Webinar Wednesday 134 – April 27, 2022

Inbox: Bulk Select Form Inquiries (00:03:40)

• The bulk select option is now available for form inquiries, allowing users to select all matches rather than going page by page, which is a quality of life update (00:03:40).
• This feature was already available on the search members page in the admin area, where users can select all results that match their search criteria, not just the results on the current page (00:04:13).
• The same logic has been brought to the forms inbox page, where users can select all inquiries that match their search criteria, such as IP address, and apply bulk actions like archive or delete (00:04:45).
• The select all checkbox is available in the forms inbox area, and when used, it provides an option to apply bulk actions to all selected results, which could be 500 or more (00:05:04).
• In the coming weeks, this bulk select option will be added to other places, such as member leads and member reviews, to improve the ability to manage the site (00:05:22).
• The rollout of this feature will be done over the coming weeks and months, with the goal of catching all places where bulk actions exist and improving site management (00:05:45).

Forms: Class to Support ‘readonly’ Field Behavior (00:05:55)

• There is an update to forms that allows a field to be made read-only by adding a specific class to the form fields, which can be useful in certain use cases where the value should be displayed but not editable by members (00:05:56).
• To make a field read-only, users can toggle open the settings cog, go to the additional CSS classes, and type “read-only” to add the class, as demonstrated in the sample ebook download form (00:06:41).
• The read-only field can be used to display default text or text that was entered previously, such as an email address, and can be used in conjunction with non-read-only fields that behave normally (00:07:25).
• The class “read-only” can be added to the additional field CSS class to create a read-only field, which can be useful in various scenarios where certain information should not be changed by members (00:07:41).
• The read-only field feature is now available and can be used to create forms with fields that are not editable by members, but still display the desired information, such as in the sample ebook sign up page (00:07:03).

Webhooks: Post Comments, Quick Edit & More to Come (00:07:48)

• Webhook have been a significant development in the last six months, allowing users to send data from their site to third-party solutions via Zapier or Pably, with new webhooks available for post comments and quick edits (00:07:48).
• Post comments can now be sent out via webhooks, enabling the creation of a web hook that will send post comment data to third-party solutions (00:08:07).
• The quick edit feature for members now also supports webhooks, allowing updates to member information, such as name or email address, to be sent to connected web hooks (00:08:15).
• Webhooks can be used to sync data with third-party services like Mailchimp, and an article is available that discusses the basics of webhooks and how to connect them to Zapier (00:08:26).
• The webhooks feature is considered intermediate-level and can be accessed in the admin area, specifically in the Developer Hub, where users can find a link to webhooks and explore available web hook events (00:08:57).
• Various web hook events are available for different actions, such as member reviews, newsletter sign-ups, and post comments, which can be used to send data to third-party providers (00:09:23).
• The Webhook page in the Developer Hub provides a list of available web hook events, including post comments submitted, which can be used to send data to third-party solutions (00:09:34).

Marketplace: New Partner for Delivering AMP Profile Pages (00:09:38)

• A new partner, Ampify, has been added to the marketplace to promote their AMP pages, which are extra super mobile-friendly pages for websites, and they have created a beta integration for Brilliant Directories websites (00:09:38).
• Ampify will be taking beta users soon, and those interested in creating AMP pages for their Brilliant Directories website can look forward to learning more about the process in an upcoming webinar (00:09:42).
• The upcoming webinar will feature Ampify as a guest, where they will explain how AMP pages work, the benefits, use cases, and which type of sites or use cases would want to enable AMP pages, such as extra super friendly mobile pages for their websites (00:09:52).
• Not every site needs AMP pages, but Ampify will discuss the specific scenarios where AMP pages are beneficial, and they will share more about their AMP solutions in the next webinar, which is scheduled to take place in two weeks (00:09:57).
• The partnership with Ampify aims to provide Brilliant Directories users with the opportunity to create AMP pages, and the upcoming webinar will serve as a platform for Ampify to showcase their services and expertise in creating mobile-friendly pages (00:10:01).

