Webinar Wednesday 218 – February 25, 2026

Platform Updates and Feature Announcements

• The team has lab updates to share, including a new website dashboard with additional changes and improvements, and they will cover other updates that have already released and some that are coming soon (00:03:12).
• Viewers can download the BD app by searching for Brilliant Directories in their app store, and the team encourages participation in the Facebook group and Webinar Wednesday to help grow the community (00:02:02).
• The website's dashboard is accessible by clicking on "switch website" in the admin area, where users can view an aggregate of their total revenue, total members, and pending or inactive sites (00:03:34).
• The dashboard features a grid and list view, allowing users to star their favorite sites and view them at the top of the list, as well as display a badge for Directory Discount Club members (00:04:13).
• Directory Discount Club members will retain their status in perpetuity, and the new pricing transition will take into account this membership status (00:04:32).
• A new feature is being developed to allow users to move business credits and add-ons between websites, with options to clone a site, transfer credits or add-ons, copy data, and reset a site, which is expected to be released by the end of March (00:05:09).

Dashboard Enhancements and User Interface Improvements

• The "more options" dropdown will include features such as cloning a site, transferring business credits or add-ons, copying data, and resetting a site, which will eliminate the need to contact the support team for these actions (00:05:19).
• A new feature will allow members to edit and delete their comments on posts, which can be enabled by the website owner, and members will only be able to edit or delete their own comments (00:06:08).
• The comment editing and deletion feature is disabled by default, but can be enabled by the website owner, and will display edit and delete icons next to each comment (00:07:05).
• To enable edit and delete for comments, users can go to the interactions section, then to post comments, where they can find global comment settings for their site, including the option to turn off comments for the whole site or choose which post types commenting is enabled on (00:07:29).
• The comment settings also allow users to choose whether to allow users to edit or delete their comments, and set a maximum number of days for editing or deleting comments, with the option to leave it empty or set a specific number of days (00:07:38).

Comment Management and Moderation Tools

• Additionally, the platform has enhanced login security with stronger protections for the admin and member login areas, and a bug bounty program with white hat developers to stress test the platform (00:09:07).
• When saving general settings, changes are now tracked in the website's activity tracker, providing a historical reference and allowing users to revert changes if needed (00:09:31).
• A new API endpoint is available for users of the Brilliant Directories API, allowing them to fetch and grab user subscriptions, including member subscription data and transaction information (00:10:26).
• The platform is also planning to introduce a feature to transfer business credits and add-ons between sites, as well as a clone site feature, which will allow users to clone their site with one click, expected to be available by the end of March (00:10:54).
• When cloning or copying a site, users will be able to choose what data to copy over, such as member data, custom forms, or sidebars, allowing for more control over the cloning process (00:11:07).

Security, API, and Data Management

• A new pricing update is coming, which will switch from lifetime sites and VIP add-on clubs to three subscription plans, with the lifetime site and VIP add-on club having superior value, and the new tiers starting at a lower price point to make Brilliant Directories more accessible (00:11:29).
• Existing lifetime site owners will be grandfathered in and will not have to worry about losing any features or settings, as they will always have access to everything offered by Brilliant Directories (00:12:15).
• A speed boost is coming soon, which will reduce page load times by about 50%, making Brilliant Directories sites even faster and more efficient, especially for international users (00:12:31).

Pricing Model Transition and Accessibility

• A new feature called BD Butler is being introduced, which is a built-in Vibe coding companion that will allow users to create and edit landing pages, and bring their ideas to life by describing what they want to build and having BD Butler build it (00:13:26).
• The BD Butler feature is expected to be released to beta users within two weeks and then to the entire Brilliant Directories network, and will take users' websites to the next level by expanding what they can do with it (00:13:53).
• BD Butler is a built-in AI assistant that allows users to type and chat with it to build custom elements, and it automatically generates the necessary HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in real-time (00:14:39).

Performance Optimization and Speed Improvements

• The AI assistant is integrated into the widget editor, webpage builder, and email editor, eliminating the need for external AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, which lack context of the user's website and design settings (00:14:58).
• BD Butler enables users to go from idea to a live website in minutes, allowing for back-and-forth iteration and conversation to refine the custom elements, including landing pages, pricing pages, custom sections, tools, calculators, surveys, and more (00:15:15).

