Webinar Wednesday 205 – August 13, 2025

Introduction (00:00:00)

• Welcome to Webinar Wednesday, a webinar where a special guest will be revealed, and the hosts will be discussing various topics, including a great tip from the guest presenter that can be applied to new or existing Brilliant Direct sites (00:00:00).
• The webinar will cover exciting updates, including fast-tracking big feature releases that have been wanted for some time, and the hosts encourage viewers to subscribe to the Brilliant Directories YouTube channel, which can be found at brilliantirectories.com/youtube (00:00:35).
• The webinar is being streamed live on YouTube, and a replay link will be available after the webinar, which will also be posted in the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, where viewers can ask questions, get feedback, and collaborate with fellow membership site owners (00:00:54).
• The Brilliant Directories Facebook group is a constructive community with positive engagement, where members can ask strategy questions, get feedback on landing pages or offer pages, and collaborate with other directory owners, and Jason mentions that he is also a member of the group (00:01:14).
• The hosts invite viewers to join the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, which can be found at brilliantdirectories.com/fas, and encourage everyone to participate in the community and collaborate with other members (00:01:35).
• Jason plugs the Brilliant Directories app and mentions that he looks forward to seeing viewers in the Facebook group, where he is also an active member (00:01:52).

Brilliant Directories Mobile App (00:01:58)

• The Brilliant Directories mobile app is available for free on Apple and Android app stores, and an update is expected to be released in the next 30 to 45 days, which will include features such as real-time push notifications (00:01:58).
• The current version of the app allows users to see new members who join their site and any new revenue received, and the upcoming update will also enable notifications for new members, payments, and leads or applications captured through landing pages with forms (00:02:15).
• The Brilliant Directories team pushes new features into the platform on a weekly basis, often based on user suggestions and ideas submitted through support tickets or the Facebook group, and these updates are covered in the weekly webinars (00:02:52).
• The webinars typically include a Q&A session, where users can ask questions about their site and receive assistance with technical or strategy-related queries, and there is also a two or three minute challenge to answer questions as quickly as possible (00:03:10).
• Users can participate in the Q&A session by typing "question" in all caps to request their microphone be unmuted, and a link to join the webinar platform is provided at brilliantdirectories.com/stream (00:03:27).
• The webinar also covers newly released features and updates, such as new charts, graphs, and metrics in the admin dashboard, which were released the previous day, and a special guest presentation is also part of the webinar (00:03:47).

ADMIN DASHBOARD: New charts, graphs & key metrics (00:04:00)

• The admin dashboard has been updated with new charts, graphs, and metrics to track the performance of a site, including signups, login leads, reviews, posts, and comments created over a period of time, which can be viewed on a year-to-date, weekly, or monthly basis (00:04:00).
• A chart is available to gauge the pulse of the site, allowing users to remove filters and choose specific statistics to look at, such as signups or logins, and this chart provides a count of how many signups, logins, and other activities have occurred (00:04:34).
• Financial analytics are also available, showing revenue on the site, including payments received, refunds, upcoming payments, past dues, and stop payments, which can be viewed over time or for a specific data point (00:05:30).
• A simple pie chart provides a summary of the membership breakdown, including the number of membership plans and the number of members in each plan (00:05:50).
• The admin dashboard also features a "what do you want to do today" section, which correlates to the quick create feature in the top menu, and more quick create elements are being developed to help users create more content on their site (00:06:07).
• The key update to the admin dashboard is the addition of graphs, with more to be added in the future, including recent reviews, newest members, and newest posts, and users will eventually be able to move these elements around to prioritize what they want to see (00:06:25).

ADMIN MENU: Updated link organization for easier navigation (00:06:48)

• The top menu and side menu have undergone updates, including the release of a universal search feature that allows for quick lookups of names, emails, and posts, and this feature enables users to find members and access their records or posts on the site (00:06:48).
• The universal search feature is designed to search for names, emails, and post names, making it easier to find specific information on the site, and it is complemented by the quick create feature (00:07:06).
• To improve navigation, some menu items have been rearranged, such as the website's data toggle, which is now located on the side menu with the same information, and the hamburger icon to collapse the menu is now at the bottom (00:07:26).
• The switch website button allows users to easily switch between different websites they manage and access their respective admin areas, providing more convenience for power users who need to manage multiple sites (00:07:45).
• These updates aim to provide more transparency into the activity happening on users' sites, and there are more updates planned to be released in the future to further enhance the user experience (00:08:04).

