Webinar Wednesday 148 – December 28, 2022

Introduction (00:00:00)

• The final webinar of 2022 is being held, and it’s a bittersweet moment, marking the end of an amazing year, with some fun recaps and slides to be shared (00:00:00).
• The webinar is being streamed live on YouTube, and viewers are recommended to subscribe to the YouTube channel at brilliantdirectories.com/YouTube to get updates on new videos, tips, and feature updates (00:00:51).
• A replay of the webinar will be posted immediately in the Facebook group, which can be joined at brilliantdirectories.com/Facebook, and has almost 10,000 members who help each other with questions and feedback (00:01:17).
• The webinar is hosted by Jason and David who will share some of the features built into the platform and highlight noteworthy ones that can help grow the community (00:00:23).
• Webinar Wednesday is a way for Brilliant Directories to share updates, feature suggestions, and ideas from the community, with around 100 updates, patches, or fixes launched every month (00:02:20).
• The webinar aims to cover various topics, including increasing traffic, converting visitors to members, and improving navigation, and will try to answer as many questions as possible (00:02:35).
• The hosts welcome new members, including Bedros, Annie, Alexander, Celeste, and Gasan, and look forward to seeing them in the Facebook group (00:01:53).

Finance: New Search Subscriptions Page (00:03:05)

• The new search subscriptions page is a mega update in the finance section, providing a great snapshot and overview of the health of a site based on membership plans and subscriptions that are either active or ended (00:03:06).
• This page is located in the finance tab and requires admin permissions, which can be granted to staff members if needed, allowing them to view the page and its data (00:03:43).
• The search subscriptions page differs from the transaction history page, as it gives a snapshot of all membership plan data that members have signed up to, including active and canceled subscriptions (00:04:29).
• The page displays all subscriptions created on the site, including their status, and allows users to search subscriptions based on member name, email address, date created, next due date, subscription ID, membership plan, member status, and billing cycle (00:05:27).
• Users can also search for canceled members with active subscriptions, active members with ended subscriptions, and sort results by newest created, oldest created, next payment date, or furthest next payment date (00:06:26).
• Future updates to the page will include bulk actions and the ability to create smart lists based on predefined search filters, allowing users to market to segmented lists (00:07:02).
• The new search subscriptions page is a huge update that will provide a great snapshot of a website’s financial health from a subscription standpoint, and users can play around with its features in their admin section (00:07:18).

Finance: Find Transactions Based on Active/Ended Subscription Status (00:07:28)

• The finance tab has a feature to find transactions based on active or ended subscription status, which can be accessed through the transactions history page (00:07:29).
• The transactions history page displays individual transactions that have been processed on the site, and it is possible to search these transactions based on billing cycle, such as monthly or quarterly, using the available radio buttons (00:07:32).
• There are radio buttons for subscription status, allowing users to search only active or ended subscriptions, which is useful for tracking changes in subscriptions over time, such as identifying how many monthly subscriptions have ended in a specific month (00:07:37).
• The feature enables users to perform quick searches and obtain aggregate totals, for example, to determine the number of canceled or active monthly subscriptions, and this data will be used in the future to provide charts and reports to calculate churn rate and display the website’s financial health (00:07:51).
• The ability to search and analyze transactions based on subscription status will provide valuable insights into the website’s financial performance, including the ability to track the number of subscriptions that are still active or have been canceled (00:08:03).

Design: Homepage Divider, Open Links in New Tab (00:08:51)

• The design has a small but powerful update, which is the ability to open links in new tabs in the home page hero divider, a section where users can add overview data or calls to action with links, and this feature can be particularly useful for sending users to external websites or social media groups (00:08:52).
• The home page hero divider has three slots for adding content, and users can include links in these slots, which can now be set to open in a new tab, allowing users to stay on the current website while visiting the linked page (00:08:58).
• To access the home page hero divider settings, users can go to the design settings and then click on the home page tab, where they can edit the divider and add content, including images, titles, captions, and links, and there is also an option to open links in a new tab (00:09:53).
• The link text in the home page hero divider now supports quotes and HTML inline styling, which is a useful feature for web designers who want to add custom styles or icons to their links (00:10:50).
• The open in new tab feature is useful for various scenarios, such as sending users to a Facebook group or an e-commerce shop, and it allows users to stay on the current website while visiting the linked page (00:09:31).
• The design settings also allow users to stream tons of different content on the home page with just a few clicks, making it easy to customize and update the website’s content (00:10:07).