Introduction to BD Butler AI Assistant

• The AI assistant can create a wide range of custom tools, such as mortgage calculators, and can also write and format emails and newsletters, as well as add schema markup and SEO meta tags for improved search engine optimization (00:15:46).
• BD Butler can access and build upon existing custom code on a website, and its context-aware functionality allows it to understand the webpage, newsletter, or widget being edited or created, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users (00:16:20).
• The AI assistant is designed to be user-friendly for beginners, who can use it to build simple landing pages or emails, while also offering advanced coding capabilities for developers and designers who want to use more complex coding (00:17:03).
• As a built-in feature of the Brilliant Directories platform, BD Butler works seamlessly with a user's website, eliminating the need to switch between the website's admin area and an external AI tool, and it can automatically match the website's design and branding (00:17:30).
• BD Butler's integration with the webpage builder allows it to correctly place HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, and it has access to the website's colors, design, and branding, ensuring that custom-developed elements visually match the rest of the website (00:17:52).

BD Butler Capabilities and Integration

• The current demo of BD Butler is just the first phase of its development, and it will soon be able to update multiple fields at once, such as meta titles, descriptions, social tags, and SEO information, all at the same time (00:18:21).
• In the future, BD Butler will have deeper access to the website's database, allowing for smarter automation, enhanced features, and custom modules, and it will be able to answer questions about the database, such as which member has spent the most on the site (00:18:53).
• The future phases of BD Butler will enable users to ask it questions and provide information about their database, such as creating a list of members who haven't logged in, making it a powerful tool for website management (00:19:25).
• The BD Butler AI Assist button will be available on the site once it's enabled, and users can interact with it by typing commands or questions, such as asking it to create a new page or module (00:20:01).
• The AI Assist takes about 30 seconds to a minute to create something new, and users can ask it to make changes to existing pages, such as making a page more family-friendly or adding a story section (00:20:18).

BD Butler Development Roadmap and Future Features

• Users can provide prompts to BD Butler, such as creating a pricing page with three tiers, or adding a FAQ module with keyword search, and it will generate the content based on the prompt (00:21:59).
• The system allows users to accept or reject the changes made by BD Butler, and they can ask it to redo everything if they're not satisfied with the result (00:22:25).
• The goal is to release the BD Butler AI Assist in about two weeks, and it will be a powerful tool for website owners to manage and customize their sites (00:20:01).
• The system is using nice, bold aesthetics and good quality cards, and the images can be swapped out with stock photos, with the option to change or find better stock photos (00:22:55).
• A pricing page was created, and it looks good, but some details, such as the recommended badge, were cut off, and additional options, like a fourth option and an FAQ section, can be added (00:23:18).

Content Creation and Customization with BD Butler

• The system allows for attachments, such as images, to be included, which can be used to point out specific elements that need to be fixed or changed, and up to four images can be saved (00:23:53).
• The system can fix issues, such as a cut-off recommended badge, and add new elements, like a story to the bottom of a page, and an FAQ section, with the option to customize the behavior of the FAQs (00:24:24).
• The system can also create a testimonials slider with stars and headshots of people, and make it look nice, and it can fix issues, such as a sticking-out element, and add a fourth option to a pricing page (00:25:06).
• BD Butler is going to be included in the platform, and everyone will have access to use it and work with it, and it can be used to create various elements, such as a stats counter, with a bold stats section and four metrics (00:25:42).
• The system can create a contact section, and it matches the colors of the site, using a deeper purple color and a black background, and it can clear out existing content and create new elements quickly, in about 30 seconds to a minute (00:26:57).
• The system can be given instructions to create specific elements, and it will attempt to create them, with the option to clear out existing content and start again, and it can use a large animated count up for stats sections (00:27:02).
• The testimonial slider has been improved to look nicer with stars and headshots, and images can be swapped out as needed, with design issues fixed to make the blocks look perfect (00:27:45).