New Add-On: File Uploads for Forms (00:10:42)

• The new add-on, File Uploads for Forms, has been officially released, and members of the VIP Add-ons Club already have it added to their website’s account (00:10:42).
• This new add-on will be covered in the next few slides, including how to use it, enable it on forms, and some of its potential use cases (00:10:44).
• The File Uploads field type can be utilized on forms for various purposes, and its applications will be explored in more detail in the subsequent slides (00:10:58).

Stripe: Set Name That Displays on Credit Card Statements (00:11:05)

• The payment gateway Stripe will have a setting in the admin area where users can decide what display name will be shown on their customers’ credit card statements (00:11:05).
• This setting allows users to choose how they want their business to be represented on credit card statements, such as including a phone number, a long name, or a short name (00:11:14).
• The purpose of this setting is to avoid any confusion with the official registration in the Stripe account and to ensure that the display name on credit card statements is accurate and clear (00:11:28).
• Users will be able to set the display name that appears on their customers’ credit card statements when they view their bills online or receive them in the mail (00:11:34).

Emails: Deliverability Improvements via Domain Authentication (00:11:41)

• Deliverability improvements are being implemented to prevent emails from landing in spam or junk folders, with the changes expected to be released mid-next month or by the end of next month (00:11:41).
• The deliverability improvements will be made via domain authentication, which will be automatically enabled on most sites depending on how the domain name is connected (00:11:46).
• The domain authentication setting will allow all users to take advantage of the deliverability improvements, with no action required for most users as it will be automatically enabled (00:11:50).
• The release of the deliverability improvements will be announced in the Facebook group, where updates will be posted (00:11:57).
• The exact release date is not yet confirmed, but it is expected to be implemented by the end of next month, with further updates to be provided (00:12:04).

API: Ability to Import Feeds & Data INTO BD Sites via Zapier, Pabbly, etc. (00:12:15)

• A BD API is being developed to allow the import of feeds and data into BD sites, which can also be done via Zapier or by using the API directly (00:12:16).
• The API will provide opportunities for BD sites, particularly for those who have third-party feeds of members, leads, or reviews that they want to import into their sites (00:12:40).
• Documentation for the API will be created to make it easy for users to understand and utilize the feature (00:12:32).
• The development of the BD API is expected to be completed towards the end of next month, allowing users to take advantage of its capabilities (00:12:48).

Credits: Issue Credits when Existing Members Refer New Members (00:12:51)

• The ability to issue credits when existing members refer new member sign-ups is a feature that has been mentioned in the Facebook group and is going to be developed (00:12:52).
• This feature has been very popular in the Facebook group, indicating a high level of interest among members (00:13:01).
• Work on this feature is expected to begin soon, with the goal of having something available before the end of next month (00:13:08).

And tons more coming very soon… (00:13:11)

• There are many more updates coming soon, including additional features and improvements to the Directory Software (00:13:12).
• At the end of the BD Lab updates, users have the opportunity to ask questions or provide comments by raising their hand, allowing for a few questions to be addressed before moving on to the file uploads add-on (00:13:18).
• A user named Kyle has a question, and after confirming that he can be heard, he proceeds to ask his question, which is related to one of the updates (00:13:28).

How will credits work when an existing member refers a new member? (00:13:35)

• When an existing member refers a new member, they will receive a credit, for example, a $10 credit, which will be used first when they are automatically billed for a recurring charge or make a one-time purchase, and then their credit card will be charged the difference (00:13:35).
• The credit will always be used before charging the member’s credit card, so if a member has a monthly payment of $40 and receives a $10 credit, the credit will be applied first and then they will be charged $30 (00:13:41).
• The use of credits does not change the amount that a member is charged every month, but rather the credit is used to offset the cost, and then the member’s credit card is charged for the remaining balance (00:13:51).
• The system will automatically apply the credit to the member’s account when they are billed for a recurring charge, such as a monthly or yearly payment, or when they make a one-time purchase, such as for a lead (00:13:59).
• The member’s credit card will only be charged the difference after the credit has been applied, ensuring that the member is only charged for the remaining amount after the credit has been used (00:14:10).