Speed: Delivering More Assets from BD’s CDN (00:11:22)

• The speed of BD websites has been improved by delivering more assets from BD’s Global CDN, which results in faster page loading times for visitors from around the world (00:11:22).
• This update is part of ongoing efforts to enhance speed, security, and stability, with the latest batch of pushes recently completed (00:11:24).
• The use of BD’s Global CDN means that pages will load quicker for visitors worldwide, providing a better user experience (00:11:27).
• The improvements to speed, security, and stability are continuous, with the latest updates aiming to provide a more stable and secure experience for users (00:11:33).
• The updates to the CDN and page loading times are expected to have a positive impact on the overall performance of BD websites (00:11:36).
• The ongoing work on speed, security, and stability is a key focus, with regular pushes and updates being made to maintain and improve the quality of the service (00:11:39).

Affiliates: BD’s New “Refer A Friend Program” is Now Active (00:11:50)

• A new “Refer A Friend Program” is now active, allowing users to earn 50% commission for referrals, and this program is not technically a new feature but a new implementation of a previously requested functionality (00:11:50).
• The program can be accessed through the admin dashboard by going to “View My Sites” and clicking on the “Refer Friends” button, which is a shiny gold button that offers the opportunity to earn 50% commission for referrals (00:12:08).
• The program is simple and open to all users, even if they do not plan to use it, as they can still join and participate by clicking the “Join Program Now” button and sharing their unique referral link with others (00:12:22).
• Users can share their referral link with people and earn 50% commission for each sign-up, making it a potential way to earn money by promoting the service (00:12:46).
• It is recommended that all users join the program, even if they have no intention of using it, as it can still provide an opportunity to earn some money by promoting the service and receiving a commission for their efforts (00:12:54).

Translate: Ability to Set Default Text labels in French, German & More (00:13:16)

• The ability to translate default text labels into Spanish language is available, and quality assurance for French language and German language Translation is currently underway (00:13:17).
• Quality assurance, referred to as QA, is being conducted for the French and German translations to ensure their accuracy and readiness for release (00:13:19).
• The translations for French and German are expected to be available soon, and users will also have the ability to create their own translations (00:13:21).

Coupon Codes: Create Coupon Codes for Leads, Digital Products & More (00:13:27)

• Coupon codes for one-time purchases, such as leads and digital products, are being developed and are expected to be available soon (00:13:28).
• The ability to create coupon codes for these items is coming down the line and is anticipated to be released early next year (00:13:35).
• Additionally, the ability to create posts is also being worked on and is expected to be available in the near future (00:13:37).

API/Zapier: Create Posts from RSS Feeds & Other Sources (events, articles, jobs, etc.) (00:13:38)

• Creating posts from RSS feeds using Zapier or the BD API is a useful feature that allows users to pull events, articles, job listings, and other types of content from various sources (00:13:40).
• This feature enables users to create a simple workflow, known as a “zap” in Zapier, to quickly populate their site with the pulled content (00:13:51).
• By utilizing this feature, users can automate the process of populating their site with new content, making it a valuable tool for efficient site management (00:13:55).
• In the upcoming year, 2023, more time will be spent exploring and utilizing this feature to enhance site population and management (00:13:59).

Design: Drag-n-Drop Tables Inside the Text Editor (move content blocks within the editor) (00:14:01)

• The text editor is being made more intuitive, with one of the new features being the ability to drag and drop tables, also known as content blocks, within the editor (00:14:02).
• Currently, content blocks cannot be moved up and down in the editor, and users have to copy and paste or recreate them elsewhere, which is a limitation (00:14:11).
• The new drag and drop feature is being explored to give users more flexibility and speed when creating blog posts or building web pages in the web page builder (00:14:25).
• This feature will allow users to move content blocks freely within the editor, eliminating the need to copy and paste or recreate them (00:14:28).
• The goal of this new feature is to provide users with a more efficient and flexible way to create content, making it easier to build out web pages and blog posts (00:14:30).

Tons More: Speed, Security, Quality-of-Life Features & Exciting New Releases on the Way! (00:14:39)

• There are many upcoming features, including speed, security, and quality-of-life improvements, as well as exciting new releases on the way, with a big thank you to the BD Community for their feedback and support (00:14:39).
• The community’s feedback, including support tickets, is taken seriously and used to identify ways to improve the software by addressing pain points and areas for improvement (00:14:50).
• The BD Community is appreciated for their participation and hard work on their websites, with their feedback and support tickets helping to drive software improvements (00:14:58).
• An opportunity was given for attendees to ask questions or comment on the listed features, with an invitation to raise their hand and give a shout out or ask a question before moving on with the webinar (00:15:14).
• Despite an initial lack of response, a participant named Celeste did raise her hand, although she appeared to be self-muted at the time (00:15:29).