AI POST CREATOR: Instantly create posts using built-in AI (00:08:10)

• A new feature is now live, allowing users to quickly create new workflows, including the ability to manually add new members, with options to choose if the member is an individual, and this feature is available in the top menu as "quickre" (00:08:10).
• The quick create new workflow wizards make it easier to perform tasks, such as creating invoices, which can now be done with a payment gateway connected, allowing for one-time payments for various services or products (00:08:30).
• With the create invoice feature, users can request money from clients or members, and can choose to capture the payment immediately or set a future bill date, with the option to put any custom amount and follow the steps to create the invoice (00:09:07).
• Another new feature is the ability to create posts, including community articles, using a quick wizard that guides the user through the process, and allows for the selection of the post type, author, and content, with the option to continue editing the post after creation (00:10:03).
• The AI creation feature can be used to generate content, such as short classified listing ads or long-form articles, with options to specify the target audience, tone, style, and length, as well as the ability to include images, video links, and internal or external links (00:11:00).
• The AI creation feature can be customized to appeal to a specific demographic, such as 30 to 40-year-old males, and can generate content with large images, captions, and video links, with the option to specify the placement of the video link within the post (00:11:20).
• The feature also allows for the recommendation of internal or external links to be added to the article, with the option to specify the link text and URL, such as "Brilliant Directories" with a "buy it now" link (00:12:18).
• The Brilliant Directory site has a built-in AI feature that can generate content, such as articles, and is available for everyone to use, allowing users to create content quickly and efficiently without needing to copy and paste (00:12:38).
• The AI feature can be used to write longer series of articles, best of lists, and other types of content, and can also be used to generate content for social media, with the ability to change details such as city name or type of restaurant to create different variations (00:12:57).
• The AI feature can add images to the content based on the topic, and can also include links, such as "buy it now" links, and users can edit the generated content to add their own narratives and links (00:14:09).
• When using the AI feature, the prompt is saved, allowing users to copy it and create new posts with slight variations, making it easy to rapidly create content for their site, such as articles about different cities or cuisines (00:14:49).
• It is highly recommended to check the AI's work and add a human touch to the generated content, to ensure it is relevant and accurate for the user's industry, and to season their site with content that is relevant to their audience (00:15:08).

BUSINESS DATA: More precise location search results (00:15:26)

• The business data search function has been updated to require more precise location matches, which means users must select an actual city, state, or postal code from Google suggestions to get accurate results (00:15:26).
• The business data page is synced with various business data sources that can be used to populate a site, such as adding dentist listings to a dentist site to make it appear more established (00:15:44).
• The update was made to address an issue where searching for regional areas or nicknames, like "Greater Victoria", would yield incorrect results because the system would default to a broader location, such as an entire province (00:16:03).
• To use the business data search effectively, users should type in a location that would be part of a business's mailing address, such as a city, postal code, county, state, province, or country, rather than using regional areas or nicknames (00:16:41).
• The new requirement for precise location matches will help prevent location search errors and provide more accurate results, ensuring that users get matches for businesses in the locations they are searching for (00:16:59).
• The update is beneficial because it makes the search function more "laser focused" and helps users get the most out of the business data tool by providing more precise and relevant results (00:17:18).

PAGE BUILDER: Restore previous versions of web pages (00:18:03)

• The page builder has been updated with a revision history feature, which allows users to restore previous versions of web pages, and this feature can be accessed in the web page builder (00:18:03).
• When making changes to a web page and saving them, the revision history will start to show the dates and times of the past saves, and users can click on a specific revision to load it and view the changes made (00:18:38).
• The revision history feature enables users to load previous versions of a web page, compare them with the current version, and save the desired version, providing more control over the editing process (00:18:58).
• The revision history feature is currently available in two places: the web page builder and the edit post settings area when editing code for different post types, and it is planned to be added to more areas, such as design settings for forms and menus (00:19:16).
• Additional features, including live notifications, are expected to be released in the coming months, aiming to improve the overall user experience (00:19:36).

