Webinar Wednesday 126 – December 1, 2021

Directory After Party (00:01:52)

• The Directory After Party is a new event where attendees can get to know other people from the community, and it will be held immediately after the webinar at directoryafterparty.com (00:01:52).
• The event will feature one-on-one speed networking, group tables where attendees can create their own topics or join existing discussions, and a group selfie, providing a chance for attendees to connect with each other, including BD owner Ryan Sullivan (00:02:17).
• Attendees can join the Directory After Party by clicking the “join the party” button after the webinar, and it is recommended to participate, especially to get one-on-one time with Ryan Sullivan (00:02:58).
• The webinar is a great way for new attendees to stay connected with the BD community, demonstrate and showcase new features, and help grow or sustain their community, covering topics such as increasing traffic and converting visitors into paying members (00:03:15).
• The webinar will also cover improving website navigation and flow through new design settings, and attendees are encouraged to save their questions to be answered later in the webinar (00:03:29).
• There are also BD Lab updates, and it is hoped that everyone had a good holiday break, with more information to be shared later in the webinar (00:03:58).

Admin Dashboard: Quick Link to “ALL MY SITES” (00:04:07)

• A new handy link has been added to the admin dashboard, providing a quick link to access all sites, which can be found at the top of the dashboard (00:04:07).
• The link allows users to bypass the dropdown menu and directly access the website dashboard, where they can log into another site they are managing (00:04:12).
• The new “All My Sites” link is located next to the existing dropdown menu and enables power users or those with multiple websites to toggle between sites more quickly (00:04:18).
• The existing dropdown menu still functions in the same way, but the new link offers a more convenient option for users who need to access multiple sites (00:04:22).
• The “All My Sites” link takes users to the website dashboard, where they can then log into another site, making it easier to manage multiple websites (00:04:25).
• This new feature is particularly useful for power users or individuals who manage multiple websites, as it streamlines the process of switching between sites (00:04:41).

Optimize Speeds: Google Maps, Form Validation, Images & More (00:04:50)

• Speed updates are underway, including improvements to Google Maps, which loads with every page load but is not always required, so the logic is being improved to only load Google Maps JavaScript and other elements when needed and requested on the page (00:04:50).
• Form validation is also being optimized, as it is not necessary to load form validation actions on every page load, but rather only when a form is focused on, such as when somebody clicks on a form (00:05:10).
• More lazy loading updates are being implemented for images, which will help improve page speed scores, and a few other updates are also coming soon (00:05:29).
• All of the mentioned updates, including the improvements to Google Maps, form validation, and image lazy loading, should be available by the end of the year, if not sooner (00:05:38).

Webhook Events: Smart Lists, Cancellations, Imports, Posts, Upgrades (00:05:46)

• Web hooks have been well-received, with tools like Zapier, Pably, and Integrately allowing users to connect web hook events, enabling the sending of business directory data to third-party solutions (00:05:46).
• Newer web hook events will include smart lists, which can be synced and sent to third-party solutions, such as a smart list of all free members, allowing users to click a button and send the data to a third party of their choice (00:06:13).
• When members cancel their account within their member dashboard, a web hook event can be created to send follow-up emails or add those people to a specialized list on a third-party platform (00:06:30).
• Importing members or manually adding a member in the admin area will also trigger a web hook event, sending the member data to a third party (00:06:49).
• Post data, such as job listings or events, can now be sent to third parties as a web hook event, which was recently released (00:06:59).
• Web hook events can also be created when a member changes their plan, such as upgrading or downgrading, allowing users to send follow-up emails or store the record somewhere else (00:07:11).
• Various web hook events are being developed, including those for member sign-ups, newsletter subscriptions, and more, to send information to third-party solutions (00:06:03).

Forms: Alternate Field Name Based on Display Setting (input, email, etc.) (00:07:31)

• Forms have a field label that can be customized, such as “enter first name”, but on the public side of the site, a more concise label like “members first name” is preferred, allowing for an alternate field label to be set based on different display settings (00:07:32).
• The alternate field label can be displayed in various scenarios, including input view, display view, and email view, enabling flexibility in how field labels are presented to users (00:07:36).
• With different display settings enabled, such as input view, display view, and email view, users can set an alternate field label that displays in each of these scenarios, providing a more tailored experience (00:07:54).
• The input view allows for a more descriptive field label, such as “what is your hair color”, while the public view can display a more concise label, such as “hair color”, making it easier to present information in a clear and concise manner (00:08:06).
• This feature is expected to be implemented soon, providing a useful tool for customizing field labels and improving the overall user experience (00:08:19).

