Webinar Wednesday 194 – February 5, 2025

Brilliant Directories Mobile App (00:01:55)

• The Brilliant Directories mobile app is free to download in both the Apple Inc. and Google stores, and can be found by searching for “Brilliant Directories” in the stores or by visiting brilliantdirectories.com (00:01:56)
• The app is being updated to include real-time push notifications, which will allow users to receive alerts when new revenue comes into their site, new members join, and other important updates, with the updated app expected to be ready around the middle of the year (00:02:10)
• Downloading the app is encouraged as it is a great way to stay up-to-date with a Brilliant Directories site on the go (00:02:28)
• Webinar Wednesday is a series where the Brilliant Directories team shares updates and provides actionable steps to help users grow their community, increase revenue and traffic, and get organized (00:02:44)
• The webinar is an opportunity for users to ask questions about topics such as increasing traffic, revenue opportunities, and membership website management, with questions able to be asked in the comments (00:03:01)
• There are new and upcoming features being shared in the Brilliant Directories lab updates, with mostly new features being covered in the current webinar (00:03:21)

PAYMENTS: Razorpay now supports payments in India (00:03:26)

• Razorpay is now supported as a payment gateway in India, marking the beginning of adding more payment gateways in the future, particularly through 2025, (00:03:27)
• For users in India, Razorpay can be connected as a payment option, providing an alternative to workarounds like PayPal, and it is the most commonly used payment gateway in India, similar to Stripe, Inc., (00:03:32)
• A demo of Razorpay’s integration shows that it works like other payment pages, with no billing information required, and it will prompt users with payment options after a few moments, (00:03:59)
• When using Razorpay, the site’s currency will be set to Indian rupees, and a popup will appear with payment options, (00:04:32)
• The development of Razorpay’s integration was assisted by Leik Kumar, a marketplace partner and developer in the Brilliant Directories’ Marketplace, who provided help with testing, (00:04:44)
• In the admin area, users can find the Razorpay settings under Finance and Payment Settings, where they can choose from different gateways, including Razorpay, and enter their API keys, (00:05:13)
• To connect Razorpay, users only need to enter their key ID and key secret, and there is documentation available in the support center to help with the setup process, (00:06:09)

EMAILS: System emails now match website’s primary language (00:06:40)

• System emails now match the website’s primary language, allowing for automatic translation of default system emails for sites in alternate languages (00:06:40).
• The update applies to all sites with an alternate language chosen, and emails will be translated to match the site’s language, with the option to further customize the translation to fit the brand’s tone and persona (00:07:08).
• The default language will handle the majority of the translation work, making it easier to operate a site in a new language, with 97 pre-made email templates available for use (00:07:53).
• The language of the site can be changed in the general settings, and the email templates will be updated to reflect the new language, including subject lines, with the option to use variables such as first name (00:08:13).
• The update makes it easier to manage a site in a new language, with the ability to send test emails and use variables to customize the email content, making it a convenient and helpful feature for site operators (00:08:46).

LANGUAGE: Edit account dashboard URLs for logged in members (00:09:16)

• Members can edit account dashboard URL to match their website’s language, including URLs for the upgrade page, which was recently added (00:09:17).
• To edit these URLs, members can go to advanced settings and search for “member dashboard URL” to find the relevant URLs, which can be edited to match the website’s language (00:09:38).
• The member dashboard has various internal pages, such as account settings, videos, and ads, which can be edited to match the website’s language (00:10:05).
• There are about a dozen URLs that can be edited, and members can access them by searching for “member dashboard URL” in the advanced settings (00:10:21).
• A new URL for upgrading accounts was recently added, and members can edit this URL to match their website’s language (00:10:32).
• Members can use the filter in the advanced settings to access the member dashboard URLs and edit them as needed to match their website’s theme and market (00:10:50).

DIGITAL PRODUCTS: Restrict pages by multiple product buyers (00:11:08)

• Digital products can be sold in addition to membership levels, including services, banner ads, and other non-membership level items, allowing for more flexibility in what can be offered (00:11:14).
• Protected web pages can be created with a paywall for digital products, and up until now, only one digital product could be selected to grant access to a specific page (00:11:35).
• Now, it is possible to restrict pages by multiple product buyers, allowing different digital product buyers to access the same page without having to clone the page and select each digital product individually (00:11:47).
• This new feature saves time and allows for more efficient management of protected private content pages, as one page can be created and made accessible to buyers of multiple different digital products (00:12:37).
• The ability to select multiple digital products for page access is a useful feature that can be applied to various use cases, making it a valuable tip for those working with digital products (00:12:49).

