Webinar Wednesday 169 – December 13, 2023

GIPHY: Now You Can Also Access Gif Library when Creating Posts (00:01:57)

• The ability to select stock photos in the admin area has been introduced, with access to the Pixel, Pixabay, and Giphy stock photo libraries, allowing users to include funny animated gifts in their web pages and Emoji (00:01:57).
• A secondary add-on has been released to complement this feature for the front end, enabling users to access the GIPHY Library when creating posts, and this can be enabled by clicking the Library icon in the text editor (00:02:41).
• The GIPHY library can be accessed by searching for a term, such as “dog” or “Snoop Dogg”, and then toggling to the GIPHY option, which displays a range of fun memes and gifts that can be included in blog articles or other posts (00:03:34).
• To enable this feature, users need to go to the admin area, ensure that the stock photo libraries are enabled in the advanced settings, and give access to the membership plans that have access to these libraries (00:04:03).
• Users can choose which libraries to give their members access to, such as Pixels, Pixabay, or GIPHY, and can also assign access to the stock photo library on a per-member basis or for entire membership plans (00:04:52).
• The Unsplash library will be introduced in the next couple of weeks, giving users access to over 10 million stock photos, and this feature can be used to provide a premium feature for premium members or as a boost or upsell that members can pay for (00:03:21).

HOMEPAGE: Image Quality Setting for Images in Streaming Post Content (00:05:57)

• The recommendation is to pause and check the image quality setting for images in streaming post content on the homepage, as a new speed update has been created for the homepage (00:05:58).
• The streaming widgets on the homepage can have Thumbnail, which are smaller in file size compared to the larger version, and can be chosen in the design settings (00:06:02).
• By default, the full-size image is used, but the thumbnail size can be selected, which can help improve page speed, especially when loading many images (00:06:12).
• The image quality setting can be found in the design settings, under the section where the homepage and streaming content are edited, and can be changed for different types of posts, such as blog articles, properties, coupons, or events (00:07:27).
• Switching the image quality to thumbnail size can have a positive impact on page speed, and it is recommended to choose the thumbnail size, but users can compare the full size and thumbnail size in two browser windows to decide which one looks best for them (00:08:27).
• The thumbnail size will result in a smaller image file, which can help the page load quicker, and this setting can be adjusted for different types of streaming content on the homepage (00:08:37).

HOMEPAGE: Hide On Mobile Options for Streaming Sections (00:08:46)

• The homepage streaming widgets can be customized to hide certain content on mobile devices to improve the user experience and reduce the number of elements loading, which can also improve page speed scores for mobile (00:08:46).
• Website owners have the option to remove content on mobile devices to create a better mobile experience, reduce scrolling, and draw more attention to calls to action (00:08:52).
• A setting is available to hide specific sections on mobile view, allowing website owners to control what content is displayed on their homepage and improve the overall mobile experience (00:09:45).
• By hiding unnecessary content on mobile devices, website owners can reduce the number of elements needed to load, improve page speed, and make important calls to action more visible and accessible to users (00:10:09).
• Custom content pieces added to the homepage streaming sections can be hidden on mobile devices if they take up too much space, and website owners can test how their site looks and feels on mobile devices after making these changes (00:10:02).

TWITTER: Icons on Front-End of Site will Now Display the X Logo (00:10:33)

• The Twitter logo is being updated to the X logo on the front end of sites, which is a change that was being waited for, and this update is now automatically applied (00:10:34).
• The X logo will be displayed in two places: on the members’ profile page, where social icons are shown, and in the footer of the site where social links are shared, including Tik Tok, Facebook, and Twitter X (00:10:51).
• The share button, which is generated from Twitter, previously displayed the old bluebird logo, but it has now been updated to the X logo, ensuring continuity and a uniform match with Twitter’s assets (00:11:12).
• The update to the X logo is a result of Twitter’s decision to stick with the X logo, and this change is now reflected on the front end of sites, with no further action required (00:10:47).
• The X logo update is intended to provide a consistent look and feel across all social media platforms, including Twitter X, and is part of a broader effort to maintain uniformity in branding and design (00:11:29).

