Webinar Wednesday 228 – July 22, 2026

Introduction to BD Butler

• The session focuses on AI content routines, bypassing lab updates to prioritize high-value strategies for leveraging BD Butler. (00:03:50)
• The presentation aims to provide practical marketing tips and ideas for using BD Butler’s skills and routines to grow online communities. (00:04:02)
• The session includes a walkthrough of slides, live demonstrations, and potential opportunities to analyze participant websites to determine optimal content for automated creation. (00:04:14)

AI Automation Capabilities

• BD Butler has evolved from an AI coding assistant into a tool capable of providing website data insights and generating content. (00:04:39)
• The skills and routines functionality allows for tasks to run on autopilot in the background of a website. (00:04:48)
• Utilizing these features functions like employing an AI virtual assistant, which handles content creation for SEO, marketing, and visitor engagement. (00:05:13)
• Automating content creation allows website owners to redirect their time toward growing their membership, directory, or community revenue rather than performing mundane tasks. (00:05:29)
• Skills are defined as individual tasks BD Butler can perform, while routines are the schedules that dictate when those tasks run automatically without requiring the admin area to be open or the computer to be on. (00:06:01)
• BD Butler possesses the capability to perform live web searches, allowing it to pull information from external sources to incorporate into generated content. (00:06:24)

Benefits of Automated Content

• Consistent, automated content creation provides several benefits, including improved SEO and the ability to perform automatic internal linking using existing site data. (00:06:41)
• Automated content serves to increase visitor engagement and enhance member visibility, such as by creating spotlight articles for premium or highly engaged members. (00:07:01)
• The content generated by BD Butler can be utilized for social media and newsletters to maintain community engagement off-site. (00:07:28)
• Mentioning industry leaders in articles written by BD Butler and sharing those articles on social media can help build professional relationships and potentially lead to reshares by those leaders. (00:07:54)
• BD Butler allows users to set up routines that automatically run on a schedule, requiring only a one-time setup to maintain ongoing content creation. (00:08:13)

Content Strategy and Fibonacci Cycles

• The concept of a "Fibonacci sequence" is used to describe a self-sustaining, spiraling content cycle where one piece of content, such as an event listing, leads to the creation of subsequent assets like blog posts, social media updates, and newsletters. (00:08:36)
• Automated content creation can be applied to various niches, such as generating blog posts about upcoming local or national events, or enriching member profiles to create related content. (00:09:04)
• The primary goal of these automated routines is to improve efficiency while ensuring the content remains relevant and curated for a specific industry. (00:09:38)
• BD Butler is designed to avoid "AI slop" by searching for real-time data, such as upcoming events, job listings, or current industry news, rather than relying on generic or fabricated information. (00:09:55)

BD Butler Interface and Development

• The BD Butler button (BBB) is currently accessible in the web page builder and the search members page, with plans to integrate it further into the admin area, potentially replacing the "quick create" function. (00:10:46)
• The "tasks" section within the BD Butler interface allows users to view, schedule, pause, or create new automated routines. (00:11:08)
• BD Butler currently offers three primary content-focused skills: creating blog articles, creating events, and creating job listings. (00:11:37)
• Development is underway to allow BD Butler to create static pages from dynamic search results, which would enable users to bolster search results pages with SEO content (00:11:47).
• A recent request for feedback in the Facebook group regarding desired BD Butler tasks and routines received nearly 60 responses from the community (00:12:18).
• AI is being used to analyze these community suggestions to identify the top three to five skills to prioritize for the next version of BD Butler (00:12:31).
• Current community feedback indicates a strong interest in features such as creating SEO backlinks, performing internal linking, and adding content to thin pages like member profiles or search results (00:12:45).
• Future plans for BD Butler include expanding its current capabilities—which include creating blogs, events, and jobs—to perform more virtual assistant tasks that allow users to wake up to completed work (00:13:18).

Configuring Automated Routines

• The BD Butler tasks feature does not require custom instructions because the system already recognizes the focus and vertical of the user's website (00:13:36).
• Users can organize their routines by assigning nicknames to specific tasks, such as blog posts, event roundups, or job searches (00:13:55).
• For content-related tasks, users can control the volume of output by choosing to create one, two, or three posts each time the task runs (00:14:11).
• To allow for moderation, users have the option to set the publish status of AI-generated content to "save as draft" rather than publishing it immediately (00:14:29).
• Users must assign an author to each post, typically by selecting the site administrator or a designated member (00:14:41).
• The scheduling feature allows tasks to run as frequently as every hour, or on specific days of the week, depending on the desired level of content volume (00:14:51).
• Custom instructions allow users to define the shape of the content, such as requesting listicles or directing the AI to aggregate and summarize news from specific external websites (00:15:05).