New Add-On: File Uploads for Forms (00:14:23)

• The new file uploads for forms add-on has been unveiled, which was released a couple of days ago, and it allows members or users to upload and add files when submitting a form on the website (00:14:24).
• The file uploads form add-on enables users to upload files when submitting a form, which may seem like simple functionality but has a lot of different use cases and can be a pretty powerful tool depending on what it’s being used for (00:14:51).

Supported File Types (00:14:59)

• The feature supports various file types, covering virtually all use cases, and includes major image formats such as jpegs, pngs, gifs, and webp (00:14:59).
• The supported file types also include pdf files, as well as all Microsoft Office files, comprising both old and new file extensions (00:15:07).
• For Microsoft Office files, the supported formats include older file extensions, such as docs for Microsoft Word, and newer file extensions, such as docxes for Word, as well as files for Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint (00:15:13).
• All of these file types, including word, excel, powerpoint, pdfs, and images, can be uploaded and attached to form submissions (00:15:26).
• The feature’s supported file types enable users to attach a wide range of files to form submissions, including images and Microsoft Office files (00:15:33).

File Upload Use Cases (00:15:36)

• The file upload feature can be enabled on various forms, including the lead form, member contact form, and member verification form, to allow users to upload files and provide additional information to support their requests (00:15:38).
• The lead form is a useful application for the file upload feature, as it enables users to attach files such as PDFs or images to their quote requests, providing more information for members and potential clients (00:15:43).
• The member contact form is another use case for the file upload feature, allowing users to upload files when contacting specific members, which can give members more information about the users’ inquiries (00:16:35).
• The member verification form is a powerful tool that enables member verification by allowing members to fill out an additional form and upload files such as a photo ID or business license to verify their listing (00:16:54).
• The file upload feature can also be used with post publishing forms, enabling users to attach files to published posts, which can be downloaded by other users, such as a meal or drink voucher for an event post (00:17:44).
• The lead form is a significant use case for the file upload feature, as it can increase the credibility and authenticity of leads, and allow designers to purchase high-quality leads with more confidence (00:18:47).
• The file upload feature can also be used for job listings, enabling job applicants to upload their CV or resume when applying for a job, which can be received by the member who posted the job opening (00:19:36).

Are security measures in place to protect against malicious files? (00:20:14)

• Security measures are in place to protect against malicious files, and the system utilizes best practices for uploading files on a public website, with a focus on ensuring the security of form submissions and attached files (00:20:19).
• The system has undergone extensive quality assurance and internal testing to ensure that everything is sound and secure, with a bug bounty program in place to encourage the reporting of any vulnerabilities or issues (00:20:35).
• A bug bounty program is used to identify and address potential vulnerabilities, and third-party bug bounty finders are also employed to find and report any issues, with the goal of patching them up as quickly as possible (00:20:50).
• The system has virus scanners that detect and automatically delete any malicious files, providing an additional layer of protection against potential threats (00:21:31).
• The default setting is to accept certain file types, but measures are in place to address any workarounds or issues that may be discovered, with the goal of prioritizing and addressing any reported issues as quickly as possible (00:21:42).
• Matt, co-founder and CTO at Brilliant Directories, confirmed that virus scanners are in place to detect and delete any malicious files, providing an additional layer of security and reassurance for users (00:21:29).

File Upload Example on Member Contact Form (00:21:51)

• The example demonstrates a modified “get matched” form on an interior designer’s website, where a user can send a message to a member, such as John Doe, and upload files, including an image of a room and a certificate, to facilitate communication and provide necessary information (00:21:53).
• The form allows users to input their information and upload files, which can be customized to request specific documents, such as a business license, and the file upload field can accept various file formats, including images and PDFs (00:22:24).
• Once a lead is submitted, the member receives an email notification with a preview of the lead, excluding the user’s contact information, and the member can purchase the lead for $10, which includes access to the uploaded files (00:23:01).
• The file upload field can be added to any form, including the “get matched” form, contact us form, or application form, and it can be customized to request specific files, such as a resume, and can be made a required field if necessary (00:24:20).
• The file upload field is located in the “fancy fields” category, and its properties can be edited, such as changing the field name and adding help text to guide the user on what to upload (00:24:59).
• The help text can be added to the file upload field by opening the cog icon and entering the desired text, which can provide additional instructions or context for the user, such as specifying the type of file to upload (00:25:50).
• The file upload field is a flexible and customizable tool that can be used to collect various types of files from users, and its properties can be easily edited and updated to suit different use cases (00:26:25).

