Webinar Wednesday 117 – July 14, 2021

Update: Total member Profile Views Now Visible in Admin (00:02:10)

• The member profile analytics add-on provides settings for members to see their own statistics, including profile views and website clicks, and a new indicator in the admin area allows admins to see the total profile views for members, as long as the analytics add-on is enabled for their membership plan (00:02:10).
• In the admin area, under “My Members” and “Search Members”, admins can see the total profile views for each member next to their links, with the views being raw and providing a quick snapshot of member activity (00:02:44).
• The total profile views can be a helpful indicator for admins to identify members with high activity on their profiles, potentially leading to opportunities to reach out to them, offer upgrades, or feature them on the homepage or in a blog post (00:03:19).
• Clicking on the total profile views indicator takes admins to the profile analytics tab for that member, where they can see month-over-month statistics, including phone number clicks and other trackable stats (00:03:45).
• The profile analytics tab also displays totals at the bottom, and upcoming updates will improve the UI, including locking the top part of the page and making other changes to make the stats easier to look at (00:04:05).

Update: Homepage Content – Up to 5 Custom Sections (00:04:26)

• The homepage of a directory site can have streaming sections, including blog articles, recent events, featured members, and recent members, as well as custom homepage content, with the ability to have up to five custom sections (00:04:26).
• Previously, there was only one spot for custom homepage content, but based on feedback, additional custom sections have been made available, allowing for more flexibility in designing the homepage (00:04:53).
• The custom sections can be edited in the design settings area, under the home page tab, where users can select the content to display and add up to five pieces of custom content (00:06:34).
• The custom content sections can be mixed with default streaming widgets, such as recent blog articles, and can include pre-made elements, widgets, shortcodes, forms, images, and quick links (00:06:06).
• To add custom content, users can go to the design settings area, toggle to the home page tab, and select the content to display, with the option to have up to 15 sections on the homepage, including up to five custom content sections (00:06:42).
• The custom content editor is a blank canvas, allowing users to add and edit content, including pre-made elements, which can be dragged and dropped into the editor (00:07:42).
• The ability to have up to five custom sections on the homepage is available for everyone, and is intended to improve the quality of life of using the home page settings (00:08:36).

Update: 2 New Google Translate Add-On Settings (00:08:46)

• The Google Translate add-on has two settings that are available for users, including the ability to change the placeholder text, which can be edited in the text labels section of the settings area by searching for “Google translate” (00:08:48).
• The placeholder text for the Google Translate drop-down can be modified to display the text in a language other than English language, such as German language or Chinese language, by editing the text label and translating the text (00:09:05).
• Google Translate makes all available languages accessible by default, but users can trim and limit the languages displayed in the drop-down by editing the advanced settings and searching for “google translate” (00:10:37).
• The languages available for translation can be edited by modifying a comma-separated list of language codes, which can be found in the advanced settings, and users can find the corresponding language codes on Google’s translate languages page (00:11:21).
• The list of available languages can be limited to specific languages, such as English and Spanish language, by editing the language codes in the advanced settings and saving the changes (00:12:00).
• The design settings include around 700 or 800 available Google Fonts that can be selected, but designers and developers can also use specific fonts to stay on brand with the fonts used in other materials (00:12:42).
• The ability to locally upload font files, such as eot and woff files, into the media manager has been added, allowing for more advanced design and development options, and reference them locally in CSS files and the head (00:13:09).
• An add-on is being created that will unlock at least 25 new pre-made elements for web pages, which can be added to existing pages to enhance their content and design (00:13:40).
• Improvements have been made to page speed since May, with some big improvements seen on baseline websites, and further improvements are being worked on, including lazy loading of images (00:14:10).
• The community comments add-on was released some time ago, but it lacked the logic to support email notifications for people following a post or the author of a post, and a solution is being worked on to add email notification settings to member profiles (00:14:38).
• The email notification settings will allow members to choose their digest frequency, such as daily, weekly, or monthly, and select what they want to be included in the digest, such as new comments, likes, or bookmarks (00:15:15).
• The ability to exclude smart lists when sending newsletters is being developed, allowing for more targeted and granular email campaigns (00:16:18).
• Improvements are being made to the workflows for matching member leads, with a focus on enhancing the user interface and user experience in the admin area (00:16:34).
• The development team appreciates the support, feedback, and ideas shared by users, and is continually working to implement new features and improvements (00:16:45).
• Updates will be continuously made to improve the experience, with many of these updates coming from the community, and this process will keep making things more awesome for the users (00:16:53).
• The community’s input is valued and appreciated, as many updates originate from their feedback and suggestions, and a thank you is extended to them for their contributions (00:17:00).
• The work to improve things for the users will continue, with the goal of making things better for them, and this effort is ongoing (00:17:04).

