Webinar Wednesday 157 – May 17, 2023

NOTES: Easily View Internal Member Notes in Admin (00:02:45)

• Internal notes can be left for a member in the admin area, and prior to an update, it was not easy to view these notes, but now they can be more easily accessed (00:02:46).
• The internal notes can be viewed by hovering over a black Thumbtack (website) icon on the member’s page, which will display the note based on what has been written for that member (00:03:11).
• To leave a note, the quick edit option can be used, where the note can be written, edited, and saved, and this is also where the notes can be viewed (00:03:23).
• The member’s detail page in the admin area now displays an alert box with the internal note, allowing for easier access and editing of the note (00:03:46).
• The internal notes can be edited by clicking on the edit option, which will open a pop-up with the note, and changes can be made and saved (00:03:59).
• The update allows staff to more quickly and easily view internal notes for a member, providing a better understanding of any notes that have been left (00:04:04).

VERIFY: Easily Identify Members You Marked as “Verified” (00:04:14)

• The “Verify” feature allows administrators to visually identify members who have been marked as verified in the admin area, which was not possible prior to this update (00:04:15).
• Administrators can now search for verified members using the “Verified Status” filter, which includes options for “Verified” or “Unverified” (00:04:41).
• A green check mark is displayed next to the verified member’s social media links, indicating their verified status, and this status can be manually assigned by the administrator or automated through the API (00:04:52).
• The verified member status can be manually changed by clicking on the “Quick Edit” pop-up under “Listing Settings” and selecting “Verified Member” to either yes or no (00:05:21).
• The purpose of the verified member status is to validate a member’s profile, similar to the blue check mark on Twitter, and this can be done by the administrator after reviewing additional information provided by the member (00:05:36).

SEARCH: Now You Can Filter by Sub-Sub Category in Admin (00:05:48)

• The admin area now allows filtering and searching by sub-sub category, enabling the ability to find members by sub-subcategory (00:05:50).
• Prior to this update, it was only possible to search members by their top-level category and sub-level category, but not by the third level, which is the sub-sub level category supported by BD (00:06:04).
• The new feature enables searching for specific members, such as those who do landscaping residential front yard work, and it is possible to search for members like Lisa (00:06:21).
• The benefit of this new feature is that it not only allows for searching, but also enables creating a smart list of sub-sub-level members, which can be used to market to this list specifically or segment them for other purposes (00:06:31).
• The smart list can be created based on specific search criteria, such as front yard landscape members, and can be used to send targeted emails or for other segmentation purposes (00:06:45).
• The third filter is now available, allowing for more precise searching and list creation (00:06:54).

EDIT: Now You Can Change One or Bulk Update Member’s Join Date (00:07:00)

• The ability to edit a member’s join date on a site has been released, allowing users to change the date specified in the database when a member joined the site, which is particularly useful when importing members and forgetting to add the join date (00:07:00).
• Users can change one member’s join date or bulk update members’ join dates, and to do this, they can use the checkbox to select multiple members and then use the bulk actions to update the join date (00:07:28).
• To update an individual member’s join date, users can either edit the member’s information directly or use the quick edit pop-up, where they can scroll down to the contact information section and change the join date, with the option to adjust the time and save the changes (00:08:09).
• The join date can be changed to any date, such as yesterday or a specific date in the past, and users can verify the changes by refreshing the page and checking the updated join date (00:08:23).
• This new feature simplifies the process of changing a member’s join date, as previously, users had to go into the SQL database and perform complicated steps, which is no longer necessary (00:08:44).

DESIGN: 2 New Widgets to More Easily Add Homepage Content (00:08:52)

• Designers can now update their home page content more easily with two new widgets that render above and below the home page hero search module, allowing for additional content to be added without having to edit the complicated home page widget (00:08:53).
• These new widgets are empty, requiring users to add content and code to them, making it easier for designers, including novice or beginner people, to add custom content to their home page (00:09:09).
• The new widgets can be used to add various types of content, such as calls to action, tag clouds of popular searches, and banner advertisements, to increase engagement when users land on the home page (00:09:42).
• To access these widgets, users can visit their website, show widgets, and customize the content above and below the home page search module, with the option to add images, tag clouds, and other decorative elements (00:10:03).
• Customizing these widgets requires some coding knowledge, but can be done to tastefully add other calls to action around the main search module, and users can refer to future webinars for more information on how to take advantage of these slots (00:10:45).
• The customized content will render above and below the home page search module, and with the correct coding, users can include content directly above and below this search module (00:11:15).