Post Comments: New Features Coming Soon (00:08:22)

• Updates are being made to community comments, specifically post comments, which will include features such as displaying badges next to a member’s name when they leave comments, indicating verification or other badges they may have, (00:08:23).
• A setting will be introduced to enable star ratings per post type, allowing users to leave comments and choose an overall star rating associated with that comment, which can be enabled or disabled depending on the post type, such as product posts or blog articles, (00:08:29).
• The option to enable filtering for comments will be available, allowing users to search comments by keyword and sort them by oldest first, newest, or most replied, (00:09:23).
• A future development will include the introduction of upvoting and downvoting comments, giving them a similar vibe and feel to Reddit comments, although this feature is not yet in the development queue and will be implemented after the initial set of updates, (00:09:41).
• The updates are expected to be released soon, with the upvoting and downvoting feature being developed later, after the initial set of updates has been pushed and the dust has settled, (00:09:47).

More to Come: Newsletter Reporting & Segmenting, Coupon Codes for One-Off Purchases, Improved U for Creating Emails (00:10:03)

• Newsletter reporting and segmenting are upcoming updates, which will allow users to send a newsletter, track who opened it, and create a smart list based on that segment of users to send follow-up newsletters or emails as needed (00:10:07).
• Coupon codes for one-off purchases are also coming soon, providing users with more flexibility in their purchasing options (00:10:22).
• An improved user interface for creating email newsletters is planned, including the addition of more draggable blocks to make designing newsletters easier, with currently four blocks available and more to be added (00:10:24).

How to Make Drip Email Campaigns to Welcome New Members (00:10:44)

• The topic of creating a drip email campaign for new member signups is being covered, utilizing Pably, with the goal of showing how to set up these email sequences to welcome new members of a website (00:10:52).
• The integration of Zapier with Mailchimp was previously shown to create automatically up-to-date lists of members and others who have interacted with the site, allowing for specific newsletters to be sent based on the group or list they belong to (00:11:03).
• The current tip of the week aims to demonstrate the Pably integration and its potential use cases, which include welcoming new members, but also extends to other scenarios (00:11:34).
• The use of drip email campaigns has various applications beyond just welcoming new members, and these will be explored in the discussion (00:11:35).

Previously… Zapier: Sync Your Brilliant Directories Data with Mailchimp (00:11:38)

• A previous video was created that provided a tip on using Zapier to sync Brilliant Directories data with Mailchimp, which is a helpful and eye-opening resource that showcases what is possible (00:11:47).
• The video discussed the capabilities of Zapier in syncing data with third-party platforms, specifically highlighting its use with Mailchimp (00:11:46).
• Another platform called Pably is being introduced, which is similar to Zapier and allows for the syncing of Brilliant Directories data with third-party platforms (00:11:53).
• The discussion is moving on to explore the use of Pably, starting with an introduction to its capabilities and features (00:12:04).
• The goal is to dive into the details of using Pably to sync Brilliant Directories data with other platforms, building on the concepts previously discussed with Zapier (00:12:03).

What Is a Drip Email Campaign? (00:12:05)

• A drip email campaign is a series of automated emails sent to people who have taken a specific action on a website, such as purchasing a membership or signing up to a newsletter, and it is a targeted automated email sequence (00:12:06).
• The campaign allows users to choose when and how many emails to send to people who have taken specific actions on their website, providing a beneficial way to communicate with them (00:12:30).
• A drip email campaign typically starts with an initial action, such as someone joining a list or signing up for a membership, and then sends a series of emails with timed delays in between, such as a welcome email, tips and tricks, and invitations to follow on social media (00:13:01).
• The campaign can be extended indefinitely, allowing users to add new emails and content as their community grows, and can be automated to send emails at set intervals, such as every two weeks or once a month (00:14:00).
• The automated nature of a drip email campaign enables users to focus on other aspects of their business while maintaining a steady communication with their members through a series of emails (00:14:25).