Bonus Tool: GTranslate (00:17:06)

• The Google Translate tool is a quick and sometimes imperfect solution for translation, as it may not pick up on certain words and phrases perfectly (00:17:10).
• There have been instances where people need their entire site translated into a different language, such as French language, and hosted on a separate domain, which can be achieved using a tool called Ido (00:17:29).
• GTranslate.io is not a Google company, but rather a global translation tool that allows users to set up a subdomain and automatically translate it into the chosen language (00:17:45).
• This tool is suitable for people who need an entirely separate domain, such as a subdomain in French, and it can automatically translate the entire site into the chosen language (00:17:55).
• GTranslate.io offers a free option that can be used to test the tool, and if needed, users can upgrade to one of the paid plans to have a completely alternate and separate website automatically translated into another language (00:18:30).
• The free plan can be a good starting point for those who need to test the tool, and it may be a better option than the Google Translate add-on for those who require a completely separate website in a different language (00:18:51).

Tip of the Week: 7 Realities of Running a Membership Website (00:19:15)

• The presentation covers seven realities of running a membership website, which will be most useful for those who are just starting or have recently launched their membership or directory website (00:19:17).
• The information presented will likely be relatable for individuals who have been running their website for a while, and they may even think of additional points to share in the Facebook group (00:19:41).
• The presentation is intended to be an interesting and informative discussion, and viewers are encouraged to participate by sharing their own experiences and thoughts in the Facebook group (00:19:48).
• The presentation is relevant for individuals who are in the process of setting up or have recently set up their membership or directory website, and it may serve as a useful guide for them (00:19:32).

1) Building It Doesn’t Mean They’ll Come (00:19:52)

• Building a website or directory does not guarantee that people will visit or use it, and it is essential to market the site to attract users (00:19:52).
• It is not necessary to perfect every aspect of the website initially, and instead, focus on creating a viable market, understanding the needs of that market, and providing a solution to those needs (00:19:55).
• To avoid relying on the “if you build it, they will come” mentality, it is crucial to build the website and then actively tell people about it, rather than just waiting for them to find it (00:20:29).
• Compartmentalizing tasks and focusing on one aspect of the business at a time, such as spending a week or a month on a particular task, can help keep the business moving forward and prevent getting stuck on minor details (00:20:46).
• It is essential for solopreneurs and small teams to keep different elements of the business going, including marketing, website design, business development, and finances, to ensure the overall success of the business (00:21:22).
• The phrase “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” is relevant when building a website, as it is essential to avoid hyper-obsessing over small details and instead focus on making progress and improving the site over time (00:21:00).

How To Effectively Use Social Media Marketing (00:21:42)

• The topic of effective marketing is being discussed, including where to find the target demographic online and how to target them, with additional resources available for further learning (00:21:42).
• Previous webinars and blog articles have covered many of these points in greater detail, and links to these resources will be shared for those who want to read or watch more about individual topics (00:21:45).
• The resources provide broad ideas on the topic of effective marketing, including finding and targeting the target demographic online, and offer a more in-depth look at these individual topics (00:21:53).

5 Daily Tasks To Keep Your Membership Website Growing (00:22:15)

• To keep a membership website growing, it is essential to diversify the tasks worked on a day-to-day basis, which can be achieved by following five daily tasks (00:22:17).
• Managing member inquiries is one of the crucial tasks, along with following up with new members, to ensure a smooth experience for the members (00:22:37).
• Publishing content and sharing it on social media are also vital tasks that can help increase the website’s visibility and engagement (00:22:41).
• The discussed tasks are part of a 20-minute video that provides valuable information on how to maintain and grow a membership website (00:22:30).
• The video is a recommended resource for those looking to improve their membership website, as it packs a lot of useful information despite its short duration (00:22:33).