LIVE NOTIFICATIONS: Get alerts for signups, payments & more (soon) (00:19:43)

• Live notifications are available to alert users of signups, payments, and other activity on their site while they are in the admin area, with the option to turn them off or adjust the frequency of the alerts (00:19:43).
• The live notifications appear as bubbles in the corner of the browser window, providing a sense of the activity happening on the site in real-time, and can be customized to suit the user's preferences (00:20:01).

CUSTOM OFFERS: Add offers & categories from Manage Offers (soon) (00:20:17)

• Custom offers are a feature that allows members to be presented with links to other business toolkit solutions, such as Wix, Fresh Desk, or Canva, and soon, the ability to add custom offers will be available, with an estimated release time of two weeks (00:20:17).
• The manage offers page currently has four categories, but with the upcoming update, users will be able to create new categories, such as SEO services or visibility boost, and use the Brilliant Directories digital products feature to create additional items for members to buy (00:20:55).
• The new update will also allow users to order categories and sort the order of offers within each category, as well as turn them on or off, and add new offers with details such as name, checkout page, price, image, title, and short headline (00:21:14).
• The goal of the custom offers feature is to provide users with tools to generate revenue and better service their community, and future webinars will cover ways to leverage the manage offers page in conjunction with the Brilliant Directories website (00:21:34).
• The custom offers feature is still in the beginning stages, having been released a few weeks ago, but once the initial features are established, refinements and additional information will be provided to help users get the most out of the manage offers page (00:22:14).
• Users will be able to create new offers and add them to their categories, with the ability to customize the offer details, such as the link to purchase or access the offer, and the image, title, and short headline that will be displayed to members (00:21:54).

Your First 100 Members - Simplify to Amplify (00:22:54)

• Yakin Shaw from Business Labs is the special guest, and he has been a third-party developer on the Brilliant Directories platform for over a decade, with his team having worked with hundreds of BD users and their websites (00:22:54).
• Yakin Shaw has a presentation on strategies for getting the first hundred members for a site, and he has previously joined a couple of webinars, with his team being one of the first third-party developers listed in the Brilliant Directories marketplace around seven or eight years ago (00:23:12).
• The presentation focuses on simple tips and best practices for launching a website quickly and efficiently, and optimizing conversions to get the first 100 members, which can help the website build momentum and continue to grow (00:23:51).
• Yakin Shaw's team has identified what works best for BD websites through their extensive experience, and the presentation aims to share this knowledge to help websites optimize their elements for conversions and growth (00:23:30).

About Yakin (00:24:08)

• The journey of Yakin has been exciting, spanning over 10 years as a Brilliant Directories development partner and a little more time as a site owner, with the webinar being a reflection of how to launch a website quickly, (00:24:08).
• Launching a website in record time, such as 2 hours, requires clarity rather than capital, and this webinar aims to share insights on how to achieve this, (00:24:29).
• The importance of speed to market is key, especially for digital marketers, and being able to execute quickly can make a huge difference in the success of Brilliant Directory sites, (00:24:50).
• Yakin's experience as a developer on the Brilliant Directories platform for over 10 years will be shared in the presentation, providing valuable tips for both new and seasoned site owners on launching and executing quickly, (00:25:09).
• The ability to separate the romanticism of an idea from the ability to execute quickly is crucial, and failing fast can also be beneficial in moving on to the next idea, (00:25:29).
• The presentation will cover the methodology of launching quickly and executing quickly, with the goal of providing actionable tips for site owners to achieve success with their Brilliant Directory sites, (00:25:48).
• Yakin's approach to launching a website involves spinning up a homepage, an about page, and getting Google ads running to test the site's potential, (00:25:09).
• The presentation will also touch on the importance of failing quickly and moving on to the next idea, rather than getting stuck on a single idea that may not be successful, (00:26:06).