How to send targeted emails to certain types of members? (00:15:43)

• To send targeted emails to certain types of members, it is possible to search for specific members based on their membership plan, account status, or other criteria on the search members page (00:15:43).
• The search members page allows for the creation of a smart list, which can be used to segment members and export their email addresses as a CSV file, such as an Microsoft Excel file (00:16:17).
• Once a smart list is created, it can be used to send targeted emails to the members in that list, either by exporting the list and sending emails from an external platform or by sending a newsletter directly from the system (00:17:19).
• The process of creating a smart list involves searching for members based on specific criteria, such as membership plan or account status, and then selecting the “list actions” option to export the list (00:17:16).
• It is also possible to email all members from a specific category by searching for members in that category, creating a smart list, and then sending an email to that list (00:18:20).
• The system allows for the creation of a smart list with a specific name, such as “Celeste list”, which can be used to organize and target specific members (00:17:31).
• The smart list can be exported as an email list, sent to a webhook, or used to send emails directly from the system, providing flexibility in how to target and communicate with members (00:17:46).

Year-End Giveaway preview (00:18:40)

• A non-member joined the webinar and expressed interest in purchasing a plan, inquiring about the possibility of receiving a free subscription to the site during the webinar (00:18:41).
• The non-member, referred to as Mo, was informed that a giveaway would be taking place later in the webinar, and was encouraged to wait and potentially become the lucky winner (00:18:58).
• The webinar host acknowledged Mo’s question and expressed appreciation for their participation, before proceeding with the rest of the webinar, which included a preview of the year-end giveaway (00:19:10).
• The webinar host mentioned that 2022 has been an eventful year and that there is a lot to share, prompting the continuation of the webinar (00:19:19).

Thank you from BD! (00:19:21)

• The year 2022 was considered amazing, and appreciation is expressed for growing online communities together in that year (00:19:22).
• A great new year is wished for everyone in the BD family, with the hope of bringing strength, hope, and new dreams in 2023 (00:19:26).
• The community aspect is cherished, particularly the interaction with members in real-time, such as in the Facebook group, which is a source of joy (00:19:37).
• A big round of applause is given, and thanks are extended to the community members for their participation and engagement (00:19:45).

Celebrating the Past Year (00:19:50)

• The past year, 2022, saw significant achievements, including the launch of over 5,000 new websites on the BD platform, generating over $22 million in revenue, with no commission taken, and almost 11 million new members registered on BD sites (00:19:50).
• The BD platform also saw over 687,000 new leads submitted, which are leads from website visitors wanting to contact members, and these leads can be accepted or paid for by members (00:20:17).
• The development team pushed over 1,000 updates to the Brilliant Directories platform, including new features, bug fixes, and quality of life updates, with many of these updates being requested by the community (00:21:13).
• The support team resolved over 11,300 support tickets in the previous year, indicating that users care about and are working hard on their websites, and the primary goal is to help users achieve their goals (00:22:05).
• The YouTube channel passed the 2 million view mark in 2022, and the Facebook group, which has become an invaluable resource for the community, is approaching 10,000 members, with over 2,800 new users joining in 2022, and seeing huge engagement with over 4,200 new posts and 26,000 comments (00:22:30).
• The marketplace, which features third-party developers, marketers, and SEO experts, saw over 950 products and services delivered, and over 820 conversations took place between Brilliant Directories website owners and marketplace partners in the past year (00:23:17).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #1 (00:24:35)

• The first lifetime website giveaway is being conducted, and the method of selecting a winner is being discussed, with the option of using a wheel spinner based on the attendees’ numbers (00:24:37).
• The attendees are asked to input their names, and a list of numbers is created, with each attendee being assigned a number, which will be used to select a winner through a random spin of the wheel (00:24:47).
• There are approximately 100 attendees at the time of the giveaway, and each attendee has been assigned a unique number, which will be used to determine the winner (00:25:05).
• The wheel is spun, and the winning number is selected, which corresponds to attendee number 22, who is identified as Debbie Grammer (00:25:19).
• Debbie Grammer is congratulated on winning the lifetime website plan, and it is announced that she will be assigned a new lifetime website plan shortly after the webinar (00:25:32).
• Debbie Grammer responds with a chat message saying “hi” with multiple exclamation points, and it is confirmed that she will be followed up with after the webinar to ensure that the lifetime website plan is added to her account (00:26:00).