2) There Isn’t Only 1 Key to Success (00:22:49)

• There is no one-size-fits-all strategy to guarantee success, and it is a common question asked by new users about the one thing that can ensure website success, but unfortunately, it just doesn’t exist (00:22:51).
• The key to success for any business, including a website, is not a single specific element, but rather a combination of tactics that work well, and it really depends on the individual website, target demographic, and market (00:23:07).
• Understanding the target demographic and market is crucial, including where they spend their time online, how to reach them, the type of language that connects with them, and how to convince them that the membership website is a necessity (00:23:30).
• Although there is no single “secret sauce” or magic bullet, there are several effective tactics, including focusing on quality over content, and these tactics can be considered as keys to success that generally work (00:23:50).
• The most effective approach depends on the individual niche, website, and community, and there isn’t just one thing to focus on, so it’s essential to consider these factors when developing a strategy (00:24:11).

Use This 7-Step Checklist To Setup Your Membership Website (00:24:18)

• A pre-launch checklist is shared to help with setting up a membership website, covering a broad range of items such as identifying the initial problem to be solved and determining if the website will provide ongoing value to members and visitors (00:24:18).
• The checklist includes evaluating the sustainability of the website and assessing whether there is an actual audience for the service or community being offered (00:24:29).
• The checklist is considered a valuable resource, particularly for new users, as it helps to ensure that all essential aspects of the membership website are carefully considered before launch (00:24:25).

3) Know What Your Audience Wants (00:24:49)

• To effectively market a membership and cater to members’ needs, it is essential to understand what the target audience wants by finding out where prospective members spend their time online, listening to their complaints and happiness, researching their needs, and observing market trends (00:24:49).
• Understanding the target audience involves researching what they need, what they are looking for, and what they are happy about, which can be achieved by listening to their online conversations, observing market trends, and conducting outreach to gather feedback (00:24:59).
• One of the best ways to find out what the audience wants is by calling people on the phone, particularly those who cancel or do not sign up, to ask about their needs and what is missing, as well as calling existing members to cross-reference what they like about the site and what they would love to see added (00:25:47).
• Conducting outreach and gathering feedback from the target audience can be done by creating a short script for phone conversations, making a list of common things people are repeating, and using this information to craft messaging, voice, and membership offerings that meet the audience’s needs (00:26:36).
• By understanding the target audience’s needs and providing solutions, it is possible to create a successful membership offering that results in more sign-ups, as people are more likely to join when they are given what they are asking for or what they thought was missing (00:27:10).

The Value Of Knowing What Members Really Want (00:27:21)

• To prevent cancellations and understand member needs, a webinar tip of the week was previously done on the topic of identifying what members really want (00:27:21)
• The topic of identifying member needs is relevant and useful for many people, and there are various methods to achieve this, including asking for input (00:27:34)
• Some of the methods for understanding member needs include social listening, conducting surveys, observing market trends, and following the numbers, which are all discussed in a video (00:27:43)
• The discussion is structured with a table of contents, making it easy to follow and find specific information, and it is divided into numbered points, such as point number four (00:27:45)

4) Your Job Is to Solve Problems (00:27:49)

• The primary job of managing a membership website is to solve problems that members are having and help them reach their goals, whether it’s providing a solution as a landscaper or a lawyer (00:27:50).
• To achieve this, it’s essential to always keep in mind what members need help with and what goals they want to achieve, and to provide content and membership offerings that address these needs (00:28:10).
• If unsure about the primary problems or goals of members, it’s crucial to ask current or prospective members, or to research online communities where they hang out, such as Facebook groups or subreddits, to understand their needs and provide solutions (00:28:32).
• The goal is to convince people that joining the community is a necessity, not just a nice-to-have, by clearly explaining the benefits and solutions provided, and to ensure that the messaging is clear, concise, and easy to understand (00:28:52).
• Even if the website is doing an excellent job of solving problems or providing solutions, there may be a disconnect in the messaging, which can lead to confusion among potential members, emphasizing the importance of clear and plain explanation of the website’s purpose and benefits (00:29:02).
• To effectively communicate the value of the community, it’s essential to explain the solutions and benefits provided in plain language, avoiding abstract or confusing messaging, and to ensure that members understand what they stand to gain by joining the community (00:29:37).