Pitfalls You'll Learn to Avoid (00:26:23)

• To get the first 100 members, it is essential to start simple and focus on building a basic website that targets a specific group of consumers, such as plumbers, rather than trying to create a complex website with multiple features (00:26:23).
• Building a website with a clear objective, such as targeting the first 100 members, helps to launch lean and provides clarity on what needs to be done, allowing for simplified call to actions and a focused design (00:27:01).
• Starting simple also enables individuals to launch quickly, even with limited resources, as it is possible for one person to email 100 people in 2 hours a day and potentially gain 100 members (00:27:22).
• One of the pitfalls to avoid is getting stuck in the setup mode, which can lead to losing momentum and failing to launch, as it is easy to get distracted by multiple things and lose interest in the idea (00:28:01).
• Another risk is overcomplicating things, which can confuse visitors and members, making it difficult to get the first 100 members, and it is crucial to avoid this by keeping the website and its features simple (00:28:19).
• Booking losses and killing ideas that are not launched by a deadline is also a common pitfall, as it helps to avoid wasting time and resources on ideas that are not working, and this approach can be applied to launching new ideas and avoiding distractions (00:28:35).
• Ultimately, launching quickly and avoiding complications is key to getting the first 100 members, as it allows for a focused and simple design that can attract and retain members (00:28:53).

Start Simple & Grow Smart (00:29:04)

• The current topic of discussion is breaking down a homepage, with a comparison between two screenshots: one labeled as "bloated" with five different things on the right homepage, and another page on the left-hand side with fewer elements (00:29:04).
• The focus of the next part of the presentation is on launching lean, emphasizing the importance of launching fast and focusing on one core value, which will be covered in the next five to seven slides over the next 10 minutes (00:29:23).
• The presentation aims to provide guidance on how to start simple and grow smart, with the next steps being outlined in the subsequent slides (00:29:04).

Clarity Beats Complexity (00:29:45)

• Statistics show that customers make judgments about a website or offering within a very short time frame, often just half a second, and clarity is key to keeping them engaged, with 94% of first impressions based on site design and 75% of visitors judging a site's credibility (00:30:05).
• Having a simple and clear value proposition is more important than having a lot of features, and this applies not just to websites but also to emails, phone calls, and in-person interactions, as it helps to build trust and convert people into signups (00:30:22).
• The ability to clearly articulate a simple solution to a problem is crucial, and this can be demonstrated by the "sell me this pen" exercise, which is really about presenting a strong value proposition that resonates with the person being engaged (00:31:13).
• When starting out, it's essential to have a laser-focused communication strategy that clearly conveys the value proposition, rather than trying to highlight a long list of features, and this clarity can help prospective members feel like they're missing out if they don't sign up (00:32:05).
• Real-world examples have shown that simplicity is often the key to success, with one example being a website that booked 10-15 sales before it was even launched, thanks to a simple and clear plan, and another example being a client who was unsuccessful despite having a lot of features and capital infusion (00:32:44).
• The experience of working with entrepreneurs has shown that less capital and a simpler approach can often lead to faster success, while more capital and a more complex approach can lead to building something that nobody wants to buy (00:33:25).

Tip #1: Lead with One Core Promise (00:33:38)

• The first tip for creating a successful membership site is to lead with one core promise, which means having a single, clear promise on the homepage that speaks to the end consumer, such as "Hire a top expert in 24 hours, verified and affordable" (00:34:17).
• When building a website, it's essential to focus on the end consumer, such as citizens or residents looking for plumbers, rather than the professionals themselves, and to use language that is results-driven and includes social proof (00:34:38).
• A website's homepage should have a clear and simple message that tells visitors what action to take, such as hiring a top expert, and should not overwhelm them with too many options or clutter (00:35:15).
• The main menu of a website should also be simple and focused, with only a few links, such as "find", "get matched", or "join us", to remove guesswork and confusion from the visitor experience (00:36:30).
• By removing clutter and focusing on the end consumer, a website can create trust, credibility, and appear more seasoned, which can help increase conversions to paid signups (00:37:08).
• The focus of a website should be on bringing business to service providers, rather than worrying about how they will join, as service providers will figure out how to contact the website if they need business (00:37:41).
• Increasing demand is more important than worrying about the supply side, and a website should focus on how it can bring business to service providers (00:37:59).