EMAILS: Emojis for Email Subject Lines and Email Templates (00:11:39)

• Emojis can now be added to email subject lines and email templates, which can be particularly useful for welcome Emoji, lead emails, and other key emails that members receive, and it is recommended to test these emails by signing up to the site as a member and interacting with the test profile (00:11:39).
• To find the key emails that members receive, it is suggested to create a test account, send a message to the test profile, and see the emails that the website visitor, member, and admin of the site receive (00:12:00).
• The email templates can be accessed in the admin area, where a new email template can be created, and emojis can be added to the subject line and body of the email using a dropdown list of safe emojis that will render properly on Android, Samsung Electronics, and Apple Inc. smartphones, as well as on desktop (00:12:32).
• The available emojis can be searched, and they can be used to add a playful tone to emails or to animate them, and images can also be added to emails using the Library, which includes a search function and various libraries such as Pexels (00:13:33).
• The email templates can be customized quickly and efficiently using the tools available in the admin area, which can be particularly useful for solopreneurs who are working on their sites alone and need to save time (00:14:37).

VIDEO POSTS: Now Supports URLs for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and DailyMotion (00:14:45)

• Video posts now support URLs for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Dailymotion, allowing users to share links and add videos to their posts without requiring additional steps (00:14:45).
• To post a video, users can simply paste the YouTube or Vimeo link into the designated field, and the video will be added to the post, with the option to add a description or embed the video (00:15:10).
• The integration with YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and DailyMotion enables users to share content from these platforms by pasting the URL, and the system will render the video and its associated image (00:15:49).
• The feature update includes support for fetching feature images from the shared videos and rendering them properly, which was a challenging aspect of the update (00:16:56).
• DailyMotion is a video content Library similar to YouTube, and its integration allows users to share links and add videos to their posts in the same manner as YouTube and TikTok (00:17:09).
• The new feature releases and updates are part of a series of additions, with more add-ons and features planned for release soon (00:17:20).

NEW ADD-ON: Block Traffic by Country (00:17:31)

• A new add-on is expected to be released in mid or end of January, which will allow users to block traffic by country, providing a way to prevent unwanted signups and spam from specific countries (00:17:31).
• The add-on is not recommended for all users, as it may block traffic from legitimate website visitors or members who are traveling, and it is more suitable for users who want to block traffic from countries with high levels of spam or unwanted signups (00:17:37).
• The add-on will have easy settings, allowing users to easily block traffic from specific countries where they notice high levels of spam or unwanted signups that are not related to their site (00:18:06).
• An announcement about the add-on’s release will be made in the Facebook group and an upcoming newsletter, and it is part of the efforts to block spam and provide a better experience for users (00:18:16).

SECURITY: Block Disposable Email Addresses (00:18:28)

• Disposable email addresses are available to everyone, probably by the end of December, and are used by SEO companies or spammy companies to sign up to sites and create free profiles (00:18:28).
• These disposable email addresses are one-time use email addresses provided by services on the internet, and they can be used to look for sites where free profiles can be created (00:18:33).
• To mitigate unwanted signups, an area will be created where known disposable email addresses can be blocked, which will be next to the spam block keyword settings (00:18:49).
• The block disposable email address feature will include a default list of known domains of email addresses, and users can also add their own patterns to the list if they notice some on their own site (00:19:12).
• This feature is expected to help mitigate unwanted signups to sites, in addition to the recently released blocking spoof characters, also known as homoglyphs, which are used by spammers (00:19:06).

