Webinar Wednesday 206 – August 27, 2025

iPad Giveaway (00:01:45)

• A giveaway for an iPad is scheduled to take place next month, and participants can enter by commenting on a post that will be created in the Facebook group (00:01:45).
• To be eligible for the giveaway, individuals must be members of the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, which can be joined by visiting brilliantdirectories.com/fas (00:02:03).
• The contest is expected to start just after Labor Day and will run for the entire month, with the winner of the iPad being announced on October 1st, at the end of September or beginning of October (00:02:20).
• The iPad giveaway has been held several times in the past and has been a fun experience for participants (00:02:20).

Brilliant Directories Mobile App (00:02:26)

• For users with a Brilliant Directories website, the Brilliant Directories mobile app can be downloaded from the app store, whether it's Google or Apple, to stay in touch with the website on the go (00:02:26).
• A new version of the Brilliant Directories mobile app is expected to be released in September, which will be followed by the release of real-time push notifications, allowing users to receive notifications on their mobile devices for new payments, new members, and more (00:02:43).
• The BD team is constantly releasing new updates and features into the platform, with many of these updates being based on ideas, suggestions, and feedback from the BD community (00:03:02).
• Webinar Wednesdays aim to cover and share new features that can help increase traffic, convert visitors to members, and grow the community, with a Q&A session at the end where users can ask questions by typing them into the comments (00:03:20).
• To participate in the Q&A session, users can type their questions into the comments, and if they want to ask a question via microphone, they can go to brilliantdirectories.com/stream and type "question" in all caps to signal that they would like their microphone unmuted (00:03:38).
• The webinar will cover several new updates and features, each of which could warrant its own tip of the week with strategies on how to best utilize them, and users are encouraged to ask questions throughout the webinar (00:04:14).

HEADER MENU: Support for dropdown links to organize navigation (00:04:43)

• The header menu now supports dropdown links, allowing for better organization of navigation, and this feature was previously announced in the Brilliant Directories Facebook group as "coming soon" (00:04:43).
• The main menu on Brilliant Directories sites can have dropdown links, and these work by nesting sibling or child menu links under a parent link in the menu manager, which automatically enables the dropdown functionality (00:05:22).
• The top header navigation area now also supports dropdown links, which was not previously available, and this update provides several benefits, including the ability to nest more child menu links or sub-menu links in the top header nav (00:06:01).
• One of the benefits of this update is that it allows users to keep their main menu while also having dropdown links in the top header navigation, effectively creating two sections with dropdown menu links (00:06:18).
• Another benefit is that users can remove their entire main menu line and use the topnav as their main menu, saving space on their website and giving it a more streamlined feel (00:06:58).
• The streamlined look also puts the logo in line with the main menu, adding to the overall aesthetic and saving space on the site (00:07:14).
• To utilize this feature, users can simply go to their menu manager, customize their top header menu, and nest sub-menu links, which should work automatically without requiring significant changes (00:07:52).

HOMEPAGE HERO: Add videos, images, links or custom blocks beside main content (00:08:27)

• The homepage hero section can now have a secondary content area, which can include elements like videos, images, or links, and this feature can be enabled by going to the design settings, specifically under the homepage section, and adjusting the content width to anything other than 100% (00:08:27).
• To access the secondary hero content spot, two conditions must be met: the primary hero content must be set up, and the content width must be set to anything other than 100%, and if the content alignment is centered, the secondary hero section will not be available (00:09:03).
• The secondary hero module can be utilized to add various types of content, such as videos or images, to the homepage, and the content width can be adjusted to control the amount of space available for the secondary content (00:09:24).
• The secondary hero content area can be used to add a search box, which can be configured to search for keywords and locations, and the padding and vertical styling of the search box can be controlled to improve its appearance (00:11:01).
• The secondary content area can also be used to add other types of content, such as call-to-action buttons or images, and the background color and images used on the site can also impact the overall design and feel of the homepage (00:11:23).
• Adjusting the design settings and utilizing the secondary hero content area can help create a modern feel for the site, and experimenting with different types of content and design elements can help achieve the desired look and functionality (00:12:02).
• Stock photo libraries can be utilized to search for images, including gradient backgrounds, which can add movement and interest to a homepage or hero section, such as a blue gradient background or a purpley blue background (00:12:43).
• The location of a call to action, such as a search box, can be chosen and placed under the secondary hero section if desired, allowing for flexibility in designing the homepage (00:13:34).
• The new design updates provide a range of point-and-click settings, which may have a small learning curve, but once mastered, can be used to create a customized homepage without needing to make frequent changes (00:13:51).
• The search module can be placed underneath various elements, such as videos or images, and can be filled in with additional content, including button links that can be customized in appearance (00:14:09).
• The new design features can be used to refresh or reimagine a homepage, and strategies for utilizing these features, such as types of content to include in secondary locations, can be discussed and explored (00:14:27).