Implementing Content Routines

• Implementing a content routine involves diversifying article types by scheduling specific formats for different days of the week, such as alternating article styles between Mondays/Wednesdays and Tuesdays/Thursdays. (00:15:34)
• Automated routines can be configured to perform tasks like searching a directory to extract and summarize upcoming events for a specific city into a blog post. (00:16:07)
• BD Butler functions by analyzing a website's existing data to generate content, such as identifying events already posted on the site and compiling them into a roundup article. (00:16:41)
• Creating blog posts from existing event data establishes a "Fibonacci sequence" of content, where one asset leads to another, providing material for social media, newsletters, and outreach to organizations for potential sponsorship. (00:17:05)
• Automated routines can be set to create event posts without custom instructions, utilizing the system's ability to identify relevant events based on site niche, such as fitness. (00:17:50)
• Users can customize event-finding routines by setting parameters like timeframes (e.g., 90 days out) or specific event categories like outdoor, family, local, or national events. (00:18:22)

Content Quality and SEO Optimization

• BD Butler can act as a virtual assistant to bolster specific site categories by generating supportive content assets around a chosen topic for a set period. (00:18:54)
• The system automatically selects unique stock photos for each post, ensuring that images have not been previously used on the site. (00:19:04)
• A rigorous duplication check is performed before creating a post to prevent the publication of similar content or topics, with recent updates significantly reducing the likelihood of errors. (00:19:25)
• Articles generated by the system include links to the original source of information, such as registration pages, which benefits Google and AI SEO. (00:19:51)
• Optimizing the first few paragraphs of content is important for SEO, as AI systems typically scan sites by analyzing these initial snippets. (00:20:00)
• BD Butler utilizes an optimized content structure designed to help websites achieve authority for specific topics, such as events or job listings, potentially ranking them near the original source (00:20:18).

Content Formats and Prompts

• A recommended content strategy involves varying the types of articles published throughout the week, such as on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, to avoid repetitive content and identify what resonates best with a specific audience (00:20:59).
• A provided resource includes five primary AI prompts that users can customize, along with guidance on why each prompt is useful, best use cases, and suggested modifications (00:21:51).
• Listicles are recommended as a content format because they are highly structured and scannable, making them effective for both human readers and AI crawlers that scan pages for specific data (00:22:19).
• BD Butler can utilize web search functionality to identify recent news or events related to high-profile individuals within a specific niche, industry, or location to generate relevant articles (00:22:51).
• A specific prompt allows for the creation of local site directory event roundups, which can compile recent events published on a site into a single article (00:23:29).
• The event roundup prompt can be expanded beyond just events to include other site data, such as recent job postings, property listings, or member registrations, to create a broader industry or website news summary (00:24:03).

Listicle Strategy and Engagement

• Listicles are defined as articles that present information in a list format, such as "Seven low impact workouts older beginners can repeat each week," which can be generated automatically for niche-specific websites (00:24:40).
• Listicles are effective content formats because they are scannable, easy to digest, and provide instant gratification to consumers through fun or helpful topics (00:25:16).
• Consumer-facing listicles can serve as viral lead magnets for social media, effectively driving traffic back to a website (00:25:50).
• Listicles can be adapted for professional or B2B audiences by creating guides or punch lists that address specific industry problems, such as software recommendations or directory listings for dentists (00:26:24).
• Trending topics for professional-focused listicles can be identified by monitoring discussions on LinkedIn to determine what potential members are talking about (00:26:43).
• Every listicle should include a call to action, such as a link in the sidebar or at the end of the article, to attract prospective members (00:27:02).

Automating Media and News

• High-profile industry news and video commentary can be automated by using prompts that instruct a system to find current events regarding specific figures and embed relevant YouTube videos midway through the generated article (00:27:38).
• Automated content generation can be customized by changing bracketed information in a prompt to target specific industries, high-profile figures, or local news subjects like a mayor (00:28:44).
• Generated articles can automatically include relevant stock photography, which can be replaced or updated by the user later (00:29:25).
• Incorporating relevant YouTube videos into articles serves as a decorative element that enhances the content and supports search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. (00:29:40)
• AI-driven content routines can be configured to focus on high-profile figures or, alternatively, on current events, news, or industry-specific happenings. (00:30:11)
• Automated tools can identify and embed specific media, such as workout videos or movement guides, to complement the core subject matter of an article. (00:31:03)
• Website owners can organize content by creating specific categories—such as "fitness tips and tricks" or "fitness industry news"—that align with the specific routines used to generate the articles. (00:31:46)