CREDITS: Members see credit usage history in their dashboard (00:12:55)

• Members can now view their credit usage history in their member dashboard, where they can see credits added or deducted from their account (00:12:59).
• The credit usage history is displayed in the transaction history section of the member dashboard, which includes a new tab called “credit history” that shows the date and amount of credits used or added (00:13:20).
• In the payment history section, members can also see when they paid for something and if a credit was applied, providing a clear record of their transactions (00:13:29).
• The credit history tab provides a detailed record of credits deductions and additions to the member’s account, including the date of each transaction (00:13:41).
• There is a potential improvement to be made to the credit history display, which is to include the invoice ID that the credit was used for in cases of deductions (00:13:49).

ICONS: Apply colors to free icons to match your design (00:13:58)

• The ability to apply colors to free icons in the media manager was a previously released feature that had to be pulled back due to some issues, but it is now available, allowing users to customize the color of icons to match their design settings (00:13:59).
• Millions of stock photo libraries are available in the media manager, including a specific library for icons, which previously only came in black, but can now be downloaded in any chosen color, providing more contrast and flexibility (00:14:31).
• Users can choose any color they want for their icons, and the icons will be downloaded in that color, which can be beneficial for using icons on different backgrounds, such as on a homepage or in email templates (00:14:55).
• The update provides more flexibility in using icons, especially in email templates, where icons can be left or right aligned, and can now be chosen in different colors to match the design (00:15:39).
• The icon library has a wide range of icons available, and users can search for icons using keywords, such as “link” or “fun”, to find relevant icons to decorate their landing pages or emails (00:16:01).
• The icon library is a great resource for finding icons to correspond with a one-word noun, action, or verb, and can be used to add visual interest to designs (00:16:22).

EMOJIS: Paste emojis in text fields without seeing ‘????’ (Soon) (00:16:26)

• A global update is being implemented to allow emojis to be pasted and saved in different fields of the admin and everywhere on the website, which will support characters with more ones and zeros that define them (00:16:28).
• The update will enable users to paste emojis freely around their site and use them anywhere, making it a fun feature to have, as seen in the slide with various emojis (00:16:42).
• The update is a result of community suggestions, and the platform is always being improved with new features and fixes, thanks to the support of the community, particularly the BD Community (00:17:22).
• The community’s suggestions have been helpful in improving the platform, and their support is appreciated, with a big shout out to the BD Community for their contributions (00:17:25).
• The update is not yet released, but it will solve the issue of seeing question marks when pasting emojis into the text editor and viewing the page (00:16:30).
• The technical aspect of the update involves the database being able to support characters with more ones and zeros that define them, allowing for emojis to be saved and displayed correctly (00:16:50).
• The update will be a ones and zeros thing, where emojis characters have more ones and zeros that define those, and the database will be able to support them (00:16:48).

Will the Quickbooks payments link be added? (00:17:58)

• The question of whether QuickBooks payment links will be added is being explored, with the initial response indicating a lack of familiarity with QuickBooks payment links as a payment gateway, but knowledge of QuickBooks’ ability to send invoices to clients (00:17:58).
• A search is being conducted to find information on integrating Stripe, Inc. with QuickBooks, but the focus is on finding QuickBooks Wallet, which may be the desired payment method (00:18:14).
• The search reveals that Stripe can be connected to QuickBooks through Commerce Sync, and Stripe offers additional payment options like Apple Inc. Pay and Google Pay (payment method), but these are not the primary focus of the search (00:18:35).
• There are no immediate plans to add QuickBooks payment links, but the question has prompted further investigation into the possibility, with the goal of determining if such a feature exists and what possibilities it may offer (00:18:43).
• The inquiry is appreciated as it brings attention to a previously unexplored topic, and it may lead to a more in-depth examination of the potential benefits and applications of QuickBooks payment links (00:18:58).