Business & Website Lessons from 2022 (00:26:20)

• The community was asked to share one thing they learned about their business, website, or community in 2022, with the goal of helping others with their directory websites (00:26:24).
• Ronnie shared that his directory had its best year ever, and one key factor was providing extra value to the community through content and resources, making the website a valuable resource beyond just a listing (00:27:05).
• Ronnie suggested that other directory owners could offer training or partner with people who can provide training to their community, which can help users better their careers and increase the directory’s value (00:27:50).
• Lindsay advised promoting members to a wider market through social media and keeping the directory updated daily, including removing irrelevant listings to maintain the directory’s purity and relevance (00:28:42).
• Lindsay also emphasized the importance of engaging with the community and promoting members to attract more users to the directory (00:28:52).

Matthew’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:29:49)

• Matthew Brooks shared his favorite 2022 updates, which include web Hooks and Zapier Integrations, allowing users to get data from various storage places and interact with members and customers, and then send that data to other platforms such as Mailchimp or Google Sheets (00:30:26).
• These updates enable a powerful process, allowing users to automate tasks, such as inputting customer data from e-commerce sites, creating member listings, and sending targeted email sequences, all happening automatically (00:31:12).
• The second update Matthew mentioned is the new search subscriptions page, which adds power and visibility to the Brilliant Directories platform, enabling users to manage and view all subscriptions at once, and make business decisions more easily (00:31:55).
• This new page will also allow users to search for specific members, export or email them, or integrate them with other platforms, making it a valuable tool for website owners (00:32:27).
• The web Hooks and Zapier Integrations have transformed Brilliant Directories from a standalone platform to a connected hub, allowing seamless data syncing with other platforms, and the search subscriptions page is a key component of the platform’s roadmap goals for 2023, including better reporting tools and data portability (00:33:17).

Rick’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:33:56)

• Rick Martinez is a staff member at Brilliant Directories, and he shared his favorite 2022 updates, which include the text label Translation and the Member Credit system, as these two updates had a significant impact on the platform (00:33:56).
• The text label translations project has been completed for Spanish language, and work is in progress for French language and German language translations, which will open more doors for brand directories users (00:34:34).
• The Member Credit system allows users to incentivize their members and users to be part of their community by crediting their accounts, which can be used to purchase digital products or other offerings on their websites (00:35:11).
• The text label translations will enable more international users to easily use the Brilliant Directories platform by instantly translating 1800 default text labels (00:36:00).
• The Member Credit system is a great way to incentivize signups by giving users credits to use on the site, and it is highly recommended to utilize this system to get users signed up (00:36:05).
• A huge shoutout was given to the entire support team for answering over 11,000 support tickets and helping the community (00:36:24).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #2 (00:36:37)

• The lifetime website giveaway has begun, with the number of attendees increasing to 107, and the number system will be used to determine the winner (00:36:37).
• Each attendee has been assigned a number, and the numbers will be shuffled to ensure a random selection, with Debbie Grammer being excluded from winning again since she has already won once (00:36:55).
• The wheel will be spun to select the winner of a new lifetime website plan, and there are a few more giveaways coming up (00:37:06).
• The winner of the lifetime website plan is number 48, and after checking, it was found that the winner is Leo (00:37:10).
• Leo was given an opportunity to say something, but he was self-muted, so the connection with him will be made after the webinar, and the new lifetime website plan will be added to his account (00:37:34).
• Congratulations were extended to Leo, and the webinar will continue with a couple more giveaways, with the hope that someone else will win (00:37:50).

Jason’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:38:01)

• The image kit update was a notable 2022 update, which is a third-party tool that allows displaying all website images in an optimized webp format, and it is a plug-and-play system that helps boost web page speed scores and load pages quicker, improving the user experience (00:38:01).
• The image kit update can significantly improve web page speed scores, with potential increases of 10, 20, or 30 points, depending on the specific page and the number of images (00:38:18).
• Another significant update is the ability to create members from external sources, such as Shopify buyers or form submissions from platforms like Typeform (service) or ClickFunnels, which can be converted into members of the site and remarketed to from within the platform (00:38:42).
• This ability to create members from external sources expands the reach of the platform exponentially and allows for faster community growth, rather than relying on direct website traffic (00:39:01).
• These updates, including the image kit and the ability to create members from external sources, were considered top picks for 2022, and they can help improve the overall performance and growth of the platform (00:39:22).

David’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:39:31)

• The file uploads for forms add-on has expanded the possibilities of what’s capable with the BD website, allowing members and website visitors to upload and attach files to various form submissions, such as lead forms, member contact forms, and post publishing forms, broadening the potential scope of BD websites and the amount of information that can be collected and distributed (00:39:37).
• The bulk email and newsletter workflow update has added a new design and user interface to the send newsletter section of the admin area, streamlining the process for sending out newsletters or one-off email blasts, and allowing for more fine-tuned communication with certain website users and members by selecting contact tags and automatically updated smart lists (00:40:18).
• The file upload fields for forms have various use cases, including creating forms for job listings where people can submit their resumes, and allowing consumers to upload images of projects they need help with for local business or contractor and construction directories (00:41:07).
• The email newsletter workflow is on the roadmap for further improvement, which will enhance the experience for everyone (00:41:36).
• David’s top two picks for 2022 updates are the file uploads for forms add-on and the bulk email and newsletter workflow update, which have greatly improved the functionality of BD websites (00:39:31).