What About BD’s Build-In Email Tools? (00:14:34)

• Brilliant Directories has built-in email tools that can automatically send an initial single email to new members who sign up for a membership on a website, but for creating drip email campaigns or email sequences with time delays, it’s recommended to use a third-party Email marketing service like ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, or others (00:14:35).
• Some use cases for using third-party email marketing services include welcoming new member signups, encouraging newsletter subscribers to purchase a membership, and sending discount emails to members who have cancelled their membership (00:15:26).
• There are various ways to utilize time-delayed email sequences, such as staying top of mind with new members by sending them additional tips on how to get the most out of their membership, or sending them great performing blog articles to keep them engaged (00:16:11).
• Third-party emailing solutions like Hubspot, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Aweber, and ConvertKit allow users to schedule and send email sequences with time delays, and it’s also possible to use a personal Gmail account to achieve this (00:16:46).
• The goal is to provide a basic and actionable solution that everyone can use, especially those who are just starting out and looking for a simple way to create email sequences with time delays (00:17:11).

Let’s Make an Email Sequence with Pabbly & Gmail (00:17:16)

• Pably is a tool similar to Zapier that allows users to sync their BD data with a third-party solution, and it will be used to sync Brilliant Directories data with a free Gmail sign-up (00:17:18).
• Pably, Zapier, and other similar solutions have nominal fees for using them, typically under $30 or $20 per month, but they can provide a return on investment or save time in other aspects of the business (00:17:37).
• A workflow will be created using Pably to send a drip email campaign to new member signups, and this workflow will include a web hook that gets the data when a new member signs up for free (00:18:31).
• The web hook will be followed by a delay of one minute, and then a Gmail email will be sent from a connected Gmail account, with the option to customize the recipient’s name and email address, as well as the sender’s name and email address (00:18:50).
• The email content can be created using a text editor and then copied and pasted into Pably’s email content area, as Pably does not have a built-in text editor for emails (00:19:52).
• The workflow will include multiple emails sent at delayed intervals, with the first email providing instructions on what to do first, and subsequent emails sent at one-minute intervals (00:19:14).
• A dummy Gmail account, jason1999@gmail.com, was created for this example, and the email content was created using a text editor and then copied and pasted into Pably’s email content area (00:19:45).
• When a new member signs up, the system checks if they are a free member and if their subscription ID is three, which corresponds to the free plan on the website, and then sends them an upgrade offer via email (00:20:57).
• The upgrade offer email is sent to the member and includes benefits of upgrading to a premium membership plan, such as being featured on the home page, and provides a link to the upgrade page in their member account (00:21:19).
• To set up a workflow for new signups, a web hook is created and the URL is copied and then pasted into the web hooks section of the developer hub in the admin area, where it is enabled and saved (00:22:01).
• The web hook is tested by signing up as a free member, which triggers the web hook response and sends the member’s information to the system, including their subscription ID, name, and email address (00:22:49).
• The system then sends a welcome email to the new member, and after a one-minute delay, a workflow is created to send a follow-up email with instructions on what to do next, which is delayed for 20 minutes (00:23:55).
• The follow-up email is sent from a Gmail account, which can be connected to a business email account, and is used to send automated emails to new members (00:24:29).
• The workflow is set up using a tool called Pably, which allows for the creation of automated workflows and the integration of different applications, such as Gmail (00:21:45).
• The system uses a test Gmail account to test the workflow and ensure that the emails are being sent correctly (00:23:01).
• The recipient’s name for an email can be set to use a value from a form submission, such as the first name and last name, and the recipient’s email can be set to the email of the person who filled out the form, for example, jason49, (00:24:52).