Design Consistency and Branding Tools

• A contact section has been created, which includes hours of operation, a get in touch section, and more, and this is the website's contact us form (00:28:21).
• A stats counter has been created, which can be expanded to see a preview, and the code used to create it can be viewed and copied if needed, with the option to see the HTML, JavaScript, or CSS used (00:28:49).
• The stats counter had some design issues, including a missing icon and jumbo text, which can be fixed by telling it to add a valid icon and reduce the size of everything (00:29:29).
• The pages and elements created can be translated to MobileView, and they are responsive, with the option to view and test them in mobile view (00:30:00).

Interactive Elements and User Engagement

• The stats counter can be made into a portable widget module, which can be copied and pasted into different areas of the site, such as the homepage (00:30:47).
• The widget code can be copied and pasted into a custom code content section on the homepage, allowing for easy addition of elements to the site (00:31:22).
• The site's design settings allow for the creation of snippets and modules that can be put in different places around the site, making it easy to add elements such as a stats counter or scrolling testimonials (00:31:30).
• The site's elements can be easily customized and rearranged, with the option to add new elements or fix design issues, such as large numbers or missing icons (00:32:03).
• The site's capabilities can be tested by asking it to do something random, to see what it can do and how it can be used to create and customize different elements (00:32:19).
• A tic-tac-toe game is created with a two-player or computer option, and confetti is displayed when someone wins, demonstrating the capabilities of the BD Butler – Vibe coding AI Assistant (00:32:44).

Custom Widgets and Third-Party Integration

• The AI assistant is being developed to allow users to create custom widgets that can be embedded on third-party sites, enabling the creation of modules such as surveys, forms, or testimonials widgets that can be placed anywhere on the internet (00:32:50).
• The custom widgets will be available directly in the webpage builder, allowing for visual editing, and a preview feature will be added to the widget editor to display the code of a widget (00:33:46).
• The AI assistant can be used to create interactive components, such as a tic-tac-toe game, and can also be used to add images and other elements to a webpage, providing users with more agency and freedom to customize their content (00:34:18).
• The webpage builder and widget editor are being developed to work together seamlessly, allowing users to create and edit custom widgets and webpages with ease, and iterate on their designs continuously (00:34:51).

Email and Newsletter Customization

• The AI assistant can be used to make requests and iterate on designs, such as adding images, changing layouts, and making other aesthetic changes, and can be used in email mode to create and edit email content (00:36:19).
• The goal of the AI assistant is to provide users with a powerful tool for creating and customizing their online content, and to allow for continuous iteration and improvement of their designs (00:36:44).
• The process of creating an email template for doctor members is initiated, including updates, news, highlighting a member, and upselling, with the option to use a family photo and icons, and the ability to refresh and retry if the initial attempt is not satisfactory (00:36:54).
• The email template is created with the required elements, including a section for news, a highlighted member, and upsell options, and the ability to switch out images using a stock photo library, with access to features like smiley faces and the ability to iterate and refine the template (00:37:28).
• A viral five-question survey about general health practices is created, with the option to show the score, make it a poll, and include social share links and confetti, and the ability to undo changes and revert to previous versions (00:39:20).

Survey and Poll Creation Features

• The undo feature is demonstrated, allowing users to revert to previous versions of their work, and the option to use control Z and control Y to undo and redo changes in the editor and widgets (00:40:18).
• A pop-up for people to sign up for the newsletter is created, with the option to make a landing page or a portable button module for the sidebar, and the ability to customize and refine the design (00:41:18).
• A step wizard with progress is created, with the option to make it a viral survey, and the ability to customize and refine the design, including the addition of interactive tools and resource pages (00:41:57).
• The creation of viral content for websites is demonstrated, including interactive tools and resource pages, with the option to create pages with quizzes, surveys, and other engaging elements (00:42:03).

Pricing Update Clarifications and Sales Strategy

• The health snapshot quiz is completed, with the option to answer questions and receive a wellness score, demonstrating the potential for creating engaging and interactive content for websites (00:42:16).
• The system created a health snapshot with 50% completion and 19 checks, and it also generated social links at the end, allowing users to copy a link to the website (00:42:40).
• A request was made to add confetti and make the options pills, and to use more icons, which was then processed by the system (00:43:06).