CUSTOM OFFERS: Create offers & categories directly from Manage Offers (00:14:44)

• The manage offers section allows users to create custom offers to their members, in addition to third-party solutions like website builders and other business solutions, and can be found under the finance section (00:14:44).
• Custom offers can be created in various categories, such as branding and design, legal, and more, and users can sign up for affiliate programs to earn commissions if their members make purchases (00:15:19).
• Users can add new offers, disable third-party ones, and sell their own services, including digital products, and all that is needed is a little image and some title text (00:16:16).
• When creating a custom offer, users can add a headline, title text, link to a digital product, call to action text, and an image, and the link can be to a digital product where members can purchase it (00:16:52).
• The custom offers can be managed and categories can be created, edited, and moved to the top, and for custom categories, the names can be edited (00:18:30).
• The system autosaves changes, and users can go back and edit their offers, including changing the image, and the changes will be reflected on the website (00:19:06).
• Members can access the custom offers through a dedicated main menu, and the menu items can be customized to fit the community and website, providing an additional revenue channel beyond membership plans and subscriptions (00:20:21).

ADMIN DASHBOARD: Profile Analytics add-on insights now visible for admins (00:20:48)

• The profile analytics add-on for membership plans has been enhanced to provide admins with visibility into key metrics, such as the number of profile views and website clicks members receive, which was previously not accessible in the admin dashboard (00:20:48).
• This enhancement is the first step in making more profile analytics data available to admins in the form of graphs, charts, and tables, as well as providing members with engaging visualizations, like line charts, to track their profile views over time (00:21:07).
• In the admin dashboard, admins can now scroll down to view profile analytics data, including metrics for the last seven days or year-to-date, although the specific data displayed may vary depending on the site and the time frame selected (00:21:25).
• The admin dashboard has undergone changes, with more updates to come, and admins can expect to see additional features and data visualizations in the future, including the ability to view profile analytics data for members in a more detailed and accessible way (00:21:41).

ANALYTICS EMAILS: Include profile statistics (views & more) to members monthly (00:21:54)

• The profile analytics add-on provides insights into member engagement, including the top 10 members with the most profile views, with Jason Jones receiving four views year to date in the example provided (00:21:54).
• The add-on also tracks post views, allowing site administrators to see which posts are receiving the most views over a selected period of time, ranging from today to year to date, to understand what content is being visited the most (00:22:30).
• Additionally, the add-on will provide statistics on which members are the biggest contributors in terms of revenue, including the posts they publish, to help site administrators take actions such as emailing or acknowledging them on social media (00:23:10).
• The profile analytics add-on displays different types of engagement across the entire site, including profile views, post views, and clicks to members' websites or social media profiles, such as Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn (00:23:45).
• The add-on provides a breakdown of the types of engagement, including the total number of post views, profile views, and other interactions, such as clicks to reveal a member's phone number, to give site administrators a comprehensive understanding of engagement on their site (00:24:05).
• The profile analytics add-on is available as a separate purchase or as part of the VIP add-ons club, and a link to the add-on will be provided in the comments for those who do not have it (00:24:41).