Newsletter Automation

• The content generation process can be extended by using email templates to automatically compile recent or upcoming site events into a newsletter. (00:32:06)
• Newsletter templates can be designed to pull in actual event images and utilize a staggered layout, with future capabilities intended to include automated scheduling. (00:33:01)
• A "Fibonacci" approach to content creation involves a multi-step workflow where an initial piece of content, such as an event or article, serves as the foundation for subsequent assets like blog roundups and newsletters. (00:33:26)

External Data Integration

• The web search functionality within BD Butler allows the system to scour the internet to find relevant events or job listings tailored to a specific niche or industry. (00:34:16)
• Automated systems can identify and post job listings or events to a website by pulling information from original external sources (00:34:44).
• Including external links to original sources within these posts provides a search engine optimization (SEO) benefit and allows community members to register for events or apply for jobs directly (00:35:02).
• Users can refine event searches by specifying criteria such as free events, specific geographic locations, or international regions, including the UK and Australia (00:35:21).

Newsletter Management and Marketing

• Newsletters can be automatically generated using content from a website, such as monthly event roundups or industry news (00:35:37).
• While automated newsletter generation may occasionally encounter technical issues with image rendering or linking, these processes are designed to save significant time, allowing for the creation of weekly or bi-monthly newsletters in approximately five minutes (00:35:46).
• Once a preferred newsletter template is established, it can be reused with new information to streamline future communications (00:36:32).
• BD Butler functions as a comprehensive newsletter platform that allows users to create smart lists to segment members, such as targeting all members or only premium members (00:36:41).
• Consistent email marketing, when executed tastefully and with useful information, serves as a tool to remain top-of-mind for members and drive traffic back to a website (00:37:12).

System Performance and Task Queuing

• Creating automated posts based on real web data typically requires three to six minutes to complete (00:37:52).
• Users can schedule automated routines to run at specific frequencies, such as once a day, and assign specific authors to the generated content (00:38:08).
• Automated routines are executed sequentially rather than simultaneously to ensure the system can effectively check for and prevent duplicate content (00:38:38).
• Automated content generation tasks are queued and processed sequentially rather than simultaneously to prevent the creation of duplicate posts on a website. (00:38:48)
• While individual tasks may take varying amounts of time—ranging from three to nine minutes—the process is designed to run in the background, allowing users to set tasks and return later. (00:39:17)
• The automated system is capable of incorporating relevant videos into the blog posts it generates. (00:39:36)
• Users can guide the content generation process by specifying topics, ensuring the output is focused on current events or specific subject matter rather than generic articles. (00:39:52)
• Default prompts for blog articles are pre-configured to include specific formatting, such as two introductory paragraphs, headings, and summary bullet points. (00:40:36)
• Custom instructions can be used to override default settings, allowing users to modify the structure, formatting, or inclusion of elements like images in generated posts. (00:40:56)

Improving Search Visibility

• To improve visibility in Google AI search snippets, it is suggested that directory listings include a descriptive summary sentence at the top of the profile. (00:41:35)
• The business importer tool helps by creating custom snippets that summarize a business, providing unique content for search engines and AI to process, which differs from standard name, address, and phone number (NAP) data. (00:41:52)
• A potential future development involves creating a tool or skill specifically designed to enrich existing member content that may lack detailed "About" sections. (00:42:52)
• Enriching thin pages, such as member profiles and search results, is a primary focus for improving website content and performance. (00:43:17)
• Internal linking to other posts or category pages helps improve site structure and navigation. (00:43:49)
• Linking to authoritative external sources is recommended because it provides users with a hub of information and demonstrates that the content is not solely for self-promotion, which can positively impact search rankings. (00:43:55)

Membership Plan Restrictions

• Membership plans can be configured to restrict or enable specific profile sections, such as contact information, additional listing details, and the "About Me" section. (00:44:32)
• To limit the character count of an "About Me" section for specific membership tiers, administrators can clone an existing form and assign it to the desired membership plan. (00:46:12)
• Within the cloned form, character limits can be enforced by accessing the text editor's validation options, where administrators can set both maximum and minimum character requirements. (00:46:49)
• To restrict the word count in an "About Me" section for a specific membership plan, the primary form must be duplicated and edited to include the desired character or word limit. (00:47:37)
• Once the new form with the restriction is created, it must be assigned to the specific membership plan to ensure that members on that plan are presented with the restricted input field. (00:47:58)
• Users are advised to rewatch the instructional steps to ensure the correct form is reassigned to the intended membership plan. (00:48:16)