DATA: Search for Duplicate Member Values (00:19:32)

• The ability to search for duplicate member values is being added to the admin area, which will help keep data organized and tidy (00:19:32).
• This feature will be accessible in the search member section, where users can search for duplicates based on criteria such as email address, and decide whether to take action on the results (00:19:48).
• The search function will allow users to check for duplicate values, including email addresses, and identify potential issues, such as multiple members with the same signup IP, which could indicate spamming or SEO companies (00:19:56).
• By checking for duplicate values, website owners can quickly identify and address potential issues, such as deleting listings that appear to be spam, and keep their data organized and up-to-date (00:20:20).
• The duplicate search feature will help website owners get ahead of issues that may arise from duplicate content being added to their sites, and maintain a clean and organized database (00:20:31).

DATA: Search Member IPs by Country (00:20:39)

• A new feature will be introduced to search member IPs by country, allowing website owners to have a better understanding of the type of activity on their site and where it’s coming from (00:20:41).
• The search function will include a dropdown list of all countries, enabling users to search for people signing up from specific countries such as India or Germany (00:20:58).
• The search members page will have a crude mockup, but it will allow users to search by IP address with numbers, and then use bulk actions to get rid of any unwanted listings if desired (00:20:53).
• This feature will help website owners to identify and manage nefarious or unwanted activity on their site by searching and taking bulk actions (00:21:05).
• The new feature is designed to provide website owners with a better grasp of the activity on their site, and it will include the ability to search and take actions on a list of countries (00:21:17).

POSTS: Ability to Select Stock Photos as Feature Image for Posts (00:21:24)

• The ability to select stock photos as a featured image for posts is being introduced, allowing users to choose from a Library of images to complement their articles without having to search the internet (00:21:25).
• This feature will enable users to publish content more quickly, especially when creating content in bulk, as they will not need to upload their own images or search for suitable ones online (00:21:48).
• The stock photo library can be searched using keywords, such as “dog walking”, to find relevant images, and the chosen image can be added as the featured image for the post (00:22:32).
• This feature can be used in conjunction with the ChatGPT integration, which allows users to generate articles based on prompts, and then add a human touch to the generated content (00:23:00).
• The ability to add a featured image, generate content using Chat GPT, and add additional media such as videos and images, all without leaving the website, will make it easier and more efficient for users to create content on their site (00:23:41).
• The updates and features are being developed based on user suggestions, and the goal is to help users create content more effectively and efficiently (00:23:59).

ZAPIER ACTIONS: For Member Reviews, Create, Update, Read, Delete Reviews (00:24:03)

• Zapier users, particularly those utilizing PAB, will soon have the ability to add reviews to their site, in addition to creating members, posts, and leads, allowing for more comprehensive workflow management (00:24:03).
• The upcoming feature will enable users to create workflows that add reviews to members on their site from third-party sources, providing a more streamlined and automated process (00:24:14).
• This new functionality is expected to be released soon, and it will allow users to leverage Zapier to create, update, read, and delete reviews, further enhancing their membership management capabilities (00:24:18).

NEWSLETTERS: Exclude Smart Lists, Create Segments by Send Stats, Schedule Future Send Date/Time (00:24:29)

• Newsletters will soon have an update that allows users to exclude certain smart lists, enabling them to send targeted newsletters to specific groups while excluding others (00:24:35).
• After a newsletter is sent, users will be able to create segments based on send statistics, such as people who opened or did not open the newsletter, and create smart lists from these segments (00:24:55).
• The update will also allow users to schedule newsletters for future send dates and times, rather than having to send them in real-time, which will be useful for users who work at night and want their Emoji to be sent at a specific time the next morning (00:25:10).
• The new features are part of a larger set of updates, and there will be no tip of the week, but users are encouraged to ask questions about the new features before the general Q&A session (00:25:34).
• Users can share comments or ask questions about the new feature releases, and a few of these questions will be addressed before moving on to the general Q&A session (00:25:52).