CATEGORIES PAGE: New keyword filter + ?category=NAME links for pre-filtered browsing (00:24:53)

• The category page on a site is a list of all top and sublevel categories, featuring a keyword filter that allows users to search for specific categories, such as "museum", and it can be used as an index of all member categories on the site (00:24:53).
• There are two versions of the category page, one that shows top level, sublevel, and sublevel categories, and a more compact alternate version that only shows sublevel and sublevels, which is useful for sites using the one top level category strategy, and now both versions have the keyword filter (00:25:14).
• A new feature allows users to prefilter the category page by adding "category=" and a keyword to the URL, enabling quick linking to specific subcategories, such as "accountant" or "architect", which can be useful for creating links on the main menu or homepage (00:25:34).
• This feature is beneficial for sites with numerous top and sublevel categories, as it provides a quick way to link to them on the categories page, and it is also useful for internal linking and SEO, allowing Google to navigate to different category search results and member pages (00:25:55).
• The ability to add "category=" and a name to the URL enhances the site's internal linking strategy, making it easier for search engines to access all member categories and improving the overall quality of life for site administrators (00:26:14).
• The category page can be used as a table of contents for all member categories, and the new feature allows for easy linking to specific categories, which can be useful for creating quick links on the homepage and improving internal linking and SEO (00:26:32).
• The new feature is a quality of life improvement, providing a convenient way to link to specific categories and enhancing the site's internal linking strategy, which can improve search engine optimization and make it easier for users to navigate the site (00:26:48).

DASHBOARD LAYOUT: Drag & arrange dashboard items into the order you prefer (00:27:04)

• The dashboard layout can be customized by hiding or showing certain modules, and this can be done by selecting the options to show or hide the different rows and elements, allowing users to choose what is of interest to them (00:27:04).
• In addition to hiding or showing modules, the elements on the rows can be sorted, and the order of the elements can be changed by clicking on the order option and moving the elements to the desired position, such as moving the pie chart to the left (00:27:22).
• The custom arrangement of the dashboard elements will be saved across all sites, and users can also move the rows up or down to prioritize what they want to see when logging into the admin dashboard (00:27:41).
• The ability to order the rows and elements is useful for putting the most important stats and modules at the top, and a quick start section is visible when a site is not fully set up, but this section goes away once a domain is connected to the site (00:27:59).
• The customization options for the dashboard layout are handy and helpful, and they also include the ability to move elements left and right, and rows up and down, allowing users to create a personalized layout (00:28:18).

LIVE NOTIFICATIONS: Get alerts for signups, payments & more (soon) (00:28:31)

• Live notifications will be introduced, which will provide alerts for signups, payments, and other activities, and can be controlled through throttling settings, with the initial rollout on computers (00:28:31).
• The live notifications will display activity such as new member signups, new payments received, and new leads received, giving a pulse of the website, and will later be followed by push notifications with the mobile app (00:28:47).
• The introduction of live notifications is part of a series of updates, with many more features and improvements expected to be released in the next month or two, driven in part by user suggestions (00:29:05).
• The updates and new features are a result of user feedback and suggestions, and the platform is committed to continuously adding value and improving, with a big shout out to users for their input and ideas (00:29:23).

Tips on Traffic and Leads (00:29:35)