Can we create a digital product with a quantity field? (00:19:03)

• Creating digital products with a quantity field is a highly requested feature, allowing customers to buy multiple items of the same product, and this is considered a key development for digital products (00:19:06).
• Last year, several updates were made to digital products, including support for recurring donations, custom donation amounts, and selling credits, which have been well-received (00:19:19).
• The ability to have a quantity field for digital products is seen as a priority, with the next potential development being a shopping cart feature that would enable customers to store and checkout multiple items (00:19:48).
• The shopping cart feature is considered the “final frontier” for digital products, but implementing a quantity field is viewed as a more immediate and achievable goal (00:19:58).
• The suggestion for a quantity field for digital products has been noted and will be considered for future development, although no specific timeline has been announced (00:20:08).
• The potential future development of a shopping cart feature is also being considered, which would allow customers to store items and checkout, providing a more comprehensive online shopping experience (00:20:12).

Can we upload a branded placeholder image for user icons? (00:20:20)

• Selena is asking about using the claimable listing add-on without copyright infringement by putting a business logo on unclaimed listings, and it is possible to upload a branded placeholder image to replace the user icon image (00:20:21).
• To upload a branded placeholder image, users can go to their general settings, then to brand images, where they can add a default member photo or default member logo to replace the silhouette profile image (00:20:42).
• The branded placeholder image will be displayed until members add their own logos or profile images, and this feature allows users to edit and have their own branded image while waiting for members to add their information (00:21:12).
• The process of adding a branded placeholder image involves adding a default member photo or logo, which will replace the silhouette image, and this can be tested by searching on the site to see the branded image in place of the silhouette (00:21:24).
• Once a branded placeholder image is added, it will be displayed in place of the silhouette image, allowing users to have a customized and branded image for unclaimed listings until members add their own information (00:21:32).

Mobile Results: Is Miles from the search location excluded? (00:21:51)

• When searching by location on desktop, the search results include miles from the location, but this feature is lost when switching to mobile, and the reason for this is due to limited space on mobile devices (00:21:52).
• The information section, which includes the distance and miles from the search location, is hidden on mobile view because it becomes hard to display, but it can be overridden by adding a custom CSS code to display the info section (00:23:10).
• To show the miles from the search location in mobile results, a web designer can add a custom style sheet rule to the design settings, which will display the info section on mobile view, and this code can be shared with the web developer to implement (00:24:22).
• The custom CSS code can be added to the custom CSS section, and it will allow the info section to be displayed on mobile devices, giving users access to the distance and miles from the search location (00:24:46).
• The code provided does not duplicate the information section, but rather keeps it visible on mobile view, and web designers have the access to style it further or target the elements within it if needed (00:25:11).

Can we automate monthly credits for a membership group? (00:25:37)

Can we delay a listing from becoming inactive after renewal (e.g., 10-day grace period)? (00:27:05)

• A question is raised about delaying a listing from becoming inactive after membership renewal, with a suggested 10-day grace period (00:27:05).
• There is an Advan setting that allows for autosuspension of pass due member accounts, but it does not provide a delay in days, instead changing the account status to pass due when an invoice is overdue (00:27:37).
• A potential workaround is to use the API or a new web hook that sends data when a recurring payment is pass due, allowing for a delay to be set, such as 10 days, before suspending the account (00:28:33).
• Another option is to turn off autosuspension and use the billing reminders add-on, which sends three reminder emails to members with pass due invoices, with customizable timing and email templates (00:29:37).
• The billing reminders add-on is effective in getting members to complete their payments, especially if they want to remain part of the site, and can be a good starting point for managing pass due accounts (00:31:25).
• While there is no built-in setting to delay inactivity after a specific time frame, the web hooks and billing reminders add-on can be used to create a workaround and manage pass due accounts (00:31:38).

Can we include a word in the member_profile_url_structure? (00:31:51)

• The member profile URL structure typically includes the country, state, top-level category, and member name, but there is no direct way to add a custom keyword to this structure (00:31:51).
• To include a custom keyword, one possible workaround is to add it to the top-level category, for example, by using a hyphen and the desired keyword, such as “restaurants-hyphen-keyword” (00:33:17).
• Another option is to edit the member’s URL on a per-member basis by searching for the member, accessing their quick edit popup, and customizing the listing URL in the advanced options (00:34:05).
• When customizing the URL, it is possible to create a short URL or add a special keyword, and the system will automatically create a 301 redirect (00:34:55).
• If changes are made and need to be reverted, it is possible to go back to the advanced options and fetch the original URL from the Search engine optimization template (00:35:19).