How detailed will new Newsletter email stats be? (00:26:11)

• The newsletter email statistics will provide detailed information, including which emails bounced or could not be delivered due to a bad email address, and the email addresses of those that bounced (00:26:13).
• The statistics will also show who the email was delivered to, who opened the email, and if there was a link in the email, who clicked on it, allowing users to create separate groups or segments from these statistics (00:26:20).
• The ability to create separate groups or segments from the email statistics will enable users to target specific audiences and tailor their content accordingly, with the option to create a separate group for each of these stats (00:26:41).
• The updates and features are a result of the passion and effort to deliver the most value to users as quickly as possible, and the team is committed to providing assistance and support to users who may be experiencing trouble or have questions (00:26:58).
• The session will now be opened up to allow users to ask general questions, raise concerns, or seek assistance with any hurdles or roadblocks they may be facing, with the team providing one-on-one assistance and support (00:27:09).

Does browsing and inserting images from Stock Photo Library use website’s bandwidth? (00:27:31)

• Utilizing the stock photo Library for browsing and inserting images does not use the website’s bandwidth because the images are pulled from an API (00:27:39).
• The images being pulled from an API means that it should not affect the website’s bandwidth (00:27:43).
• A question was asked by someone named Genan Rodin, and after addressing this question, attention was turned to a person named Stephen, who had his hand raised and was about to be addressed (00:27:31).

Do embedded videos use website’s bandwidth? (00:27:59)

• Embedded videos from sources like YouTube and TikTok do not use the website’s bandwidth to stream the videos, which is one of the benefits of embedding from other sources (00:28:25).
• Loading a local video file on a website would utilize the site’s bandwidth for the entire file size of the video, whereas embedded videos from external sources do not (00:28:37).
• The use of embedded videos from YouTube or TikTok does not hurt the website’s performance with Google, as it does not affect the site’s bandwidth usage (00:28:20).
• Embedding videos from external sources is beneficial because it does not use the site’s bandwidth for the size of the video being played on the site (00:28:50).
• The website’s bandwidth is only utilized when loading local video files, and embedding videos from other sources helps to avoid this bandwidth usage (00:28:41).

Size of images from Stock Photo Library (00:29:00)

• The size of images from stock photo libraries is not explicitly stated, but the images are optimized and compressed by the libraries themselves, with three available sizes to choose from, including a large size that is generally about 1,000 Pixel wide (00:29:21).
• The large size is a guide, and the actual size of the image when used may be smaller, as the libraries aim to compress and optimize the images as much as possible for daily use across their network (00:29:36).
• The three available sizes can be used in different contexts, such as using the smaller image for a small Thumbnail in a blog post or the larger 1,200 pixel image for a hero background image that is the full width of the site (00:30:03).
• The choice of image size depends on where the image will be used, with smaller images suitable for thumbnails and larger images suitable for full-width backgrounds (00:30:11).
• The stock photo libraries offer optimized and compressed images, and the user can select the most suitable size based on their specific needs, such as using a smaller image for a blog post or a larger image for a hero background (00:29:50).

Webhook triggers (00:30:40)

• Internal triggers are being developed to work like Zapier, allowing data to be sent from a Brilliant Directories site to another platform without using webhooks, which is a premium feature in Zapier that requires a paid account (00:30:46).
• The update will enable triggers based on events that happen on the site, such as a new lead, new post, or new member account, and this data can be sent to other platforms directly, bypassing the need for webhooks (00:32:03).
• The development of internal triggers is currently focused on Zapier, with plans to implement it on PA (probably in January) after the updates on Zapier are completed (00:31:11).
• Webhooks are still considered versatile and can send a wide range of data, with many types of webhooks available for different actions on the site, but the new internal triggers will provide an alternative option (00:32:50).
• The internal triggers will work by triggering a workflow based on an event that happens on the site, such as a new review, which is a feature that is coming soon (00:32:25).
• The development of internal triggers is part of the effort to expand the integration with platforms like Zapier and PA, and to provide more options for users (00:33:06).