Continuously Attract New Members To Your Online Community (00:30:12)

• The process of getting new members signed up on a website is referred to as the membership sales funnel, which involves several stages including awareness, nurturing interest, persuading prospects to purchase a membership, and conversion (00:30:12).
• The awareness stage involves building awareness with potential members both on-site and off-site, including the language used on the website and activities conducted elsewhere online, such as cold calling and emails (00:30:31).
• The membership sales funnel consists of four stages: awareness, nurturing interest, persuading prospects to purchase a membership or sign up for free, and conversion, which involves closing the sale and setting the new member up for success (00:30:56).
• The presentation covered various topics, including the membership sales funnel, and is approximately 20 minutes long, which appears to be the preferred length for these types of videos (00:31:07).
• The importance of quality over quantity is emphasized, as highlighted in point number five, which suggests that prioritizing quality is crucial in the context of attracting new members to an online community (00:31:18).

5) Quality Over Quantity, Always! (00:31:18)

• Prioritizing quality over quantity is essential, whether it’s the content published on a website or the size of an email list, as it attracts more engagement and repeat readers (00:31:18).
• Having a small number of useful, insightful, and entertaining articles on a website can attract more engagement and repeat readers than a large number of low-quality articles (00:31:38).
• Even if people only visit a website to read an article and then leave, if they return multiple times, they may start to realize the website provides useful information and consider signing up for a newsletter or joining as a member (00:31:54).
• A small email list with engaged readers is more valuable than a large list with absentee subscribers, as engaged readers are more likely to click on links, leave comments, and interact with the website (00:32:12).
• Focusing on quality rather than vanity metrics, such as the number of subscribers, can help bring in more people and ensure that current members stay happy because they trust the quality of the content and information provided (00:32:41).

7 Common Membership Website Mistakes And How To Avoid Them (00:32:58)

• Avoiding common membership website mistakes is crucial, and being aware of these mistakes at a glance is important (00:32:59).
• There are seven common membership website mistakes to be aware of, which may seem to contradict the idea of quality over quantity, but many of the items on this list actually touch on the quality over quantity aspect (00:33:06).
• The concept of quality over quantity is relevant to several of the common membership website mistakes, and understanding this concept can help in avoiding these mistakes (00:33:11).

6) Trust Is Everything (00:33:16)

• Trust is essential in any relationship, including interactions and transactions with members, and it is crucial to view these interactions as a relationship rather than just transactions (00:33:19).
• When someone starts a membership, they are starting a relationship with the community, and they need to trust that their problems can be solved in order to join, and also trust that ongoing value will be provided to keep them as members (00:33:37).
• To continue receiving recurring membership fees, it is necessary to constantly provide members with value, as most membership websites charge monthly or annual fees (00:33:58).
• A quote by Bob Berg states that people will do business with those they know, like, and trust, given that all things are equal, which highlights the importance of trustworthiness in a competing market (00:34:07).
• Ultimately, the most trustworthy community or website will win out if all other factors are equal, making trust a critical component of a successful membership community (00:34:29).

6 Secrets To Increase Membership Loyalty So They Stay Subscribed Forever (00:34:39)

• To increase membership loyalty, several strategies can be employed, including continuing to engage with the community and active members, celebrating their achievements, and emphasizing their content to cultivate a sense of community (00:34:40).
• The importance of trust, loyalty, and relationships in building a loyal community is highlighted by the example of two restaurants serving the same food, but one having a line out the door due to the trust and loyalty of its customers (00:35:04).
• Interpersonal connections with the community play a significant role in boosting loyalty, and social proof, such as testimonials and case studies, can help establish credibility and trust (00:35:29).
• Testimonials are particularly effective in cultivating trust, as they allow potential members to see that others have had positive experiences with the website or solution, making them more likely to join (00:35:45).
• The concept of social proof also relates to the idea of the early majority, who are more conservative and need to see that a product or service is established before they are willing to try it (00:35:56).
• By building and showcasing trust with existing members, it is possible to differentiate oneself and attract new members who are looking for a credible and trustworthy community (00:36:10).