What to use for creating a private community for members? (00:35:45)

• To create a private community for members where they can post updates, the blog feature can be utilized, allowing members to post short updates with a title and a photo, similar to Facebook or Twitter, by removing the article input (00:35:48).
• A video titled “Create a Community Message Board” is available, which is approximately 15-20 minutes long, and it provides information on how to make a community message board (00:36:49).
• The “Members Only” plugin can be used to protect pages and make them accessible only to members, and a video titled “Members Only Content” is available, which shows how to require members to register or be of a certain membership level to access certain web pages or sections on the site (00:37:12).
• The “Members Only Content” video provides guidance on creating a members-only website, including how to restrict access to certain sections, such as the community section or community forum section (00:37:22).
• The support team can be contacted for further assistance, and videos from the past, such as the ones mentioned, can be shared to provide more information on creating a private community for members (00:35:58).

Can we set a round or rectangular profile image for members/businesses? (00:37:48)

• The question of whether it is possible to set the profile image of a member business to round or rectangle is discussed, with the support team suggesting that it should be customized (00:37:49).
• To achieve uniformity on the site, it is recommended to have a single profile photo upload, rather than both a profile photo and a logo upload, as this simplifies things for users and creates a uniform look (00:38:06).
• Examples of other platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, are given, which all use square profile images, and it is suggested that businesses should have a version of their logo that can fit into a square space (00:38:32).
• The option to disable the logo upload and just have a profile photo upload is discussed, with the recommendation to have the profile photo squared, and to set the image settings to 1:1 ratio and 400×400 pixels for a crisp image (00:39:43).
• The design settings for the profile photo style can be set to standard, which gives soft rounded corners, or to circle, which creates a circular profile photo from a square image (00:40:56).
• The importance of uniformity and simplicity on the website is emphasized, and it is recommended to stick with a single profile photo upload to achieve this, especially if content continuity is desired (00:41:42).

Can members post recurring events? How are they displayed on profiles or calendars? Auto Recurring Events Add-On (00:42:00)

• Members can post their own recurring events using the Auto Recurring Events Add-On, which allows them to publish recurring events and can be a privilege or a reason to upgrade to a higher tier plan on the site (00:42:00).
• The Auto Recurring Events Add-On provides options for recurring events to be posted every day, every seven days (weekly), every two weeks, or every three weeks from the start date (00:42:33).
• The add-on is relatively simple and not too complicated, making it easy for members to use and manage their recurring events (00:42:44).

Best practice for redirecting a member’s profile URL after account deletion? Mastering 404 Pages (00:42:55)

• When a member’s profile URL changes, the system will automatically create a redirect for most actions, such as when they change their first name, last name, or company name, which are part of the system (00:43:05).
• To ensure a smooth migration from another platform, it is recommended to export the top 100 or 200 pages that are receiving traffic to the site using Google Analytics, and set up proper redirects to the new pages that correspond to the older pages (00:43:30).
• When importing members from another platform, it is possible to import them with a custom URL that matches the older site, ensuring a one-to-one match from the old site to the new site (00:43:54).
• When redirecting a member’s profile URL, it is essential to check the older URL and ensure it is not going to an error page or a 404 page, but rather to a proper destination URL (00:44:11).
• For members who have cancelled or closed their accounts, or whose profile or listing is no longer online, a custom 404 page can be set up to direct visitors to a blog, join page, or other relevant page, making the experience more user-friendly and potentially driving visitors to search the site or join (00:44:33).
• Manually creating a redirect page is also an option when deleting people from the site, and this can be used to turn older pages into landing pages that convert visitors into potential members (00:44:58).
• A video on “Mastering 404 Pages” is available, which provides ideas and insights on how to take advantage of older pages that no longer exist and turn them into landing pages that drive visitors to search the site or join, and this video is approximately 15 minutes long (00:45:35).

With Como App Builder gone, what are the best options for turning sites into native apps? (00:45:44)

• With the disappearance of Como App Builder and other similar services, people are having success with various systems for turning their sites into native apps, but native apps can be a double-edged sword due to hurdles in getting published in the Apple Inc. Store and Google Store, particularly when membership signup is involved (00:45:44).
• An alternative to native apps is teaching users to save a website to their home screen, which can be done with a 30-second video and eliminates the need for app development, as long as the website is mobile-friendly (00:46:16).
• For those looking for native app builders, options like Appy Pie and GoodBarber allow users to render their mobile-friendly website inside an app using a web view, which loads a defined URL inside the app without requiring native app design from scratch (00:47:03).
• True native app development, on the other hand, involves designing an app from the ground up, which can take several months and requires a significant amount of work and resources, making web view a quicker and more cost-effective option (00:48:00).
• Before investing in app development, it may be helpful to survey the community to see who wants an app and to test out the option of saving the site to the home screen, which can provide guidance on the best approach to take (00:48:25).