File Upload Example on Member Verification Form (00:26:27)

• The member verification form allows members to verify themselves and receive a badge next to their name and on their profile page, and to enable this, the advanced setting must be turned on (00:26:32).
• By default, the form asks members to input plain text information, but now they can also upload a formal piece of documentation, such as a business license or ID, to verify their identity (00:26:51).
• The form can be customized, and the text and image of the badge can be changed in the brand images in general settings (00:27:33).
• When a member fills out the verification form, the website owner receives an email notification with the member’s information, including a link to the uploaded file (00:28:07).
• The website owner can then manually review the member’s information and verify their account by changing their listing status to “verified” in the admin panel (00:29:04).
• The form manager allows website owners to customize the verification form and add a file upload field, which can be used to ask for different types of documentation, such as a photo ID or state license certificate (00:29:38).
• Each file upload field is for a single file upload, but multiple fields can be added to the form if needed, and the uploaded files will be included in the email notifications and the forms inbox (00:30:16).
• The file upload field is available to website owners who have the VIP add-ons club, and it can be used to customize forms and add file upload fields (00:30:48).

Suggestion to add ability to delete form file uploads (00:31:12)

• The topic of handling confidential documents uploaded to the platform is discussed, with a focus on best practices for deleting these documents after verification to protect personal information (00:31:12).
• A method for deleting uploaded documents is explored, and it is noted that there is no specific folder for these items, but a note is made to suggest this feature to the team (00:31:48).
• The ability to delete files associated with an inquiry is confirmed, and the suggestion to add this feature is appreciated for its validity and importance (00:31:58).
• The conversation is opened for further questions related to this topic, and another participant, Tim, is acknowledged and welcomed to the discussion (00:32:08).
• Tim’s presence is acknowledged, and he is thanked for joining the webinar, with the discussion continuing to explore topics such as the upload field (00:32:15).

Suggestion for CSS classes on Public View of form items (00:32:27)

• There are questions about CSS classes that can be used in menus and forms, and a request for a tutorial or a list of CSS classes to experiment with, as there are thousands of CSS classes applied to the site (00:32:28).
• The discussion involves creating a button or making something larger and highlighted in a form, such as displaying a website address or highlighting text with a red background on the display view (00:33:31).
• CSS classes are default for the input view because they display how they will appear on the front end, but custom HTML can be used to make changes, and there is interest in exploring the ability to display a button from a form on public view (00:33:52).
• Recently, the ability to have alternate label text on the front end was released, which could potentially be used with CSS classes to render form items on public view, giving more control over the public display of data (00:34:20).
• The use of CSS classes on public view items in form manager could provide more control over the display of data on profile pages or in sidebars, and the new display titles are considered great (00:34:39).

Using CSS classes for menu items and website elements (00:35:05)

• The menu manager is a more direct way to add CSS classes because it’s just a menu item and doesn’t have different views like input view and display view, making it easier to add CSS classes (00:35:30).
• To achieve specific styling, such as making something bold or enlarged, or adding a background color, there are some quick CSS classes that can be shared, and some examples include using “bg” for background and “primary”, “danger”, “warning”, “success” for button colors (00:35:54).
• To customize the main menu, you can add a CSS class to a menu item, such as “bg-danger” to change the background color to red, and this can be done by toggling open the settings dropdown and adding the CSS class (00:36:35).
• There are about six button colors available in the design settings, including primary, success, info, warning, and danger, and these can be used to change the background of a menu item (00:37:27).
• A list of common menu CSS classes can be useful for experimentation and learning, and it’s possible to create a cheat sheet with 20 common classes to get started (00:38:42).
• The solution center may have some resources available for common menu CSS classes, and the documentation team can be asked to create a list of classes to help users (00:38:26).