Suggestion: Completed profile webhook trigger (00:33:15)

• A suggestion is made for a completed profile webhook trigger, which would allow data to be sent to a specific platform, such as P, as soon as a member completes their profile, defined by the admin, with requirements such as a picture and filled-out sections (00:33:15).
• The current workaround for this is to create a smart list that syncs at a set frequency, such as daily, but this is not immediate and may take some time to send the data over (00:33:41).
• The idea behind the suggestion is to have a trigger that sends the data immediately after the profile is completed, which would be beneficial for timely updates and synchronization (00:33:52).
• The possibility of increasing the frequency of smart list syncing is discussed as a potential solution, with the goal of making the data transfer more immediate (00:35:39).
• The conversation also touches on the idea of exploring workarounds and discussing them in the Facebook group, with the goal of finding a more efficient solution (00:35:54).
• The discussion is concluded with an appreciation for the suggestion and an invitation to continue the conversation, with the next participant, Horatio, being unmuted to ask their question (00:36:06).

Display only one category on the Member Categories page? (00:36:25)

• The goal is to create a widget to display only nonprofit organizations under specific categories on the website 411 Buzz Cityguide at buzcityguide.com (00:36:26).
• The website has a new page under nonprofit organizations, and the task is to insert a widget to display the list of nonprofits (00:37:04).
• The nonprofit organizations are defined as a category on the site, with a top-level category ID of 99 (00:38:06).
• Since there are only a few nonprofit categories, a suggested solution is to use content blocks to create links and add images to make the page more visually appealing (00:39:00).
• A quick fix is to create a new widget by copying a rectangle and putting it in a widget, which can be done without deleting the existing widget (00:39:24).
• The new widget is created with the title “Nonprofit List” and the shortcode is copied and added to the webpage, placing it above the existing code (00:39:51).
• The result is a list of nonprofit organizations displayed at the top of the page, and the existing widget can be removed if desired (00:40:12).
• The recommendation is to take the time to edit a page, using a four-column system where images can be replaced with stock photos from libraries such as the Association foundation or Library, which offers a wide range of options, including charity pictures (00:40:41).
• It is suggested to use square images as they are safe and have the same height and width, making them easier to work with, and to search for literal terms in the stock photo libraries, such as “helping” (00:41:14).
• The idea of using visual elements is considered great, and it is decided to leave the current setup as it is for now, with nonprofit categories available to start with (00:41:44).
• The three-minute test has been passed, and questions from viewers, including Horatio and Dwayne, are about to be addressed, with Dwayne being unmuted to ask his question (00:42:02).
• Dwayne is doing well and has a question to ask, but the details of his question are not yet discussed (00:42:09).

Link members to upgrade page when they hit the category limit? (00:42:10)

• When a member reaches their category limit, instead of just displaying a message saying they can’t select more, it would be helpful to provide a button that allows them to upgrade their plan to increase their limits (00:42:11).
• To achieve this, the text label for the category limit can be updated to include a link to the upgrade page, and the link can be obtained from the signups and upgrades section of the site (00:42:40).
• The text label can be modified to include a message such as “upgrade your account to increase limits” and a link to the upgrade page, which can be formatted as a button or with pretext (00:43:45).
• The link to the upgrade page can be obtained by going to the signups and upgrades section, selecting the plan that the member can upgrade to, and clicking on the “continue” button (00:44:30).
• Once the link is obtained, it can be added to the text label, and when the member reaches their category limit, they will see the message with the link to upgrade their plan (00:45:14).
• The text label can be modified to fit the specific needs of the site, and the link can be formatted in a way that is consistent with the site’s design (00:45:48).
• When the member clicks on the link, they will be taken to the upgrade page where they can select a new plan and upgrade their account (00:45:55).
• The code used to update the text label can be shared with others, and it can be modified to fit their specific needs (00:46:07).

Sort members by most/least leads? (00:46:41)

• The search member section has a dropdown that allows sorting by ID, oldest, or newest, and there is a suggestion to add the ability to sort by most or least leads, which would help identify members who have a large number of pending leads that they are not responding to (00:46:42).
• The idea is to add a feature to sort members by most pending leads, most accepted leads, or least leads, which would enable quick identification of members who are not engaging with their leads (00:47:16).
• The search members sort option could also be expanded to include searching by certain lead statuses, such as accepted leads, which would provide more flexibility in managing member leads (00:47:34).
• The suggested feature would help address complaints from members who claim they do not have leads, when in fact they have pending leads that they have not responded to, and would allow for easier sorting and management of these members (00:48:02).
• Additionally, it is possible to resend Emoji to members with leads that have not been sold out or have not reached their maximum matches, but the suggested feature would provide a more efficient way to manage member leads (00:48:15).
• The goal is to be able to quickly look up members in the search member section and take other actions with them, such as following up on pending leads, which would help improve member engagement and lead management (00:48:32).