ZAPIER: Import Posts (events, articles etc.) from Feeds & 3rd Party Sources (00:11:27)

• Zapier has been updated to allow importing posts, events, articles, etc. from feeds and third-party sources, making it easy to use without requiring direct knowledge of the BD API, and this feature will be covered in more detail in another webinar (00:11:27).
• The Zapier update enables users to use RSS feeds, Google Sheets, or other sources as triggers, and then add actions such as creating posts, with the ability to choose the type of post and the BD account to sync with (00:11:50).
• When creating a post, users can select the post type, such as a community article, job listing, or event, and the system will pull the available post types from the user’s website, allowing for easy addition of new content (00:12:21).
• For photo album type posts, users can add a comma-separated list of image URL, enabling the creation of entire photo albums with multiple images, which has been tested with several feeds and produces good results (00:12:38).
• The Zapier integration allows for customization of post details, including the author, post status, and title, which can be pulled from the feed or third-party source used as the trigger, making it easy to populate websites quickly (00:13:06).
• The updated Zapier feature is now available, and future webinars will provide more information on how to use it to quickly populate websites with new content (00:13:21).

COUPONS: Coupon Code Support for One-Off Purchases (leads, digital products, etc.) (00:13:37)

• The ability to use coupon codes for one-off purchases, such as leads or digital products, will be available by the end of the week or more realistically by the end of next week (00:13:37).
• Currently, coupon codes can only be used for member sign-ups and upgrades, but with the update, users will be able to create coupon codes for digital products or leads, allowing them to offer discounts to specific membership plans or all users (00:14:04).
• The new feature will allow users to choose the type of discount, maximum uses, start date, and expiration date for the coupon code, as well as select which membership plans can use the coupon code (00:14:38).
• Users will be able to create coupon codes for specific digital products, such as Jason’s Fast Track ebook, and choose which membership plans can use the coupon code to redeem a discount (00:15:18).
• The update will also allow users to limit the use of coupon codes to specific users or membership plans, or leave it open for all users to use (00:15:36).
• The new feature will enable users to give premium members access to digital products for free or at a discounted rate using a promo code, and also allow them to purchase leads at a discounted rate (00:15:48).
• The release of the update is expected to be by the end of next week, to ensure that everything is properly tested and functional for users (00:16:29).

PRORATION: Enable Prorated Upgrades/Downgrades When Members Change Their Plans (00:16:37)

• Proration is a feature that allows members to change their plans and pay the prorated amount, rather than the full price, when they upgrade or downgrade their membership plans (00:16:38).
• The proration feature will be a setting that can be turned on or off for a site, and it will start in the disabled mode, so the way membership plans work currently will continue to work until it is released (00:16:51).
• The proration feature works with the Member Credits add-on, which adds or applies credits to a member’s site depending on the proration amount, and it will allow members to have a prorated discount when they change their plans (00:17:03).
• When a member changes their plan, they will be able to see the prorated amount they have left on their current plan, and they will be able to use that amount as credit for future payments, with the remaining amount being added to their account as credit (00:17:43).
• The order summary will show the prorated discount, any promo codes used, and the recurring amount, making it easy for members to see the details of their new plan and the amount they will be charged (00:18:00).
• The proration feature will be released soon, and site owners will be able to turn it on or off, allowing them to choose whether to offer prorated upgrades and downgrades to their members (00:18:18).

NEWSLETTERS: Better, Smarter Workflow When Scheduling Newsletters and Stats After Sending (00:18:27)

• A better UI for newsletters is being developed to provide users with better statistics, such as being able to see who opened the sent newsletter by clicking a button and viewing a pop-up with the corresponding emails (00:18:30).
• The new UI will also allow users to identify who did not open the email and create a smart list from that segmented group of users (00:18:39).
• This smart list can then be used as desired, and the update will also include significant speed improvements (00:18:49).

TONS MORE: Speed, security, quality-of-life features and exciting new releases on the way! (00:18:50)

• Security and quality of life features are coming soon, with a focus on improving the overall experience (00:18:52).
• There is an opportunity for comments or questions about the recently released or upcoming features, with all input being helpful (00:18:57).
• A participant named Brian B has a question, and his inquiry is acknowledged and responded to in a welcoming manner (00:19:07).
• Brian is greeted and thanked for joining the webinar, and his presence is appreciated (00:19:11).

Suggestion to allow users to purchase multiple digital products at once (00:19:15)

• A suggestion was made to allow users to purchase multiple digital products at once, which would be beneficial for customers who want to buy multiple items in a single transaction, such as tickets to different concerts or multiple copies of the same digital book, like Jason’s book (00:19:15).
• The idea of adding a quantity count when checking out with digital products was discussed, which would update the invoice with a line item, for example, showing four tickets instead of one, and this feature is estimated to be around 60 to 62 months away from implementation (00:19:51).
• Another idea mentioned was the ability to have an additional recurring model pinned to a digital product, allowing for a subscription-based access to the product, similar to a membership plan, but specifically for that digital product (00:20:17).
• The concept of a shopping cart functionality was also explored, where customers could add multiple digital products to their cart and purchase them in a single transaction, making the digital products more valuable (00:20:54).
• The suggestion to allow users to purchase multiple digital products at once was well-received, and it was agreed that implementing a quantity count would be a good starting point, with the potential to expand to more features like recurring subscriptions and shopping cart functionality in the future (00:21:01).