AI Credit Management

• Lifetime plan owners receive a monthly allotment of 30 AI credits, which reset on the first day of every month. (00:48:53)
• Additional AI credits can be purchased if the monthly allotment of 30 is insufficient, with volume discounts available for larger quantities. (00:49:11)
• Users can manage their content routines and skills to align with their specific AI credit limits if they choose not to purchase additional credits. (00:49:27)

Marketing and Content Workflows

• Listicles highlighting the benefits of higher membership plans can be created and shared with current members via newsletters to encourage upgrades. (00:49:44)
• Listicles can be converted into blog articles to serve as content for membership marketing and engagement strategies. (00:50:01)
• Automated content generation tools can produce diverse blog topics, such as "four low impact cardio options for people with knee pain," which helps maintain fresh website content (00:50:19).
• Targeting long-tail keywords, such as specific phrases regarding knee pain, offers a higher probability of ranking in search results compared to short-tail keywords like "personal trainer" due to lower competition (00:50:42).
• BD Butler can be utilized to convert existing blog posts, including listicle-style articles, into email newsletter templates (00:51:58).
• The process of converting a blog post into a newsletter template can be completed in approximately five clicks (00:52:13).
• BD Butler has the capability to generate newsletters and translate them into different languages, such as Romanian (00:52:31).
• Users can refine the output of the newsletter generation by providing specific formatting instructions, such as requesting a staggered or stacked layout rather than a single-row format (00:53:24).
• Images within the generated newsletter templates can be swapped out quickly to suit the content of each point (00:53:55).
• While a fully automated routine for newsletter creation does not currently exist, the tool allows for a manual workflow where content is dragged from a blog and converted into a newsletter (00:54:28).
• A potential content workflow involves using the tool to create event posts, which are then compiled into a blog article roundup, and subsequently translated into a newsletter for members (00:54:48).
• Developing a focused content routine allows solopreneurs to automate tasks, potentially achieving the productivity levels of five to ten people while gaining a competitive advantage over slower-moving rivals (00:55:02).
• Future updates are planned to provide more automation tools for community and audience management in response to user requests (00:55:24).

Event Page Configuration

• To configure an event search results page to display in grid view, users should navigate to the edit post settings for the event post type (00:56:17).
• Within the post type settings, the search results design can be modified under additional settings by selecting the desired default view—list, grid, or map—at the bottom of the menu (00:57:06).
• Standard event post layouts are provided by the platform, while specific features like buttons are integrated through BD Butler (00:57:37).

SEO and Data Extraction

• BD Butler is designed to optimize content for Google and AI SEO by utilizing built-in tasks to generate headings, bullet points, and internal or external links to sources of truth (00:57:47).
• Users can customize the structure of generated content by providing specific instructions to the system, such as requesting the exclusion of buttons or defining preferred formatting (00:58:07).
• The system is capable of extracting specific data points, such as event entry fees, by identifying general pricing information from online sources (00:58:35).

Business Data Import Management

• A user inquiry was raised regarding the process for correcting imported business data when specific fields like email, phone, or pictures were not initially selected, specifically questioning if re-running the import would result in a loss of credits (00:59:07).
• Rerunning a search tool will consume credits, but the system is designed to skip duplicate records that have already been imported into the site. (00:59:17)
• When configuring business data searches, users can select preferred attributes such as email, phone number, or website to ensure the imported records contain specific contact information. (00:59:38)
• Filtering by businesses updated within the last 30 days may be overly restrictive, as business contact information typically remains stable for long periods. (00:59:53)
• Leaving contact attribute filters unchecked increases the total pool of potential results, as it includes businesses that may not have a publicly listed website or email address. (01:01:07)

Future AI Integration Plans

• The platform is developing a "Bring Your Own Key" (BYOK) feature for OpenAI, which will allow users to connect their own API keys to avoid using platform-specific AI credits and instead be billed directly by the provider. (01:01:47)
• Future development plans include making the BYOK feature model-agnostic, potentially integrating with OpenRouter to support various AI models such as Claude (language model) and DeepSeek. (01:02:24)