Kate Flannery’s Special Message (00:41:46)

• Kate Flannery, also known as Meredith, sends a special message to the community, wishing them all the best and congratulating the Brilliant Directories family on another year, with a reminder to keep working hard on their projects (00:41:46).
• She advises that if someone is having a tough day, they can sleep in, forget about their tasks, and possibly watch The Office (American TV series) to lift their mood (00:41:51).
• Kate Flannery expresses her appreciation for the past year and looks forward to the future, stating it’s going to be a good year and thanking the community for their support, while also wishing them a happy anniversary with many more to come (00:42:00).
• She compliments the community on their hard work and invites them to sing along to a special tune, leading them in a celebratory song with the lyrics “happy anniversary” (00:42:41).
• The message concludes with an announcement of another lifetime website giveaway, providing an opportunity for the community to receive a valuable reward (00:43:12).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #3 (00:43:20)

• The wheel is spun to determine the lucky attendee winner based on their attendee number, with 107 attendees still present (00:43:23).
• The winner of the giveaway is attendee number 104, who is identified as Tom Ballard (comedian), and his microphone is unmuted to congratulate him (00:43:45).
• Tom Ballard is asked about his history with the group, and he shares that he first found them through Appsumo, where he purchased the first product, and now has two subscriptions, jokingly referring to the group as “addictive” (00:44:02).
• Tom Ballard is then asked to provide information about an image kit URL, which he is requested to find and share (00:44:16).

Use ImageKit for Image Delivery (00:44:20)

• The discussion is about using Imagekit for image delivery, and there is a blog post that contains information about this topic, specifically a tip of the week that can be found by searching for “image kit (00:44:20).
• The blog post contains a link that explains how to plug and play the Imagekit solution into a website, which can be found by going to a specific minute in the blog post, and the solution can be implemented with ease (00:44:34).
• Tom is acknowledged for being part of the discussion and is congratulated on his potential to create something with his sites, and his appreciation for the software is also acknowledged (00:44:49).

Jeff’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:45:01)

• Jeffrey Wyatt is the chief operations officer and chief TCB at Brilliant Directories, and he is responsible for keeping the organization running smoothly (00:45:01).
• Two of Jeff’s favorite updates in 2022 include the Zapier Integrations and the creation of an API for developers to integrate with Brilliant Directories, allowing them to use the API directly or through Zapier and Pably for a point-and-click system (00:45:22).
• The API is designed for developers who want to create integrations with Brilliant Directories, and it provides a foundation for the Zapier and Pably integrations, which are built on top of the API (00:45:23).
• The new domain manager and email authentication features are also among Jeff’s favorite updates, allowing users to connect their domain and view statistics, warnings, and alerts, as well as troubleshoot issues quickly and reduce downtime (00:46:00).
• The email authentication settings ensure that more emails land in members’ inboxes and not in their spam folders, providing a more reliable email delivery system (00:46:03).
• The Brilliant Directories API is expected to continue developing and improving in 2023, providing more features and capabilities for developers and users (00:45:56).

Dennis’s Favorite 2022 Updates (00:46:52)

• Dennis Tenorino, the Customer Success Director, shared his favorite 2022 updates, starting with the website speed updates, which improved the front-end performance of websites on the Brilliant Directories (BD) platform, making them work really fast and providing a better visitor experience (00:46:54).
• The BD team worked hard to make the websites fast, especially considering the complexity of directory websites, which have many moving parts, including searching, sorting, and dynamic content, and this improvement is a game-changer for users (00:47:28).
• Another favorite update is the new integration called Embedly, which is an advanced setting that enables embedded functionality on the front end for all editors, supporting over 700 content providers, including video, audio, photos, products, and more (00:48:53).
• Embedly allows users to embed content from various sources, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, and Imgur, without needing to modify code, making it a powerful and exciting integration (00:48:55).
• The Embedly integration is easy to use and is already integrated into Brilliant Directories, requiring no additional sign-up or setup, and can be enabled in the advanced settings to add it to the text editor toolbar (00:50:37).