Can posts be imported via Pabbly? (00:21:40)

• The discussion is about whether posts can be imported via Pabbly, and it is mentioned that the team is in chats with the Pabbly Dev team to implement this feature (00:21:41).
• The model being used is to push the data into Zapier first, and then pass it to Pabbly, where their team will implement it, with an email to be sent to them to notify that the feature is in place (00:21:49).
• The Pabbly team is expected to replicate the feature into Pabbly, and the timeframe for this implementation is estimated to be around a week or two, given the team’s responsiveness and hunger for the feature (00:22:25).
• The team has a direct email with Pabbly’s Dev team and has had a positive experience with them, having previously demoed Pabbly in a previous webinar and shown how to use some Pabbly workflows (00:22:54).
• The majority of the focus has been on showing how to use Zapier, but having two quality companies like Zapier and Pabbly provides competition, which is good for consumers (00:23:10).

ChatGPT Content Creator (00:23:23)

• A new add-on is being introduced that integrates ChatGPT into Brilliant Directories, allowing users to generate content, emails, and more, streamlining workflows and saving time (00:23:24).
• The add-on integrates into the Farrella text editor, enabling users to type a prompt, highlight it, click a button, and receive an output from ChatGPT, which can be used to create content, such as bullet points or email templates (00:24:12).
• The integration is versatile and can be used in various ways, including creating new email templates, editing existing content, and generating ideas for articles, making it a useful tool for users (00:25:13).
• Users will have the option to choose which Farrella editors will have the ChatGPT icon, allowing them to customize the add-on to their specific needs, and can also make the toolbar option available to their members (00:26:07).
• To help users get started, some pre-made prompts will be available, which can be used to generate articles on various topics, including local directory websites, industries, or niches, providing a starting point for those with writer’s block or looking to enhance existing content (00:26:24).
• The add-on can be used to generate content quickly, even with misspelled prompts, and can help users create high-quality content with minimal effort, making it a valuable tool for those looking to streamline their content creation process (00:27:10).
• ChatGPT can be used to write intros to emails, welcome emails, and other content, and it provides a sizable amount of content, although it may be limited through the interface and only spits out plain text (00:27:18).
• The tool can be used to generate content on various topics, such as the benefits of doing downward dog before going to bed, and it can provide a great starting off point for those in the health and wellness industry (00:27:54).
• ChatGPT can also be used to analyze data and get ideas, and the more specific the input, the more interesting and unique the output will be (00:29:11).
• The tool can be used in conjunction with other features, such as Embedly integration, to pull data from sources like Yelp and add it to a website or blog post (00:28:23).
• ChatGPT can be used to write articles, and it can take less than 10 seconds to spit out an output, which can then be married with images and YouTube videos to create a comprehensive piece of content (00:29:32).
• The tool is being integrated into a web page builder, which will make it available not only for blog posts but also for creating new web pages, such as landing pages for ebooks (00:30:32).
• ChatGPT can be used to generate content for landing pages, and the more specific the input, the better the output will be, as seen in the example of generating content for an ebook about yoga tips (00:30:53).
• The generated content can be comprehensive and well-structured, as seen in the example of the ebook about yoga tips, which includes a welcome message and an introduction to the ebook’s purpose (00:31:04).
• The ChatGPT integration will be available for various tasks, including composing emails, and can assist in delivering customer service more quickly (00:31:14).
• The integration can help with writing emails, such as responding to upset customers or accidental billing charges, and can save templates on the site (00:31:27).
• The output of ChatGPT is only as good as the input, but it can be a great helping hand in creating content and encouraging users to add more content to the site (00:31:56).
• ChatGPT is not expected to replace jobs, but rather create new ones for people who know how to input good prompts to get meaningful outputs (00:32:23).
• Using shorter, more specific prompts tends to give better outputs, even when writing multi-piece articles, and breaking down large prompts into smaller sections can be helpful (00:32:56).
• The ChatGPT integration can make creating content for the website easier, saving time, and helping with SEO and user engagement (00:33:18).
• Giving text editors access to the ChatGPT tool and rewarding them with visibility or sharing their content on social media can encourage them to contribute more user-generated content to the site (00:33:37).
• The goal is to assist users in creating content, and with the ChatGPT tool, users may be more inclined to contribute to the site, helping it to come up in rankings and have more content for visitors (00:33:55).