Tip #2: Focus on 3 Homepage Pathways (00:38:05)

• A website's homepage should have only three key sections, including a search function, a browse by category or service tab, and a get matched call to action, to effectively guide users and increase conversions (00:38:05).
• The get matched call to action is particularly useful for business owners or entrepreneurs who may not have time to browse or search, allowing them to submit an inquiry and have the website owner perform matchmaking services for them (00:38:27).
• When building a website, it is recommended to target three to five categories, even if the goal is to create a large directory, as this helps to focus efforts and improve user experience (00:38:45).

Tip #3: Target 3-5 Categories (00:39:03)

• When building a membership site, it is essential to target 3-5 categories or service types to maintain focus and avoid getting overwhelmed, especially if launching with a small team or as a solo founder (00:39:03).
• Launching with too many categories can lead to a monumental task, but focusing on a few categories allows for more control over growth, better morale, and a higher chance of success, as it enables reaching out to a manageable number of providers in each category (00:39:22).
• Personally reaching out to 40 or 50 providers in each of the chosen categories can lead to 5 or 10 joining the site, and it is crucial to pick service types where one feels comfortable, such as plumber or electrician, and avoid categories that may be challenging to work with, like doctors or dentists (00:40:00).
• The concept of the "subcategory jungle" refers to the pitfall of copying and pasting numerous categories and subcategories from sites like Yelp or Yellow pages, resulting in a loss of focus and an overwhelming task, but focusing on 3-5 categories helps to avoid this issue (00:40:37).
• Focusing on a limited number of categories allows for a more controlled growth, improved morale, and a better value proposition, as it creates an app-like feel and makes it easier to sell to professionals by showcasing expertise in a specific niche (00:41:16).
• Using a custom homepage content and a drag-and-drop builder, rather than streaming categories or subcategories, helps to create a static and controlled design that sticks to the target categories and improves the overall user experience (00:43:00).
• Bootstrapping and starting small, focusing on one category, and solving a specific problem can lead to success, even if it means not solving all problems at once, and it allows for a more agile approach to growth and development (00:42:24).

Tip #4: Offer a 'Get Matched' Option (00:43:54)

• The third section of a homepage can be a "Get Matched" option, which should be offered as a concierge service, allowing people to submit a form and pay a fee for a personalized matching service, such as finding the right professional for a specific project (00:43:54).
• This concierge service can charge clients a fee, and the matched service providers can pay an annual fee, such as $3,000, to receive leads, which can result in a high return on investment (00:44:49).
• The "Get Matched" feature can be a significant revenue engine, and it's essential to focus on capturing email addresses, even if the website is not fully developed, to start figuring out how to convert visitors into leads (00:46:03).
• To create a successful "Get Matched" system, it's crucial to start testing and iterating as quickly as possible, even if it means launching without all the professionals in place, and to focus on optimizing the conversion rates of the website (00:46:39).
• The "Get Matched" feature can also help with high-conversion calls, as the marketing team can follow up with leads and service providers to close deals, and it's essential to have a system in place to track and convert leads efficiently (00:47:53).

Tip #5: Simplify Navigation (00:48:18)