Newsletter and Marketing Automation Enhancements

• A newsletter pop-up was created, and when clicked, it displayed a perfect pop-up, allowing users to accept it and place widgets anywhere on the BD site (00:43:19).
• The system experienced a snag while saving, which might have been due to internet connection issues, and it was decided to take a break and come back to it later (00:43:44).
• Richard asked about the new pricing update, and it was explained that the sales team is flexible and that it's best to grab the offer as quickly as possible (00:44:24).

Member Content Management and Access Control

• The newsletter feature is being improved with the help of AI, which will enable better designs, faster sending, and the elimination of third-party newsletter sending tools (00:44:36).
• Isaac asked about the quick create feature for member articles, and it was confirmed that it's still on the table, with plans to improve the initial create wizards and allow members to use AI to create and edit posts (00:45:21).
• Tammy mentioned that the feature can be a great upsell, and it was demonstrated how to create a newsletter pop-up and place it in the top menu (00:46:00).
• The top header menu can be edited, and widgets can be used in text labels to achieve various customizations, such as creating pop-ups, with the ability to center or align them as needed (00:46:43).

Profile Customization and Member Interaction

• The member profile page is comprised of different widget modules, allowing for modular-based customization, and while it may not be possible to redesign the entire page at once, individual widgets can be updated and optimized (00:47:27).
• The AI assistant can help build a brand new website from scratch, creating a homepage, internal pages, and resource pages, and can also iterate and update text labels to match the site's focus, with the ability to create simple about pages (00:49:40).
• The AI assistant can recreate a homepage or hero section based on a reference image or website, and can be instructed to create a new design for a different industry, such as the SeniorCareFinder directory (00:50:29).

AI-Driven Website Development and Branding

• The AI assistant's capabilities include creating and editing widgets, and can work with the user to iterate and refine the design, allowing for a high degree of customization and flexibility (00:48:25).
• The user can access the widgets and page template code, allowing for further customization and optimization of the website's design and layout (00:49:01).
• The AI assistant is being tested with an image to see what it can do, and the results will be reviewed after letting it process the request (00:51:18).
• Admin permissions can be controlled to restrict access to certain features, such as AI widgets, for staff members or team members working on the site, and this can be done by assigning custom roles and permissions (00:51:32).

Admin Permissions and Role Management

• To restrict access, admins can go to their account, invite a new admin, and assign them a specific role, such as "Roy's team", and then choose which features they should have access to (00:52:20).
• Custom permissions can be created to restrict access to specific parts of the admin area, and admins can assign these roles to team members to limit their access (00:52:53).
• The AI assistant is being used to create a progress bar and customize its design, including making the highlight stronger and adding confetti at the end (00:53:29).

AI-Generated Design Elements and Widgets

• The AI assistant can adapt to changes in the site's colors and design, and can automatically update its output to match the new colors (00:54:41).
• There is a suggestion for an official BD marketplace for buying and selling sites, but it is recommended to use existing platforms like Flippa or certified domain selling sites due to the risks involved in selling sites online (00:55:13).
• Selling a BD site is a valid business model where one can create a site, load it with members, get some traffic and revenue, and then put it up for sale to make a profit, or hold it for longer to allow it to keep growing (00:56:29).
• The Vibe coding AI Assistant, also referred to as the BD Butler, can work on customization pages that have been modified by developers, and it can be accessed through the widget manager to edit and fix errors (00:56:46).
• The AI Assistant can fix errors, such as malformed HTML tags, and it can be used to create custom content, such as widgets, that can be added to the homepage (00:57:38).

Profile Analytics and User Engagement Metrics

• The AI Assistant can be used to create a get matched replica form to add to the homepage by adding custom content or snippets (00:58:05).
• There is a need to easily show people how many visits they are getting and how much traffic is being brought to them, and this can be done through profile analytics, which is a retention tool that shows members how many profile views they've received, how many clicks to their website, and how many views their posts have received (00:58:24).
• Profile analytics can also track granular data, such as how many times a link was clicked, and it allows members to create their own assets that can be tracked for stats (00:59:11).