More Intuitive Admin Area (00:50:55)

• The 2023 vision for Brilliant Directories includes a roadmap with three hundred project cards in the queue, prioritized based on security, speed, and bug fixes, with new feature releases to follow (00:50:55).
• A more intuitive admin area is at the top of the list, aiming to help users work faster and more efficiently, with smoother workflows for matching leads, scheduling newsletters, and creating email templates (00:51:25).
• The admin area will receive TLC and love, with improvements to the workflow for creating email templates, sending newsletters, and post-sending reporting and stats, as well as the ability to create smart lists based on newsletter data (00:51:37).
• The ability to create smart lists based on segmented data, such as emailing people who did or did not open an email, will be introduced, making it more intuitive to design web pages and manage members (00:51:54).
• The drag-and-drop feature for content blocks will be enhanced, empowering users to design pages and create blog posts more easily, with more powerful member management capabilities, including graphs and charts (00:52:12).
• The page load time of admin pages will be improved, reducing wait time when navigating between pages, and the ability to preview and revert changes to sidebars, forms, and web pages will be explored (00:52:30).
• More reporting, charts, graphs, and statistics will be introduced, providing a better understanding of website health regarding member engagement, finance, and more, with data portability being the second big-picture item on the list (00:53:16).

Data Portability & Integrations (00:53:33)

• More integrations are being seen, with people integrating their existing data with Brilliant directories and vice versa, making it easier to populate a site with content and members from external sources and send data out to other platforms (00:53:35).
• The ability to populate a site with content and members from external sources and send data out to other platforms is a noteworthy feature, allowing for more flexibility in data management (00:53:43).
• To support users, more integration use cases and tutorial videos will be created, focusing on popular platforms and trending questions, to provide an idea of what can be done with the available integrations (00:53:52).
• The goal is to give users an understanding of the possibilities and applications of the integration features, by using buzzwords and providing concrete examples and tutorials (00:54:02).
• Brilliant is committed to making integrations a staple of its service, with a focus on making it easier for users to manage their data and content across different platforms (00:54:10).

Ongoing Updates & New Features (00:54:14)

• Directories is always delivering ongoing updates and new features, with a focus on speed, security, and stability, and this process is continuous (00:54:14).
• The platform prioritizes bug fixes, addressing both small and big issues reported by users, and resolves them quickly (00:54:22).
• Feature requests from users are taken seriously and are prioritized based on popularity, demand, need, and necessity, although not all requests can be implemented (00:54:31).
• The platform is open to user suggestions and feedback, and users are thanked for their contributions to the platform’s development and growth (00:54:42).
• There are bigger picture updates planned for 2023, which will be discussed in future webinars, including lab updates that will cover newly released features (00:54:49).

“Remember how far you’ve come…” (00:55:01)

• Remembering how far one has come, not just how far they have to go, is crucial, as it helps to acknowledge progress and stay motivated, and this mindset is essential for success (00:55:01).
• It is important to recognize that one is not where they want to be, but neither are they where they used to be, which means there is always room for improvement and growth (00:55:07).
• Showing up every day and making incremental progress on a worthy idea is the definition of success, and there is no end point, just continuous progress (00:55:21).
• Taking breaks and stepping away from tasks is sometimes necessary to reset one’s mind and come back to the project with a fresh perspective, which can actually help move the project forward (00:55:36).
• Getting away from screen time and taking time to think positively can help generate the best ideas, and going for a walk or taking a shower can be great ways to clear one’s mind and come up with new ideas (00:55:52).
• Having a worthy idea and making incremental progress on it, while remembering how far one has come, is key to staying motivated and achieving success (00:56:01).

Brilliant Directories Community Awards (00:56:12)

• The Brilliant Directories Community Awards recognize community members who have helped other users in the Facebook group, with a special shoutout to Terence, Karen, Spencer, Jessica, and community MVP Gregory Bell for their contributions (00:56:13).
• The Facebook group has seen significant engagement, with over 4,200 new posts and 26,000 new comments in the last year, and community members have been helpful in answering questions and providing insights (00:56:29).
• The community is encouraged to continue asking questions in the Facebook group, even if they think their question might be simple or have been asked before, as it can be helpful to others and provide valuable feedback for improvement (00:57:47).
• Asking questions in the Facebook group can also help identify areas for improvement in the admin area, making it more intuitive for users, and is seen as a good indicator for things that could be improved upon (00:58:24).
• The community is appreciated for their engagement and help, and the Facebook group is a valuable resource for users to get help and support from each other, with the goal of continuing to build a helpful and supportive community (00:57:22).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #4 (00:58:40)

• A lifetime website giveaway was held, and the current winners were congratulated, with a new spin of the wheel to determine the next winner (00:58:40).
• The wheel was spun, and the number 35 was selected as the winning number, with 105 attendees still present and each having a assigned number (00:58:50).
• The winner of the lifetime website plan was announced as Johnny York, a BD veteran, who was given the opportunity to say a few words after his mic was unmuted (00:59:12).
• Johnny York was congratulated on his win, and it was announced that he would be connected with after the webinar to deliver his lifetime website plan, with the expectation of seeing what he would create with it (00:59:34).
• Johnny York’s history with BD was noted, as he has been a veteran for a while, and he was thanked for his participation, with the giveaway being considered a freebie for him (00:59:42).