• To simplify navigation, it is recommended to have fewer menu links, as this will enable users to act faster, and a mini nav bar can be a brilliant solution, with directories having a mini nav bar on the top where the logo sits, and the main menu having only three or five links, such as home, browse, join, and contact, (00:48:18).
• The main menu and mini nav bar functions are managed from the toolbox menu manager, and it is advised to keep the site simple and not worry about additional features like a blog or resources until after the first 100 members have been acquired, (00:48:38).
• The best time to launch a site is yesterday, and if that is not possible, then today is the next best option, as speed is essential, and there is an example of a site that was put up in 20 minutes, although it did not turn into anything due to distraction with other things, (00:49:00).
• A real example of a site that was launched quickly is seniorcaretools.com, which was a site to find senior care resources, and although it was not populated with data, it had a simple design with just a free resource guide and browse by categories, and no logo, (00:49:18).
• The site was used to test Google PPC and see how much it would cost to get consumer traffic to the site, and it had a simple app field for senior care by category, with no footer, and only a homepage with a click to browse top resources, (00:49:55).
• The site can be used as an example of stripping away unnecessary features and going to the bare bones of an offering, and it is possible to spin up multiple sites like this in different industries and figure out how to drive traffic and collect email addresses, (00:50:30).
• When launching a site, it is essential to prioritize speed, and even if it takes a month or two to launch with clients, it is better to launch fast and build later, rather than waiting for everything to be perfect, (00:51:40).
• Companies like Brilliant Directories launch one or two new features every month and have a pipeline of developments for future years, and this approach can be applied to any company, where the focus is on launching fast and building later, (00:52:15).
• The key takeaway is to always start lean and simplify navigation, and if possible, launch the site today, rather than waiting for tomorrow, (00:52:51).

Wrapping It Up (00:53:03)

• To design for clarity, it is essential to focus on clean and simple things, prioritize calls-to-action, and limit categories, which will help in creating a better experience for the first 100 members (00:53:03).
• The primary goal should be to solve the problem of acquiring the first 100 members, and once that is achieved, the next problem of reaching 1,000 members can be addressed, allowing for a new set of problems to be considered (00:53:20).
• Creating a chain of steps is crucial, starting with getting the website online, then driving traffic to the site, collecting emails, engaging with the audience, and finally converting them to paid plans, which helps in understanding the entire ecosystem of the business (00:53:37).
• The chain of steps involves continuous tweaking and improvement, such as adjusting messaging and value proposition to connect with the audience, and once the process is refined, it can be replicated in various niches and industries (00:54:11).
• Directories can be used not only for paid membership plans but also for lead generation, and many agencies utilize them to acquire business clients and sell their services, making it a versatile tool for connecting people (00:54:48).
• Launching with clarity and focusing on one thing at a time is vital, and this approach was not explicitly mentioned in the presentation, but it is an important consideration for success (00:55:05).

BD Growth Suite (00:55:13)

• When attempting to grow a business, it is essential to try one thing at a time to understand what works, as doing multiple things simultaneously can make it difficult to determine what is effective (00:55:13).
• The mantra to follow is that only one thing works at a time, and if multiple things are tried, it can be challenging to identify what is working, making it seem like either everything or nothing is working (00:55:29).
• A free homepage review is being offered by Yake and their team, with no strings attached, and a link will be shared in the comments for those interested, with the capacity to do around 50 or 100 reviews (00:55:47).
• The presentation was a collaborative effort between Yake and Jason, who put together the slides and crafted the content together, and Yake's experience was shared with the audience (00:56:07).

Homepage critique (00:56:18)

• The website Memorial Connect is reviewed, with the tagline "Honoring lives, connecting hearts" and the goal of finding the perfect musician to honor a loved one's memory, which resonates with the intended purpose of the site (00:56:18).
• The presence of a third-party advertisement on the site is noted as a bad experience, and it is suggested that it be removed to prevent hijacking the website and to improve the user experience (00:57:00).
• A simplified hero section with only two buttons is recommended, such as "Search for musicians" and "Get registered" for musicians, to provide a clear pathway for users (00:57:21).
• The website is criticized for catering more to musicians who want to join the site, with sections like "Join today" and "Membership pricing", rather than giving attention to the consumers who are searching for musicians (00:59:00).
• The term "vetted members" is suggested to be changed to something like "browse musician directory" to make it clearer for consumers who are looking for musicians, as the word "members" implies a club or exclusive group (00:59:37).
• The website's search results page is reviewed, and it is suggested that the site start in grid view, as it makes the faces and images of the musicians bigger and more prominent, which is beneficial for a site where users are choosing a person (01:00:12).
• The website's design and navigation are described as a bit disjointed, but the niche of the site is loved, and the suggestions are intended to be helpful in improving the site's overall user experience (01:00:48).

