn on stock libraries on an individual member basis (01:10:30).
• The suggestion to allow for limiting published posts and sub-accounts on an individual member level is seen as a good idea, particularly for an Enterprise plan, as it would allow for more flexibility and customization without having to create multiple plans (01:10:56).

Side-by-Side Pricing Plan customizations? (01:11:13)

• The pricing plan options include monthly and annual pricing, with the possibility of customizing the widget to switch between the two and display the corresponding savings or costs (01:11:15).
• A potential solution to achieve this customization involves using JQuery to create a switch that toggles between monthly and annual prices, and a code snippet may be available in the Facebook group (01:11:46).
• The price widget can be used to list different features and their corresponding prices, and customizing it to switch between monthly and annual prices may require a small piece of code (01:12:07).
• Assistance with customizing the price widget is available, including a potential one-minute video guide, and users can ask for help in the Facebook group (01:12:16).
• The discussion involves a question and answer session, with users asking for help with customizing the pricing plan and receiving suggestions and offers of assistance (01:12:28).

Add tooltips to Side-by-Side Pricing Plans? (01:12:41)

• The discussion is about adding tooltips to side-by-side pricing plans, where users can click on a feature and read a brief description without leaving the page (01:12:42).
• The goal is to provide a way for users to hover over a feature and read additional text, such as a snippet, without having to click on it and navigate to another page (01:12:55).
• The solution involves using a “tool tip” that expands to show additional text when a user hovers over a question mark or the text itself, allowing users to read more details about a feature by simply hovering their mouse over it (01:13:15).
• The method to add tooltips is considered easy and has been previously discussed, with a video and post available in the Facebook group that provides more information on how to implement it (01:13:54).
• Tooltips can be useful for highlighting a feature with one or two words and then providing a longer description, such as a whole sentence, to give users more context and information (01:14:36).

Multivendor marketplace functionality on BD? (01:14:49)

• The possibility of allowing members to set up a cart inside a website to sell their own products is being considered, but it would require a multivendor marketplace solution, which adds complexity such as handling refunds, disputes, and fraud, (01:14:49).
• A workaround for this is to have members list products with links to external sites where purchases can be made, or for the website owner to list products using the digital products tool and reconcile which members are responsible for which products, (01:15:54).
• Another possible solution is to give a trusted member access to post digital products and figure out a payment system, such as paying them back after a refund period has passed, (01:16:27).
• The idea of exporting a list of which members are owed what for digital products is being considered, and it may be looked into as a potential solution, (01:17:01).
• Catherine is acknowledged for asking a good question and providing a great suggestion, which has sparked further consideration of the idea, (01:16:59).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #6 (01:17:18)

• The current number of attendees is 112, which is a slight drop from the initial number due to the long webinar (01:17:19).
• A wheel of names is spun to randomly select a winner for the lifetime website giveaway, and the winning number is 7073 (01:17:30).
• The winner of the lifetime website giveaway is Sor cabba, who is congratulated and will be contacted after the webinar (01:17:47).
• After announcing the winner, other attendees, including Scott and Jason, respond with greetings and appreciation for having their questions answered (01:18:07).
• The winner, Sor cabba, will have their name kept on a short list and will be reached out to after the webinar to discuss the details of the lifetime website plan (01:18:02).

Redirecting customized member dashboard forms? (01:18:19)

• Redirecting to another page is possible on non-customized forms, but not on customized forms, and this applies to member account forms that work in a sequential order, which are different from forms on landing pages (01:18:26).
• The current order of the member account forms is set and cannot be changed, with each tab being an individual form, and the order is purposefully designed to break up the process with contact details, imagery, and additional details (01:19:35).
• Future developments include allowing website owners to choose the order of the forms and adding a “save changes” and “continue” button, so users can save changes and stay on the same form or continue to the next step (01:19:56).
• The current system automatically moves to the next step after saving changes, but the new system will provide an option for website owners to choose what happens when a user saves their data (01:21:03).
• There is no exact date for the implementation of these changes, but they are being considered and may be revisited due to user feedback, with the goal of making the process seamless for existing sites (01:21:18).
• User feedback, such as from Scott and Toby, is valuable in shaping the development of the system, and the developers appreciate comments and suggestions from users, like Toby’s positive feedback about the service (01:21:49).

See what keywords website users are searching for? (01:22:33)

• The question being discussed is about a website that functions as a directory for virtual reality freelancers, and the owner wants to know what keywords users are searching for on the site, but currently, this information is not available (01:22:33).
• The website has a search engine where users can search for services like comedians or DJs, but the website owner does not have access to the search data, and has tried to find a solution but has not found a step-by-step guide (01:23:01).
• Google Analytics can be used to show the traffic and search results on the website, including the search queries, by searching for URLs with search results and sorting by volume (01:23:45).
• A potential solution could be to track front-end searches in the activity tracker, which could include filters for specific search forms and values, providing a visual representation of the searches (01:24:44).
• The idea is to start tracking the data and then make it available in more places, with the first step being to track the searches and provide a visual representation in the activity tracker (01:25:28).
• The discussion is part of a webinar, and the host thanks the participants and announces the end of the webinar, wishing everyone a New Year’s Day and inviting them to unmute their microphones and say something fun (01:25:46).
• The host also thanks the top contributors and announces that the replay of the webinar will be available in the Facebook group, and invites viewers to subscribe to the YouTube channel and join the Facebook group (01:26:59).
• The Brilliant Directories team, including Rick, Matt, and Dennis, thank the participants and wish them a great day and a brilliant rest of the year (01:27:17).