Include counties in location search criteria? (00:48:41)

• The default setup of the brand director currently searches by state and city, and there is a question about whether it is possible to add counties to the default search criteria (00:48:41).
• The example given is searching in California, specifically in Los Angeles County, California and Orange County, California, and then narrowing down to cities like Los Angeles or Burbank, California (00:48:53).
• The current function does not seem to include county as a default option, and it may be necessary to manually add it, potentially by creating static web pages for specific counties (00:49:06).
• The SEO templates appear to follow a naming convention of country, state, and city, but do not include county (00:49:10).
• As a potential workaround, it is suggested that static web pages could be created for certain counties that are being targeted (00:49:34).
• The current limitations of the search function may require manual adjustments, such as creating separate pages for specific counties, to achieve the desired results (00:49:42).

Import member reviews to BD site using Zapier? (00:49:46)

• The possibility of adding reviews to a site using Zapier is discussed, with the API being a key component for developers to utilize, while beginners can use Zapier or PAB for a more straightforward approach (00:49:46).
• Reviews can be collected from various sources, including other internet platforms, Microsoft Excel sheets, or third-party forms, and then added to a specific member through Zapier workflows or the API (00:50:12).
• The process of importing member reviews to a site using Zapier is outlined, with the option to use the API directly for developers or Zapier for those who are less experienced, allowing for the addition of reviews from different sources (00:50:04).
• A question from Sean is acknowledged and thanked, with his inquiry sparking a discussion on the topic of importing member reviews, and it is noted that he is doing some good work with his site (00:50:31).
• Another question is introduced from Jean Michelle, who is calling from Quebec, and her microphone is unmuted to allow her to ask her question, which is not yet specified in the provided text (00:50:35).

Display cycling route on Google Maps? (00:50:48)

• The discussion is about creating a Google Maps feature to display a cycling route on the map instead of just a pin for a specific location, and it is determined that this can be achieved by embedding a Google Map iframe in a post (00:50:49).
• The process involves selecting the route in Google Maps, sharing the route, and then embedding the map in a post using an iframe, which requires whitelisting the source domain, in this case, google.com (00:52:10).
• To whitelist the domain, the user needs to go to the allowed iframe sources, add google.com, and save the changes, which will allow the iframe to be embedded in a post (00:54:13).
• The iframe can be inserted into a post using the insert video option, which supports any type of whitelisted iframe, and the post can be saved and published (00:54:56).
• The goal is to improve the visibility of the cycling route on the map, and the solution involves working together to test the iframe embed and ensure it works as expected (00:53:24).
• The event is coming to a close, and a post is being shared, which is now embedded, providing some technical guidance, and the chat is being thanked for their participation (00:55:06).
• An Advanced setting called “allowed iframe sources” is being shared in the chat, which allows users to add iframes to their posts by adding the URL to a list, such as Google.com, to enable embedding (00:55:28).
• The webinar is ending, and attendees are being thanked for their participation, with appreciation expressed for the BD community, and updates are being announced, including new releases and a Facebook group for further questions (00:55:47).
• The next webinar is scheduled for after Christmas, between Christmas and New Year’s, on the 27th, and it will be the last webinar of the year, with something special being planned and posted in the Facebook group (00:56:12).
• The webinar is being concluded, with attendees being wished a great day and a brilliant week (00:56:31).
• The YouTube replay of the webinar will be available shortly in the Facebook group, and attendees are being invited to join the group to ask further questions and access the replay (00:56:04).