AI Assistant Release Timeline and Capabilities

• The Vibe coding AI Assistant is expected to be released in about two weeks, and it is anticipated to get better over time, with the ability to tackle serious tasks and provide helpful assistance (00:57:51).
• Having a historical graph or chart to visualize data beyond the table view is a desired feature for the future, as it would allow users to toggle and view specific statistics, and could also serve as a retention tool to show users the exposure they are getting on the site, such as profile views and website clicks (00:59:30).
• Renaming sections in the homepage is currently not possible, but it is a good suggestion for convenience, and an alternative is to open the section to see its content, although headings on the live homepage can be customized by editing the settings for that section (01:00:17).

Chatbot and Directory Search Integration

• Allowing members to ask questions about directory listings through a front-end Butler chatbot is a planned feature, which would enable visitors to ask questions and receive relevant results, such as a list of plumbers or elections, and could also recommend pages to check out based on the user's query (01:01:48).
• A potential workaround for implementing a chatbot feature currently is to use a third-party tool, such as Chatbase, which can be connected to the site's sitemap and configured to only suggest pages from the site, providing a live chatbot experience with AI-powered suggestions (01:02:43).
• The planned chatbot feature would allow users to interact with the site in a more conversational way, asking questions like "what's there to do tonight in Los Angeles" and receiving relevant results, such as upcoming events in the area, making it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for on the site (01:02:17).
• To create a companion experience on a website, tools like Chatbase or its alternatives can be used, as long as they have a sitemap as the source of information, allowing users to chat and find public pages on the site (01:03:29).
• The cost of using such tools is nominal, and they should have an embeddable live chat widget that can be embedded on the website (01:04:00).

Homepage Customization and Viral Content Creation

• A homepage was recreated for a senior care finder directory using the AVO homepage creation feature, which included a search module, search button, and stats, but required some design adjustments (01:04:23).
• The design settings can be adjusted in real-time to match the colors of the site, and the feature will know what the colors are and match them (01:04:57).
• The feature can be iterated upon to improve the design, such as fixing issues with images being covered by text and search buttons being squished, and adding more homepage elements (01:05:30).
• The feature can also be used to create viral surveys and polls, similar to those created by Buzzfeed, and can be integrated with social media and email forms (01:06:31).
• The VIP add-ons club members will have access to all future released add-ons and core platform features, and will have a better value than anything offered after the switch to the three-tier pricing (01:07:14).

Pricing and Add-On Club Benefits

• The feature can be used to create custom banners, such as a banner above search results for a category sponsor, and can be adjusted and iterated upon to achieve the desired design (01:07:30).
• A request was made to add more homepage elements, and the result looks nice and tidy, allowing for further iteration (01:07:57).
• A rotating banner for three sponsors was created, and the plan is to put it above the search results page to see how it works (01:08:11).

Advertising and Sponsorship Features

• A review page that reviews five cosmetic products with descriptions, affiliate links to Amazon, and schema markup for SEO was requested, with the goal of making the page rank well in Google (01:08:53).
• The review page is intended to have affiliate links to Amazon and schema markup to rank for SEO and AI SEO, making the whole page good for ranking in Google (01:09:23).
• A test was conducted to create a rotating banner ad, which was then added to the site, and it looks very nice, with options to customize its placement and behavior (01:10:10).

Members-Only Content and Paywall Implementation

• The rotating banner was added to the search results page, and there are options to customize its placement, such as putting it above the member results (01:10:29).
• A question was asked about whether a directory can provide listings that offer basic information and require registration to see detailed listings, and the answer is yes, this can be done using the members only content add-on (01:12:06).
• The members only content add-on, available with the VIP Add-ons Club, allows for controlling access to content, including member listings, and can be configured under edit post settings (01:12:43).
• The membership plan can be protected by configuring a few settings, allowing visitors to access the search results page but requiring registration to access the protected profile page, which can be useful for premium content such as coupons, blog articles, or videos (01:13:14).
• The members-only function can be used to create a paywall or gated content, giving visitors the option to register or pay for access to detailed pages, and this feature is already built-in and automated (01:13:43).

