Webinar Wednesday 184 – August 14, 2024

Brilliant Directories Mobile App 

• A free Brilliant Directories mobile app is available for website owners to download from the App Store or Google Play Store. 
• The app allows users to stay updated on new members, transactions, form submissions, and contest applications. 
• While phase one of the app is currently available, there are plans to expand its functionality towards the end of the year. 

BUSINESS DATA: Reimport deleted records without using credits 

• A new feature allows users to reimport deleted records. 
• Each record imported uses a credit. 
• This feature is useful for recovering accidentally deleted records or records deleted during testing. 

BUSINESS DATA: Longer, SEO-friendly descriptions for imported businesses 

• Imported business listings now have longer descriptions that are optimized for search engines (SEO) to potentially improve their ranking in search results. 
• Users can re-import deleted business records free of charge, ensuring data consistency. 
• The re-import process is efficient, automatically finding and restoring associated logos along with the business information. 

TRANSLATE: Edit account URL links into any language 

• All text on a BD website can be translated into another language. 
• URL links in the member account area were previously difficult to edit but can now be translated. 
• Users can translate URL links by navigating to the admin area, then settings, then advanced settings, and searching for "page URL." 

SPEED: Missing image attributes are now dynamically to boost PageSpeed scoring 

• A new feature has been implemented that dynamically adds missing image attributes (width, height, alt tags) to images on BD sites. 
• This feature aims to improve page speed scores, as missing image attributes are a common issue that can negatively impact these scores. 
• The addition of these attributes is beneficial for accessibility and is not expected to affect the user's visual experience on the page. 

CREDITS: Select types of transactions member credits will work with (soon) 

• The ability for website owners to choose which transactions member credits can be used for will be available soon. 
• The member credits add-on allows members to spend credits on the website. 
• Website owners will soon have more control over how member credits can be spent, such as restricting their use for membership plan payments but allowing them for purchasing leads or digital products. 

ACCOUNTS: Canceling members can close account at subscription end date (soon) 

• Currently, when members cancel their paid accounts, the cancellation is immediate, even if they have remaining paid time. 
• A new feature will allow members to choose between immediate account closure or automatic closure at the end of their current subscription period. 
• Once this feature is released, members who choose to cancel at the end of their subscription will have the option to reverse their cancellation and keep their subscription active. 

EMAILS: More templates and content blocks to design attractive newsletters (soon) 

• More default email templates and specific content blocks will be available soon. 
• These updates aim to make designing attractive newsletters easier and faster. 
• The development team is currently very busy working on these updates. 

Email Functions 

• The email functionality within the BD platform has been improved to enhance marketing email capabilities, allowing users to send bulk emails to lists or groups of recipients. 
• Users can create forms on their BD site to collect information, such as newsletter subscriptions, and add those who fill out the form to a "smart list" for targeted email campaigns. 
• Members who have subscribed to a plan have agreed to receive emails as per the terms and conditions, but it's still recommended to send email newsletters to paying members with updates and relevant information. 

Mastering 404 Pages – Turn Lost Visitors Into Engaged Users 

• It is possible to turn website visitors who encounter a 404 error page into engaged users. 
• The information provided will include creative ideas for 404 pages. 
• The information on this topic will be relatively short and simple. 

Understanding 404 Pages 

• A 404 error occurs when a user attempts to access a webpage that does not exist on a website, indicated by a 404 error page. 
• 404 errors can be caused by broken links, mistyped URLs, or links to pages that have been removed from the website. 
• While 404 pages are typically simple in design, they can be customized to improve user experience and encourage users to stay on the website. 

Importance of 301 Redirects 

• 301 redirects prevent 404 errors by redirecting visitors from an old URL to a new one, which is important for site migrations or content updates. 
• Using 301 redirects when changing a website to a new platform helps maintain search engine rankings by preserving link equity from the old site to the new one. 
• 301 redirects improve user experience and site navigation by preventing visitors from encountering 404 errors when trying to access old URLs. 

Google Search Console: 404 Warnings 

• Google Search Console provides informational warnings, not penalties, for 404 errors, indicating broken URLs that Google may have indexed. 
• These warnings present an opportunity to redirect these URLs using 301 redirects, preserving link equity. 
• It is acceptable to allow deleted pages, such as those for expired contests or promotions, to resolve to a 404 page without redirection. 