• Nick has been running PPC ads and getting traffic to his site, but he is not generating any leads from his landing pages, and he is looking for tips on how to convert traffic into leads, with a suggestion to share his website link for further analysis (00:29:35).
• To effectively capture email addresses or form completions, it is recommended to sell the dream on the landing page, make people feel like they are one step away from getting what is promised, and include social proof, such as getting connected with trusted professionals, to establish trust and credibility (00:30:11).
• The landing page should be designed to match the branding and messaging, with elements like a form, hero title, and images, and the content on the page should correlate with the PPC click to avoid disconnection (00:30:28).
• The dashboard analytics are available, but the profile analytics are an add-on, which includes features like top profile views, top post views, and engagement overview, and it is recommended to purchase the VIP add-ons club for additional value (00:31:56).
• Roy has asked about creating a new product post and adding an external link and pickup point for the product, which is a feature available in the input form, allowing users to include a URL for the product and specify a pickup location (00:32:51).
• The community is offering a promotion for the VIP add-ons club, which is highly recommended for users with a BD site, and a link will be shared for those interested in taking advantage of the offer (00:32:33).
• The discussion is about a business or product location, which can be referred to as a pickup point, and the text label can be updated to reflect this, with the goal of displaying the information in a post, but the current display is not satisfactory (00:33:08).
• The member product creation process is being examined, and an example is given using a demo site to illustrate the concept of classified listings, similar to products, with features such as a map showing the location of an item (00:33:25).
• The concept of a pickup point is further explained as the address inputted with a product, and custom fields can be added and displayed in the sidebar, with the option to update text labels to mention the pickup point (00:33:59).
• A link to the site "Ourtown.tell" is shared to demonstrate the issue, and the site's products page is examined, including a product called "geometric multicolor" fabric, which has additional custom post details (00:34:18).
• The product details page has a pickup location link that can be turned into a clickable link or utilize a "more details" button, and there are multiple product links, including a pickup location link that directs to a mapping tool like Google Maps (00:34:57).
• To improve the site's design, it is recommended to hide unnecessary information, such as the "enter description" field, and utilize show and hide settings, as well as increase the site's width to make it look more professional (00:35:35).
• Increasing the site's width can be achieved by going to the design settings, choosing "extra wide", which adds 300 pixels to the site's width, and selecting a wide sidebar to give the site "breathing room" (00:36:28).
• The site's main menu links are also discussed, with no specific pros or cons mentioned, but widening the site can help accommodate a large number of menu links (00:36:50).
• The goal is to give the website more breathing room by adding space to the side menu links, and this can be achieved by hiding some elements and turning a web page link form field into a button (00:37:08).
• A site shared by Nikki, Gardening Manchester, is reviewed, and a Google search is performed to check if the site is ranking yet, but it does not appear in the search results (00:37:43).
• The landing page of Gardening Manchester has a centered form with fields that look odd, and the text is breaking in an unpleasant way, with phrases like "get a free quote" and "today" being on separate lines (00:38:30).
• To improve the layout, a line break can be added to put "get a free quote today" on its own line, and the form can be placed outside of the hero section for better visibility (00:39:32).
• The form is found in the additional hero section, and it is recommended to put it in a table with a background to make it more visually appealing, and a content box design can be used to give it a shape (00:40:31).
• The hero section width can be increased to prevent text from being cut off to the next line, and the text area width can be adjusted to 100% to improve the overall layout (00:41:33).
• The website's design and layout are being modified to make it more user-friendly and visually appealing, with changes such as adding a background to the form and adjusting the width of the hero section (00:41:50).
• The design of a form is being modified to make it feel like an application form, with changes including increasing the size and padding of cells, and adjusting the text to make it clearer, such as transforming the driveway or patio in Manchester and Bolton, with the changes being saved at (00:42:07).
• Social proofs, such as response time, number of people to be matched with, and satisfaction rate, are being recommended to be added to the site, with the suggestion to put the form on the left and add confidence boosters on the right, at (00:43:48).
• The form is being placed on the left in a two-column layout, with confidence boosters, such as what to expect after filling out the form, being added on the right, and the layout is being adjusted to a 60/40 split with a title, at (00:44:07).
• The design is being further modified, including aligning the cells to the top, adding padding, and adjusting the alignment, with the goal of making the form and confidence boosters clearer and more visually appealing, at (00:45:05).
• The final design includes the form on the left, with a title, benefit, and social proof on the right, and high-quality images are being recommended to enhance the design, with the option to add more social proof, at (00:46:01).
• The modifications made to the design are being reviewed, with the conclusion that while it may not be perfect, it is an improvement, and the addition of high-quality images can further enhance the design, at (00:46:19).
• Using an image on a landing page can animate and bring the page to life, and it is essential to use an image that relates to the landing page or site, along with complimentary text and icons to create a cohesive page (00:46:41).
• Adding smiley faces and other visual elements to the landing page can help make it more engaging and effective in generating leads, which is a crucial feature for selling to members or distributing to a network (00:46:59).
• The goal of a landing page is to make people feel that they are in the right place, that the site is credible, and that it looks high quality, which can be achieved with high-quality images and a well-designed color scheme, such as the green color set mentioned (00:47:16).
• Creating an effective landing page requires attention to detail and a few key elements to "hit it home" and make a good impression on visitors, with the hope that the information provided will be helpful to everyone, including Nikki (00:47:35).