Creating Private User Notes

• A request was raised regarding the ability for general user accounts to have a private notes area on their dashboard or a dedicated page. (01:02:41)
• General user accounts are distinct from business listings and are primarily intended for site activities like bookmarking members or initiating private chats. (01:02:53)
• To create a private scratchpad or notepad feature for members, the first step is to clone an existing post type, such as a discussion post, within the edit post settings (01:03:16).
• The cloned post type should be renamed, for example to "my notes," to distinguish it from public discussion forums (01:03:54).
• The new post type must be configured as "members only" to ensure that any notes created by users remain private and are not visible to the public on the website (01:04:04).
• The terminology for the profile page section should be updated to "notes" to align with the new post type (01:04:36).
• Under the membership plan settings, the "my notes" post type must be assigned to general users within their post-publishing privileges (01:05:06).
• General users should be granted permission to post, but the system can be configured to prevent them from setting these posts to "published" as a way to manage the content (01:05:33).
• Once the post type is set up, the user interface for creating notes can be simplified by removing irrelevant form fields, such as image uploads or title requirements, to streamline the experience for the user (01:06:41).
• To create a custom post type for user notes, the existing intake form must be edited and cloned to serve as a base for the new form (01:06:55).
• The form settings should be updated by renaming the form to a descriptive title, such as "general user my notes form," and saving those changes (01:07:32).
• After renaming the form, it must be associated with the specific post type by editing the post settings for "my notes" (01:07:50).
• A unique system name must be assigned to the form within the developer settings to ensure it is correctly identified (01:08:33).
• Once the form is renamed and the system name is updated, the correct form must be selected in the post settings and saved to finalize the association (01:08:56).
• The form builder allows for customization, such as removing unnecessary fields like image uploads, categories, and smart tags (01:09:12).
• To prevent users from publishing their notes publicly, the publish field can be converted into a hidden field with a default value of zero (01:09:35).
• Field labels, such as "discussion title" and "discussion content," can be renamed to better reflect the purpose of the form, such as "My Notes title" and "My Notes details" (01:10:38).
• Once the form is configured, users can save notes that appear in their dashboard without being published to the public site (01:11:11).

BD Butler Technical Operations

• BD Butler functions by scanning the internet for current events and multiple sources of information to automatically populate event posts, job listings, or blog posts within the appropriate sections of a website (01:11:55).
• Because AI models have a knowledge cutoff date, BD Butler’s ability to search live, current information allows it to generate content without relying on potentially outdated training data (01:12:10).
• The cost for using BD Butler is structured around a credit system, where a single credit is deducted for tasks ranging from generating large articles to answering quick questions or performing small design changes (01:12:36).
• Users have default plan limits that reset on the first of every month, and once those limits are exceeded, additional credits can be purchased at a rate of approximately $10 for every 100 AI credits (01:12:45).
• Creating an event or blog post costs two credits, meaning a $10 purchase of 100 credits can facilitate the creation of 50 posts (01:13:09).
• If BD Butler fails to provide an output for a requested task, the system is designed not to charge credits for that attempt (01:13:40).
• Users experiencing issues where credits are deducted despite a task failure are encouraged to send a screenshot of the interaction to the support team for troubleshooting and potential credit reconciliation (01:13:53).

Email Validation Services

• Form validation settings within the system automatically verify that an email address is entered in a valid format, but they do not verify if the email address is currently active or working (01:14:18).
• Verifying whether an email address is a working, active account requires the use of third-party email verification or "list cleaning" services (01:14:46).
• Third-party email verification services, such as NeverBounce, Kickbox, or Pabbly, are recommended for users who have purchased large email lists to ensure the validity of the addresses and to prevent damage to the sender's domain reputation (01:15:07).
• Brilliant Directories websites perform basic email validation by checking for a valid format, such as the presence of an "@" sign and a ".com" extension, while ensuring no malformed or invalid characters are present. (01:15:56)
• Verifying that an email address is actually functional requires the use of a third-party service. (01:16:05)

Closing Announcements

• Development efforts for BD Butler are ongoing with the goal of improving user workflows and efficiency. (01:16:11)
• The next webinar is scheduled to take place in two weeks. (01:16:16)
• A request has been posted in the Facebook group asking users to suggest specific routines and tasks they would like BD Butler to perform. (01:16:23)
• New tasks and skills for BD Butler are expected to be released in the coming weeks to assist with content enrichment, page optimization, and general task automation. (01:16:29)
• Users are encouraged to download the Brilliant Directories mobile applications available on the iPhone App Store and Google Play. (01:16:42)
• A replay of the webinar will be made available through the Brilliant Directories Facebook group. (01:16:49)