Does BD integrate with Boost.Space? (00:49:01)

• BD has a web hooks module that allows integration with other platforms, and Boost.Space has a feature that can send web hooks, which can be used as a trigger to create a post in BD (00:49:05).
• Boost.Space is a platform that integrates data and AI, and it has a web hook module that can be used to send updates to other platforms, including BD (00:49:20).
• The web hook module in BD can be used to integrate with Zapier, P, or other platforms, and it allows users to create content on their site and post it to their BD site (00:50:01).
• To integrate Boost.Space with BD, users can search for web hook triggers and actions in Zapier or other integration platforms, and use the URL structure to connect the two platforms (00:50:30).
• The integration between Boost.Space and BD allows users to send web hooks from Boost.Space to BD, which can be used to create posts or update content on the BD website (00:51:18).
• The cloud-based platform with built-in integration allows users to translate their data and updates, and it can be used to integrate Boost.Space with BD (00:51:25).

Can we display the city and state in the Claim Listings list view? (00:51:43)

• The city and state can be displayed in the list view of a claim listing, unless the “show street address” option is turned off in the profile page tab for that membership level, which would prevent the address from being shown (00:51:47).
• To display the city and state, it is necessary to check the membership plan and profile page settings to ensure that the address is set to be visible (00:52:31).
• A user, Selena, was given the opportunity to unmute and explain their question, and another user, Isaac, shared information about their app builder that creates web apps (00:53:15).
• There are WordPress plugins being developed, including one that will allow users to display their Brilliant Directory site on an existing WordPress site, and another that will sync data from WooCommerce sites to Brilliant Directory sites (00:53:50).
• The WooCommerce sync plugin will allow users to add customers to their Brilliant Directory site when they sign up or make a purchase on their WooCommerce site, and will include settings for syncing registered or guest checkouts and assigning membership plans (00:54:33).
• A future WordPress plugin will work with various forms, including Contact Forms 7, WordPress Forms, Ninja Forms, and Gravity Forms, to sync data and create records on Brilliant Directory sites when someone fills out a form (00:55:17).
• The plugin for syncing WordPress forms data will be useful for creating leads and will allow users to create a record on their Brilliant Directory site when someone fills out one of their WordPress forms (00:55:40).
• Updates are coming for 2025, including a WooCommerce integration, a forms integration, and supporting hosting on a dedicated page on a WordPress site, which will allow users to funnel leads from their WordPress properties into their directory site (00:55:50).
• The WooCommerce integration is anticipated to be released by the end of February, while the forms integration is expected to be released by the end of March (00:56:08).
• The update that supports hosting on a dedicated page on a WordPress site will be particularly exciting, as it will allow users to add their directory site to an existing page on their WordPress site without needing a separate domain name (00:56:17).
• A user, Selena, had a question about showing the city or state on the list view, and it was discovered that the issue was due to a setting that was not cloned correctly from another membership plan (00:56:47).
• The issue was resolved by setting the “Show Street Address” value to “Yes”, which allowed the city or state to be displayed on the list view (00:58:35).
• Selena also mentioned that she had put in a code to fix a mobile issue, but it caused the info box to stretch out on desktop, and it was determined that the full code had not been provided (00:59:20).
• The user’s site, Thrive Together Homeschool, was used as an example to troubleshoot the issue and find a solution (00:57:32).
• The correct code was provided after a brief search, and it was pasted into the chat for everyone to see, with the goal of making it work only on mobile devices (00:59:50).
• The code was applied to the design settings, and it was made to work only for screens smaller than 768 pixels, which is the break point for mobile devices (01:00:37).
• The code was tested on a site, and it was found to work as intended, with the layout changing only on mobile devices (01:01:40).
• The community was thanked for their participation and for sharing their feature suggestions, and the next webinar was announced to take place just after Valentine’s Day (01:02:40).
• The replay of the webinar would be posted in the Facebook group, and everyone was invited to join the group and subscribe to the YouTube channel (01:03:06).
• The Brilliant Directories team was thanked for their hard work, and the community was appreciated for their motivation and support (01:03:28).