7) Word-of-Mouth Marketing Is Powerful (00:36:16)

• Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool, and happy and successful members can serve as a huge marketing asset, with their testimonials and positive reviews being more valuable than self-promotion on a website (00:36:19).
• Social proof is essentially the concept of relying on other people’s opinions and reviews to make informed decisions, such as checking Yelp reviews for restaurants or looking up online reviews for a new product or service (00:36:35).
• Happy members can provide testimonials, talk about their communities to others, and even become affiliates to help bring in new paying members, ultimately helping to grow and improve a website (00:37:05).
• Building a good relationship with members, especially the most active or successful ones, can lead to valuable feedback and recommendations on how to improve the website, such as navigation or additional services (00:37:27).
• Keeping members happy and ensuring their success is crucial, not only for getting feedback and improving the offering but also for utilizing them as a marketing asset, which can help drive growth and improvement (00:37:51).
• Regularly reaching out to members, such as once a quarter, can help gather recommendations and tips on how to improve the website and its services, and can also help identify potential additional services that members are willing to pay for (00:37:32).

Why Everyone Needs A Member Acquisition Strategy (00:38:10)

• Utilizing social proof is an important aspect of a member acquisition strategy, which involves asking members for testimonials and using them to encourage new members to sign up (00:38:12)
• Testimonials can be used to provide social proof by placing them throughout a website, helping to convince potential members who need an extra push to join (00:38:21)
• The strategic placement of testimonials on a website can help potential members cross the finish line and sign up, by providing the social proof they need to make a decision (00:38:28)

Let’s Recap… (00:38:33)

• To achieve success, it’s essential to work on various facets of the business, as building a website is not enough to attract visitors, and it’s crucial to run the business like a business to see incremental progress (00:38:40).
• There is no single key to success, but being decent at many things can help keep the online business running smoothly, and it’s vital to know what the audience wants to solve their problems and deliver on promises (00:38:52).
• Getting feedback from the audience, such as calling people who are halfway signing up or happiest members, can help construct effective messaging for marketing and website materials (00:39:14).
• Keeping the solution simple and explaining it clearly to the audience is crucial, as assuming they understand the point of the community can lead to confusion (00:39:47).
• Prioritizing quality over quantity is essential, as consumers are savvy and can’t be fooled easily, and delivering quality service and products can help build trust and loyalty (00:40:16).
• Building trust is everything, and it can be achieved by providing good customer service, making people feel good, and respecting members, which can lead to reciprocal respect and loyalty (00:41:10).
• Word of mouth marketing is the most powerful marketing, and it can solidify the longevity of the business by creating loyal evangelists who trust the brand and share their good experiences with others (00:41:50).

How to hide information in the admin area from certain website admins? (00:43:06)

• To hide information in the admin area from certain website admins, users can edit the admin role for different users under the actions section, allowing them to choose from pre-made roles such as member manager or content access, or create a new admin role (00:43:09).
• When creating a new admin role, users can customize the role settings to enable or disable access to specific areas of the admin area, such as finance, and then save the role and assign it to the desired user, for example, a staff member named Audrey (00:44:01).
• The admin role permissions allow users to pick and choose which areas of the admin area to grant access to, and unchecking a permission will prevent the admin from accessing that area, making it a common practice for websites with multiple staff members or team members working on the site (00:44:41).
• By controlling admin role permissions, website owners can ensure that not all staff members or team members have access to every aspect of the site, which is useful for maintaining privacy and security (00:45:02).
• The ability to customize admin roles is a useful feature for websites with multiple users, and it allows owners to manage access to sensitive information, such as finance, and assign roles to users like Audrey or other staff members (00:44:34).