• The sender name can be set to a plain text value, such as “Brilliant Directories”, and the sender email can be set to a custom email address, such as “JSON” or “no-reply”, (00:25:16).
• The subject of the email can be customized, and it can include dynamic values such as the recipient’s first name, for example, “Hi First Name, welcome to our site”, (00:25:48).
• The content of the email can be edited using an external text editor, as the built-in text editor is limited, and the edited content can be copied and pasted into the email template, (00:26:03).
• The email template can include links to specific pages, such as an upgrade page, and the link can be obtained from the dashboard, (00:26:43).
• Multiple email templates can be created by cloning an existing template, and delays can be added between the emails, for example, a delay of one day or five days, (00:27:10).
• The email templates can be customized to include conditional logic, such as checking if a user has signed up for a free account, and different emails can be sent based on the condition, (00:28:52).
• The email templates can be edited using an external text editor, and the source code of the email can be accessed and edited, allowing for more customization options, (00:27:42).
• The process of creating and customizing email templates can be repeated to create multiple email sequences, and the emails can be tested and sent to the recipient, (00:27:55).
• The process involves creating a conditional statement, also known as a filter, to check if the subscription value equals three, and if so, send a test sign up email, with the condition being true for a free sign up and false for other plans (00:29:13).
• The filter is used to determine which email to send, and in this case, it will send an upgrade email for a free sign up with subscription plan three (00:29:29).
• The email series can be customized, including the subject line and content, and individual emails can be created to look good with Gmail or other email services (00:30:15).
• The workflow involves creating a welcome email series, and in this case, a free sign up email is sent, followed by another email after a one-minute delay, which can be customized to include the user’s name and a link to a page with instructions for new members (00:30:28).
• The email can include a logo, a play button image that links to a page with instructions, and a message with a link to a page that is not indexed by Google, and can be customized to fit the needs of the site (00:32:11).
• The email series can be tracked, and the history can be viewed to see which steps have been completed, and the emails can be customized to include the user’s name and other details (00:31:40).
• The use of Gmail or other third-party email services can be beneficial, but may require payment at some point, and the email series can be used to send a series of emails to new members, with the option to customize the content and timing of the emails (00:31:13).
• The email series can include multiple emails, each with its own content and timing, and can be used to guide new members through the process of completing their profile and getting started with the site (00:32:27).
• The emails can include links to pages with instructions, and can be customized to include the user’s name and other details, and can be used to provide assistance and support to new members (00:32:51).
• A follow-up email can be sent to engage users more than the initial welcome email, and this follow-up email can be sent a day after the initial email, with the goal of encouraging users to engage with the sender, such as by joining a Facebook group, (00:33:00).
• The follow-up email can use the same template as the initial email, including a logo and text in bold, and can include a link to a Facebook group or other social media platform to connect with members, (00:33:13).
• A third email can be sent to users, such as an email titled “Hi Jason, upgrade and save 20”, which can include generic benefits of upgrading to a premium membership and a link to upgrade, (00:33:43).
• The email can include images and other media, depending on the capabilities of the text editor, and can directly link to the page in the user’s account where they can upgrade to a premium plan, (00:33:51).
• The series of emails can be sent using a drip sequence, which can be set up using Gmail, a free service, and the emails can be sent from a directory software, such as Brilliant Directories, (00:34:17).
• The emails in the drip sequence can be customized to include the user’s name and other personal details, and can be designed to encourage the user to take a specific action, such as upgrading to a premium membership, (00:34:20).