Office data entry staff separate logins (00:47:40)

• It is now possible to give back office data entry staff their own separate login, which was not available in 2020, and assign them specific pages they can and cannot visit in the admin area (00:47:40).
• To set up separate logins, users can go to the admin area, click on settings and admin accounts, and then add a new administrator by inviting them via email and selecting their role (00:48:20).
• There are preset roles available, such as owner, content manager, member manager, and developer access, or users can create their own custom role, for example, "Stacy access" for an assistant named Stacy (00:48:56).
• When creating a custom role, users can choose which pages in the admin the staff member can access, allowing for unique roles to be created for specific individuals, such as only being able to search members and do member-related tasks (00:49:18).
• Once a role is created, users can invite their staff and colleagues to work on their site, assign them to the admin role, and set the necessary permissions, allowing for more control over who can access and manage different parts of the site (00:49:36).

Client page: Can we move the "Get Directions Map" to the sidebar instead of placing it at the bottom? (00:49:54)

• The "Get Directions Map" can be moved to the sidebar instead of being placed at the bottom of the member profile page, and this can be achieved by customizing the member profile page sidebar through the toolbox sidebar manager (00:49:54).
• To move the map to the sidebar, the post location map widget, which also covers the members map, needs to be located and moved to the desired position in the sidebar manager, and this widget is likely to be found in the member profile page sidebar (00:50:51).
• The name of the widget that controls the display of the map can be found and pasted into the comments, and then it can be searched for in the sidebar manager to be moved to the desired location (00:52:11).
• If the map is moved to the sidebar, it can be turned off in the overview tab by editing each membership plan, going to the profile page tab, and hiding the location map in the overview tab sections (00:52:26).
• Moving the map to the sidebar provides a cleaner layout, similar to a real estate site, and the map in the sidebar includes a "view larger map" option and "get directions" functionality, which can eliminate the need for a separate pickup spot (00:53:26).
• The get directions functionality is built into the map and applies to all posts and members, allowing users to enter their starting address and get directions to the listed location (00:53:43).
• The solution to move the map to the sidebar and utilize the built-in get directions functionality should help address the question posed by Stacy and provide a more streamlined user experience (00:54:03).

Is there a way to import members from one BD site to another? (00:54:09)

• To import members from one BD site to another, a simple two-step process can be used, which involves going to the search members page and exporting a list of current members as a CSV file (00:54:09).
• The exported CSV file can then be used to import the members to another site by using the import member via CSV feature, effectively transferring the members' information from one site to another (00:54:26).
• The process of exporting and importing members via CSV is considered the quickest way to achieve this, and it allows for easy transfer of member data between different BD sites (00:54:45).
• For those who want to stay updated on future webinars and upcoming features, it is recommended to join the Facebook group, where updates are posted immediately, and to subscribe to the YouTube channel at directories.com/youtube (00:55:22).
• The next webinar is scheduled to take place in two weeks, and it will include an ad giveaway for members of the Facebook group, with more updates and features to be announced in the upcoming month of September (00:55:40).
• The Brilliant Directories family expresses appreciation for the attendees and looks forward to the next webinar, which will take place in mid-September, with the exact date to be announced (00:55:57).