How is the homepage hero image supposed to resize on mobile view? (00:45:27)

• The issue with the header image on mobile view is that it does not render properly, whereas on desktop view, it appears okay (00:45:31).
• The problem is that the image does not resize correctly on mobile devices, and it is unclear whether special images or code are needed to fix the issue (00:45:45).
• The desired behavior is for the primary image, or skeletal view, to be small enough that the whole image is visible on mobile devices (00:46:14).
• However, it is explained that the current behavior on mobile view is correct, as the image will not be stretched to fit the entire screen, but instead will be displayed as a rectangle with potential empty space (00:46:40).
• The setting for standard view is available, but it is not recommended as it will show the whole image, but cut it off and make it a rectangle with empty space (00:46:32).
• The explanation provided is that this is the expected behavior for mobile view, and the image is displaying correctly (00:46:45).

How to hide banner ads on specific pages? (00:46:51)

• To disable banner ads on specific pages, such as the home page or login page, the page options can be utilized to hide the banner ad modules, making them cease to be visible on that particular page (00:46:51).
• The same setting applies to all pages, but the page options allow for customization, enabling the hiding of banner ads on specific pages, including static standalone pages (00:47:03).
• For dynamic template pages, such as search results pages and SEO templates, the same logic can be applied to disable banner ads by using the page options to hide banner ad modules (00:47:25).
• The concept of hiding banner ads also applies to specific pages like the member writer review page, where ads can be disabled by going to the page options and selecting to hide banner ad modules (00:47:41).
• The ability to hide banner ads is also available for specific membership levels, allowing for further customization of ad visibility (00:47:59).

How to hide banner ads on member profile pages? (00:48:00)

• To hide banner ads on member profile pages, there is a setting that can be edited in the membership level, which allows showing or hiding banner ads on profile pages based on the membership plan, and this setting can be found by searching for “ads” or “banner ads” (00:48:01).
• The setting to show or hide banner ads on profile pages is a yes or no option, and setting it to “no” will turn off banner ads on those profiles without requiring any further actions (00:48:20).
• Higher-tiered plans may not want to show ads on profile pages as part of their value proposition, and this setting allows for that customization (00:48:42).
• Editing the membership level and setting the “banner ads” option to “no” is a straightforward process that can be completed quickly, and it provides a way to control the visibility of banner ads on member profile pages (00:48:35).

Feature Suggestion: Option so coupon code only works for member upgrades (00:49:00)

• A question is posed regarding the implementation of updates related to coupon codes, specifically the option for coupon codes to only work for member upgrades, similar to the existing setting for new members only (00:49:01).
• The suggestion involves adding a feature that allows coupon codes to be restricted to upgrades only, which would enable administrators to encourage members to upgrade by offering exclusive discounts (00:49:31).
• The current settings for coupon codes include options for new members and both new and upgrades, but there is no specific setting for upgrades only, prompting the request for this additional functionality (00:49:41).
• Another suggestion related to coupon codes is mentioned, but the details of this second suggestion are not fully elaborated in the provided text (00:49:56).
• The person posing the question, Brian B, is engaging with the administrators to discuss the potential implementation of these updates, expressing his interest in the webinar and the information presented so far (00:49:10).

Feature Suggestion: Recurring coupon codes (00:50:00)

• The idea of recurring coupon codes is suggested, similar to recurring events, which could be useful for holidays like New Year’s, Christmas, and Black Friday (shopping), allowing users to set up coupons to recur every year without having to update the year manually (00:50:02).
• The possibility of implementing recurring coupon codes is discussed, with no promises made, but the suggestion will be taken to the team to assess the demand for such a feature, particularly for holidays and events (00:50:20).
• The idea of recurring coupon codes is seen as mostly relevant for holidays and events, and if implemented, it would be up to the member to set the specific holiday or event, taking into account different holidays in various countries (00:50:32).
• The suggestions made during the webinar, including the idea of recurring coupon codes, will be shared with the team, and the next steps will be discussed, with the next webinar scheduled in two weeks (00:50:48).
• The webinar comes to a close, with a reminder to ask any unanswered questions in the Facebook group and to visit the Brilliant Directories website for more information, and the next webinar is announced, with a thank you note to the attendees and the team (00:51:15).