Adding members and building pages (01:01:07)

• When getting started with adding members and building pages, it's understandable to feel overwhelmed, but a good approach is to add businesses without requiring anyone to sign up, and make the site look like it has been online for a long time with a good clean homepage and a killer about mission page, as well as some listings or content, such as blog articles (01:01:07).
• To increase the chances of success, it's recommended to execute the concept across three or five niches, rather than putting all efforts into one idea, as this allows for more opportunities and reduces the risk of failure due to market dynamics (01:01:42).
• Having multiple ideas and setting up several sites can help to achieve success, as it allows for quick execution and testing of different concepts, and it's essential to set up each site to look good and professional before focusing on driving consumers and professionals to it (01:02:01).
• It's also important to stay focused and not romanticize one idea, as even if it has merit, it may not gain traction due to various factors, and having a backup plan with multiple sites can help to mitigate this risk (01:02:20).

Samples of live BD websites (01:02:26)

• A directory of user-configured Brilliant Directories sites is not available, but users can find inspiration and examples by scrolling through the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, where people often share their sites and ask for feedback (01:02:26).
• Many successful sites do not share their links, and even if they do, copying someone's business model may not work, as it is essential to understand the niche and execute the model effectively, which can be done by hiring a professional or someone trustworthy (01:03:05).
• The success of a site depends on the ability to execute the model, connect people, and find a sustainable market with enough volume, rather than the specific niche, and even small markets can be successful if the model is executed correctly (01:04:03).
• Focusing on a small market can be beneficial, as it allows for more targeted efforts and can make the site a big fish in a small pond, and the key to success is being able to repeat the model and execute it effectively, regardless of the niche (01:04:43).
• The Brilliant Directories Facebook group is a valuable resource for finding examples and inspiration, with users sharing their sites and asking for feedback, and it is possible to find unique and specific niche sites, such as a directory for breeding cattle, which can be successful if the model is executed correctly (01:04:03).

How to explain value propositions for two-sided marketplaces (01:05:09)

• Explaining the value proposition to both parties in a two-sided marketplace without confusing the call-to-action (CTA) is crucial, and a clear example of this is Rich's podcasters directory, which signs up both podcasters and individuals who want to be guests on podcasts (01:05:09).
• To effectively explain the value proposition, it is essential to provide a clear and focused message, such as "this site connects podcasters and guests together," and then guide users down separate navigational paths based on their interests (01:05:29).
• A simple and effective approach is to have two distinct buttons on the homepage, such as "I'm a guest and want to be on a podcast" and "I'm a podcaster and want guests," which then lead to their respective pricing pages, allowing users to follow dedicated paths for each signup (01:05:48).
• It is recommended to avoid mixing the two paths on the same pricing page, as this can cause confusion, and instead, have separate and dedicated paths for each type of user to ensure a clear and streamlined experience (01:06:07).

Is "content first, then monetize" a good approach? (01:06:19)

• The approach of creating content first and then monetizing is considered a good way to help a site appear seasoned and credible, by adding some content to make it look established, such as 20 blog posts, which can be created quickly using an AI tool, and this should be enough to start monetizing or introducing the site to real people (01:06:19).
• To boost credibility, especially for brand new sites with no stats, it is recommended to showcase certain statistics, and there are 25 stats that can be used for this purpose, which were discussed in a tip of the week on the Brilliant Directories blog (01:06:58).
• The goal is to create a perception of the brand that encourages people to either learn more about the services and products or leave the site, and this perception is important for both new and seasoned sites (01:07:15).
• Yaken, a guest on the webinar, offered a free homepage review, and can be reached through bdgrowthswuite.com or businesslabs.org, with the link available in the comments (01:07:32).
• The webinar covered various updates, including the AI post creator, and upcoming updates, and the replay will be posted in the Facebook group, which can be accessed through brilliantirectories.com/fas (01:07:51).
• The next webinar will be held in two weeks, on August 27th, and will provide more information and updates, and attendees are encouraged to join and ask questions (01:08:10).