How to verify a member? (00:34:36)

• The verified member status functionality allows members to be verified, and this status is displayed with a check mark in the search members page in the admin area (00:34:37).
• To verify a member, the administrator must first enable the verification option, which adds a “verify your profile” link to the member’s dashboard, where they can fill out a short form to provide proof of their identity or business (00:35:13).
• The form can be customized to request specific information, such as a copy of a business license, and the administrator can then manually review and verify the member’s information (00:35:25).
• Once a member is verified, they receive a “verified member” badge, which can be customized to display a different label, such as “certified member” or “trusted member” (00:35:49).
• The verification process involves the member uploading required documents, such as an image of their business license, and the administrator manually setting their status as verified (00:35:35).
• The verified member badge can be renamed to fit the community’s specific needs, with options such as “Superstar member” or other custom labels (00:36:07).

Will ChatGPT integration prompts be continuous? (00:36:37)

• The integration of ChatGPT prompts may not be continuous, as each highlight and submission appears to be its own separate request, meaning the conversation does not continue from the previous interaction (00:37:29).
• To add text to a previous prompt, users can highlight the previous text, modify it, and resubmit it, essentially redoing the conversation with the added text, as demonstrated with an example of explaining three ways downward dog relieves stress and anxiety (00:37:57).
• Users can also modify their highlighted text to make it longer or shorter and then resubmit it, allowing them to build upon their previous prompts and create a more focused conversation (00:38:01).
• The ability to continue a conversation with ChatGPT is not currently available, but it is possible that this feature may be added in the future, and users can work around this limitation by modifying and resubmitting their previous text (00:37:50).
• An example use case was provided, where a user asked ChatGPT to explain three ways downward dog relieves stress and anxiety, and then used the response to create subheadings for a section, demonstrating how users can utilize ChatGPT to generate content and then build upon it (00:38:22).

ChatGPT integration add-on release date? (00:38:43)

• The ChatGPT integration add-on is expected to be available within the next 30 days, with a more likely release date of next week or the week after (00:38:44).
• The development team is prioritizing the release of this feature due to its high value, and they are currently going through a quality assurance (QA) process (00:39:01).
• In addition to the ChatGPT integration, coupon codes for one-off payments are also being worked on, with an expected release date of end of next week or shortly after (00:39:09).
• The release of both the ChatGPT integration and the coupon codes is expected to happen this month (00:39:16).

Where will the ChatGPT integration be able to be used? (00:39:20)

• The ChatGPT integration will be a built-in integration with the page builder, blog builder, and other editors, allowing users to utilize it once the add-on is enabled (00:39:21).
• The integration will not have the ability to update the prompt or other features at the initial stage, but this functionality may be added later as the API becomes more robust (00:39:40).
• The development team will be checking on the API and adding features that make sense into the editor as it becomes available (00:39:50).
• There are plans to expand the integration’s capabilities in the future, with the goal of incorporating as much functionality as possible into the editor (00:39:57).
• Additional questions and topics related to the ChatGPT integration are being discussed and considered for future development (00:40:01).

How to import content without Zapier/webhooks? (00:40:06)

• Importing content without using Zapier or webhooks is possible by using a CSV file, which can be imported through the “manage posts” page, and a sample CSV template is available in the import guide (00:40:47).
• The import guide provides a link to view the import guide, which includes a sample CSV template that can be used as a model for importing posts (00:41:00).
• Another option is to create a custom plugin using the “brilliant directories create plug-in” admin feature, which allows users to create their own widget and render custom code in the admin panel (00:41:12).
• The custom plugin feature creates a new side menu item called “plugins” and allows users to manipulate the database and render custom code (00:41:30).
• The process of creating a custom plugin involves creating a plugin record, which allows users to create a link in the admin panel where they can render their code and perform custom actions (00:41:51).
• The custom plugin feature provides a way to extend the functionality of the platform and perform custom imports and manipulations (00:41:45).

Additional ChatGPT integration use cases / roadmap? (00:42:21)

• The possibility of additional use cases for the ChatGPT add-on is being considered, such as adding it to forms or utilizing other ChatGPT capabilities beyond content creation (00:42:22).
• The community may be involved in suggesting new use cases, potentially through a post in the Facebook group, to gather ideas that would be highly valuable for the majority of users (00:42:53).
• The main obvious use case for the ChatGPT add-on currently seems to be content creation, but exploring other applications where an input can be used to generate a useful output is of interest (00:43:22).
• The ChatGPT content generator will be made available in the text editor, aiming to make tasks easier, and other updates such as proration and coupon code support for one-off purchases are forthcoming (00:43:49).
• For those who may have missed or need a recap of the discussion, the YouTube live link will be posted in the Facebook group, accessible through brilliantdirectories.com/forward slash Facebook (00:44:06).
• The next webinar is scheduled for May 31st, and it will be the last one of the month, with more updates and discussions to be covered (00:44:18).