Review Pages and Affiliate Marketing Tools

• A review page can be created using the BD Butler, which can include multiple products, and the page can be customized with features such as rows, filters, and links to external sites like Amazon (01:14:51).
• The layout of user profile pages can be changed using Brilliant Directories, and a video is available that shows how to edit the profile page, from beginner to expert mode, including the use of custom CSS and code templates (01:16:35).
• The BD Butler can be used to refresh a site and improve continuity by updating page by page or widget by widget, allowing for a more uniform visual and design (01:17:35).

Profile Page Layout and Customization

• The BD Butler can perform tasks that would normally be considered complicated or require external help, such as creating a review page with multiple products and custom filters, and can produce nice-looking results with features like hover effects (01:15:04).
• The AI assistant is designed to require review of its actions, as it can make errors, and it is better to have a review process in place rather than relying solely on the bot to make changes (01:17:48).
• To ensure uniformity across all pages on a site, a paragraph outlining branding conventions or design conventions can be created and pasted into each page, with instructions to follow these conventions and fix any non-matching elements (01:18:00).

AI-Driven Site Maintenance and Branding

• The AI assistant can be used to tidy up pages on a site by copying and pasting a pre-made block of text into each page, and then reviewing and refining the changes, which can be a time-efficient process (01:18:22).
• Creating branded videos for a site, such as tutorials on how to use the Frowella editor, can be beneficial for user experience and can also help with search engine optimization on YouTube (01:19:10).
• For those who are not comfortable creating videos themselves, options such as hiring a virtual assistant on Fiverr or asking a family member to help can be explored, and ChatGPT can also assist with creating documentation (01:19:39).

Tutorials and User Documentation

• The Frawella editor is a text editor with some special features, such as the ability to customize button colors and sizes, and it is recommended that site owners create their own tutorials and documentation using their own brand voice and screenshots (01:20:24).
• The BD support team is available to assist with questions about the Frawella editor, and site owners can also create a "how" section on their site with tutorials and documentation (01:20:43).
• Creating assets for a site, such as videos, can help with member retention and make the site appear more professional, even if it is new (01:21:22).

Booking Systems and Calendar Integration

• A question was asked about whether the AI can create a reservation booking widget with a calendar similar to hotels for booking appointments, and it was determined that it can, but may require some iteration and a better project scope (01:21:42).
• The AI was asked to create a booking widget that allows users to connect their Google Calendar and sync with their calendar, and it was able to create a basic version, but may need further refinement (01:22:27).
• The AI was also asked to create an article creator for members to create posts, similar to a quick create feature for ads, and it was confirmed that this feature will be developed (01:23:45).
• The AI created a test calendar page with a booking feature that allows users to choose a time and book a slot, and it was noted that with some further finagling and project scoping, the AI can create a more comprehensive booking system (01:24:10).
• The AI was asked to create a more advanced booking system with a step wizard, similar to HubSpot or Calendly, and with enterprise-grade features, and it was decided to come back to this task later (01:25:13).

Content Filtering and Search Functionality

• The AI was also used to create a review page with filters, including a keyword filter, and it was able to create a functional search filter that works as expected (01:25:47).
• Brilliant Directories has an API that allows for bulk uploading of articles and content, and there are two ways to achieve this: by importing posts via CSV in the admin area or by using the API directly with tools like Zapier or Pably (01:26:28).

API Integration and Bulk Content Management

• The import guide for CSV files is available in the admin area under "manage posts" and provides instructions on how to set up the CSV file, including an example that can be downloaded (01:26:44).
• The API endpoint for creating single image posts, such as blog articles or coupons, is the "post API endpoint" with the "data post create" function, and a link to all available API endpoints is provided (01:27:18).
• There are plans to create a mini CRM function within Brilliant Directories that includes marketing automation features, such as drip sequences and email funnels, which is expected to be explored later in the year (01:28:00).

Marketing Automation and CRM Features

• The upcoming feature will allow for email drip sequences to be set up based on actions or forms filled out by members or visitors, and will provide flexibility for marketing automation (01:28:18).
• The next webinar will be in two weeks, and the new feature is expected to be released in March, giving users more autonomy to work on their site and create content more freely (01:28:45).

Upcoming Webinars and Community Resources

• Users can download the Brilliant Directories app, join the Facebook group, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more information and updates, and can also ask questions or leave comments on videos (01:29:16).