Shooter McGavin’s Special Message (00:59:53)

• Shooter McGavin is giving a special message to the BD community and the APDT family from his “myna cave”, where he is living his dream and wants everyone to be in their happy place (00:59:54).
• He congratulates the BD family on working hard on their dreams and passions, and looks forward to 2023 being a great and amazing year because they have put in the time and paid their dues (01:00:21).
• Shooter references his famous golf shot, where he chipped the ball off a monster’s tomb and made a 32-foot putt, and encourages the BD family to keep the momentum they built in 2022 going into 2023 (01:00:52).
• He advises them to play it as it lies, follow the rules, and keep working hard to achieve their goals, and to not let anyone bring them down (01:00:42).
• Shooter tells the BD family that it’s their time, they’re on their tour, and they should keep going for it, one shot at a time, one customer at a time, and one business deal at a time (01:02:01).
• He ends his message by wishing the BD family a great 2023, telling them to bring it every time, and that all the no’s will eventually lead to a yes (01:02:10).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #5 (01:02:30)

• The wheel is spun one more time to determine the winner of the lifetime website giveaway, and Johnny is unmuted to express his appreciation for the software, stating that it is an amazing full package solution (01:02:33).
• Johnny mentions that he was about to buy another license and appreciates the opportunity to participate in the webinar, and he is congratulated on his participation (01:02:45).
• The winner of the lifetime website giveaway is announced as number 102, which corresponds to Tim Martin, and arrangements are made to connect with him after the webinar to add the giveaway to his account (01:03:31).
• Tim Martin is congratulated on his win, and it is explained that he will be emailed shortly after the webinar with details about his lifetime website giveaway (01:03:54).
• The webinar is concluded, with a final message to the participants, and the host mentions that they have reached the end of the road (01:04:02).

Thank You from BD! (01:04:05)

• The BD Community is appreciated and loved for growing their websites, with a message of gratitude expressed for their partnership (01:04:07).
• The upcoming year, 2023, is anticipated with enthusiasm, and the greatest success is wished for everyone, as hard work is being done to help the community succeed (01:04:13).
• Mutual support is valued, and it is acknowledged that both parties show up for each other, with appreciation expressed for each and every member of the community (01:04:27).
• As a token of appreciation, one more lifetime website giveaway is announced, in response to a request from Dennis (01:04:37).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #6 (01:04:40)

• A lifetime website giveaway is being conducted, and the winner is determined by spinning a wheel, with the winner being Misty Warren, who has won a lifetime website plan for the end of 2022 (01:04:42).
• Misty Warren is given the opportunity to say a few words after being announced as the winner, but it appears that her microphone is not on, and she is self-muted (01:04:56).
• Despite the technical issue, congratulations are extended to Misty Warren, and it is announced that the lifetime website plan will be added to her account after the webinar, as her email address is already on file (01:05:21).
• Viewers are encouraged to catch up on videos in the Facebook group and visit the website at brilliantdirectories.com forward slash Facebook for more information (01:05:33).
• The process of giving away lifetime website plans is ongoing, with another giveaway being mentioned, and Dennis is referenced as wanting to participate (01:05:40).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #7 (01:05:42)

• The lifetime website giveaway is announced, and it is mentioned that everyone is still participating, with the plan to do only three giveaways, specifically for 2022, and the wheel is spun to determine the winner (01:05:42).
• The wheel is spun, and the initial number selected is 35, which corresponds to Johnny York, but since there cannot be two winners, the wheel is spun again (01:05:51).
• The wheel is spun for the second time, and the number selected is 40, but then it is revealed that the actual winner is Raquel Osborne, who is then unmuted and congratulated on winning the lifetime website plan (01:06:12).
• Raquel Osborne is informed that she will be connected with after the webinar to send over the details of her lifetime website plan, and another participant, Randy, is also given the opportunity to speak and express his gratitude (01:06:31).
• Randy is unmuted and expresses his thanks, also reiterating what Johnny York had previously said, showing appreciation for the giveaway (01:06:40).