Let’s Make an Email Sequence with Zapier & Gmail (00:34:24)

• To create an email sequence, Zapier can be utilized to send Gmail, and the process involves catching the hook in a similar fashion, allowing for the addition of a delay, which can be set to a specific value, such as one day, using the delay feature in Zapier (00:34:25).
• The delay feature in Zapier enables users to add a pause between actions, and in this case, a delay of one day can be added before sending another Gmail, providing a similar functionality to other tools like Pablo (00:34:38).
• After setting up the email sequence with Zapier and Gmail, the opportunity is given to the audience to ask questions about the tip of the week, upcoming updates, or their own sites, and Hamid is called upon to ask his question (00:35:11).
• The Q&A session aims to address any questions or concerns the audience may have, including those related to the email sequence setup, site management, or any other topic discussed during the session (00:35:22).

How to cater your website to prospective business members and the end-user consumer? (00:35:28)

• The website www.houseadvisors.ca has been experiencing a plateau in increasing membership, despite efforts such as Email marketing and creating a YouTube channel, and is seeking advice on how to improve (00:35:42).
• The website’s homepage features a mix of content geared towards both consumers and professionals, including a search function for home experts, contractors, mortgages, realtors, and lawyers, but it is unclear whether the site should cater more to consumers or potential house advisor experts (00:37:02).
• The site’s strategy of trying to appeal to both professionals and consumers may be too broad, and it may be more effective to focus on one group, such as consumers, to create a clearer and more targeted user experience (00:38:03).
• A comparison is made to Realtor.com, which has undergone a rebranding to focus more on consumer-facing services, and it is suggested that www.houseadvisors.ca could benefit from a similar approach, with a focus on the consumer experience and clear benefits for using the site (00:38:11).
• The website’s current design has a small button for advertising and other professional services are buried in the fine print or footer, suggesting that the site may not be effectively communicating its value proposition to either consumers or professionals (00:38:31).
• It is recommended that the website focus its entire homepage on the consumer experience, as this will provide context for professionals and make them more likely to want to be part of the community, and that the site clearly communicate the benefits of using it, such as alleviating the pain of having to search multiple places for home experts (00:38:45).
• The website’s tagline “best home experts” is questioned, and it is suggested that the site needs to clearly communicate what benefits consumers will gain from using it, such as finding reliable and trustworthy home experts, and what pain points it will alleviate for them (00:39:07).
• The site’s goal of providing a one-stop shop for consumers to find home experts and services is noted, but it is unclear how effective this approach has been in attracting and retaining users (00:39:26).
• The goal is to empower consumers by providing them with the resources they need to find contractors and market their own properties, allowing them to list their properties and take a few pictures with their smartphones to create a creative listing, and making renovation easier for them by streamlining the process (00:39:56).
• A website needs to have a clear and concise message that alleviates a pain point for its users, and the text on the site should provide an emotional benefit to using it, such as finding the best home experts (00:40:28).
• There are two different channels related to homes and houses: contractors for renovations and real estate, which includes realtors, lawyers, and home stagers, and these channels should be separated to provide a better user experience (00:40:46).
• To improve the user experience, the website could be designed to have an app-like experience, where users are asked what they are looking to do, such as buying a house, selling a house, or renovating a house, and then funneled into the relevant area of the site (00:41:51).
• The website could have design blocks that allow users to easily navigate to the area they need, such as buying a home, selling a home, or renovating, and these blocks could link to other funnels or areas of the site (00:42:05).
• When pitching to experts, the website could highlight the benefits of being listed on the site, such as being found by users in their area, and provide tangible benefits, such as a reasonable price and shared benefits (00:42:40).
• The website needs to provide a better context for its mission and benefits, and improve its navigation to provide a better user experience, making it more consumer-facing and reducing confusion (00:43:12).
• The website has too many links, which can be confusing for consumers, and it needs to be simplified to provide a better experience for users (00:43:27).
• To provide a better experience for consumers, it’s essential to take extra steps to separate and categorize content, making it easier for them to find what they need, and this can be achieved by creating a more user-friendly interface (00:43:39).
• The idea of featuring specific professionals, such as interior designers, on the homepage can be useful, as consumers like visual things, especially when it comes to homes, and this can be done by creating a section that showcases new designs from featured designers (00:44:50).
• A common pitfall for many sites is not giving consumers enough context or compelling them to engage more, and this can be addressed by providing more information and creating a more engaging experience (00:45:20).
• Writing blog articles or puff pieces that spotlight specific professionals and their accomplishments can be a useful way to provide more context and compel consumers to engage more, and these articles can be linked to from the homepage (00:45:34).
• The use of space on the homepage is crucial, and it’s essential to make the most of it by creating a more useful and engaging experience for consumers, rather than just listing features or professionals (00:46:00).
• The importance of picking a lane, whether it’s consumer-facing or professional-facing, is crucial for the homepage, and this can help to create a more focused and effective experience for users (00:46:26).
• After the webinar, attendees can continue to engage with fellow directory website owners at directoryafterparty.com, where Ryan Sullivan will be available to provide more information and support (00:47:08).
• The Facebook group can be joined by visiting brilliantdirectories.com forward slash facebook and clicking on the blue join button, which is available for those who are not already part of the group (00:47:18).
• There are multiple webinars scheduled for the same month, with the next one taking place in two weeks, and additional webinars on the 15th and 29th, making it a rare occurrence to have three webinars in one month (00:47:33).
• The year will be closed out with the webinars on the 15th and 29th, and attendees will be seen again in two weeks, with appreciation expressed to those who joined, on behalf of the entire Brilliant Directories family (00:47:52).