Can reviews be added to products or blog posts? (00:39:08)

• Reviews can be added to products or blog posts through a setting that enables comments with star ratings, allowing users to leave a comment with a one through five star rating, effectively creating a review (00:39:18).
• This feature is considered a quick workaround to get reviews for post types like products or blogs, and it is currently on the roadmap to be implemented, possibly before the end of the year (00:39:45).
• The community comments and post comments feature will have a setting that allows users to enable comments on products, which can include a star rating, making it possible for users to review products or blog posts (00:39:25).
• The development team appreciates the community’s feedback and is working to implement the requested features, with the goal of providing a fun and interactive experience for users (00:40:06).
• The discussion involves Jason and Colette, who are interacting with each other and expressing their appreciation for the community’s feedback and engagement (00:40:11).

How would form file uploads work for job listings and applications? (00:40:21)

• To enable file uploads for job listings and applications, clone the “get matched form” and modify it to include a file upload field for users to upload their resumes (00:40:21).
• The cloned form should be designed specifically for job applications, and any unnecessary fields should be removed (00:41:24).
• A custom widget should be created to render the new “get matched form” on job detail pages, using the code “form equals new get matched form” (00:41:46).
• The custom widget should be added to a cloned sidebar, specifically designed for job listings, and this sidebar should be selected for use on the job post type (00:42:05).
• To implement this, go to the sidebar manager, clone the post single page, and add the custom widget to the new sidebar, then select this new sidebar for use on the job post type (00:42:54).
• The new sidebar will display the “get matched form” with the file upload field, allowing users to apply for job openings by uploading their resumes (00:44:01).
• The process involves several steps, including cloning the form, creating a custom widget, and selecting the new sidebar for the job post type, but it does not require extensive coding (00:41:18).
• The “get matched form” should be modified to include any necessary fields for job applications, and the custom widget should be designed to render this form on job detail pages (00:41:30).
• The new sidebar should be designed to include the custom widget, and any other necessary elements, such as job listing details (00:42:12).
• The final step is to select the new sidebar for use on the job post type, which will display the “get matched form” with the file upload field on job listing pages (00:44:31).

Suggestion to show all leads matched with a specific member (00:44:51)

• The issue is with leads, where there is no record in the statistics for leads for a particular client, and it is unclear if this is due to incorrect setup or a missing feature (00:44:54).
• The question is about how to view the number of leads an individual member has received, and it is confirmed that this is the correct understanding of the issue (00:45:18).
• There is a tab for leads activity, which includes pending total leads and reviews, and it is possible to search for a specific member to view their lead activity (00:45:28).
• The current method to view leads matched with a member is available, but it would be helpful to have a more direct way to see all the leads they have been matched with (00:45:44).
• The lead activity tab shows the number of leads a member has been matched with, as well as the number of leads they have accepted, which can be a useful metric for reporting to clients (00:46:10).
• A new participant, Randy, joins the webinar and is welcomed, and Jason is having trouble hearing Randy, but Randy is able to hear Jason (00:46:29).

Suggestion to add Not Active/On Hold members to admin dashboard Pending Items list (00:46:51)

• The admin dashboard currently displays pending items such as inquiries, leads, reviews, and past due items, but there is a suggestion to add other items to this list, including pending members who require moderation (00:46:53).
• There are two types of members on the website: free members who need to provide licensing credentials to be approved, and paid service advisors who advertise, and it would be helpful to have a tab count on the pending items table to show the number of members waiting for approval (00:47:08).
• The current system sends emails every day to notify of new sign-ups, but it would be more efficient to have a tab count on the dashboard that shows the number of people who have submitted a sign-up form and are waiting for approval (00:47:26).
• The pending items table on the admin dashboard is missing a section for pending members that require moderation, which would be useful for keeping track of members who need to be approved before their profiles are published (00:47:54).
• A recommendation will be made to the team to add pending members to the pending items list on the dashboard home page, which would allow for easier tracking and management of new member sign-ups (00:48:30).