Suggestion to select multiple membership plans within Search Transactions page (01:06:47)

• A suggestion was made to add a checkbox feature to the subscriber search function, allowing users to select multiple membership plans at once, which would make it easier to search for specific plans, for example, searching for three out of five plans (01:06:59).
• The proposed feature would enable users to check multiple plans, eliminating the need for multiple dropdown searches, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, requiring three or four separate searches (01:07:46).
• The idea of adding a “select all” or “deselect all” option was also mentioned, which would provide more flexibility and convenience when searching for specific membership plans (01:07:01).
• The suggestion was well-received, and it was noted that this feature was already being considered, with the goal of making the search process more efficient and user-friendly (01:07:42).
• The conversation also touched on the topic of coupon codes, which are currently available, but no further details were discussed in this segment (01:07:57).

Allowing coupon codes to be used only for certain member subscription terms? (01:08:02)

• The possibility of offering certain coupon codes and promos only to annual payment subscribers, and not to monthly or semi-annual subscribers, is being considered, with the current limitation being that there is no way to distinguish between different payment plans within the coupon codes without creating a new membership plan (01:08:03).
• Cloning a membership plan is currently the way to achieve this, but it is not a straightforward solution, and an update is coming that will enable more granular options for applying coupon codes, including potentially distinguishing between annual and monthly membership plans (01:08:34).
• The upcoming update will allow for more flexibility in applying coupon codes, including one-time purchases, and may include the option to specify whether a coupon code can be applied to annual or monthly membership plans (01:08:42).
• This feature has been requested by multiple people, including Colette, who has asked for it in a previous webinar, and a note will be made to consider implementing it (01:09:06).

Adding multiple hero dividers to the homepage? (01:09:19)

• The design settings allow for the selection of what is displayed, including section settings, and there is an option to go custom with content one to five (01:09:19).
• If a user wants to add additional items, such as duplicating the hero section on a different portion of the page, redesigning it will not create a new design on the lower part of the page, it will just duplicate the original (01:09:36).
• There is currently no way to have multiple hero dividers with different information on the homepage, but a custom content block can be used with a background similar to the hero divider (01:10:10).
• The hero divider is essentially three content blocks, and a user can modify a custom content block to have a similar design to the hero divider (01:10:26).
• The custom content options are limited to five, and if more are needed, the user will have to create a new widget and render it inside one of the custom content blocks (01:10:51).
• To add more than five custom content sections, a user can create a widget with custom code and render it inside a custom content block (01:11:12).

New Add-On: Star Ratings for Posts (01:11:33)

• A new add-on feature is being introduced, which will allow users to add star ratings to their posts, enabling people to leave comments with star ratings, ranging from one to five, for products, classifieds, or coupon codes, among other things (01:11:37).
• This feature will also allow users to search comments based on the star rating, and it will be possible to enable or disable this feature for each post type, with its own settings (01:12:10).
• The introduction of star ratings is part of a larger effort to reimagine post comment settings, which will eventually include the ability to enable upvotes and downvotes, as well as other metadata-related settings for post comments (01:12:26).
• The new layout for post comments will be rolled out in early 2023, starting with basic settings and the ability to enable star ratings, with upvotes, downvotes, and other features to follow (01:13:04).
• The goal is to provide a more Reddit-like experience for users, with features like upvotes and downvotes, which will be useful for discussions, products, classifieds, and other types of posts (01:13:22).
• Johnny, who has been requesting upvote and downvote features, will likely be pleased with this development, which will provide more options for post comment settings and metadata (01:12:21).

Lifetime Website Giveaway #8 (01:13:45)

Santa’s Special Message (01:15:12)

• A special Christmas message is being delivered to all members in good standing of the North Pole VIP Squad, also known as the five-star VIP Squad, which is a term used by the elves to make members feel special when discussing the nice list (01:15:13).
• The members of the Brilliant Community, also referred to as the BD family, have achieved a highlight and mile marker of their journey by being on the nice list, and they are celebrating the end of an amazing 2022 (01:15:40).
• The elves have informed Santa that everyone in the Brilliant Community has worked hard on their projects and deserves a pat on the back, and they should stay positive because 2023 will be even better and brighter (01:15:57).
• Santa reminds the members that there will always be a very special place in his heart for them, and he wishes them a Merry Christmas, encouraging them to visit BrilliantDirectories.com and join the conversation if they are not already members (01:16:18).
• The team at Brilliant DirectoriesM will be doing an IPad giveaway when they reach webinar 150, which is just a few webinars away, and they will make a big announcement during that webinar (01:16:48).
• The team expresses their love and gratitude to the members for joining the webinars in 2022 and wishes them a great day and a brilliant week, looking forward to catching up with them in 2023 (01:17:04).