Default BD 404 Error Page 

• The default 404 error page for Brilliant Directories websites displays a "404" message, the text "This page does not exist", and a link back to the homepage. 
• The default 404 error page can be customized. 
• Design elements and thought should be considered when customizing the 404 page. 

Why 404 Pages are Minimal 

• 404 pages are typically minimal to reduce user frustration and confusion by letting them know the page doesn't exist and providing a link or two to other content on the site. 
• Content and images are minimized on 404 pages to ensure quick load times and minimize bandwidth usage. 
• A simple layout helps direct users back to the primary content on the website or other relevant content. 

The Value of a Well-Designed 404 Page 

• The goal of a well-designed 404 page is to keep users engaged and prevent them from leaving the website. 
• A well-designed 404 page provides clear navigation options, encouraging users to explore other content on the website. 
• A 404 page presents an opportunity to showcase brand personality in a fun and creative way while maintaining a minimalist design. 

Inspiring 404 Page #1 

• Red Bull's 404 page acknowledges the error with the message "Well this is embarrassing. Where did the page go?" and maintains the 404 code at the top. 
• To keep users engaged, the page features an embedded video and a "Gimme More" button that leads to additional content. 
• Some 404 pages, unlike Red Bull's which only has a "Gimme More" button, may include navigation links, a search bar, a homepage link, or other elements, while others might just have text and images. 

Inspiring 404 Page #2 

• The 404 page uses a Matrix theme and offers two buttons: "Get Prepared" (linking to the online store) and a link back to the homepage. 
• A pop-up on the page offers visitors a discount, encouraging them to make a purchase. 
• The page assumes the visitor is interested in making a purchase and aims to convert them despite landing on an error page. 

Inspiring 404 Page #3 

• The 404 page uses a humorous image and informs visitors that they have been served a bad link. 
• The page suggests using the menu options or the search bar to find the desired destination. 
• All three examples presented are minimalistic, informing users of the broken link and aiming to maintain visitor interest for continued website exploration. 

Where to Set Your 404 Page URL 

• Custom 404 error pages can be created for BD websites. 
• A specific advanced setting allows users to select a page to display as the default 404 error page. 
• This setting is accessible by searching for "404" in the advanced settings search bar. 

Designing a Custom 404 Page 

• A 404 page is what a website visitor is directed to when they click a broken or mistyped link. 
• Any existing page on a website can be set as the 404 page, including the homepage. 
• When designing a 404 page, simplicity is key, and it can be helpful to consider what visitors would find useful if they were directed to a 404 page. 

Custom Main Menu Updates 

• A request was made for the footer to have the same functionality as the main menu, which displays different options based on login status. 
• This feature request is already on the roadmap and its status will be checked. 
• The main menu's ability to display different options for logged-in members was explained, and a link to a relevant webinar with helpful tips was shared in the chat. 

Direct Leads Setup 

• Visitors can submit leads through contact forms on member profile pages, which are considered direct leads. 
• Direct leads can be turned on or off in membership plan settings, and administrators can choose to send previews, require lead purchases, or provide complete lead information. 
• The platform offers multiple calls to action to encourage visitors to contact members, including sidebar forms, dedicated "Send Message" buttons, and "Make a Connection" calls to action, all leading to direct lead submission. 

Allow Users to Post 

• Website visitors will need to register an account with an email address and password to post a job. 
• A simple membership plan should be created that allows users to post jobs or projects, but these members should not be searchable on the website. 
• Designers will be able to search job listings and message the posters directly from the job listing page. 

Differentiate Post Visibility 

• Users can create separate channels of content by cloning existing post types and renaming them. 
• After creating a new post type, users can assign it to specific member groups to control who can publish that type of post. 
• This functionality allows for greater flexibility in managing different types of content within a membership website. 

Dynamic Category Filtering 

• Specialties are searchable subcategories or additional services offered by members. 
• Dynamic category filtering allows the creation of filters similar to those on Amazon, enabling users to refine search results based on criteria like accepting new patients. 
• The dynamic category filtering add-on includes an embedded video explaining its use. 

Hide Top-Level Category 

• There are two ways to hide the top-level category from a member profile page. 
• The first way is to add custom CSS code to the design settings that will hide the category. 
• The second way is to go to advanced settings and enable the "Hide top level category on member profile page" setting. 

shop.brilliantdirectories.com 

• Viewers are invited to purchase Brilliant Directories swag from the BD shop. 
• The promo codes "webinar20" and "freeship" can be used for a discount on swag purchases. 
• Viewers are encouraged to make their 404 pages more engaging.