What exactly is a direct lead versus an indirect lead? (00:48:47)

• A direct lead is considered to be a contact or message from a member’s profile page, where the tab or button says “contact” or “message this member”, and this is classified as a direct lead because it is a direct inquiry from the member’s profile page (00:49:05).
• The direct lead can be set up to require payment based on the member’s membership plan, or it can be given to them for free, allowing them to view the lead information in their membership (00:49:34).
• An indirect lead, on the other hand, is generated when a user fills out a form on a landing page, such as a page that says “get quotes from our interior designers”, and this lead is then auto-matched with members who meet the specified criteria (00:49:43).
• A contact form in the sidebar of a member’s profile page is also considered a direct lead, as it is still on the member’s profile page (00:50:37).
• Additionally, if a member publishes a post, such as a coupon or an event, and includes a contact form in the sidebar, this is also considered a direct lead because it is from an asset created by the member on the website (00:50:51).

What is the name of the member contact form? (00:50:58)

• The default form name used for both the sidebar contact and the message me button on the profile page is the website lead form, which is labeled as “get matched” and is the one that has been edited throughout the webinar (00:50:59).
• All sites start off with this default form, but there are methods to clone it and utilize different matched forms for different members or things, which can be a bit complicated (00:51:25).
• Customizing the website lead form is an option, and it is recommended to do so, especially since it is the default form used for both the sidebar contact and the message me button (00:51:18).
• The webinar has covered editing this form, and there are possibilities for using different forms for different purposes, such as for different members (00:51:33).
• Participants, including Randy and Stephen, have been engaging in the discussion, asking questions and providing suggestions, with Randy expressing appreciation for the assistance provided (00:51:40).
• The discussion has been ongoing, with the host addressing questions and comments from participants, including Stephen, who has two quick questions and suggestions to share (00:51:52).

Suggestion to be able to clone widgets (00:51:57)

• The suggestion to clone widgets is being considered because it would make it easier to copy widgets without having to go through every step, and this feature is the last thing in the toolbox that doesn’t have a clone option (00:51:59).
• Cloning a widget would create a copy of the widget with a different name, and this feature has been requested a few times before (00:52:19).
• The recommendation to add a clone widget option to the roadmap has been made, and it will be added to the list of upcoming features (00:52:26).

Future update to display why members servicing different areas are displaying in search results (00:52:30)

• A future update is planned to display why members servicing different areas are showing up in search results, which will help clarify why someone’s listing appears in a directory for a location that is not their main address (00:52:30).
• The update will show the additional service areas that triggered the match, such as “within one kilometer of New Mexico”, to explain why a member’s listing is appearing in search results for a specific location (00:53:21).
• The service area that triggers the match will be displayed, but it is not the same as the “within one mile” feature, which is a different functionality (00:53:51).
• If a member has multiple service areas, all of them can be displayed on their profile page, and the update will also work on showing why they are appearing in search results for a specific location (00:54:10).
• Members can already display their additional service areas on their profile page, and the update will enhance the search results page to show why a member’s listing is appearing for a certain search location (00:54:45).
• The feature to display all service areas on the profile page is available, and it can be customized to show the list of service areas in a desired position (00:54:51).
• The update is part of the roadmap, and it is a little behind schedule, but it is being worked on to improve the search results page and provide more clarity on why members are appearing in search results for specific locations (00:53:04).

How to set a maximum number of a members a lead can be matched with? (00:55:37)

• The maximum number of members that can receive leads can be set to prevent all members from competing with each other, with a suggested limit of three or four members per lead (00:55:55).
• To set the maximum number of matches, go to the general settings in the member leads section, where the maximum matches can be set to a specific number, such as five, based on location and category (00:56:05).
• The maximum accepted lead setting allows only the first few best matches to purchase the lead, preventing a large number of members from contacting a single inquiry and creating internal competition (00:56:16).
• Setting a limit on the number of members who can receive leads helps to give customers options while preventing overwhelm and provides members with a fair shot to land the customer (00:56:37).
• The setting to limit the number of members who can receive leads is located in the member leads and general settings section, and it is recommended to set a limit to prevent excessive competition among members (00:56:55).