
Key Topics:
- 2:44 – EMAILS: Unsubscribe Page Now Auto-Fills the Email Address
- 3:26 – DESIGN: Several More Style Options in Text Editor
- 8:38 – MEMBERS: New Look on ‘Search Members’ Page, Easily Copy Data
- 10:00 – HELPBOT: BD Helpbot to Assist with Your Site & Answer General Questions
- 10:28 – SPEED: More Optimizations for Admin Speed & Stability were Released
- 10:36 – SEO: Ability to Optimize Filenames and Alt Tags of Post Images & Album Images
- 11:02 – DESIGN: Your Theme Colors Available Directly in Text Editor Color Picker
- 11:36 – WEBHOOKS: Schedule Automatic Smart List Syncing to Send Out Webhook Data
- 12:11 – PHOTOS: Access to Millions of Stock Photos Directly In Text Editor and Around Admin
- 12:45 – SEARCH: Infinite Scrolling with Insta-Load Search Results Add-On
- 13:40 – TONS MORE: Speed, security, quality-of-life features and exciting new releases on the way!
- 14:15 – Selecting a member join date range for smart lists?
- 15:27 – Can the BD Helpbot assist with utilizing the BD API?
- 18:20 – Using BD’s New AI Helpbot
- 18:49 – Where to Access BD Helpbot
- 19:46 – Tips for Best Use
- 24:55 – 4 Key Use Cases (Plus Infinite More)
- 26:19 – Use Case Examples
- 28:44 – Demo: Using the BD Helpbot
- 36:03 – When will email newsletters overhaul be released?
- 37:47 – Add custom SEO content to specific post and post category pages? – Support Document
- 43:48 – How to add name field to free member registration page? – Support Document
- 47:02 – Can members choose which language they want to receive emails in?
- 54:55 – How to prevent new signups for certain membership plans?
- 59:19 – Best way to send newsletters to members? – Support Document
New Features
Coming Soon
Tip of the Week
Questions & Answers
EMAILS: Unsubscribe Page Now Auto-Fills the Email Address (00:02:44)
- The unsubscribe link included in members’ emails will now auto-fill with the email address on the unsubscribe page when clicked, based on the email address passed in the URL (00:02:45).
- The auto-fill feature is automatically enabled for the unsubscribe link, which is typically included in emails sent to members (00:02:48).
- An upcoming update will provide the option to turn the unsubscribe link on or off for each email template, allowing for more control over when the link is displayed, such as disabling it for transactional emails like invoice receipts (00:03:03).
- The ability to turn the unsubscribe link on or off will be useful for cases where unsubscribe is not desired, such as for transactional emails, while still allowing it to be kept on for other types of emails (00:03:11).
- The update is intended to follow best practices and provide more flexibility in email template design, particularly with regards to the unsubscribe link (00:03:23).
DESIGN: Several More Style Options in Text Editor (00:03:26)
- The text editor has several new style options available, including the ability to enlarge or shrink images on hover, as well as more granular control over image display on different devices (00:03:28).
- Three new design elements have been added in this update, related to images, tables, and table cells, and these elements can be accessed in the web page builder (00:03:42).
- Images can now have a star icon, indicating custom styling options, and can be shaped into squares, rounds, or circles, with the true circle shape requiring a square image (00:04:07).
- Table cells and tables have new options, including the ability to hide them on specific devices, such as mobile, tablet, or desktop, and to add background colors to individual cells or the entire table (00:04:56).
- A new feature allows tables to be turned into content box designs, which makes the content look like the rest of the content boxes on the website, and this design can be customized in the design settings (00:06:38).
- The content box design has options for background color, border color, font color, and corner shape, and can be used to add a consistent style to the website (00:07:20).
- New animations for button links are coming soon, including a rattle effect, enlarge or shrink effect, and shadow effect on hover, which can be used to make buttons more engaging (00:08:10).
MEMBERS: New Look on ‘Search Members’ Page, Easily Copy Data (00:08:38)
- The search members page in the admin area has a new look, which is very subtle, and it is now easier to copy member data as well as view that data (00:08:40).
- The search members page displays examples of member data, including full names, and it is possible to distinguish between individual and company representations, with company names being listed in a specific format (00:08:51).
- The member data can be copied quickly, including phone numbers, company names, and addresses, and email addresses are hidden but still available (00:09:21).
- The email address is not visible but is still present and can be copied, and other member data such as phone numbers and company names can be easily copied (00:09:25).
- There will be smaller improvements made to the search members page in the future, including convenience changes and quality of life updates to make the admin area more intuitive and easier to navigate (00:09:38).
- These updates will allow users to work faster and navigate between admin pages more quickly, with the goal of making the admin area more efficient and user-friendly (00:09:51).
HELPBOT: BD Helpbot to Assist with Your Site & Answer General Questions (00:10:00)
- The BD Helpbot is now available to everyone and is empowered with Chat GP4, allowing it to assist with various tasks (00:10:00).
- The BD Helpbot has guard rails in place to focus on assisting with the BD website, but it can also provide marketing tips, copywriting, coding examples, and more, including PHP and CSS (00:10:06).
- The BD Helpbot can be a valuable assistant, offering help with a range of topics, and will be covered in more detail in the tip of the week section (00:10:13).
SPEED: More Optimizations for Admin Speed & Stability were Released (00:10:28)
- Optimizations were released into the platform to improve performance, with additional updates planned for the future (00:10:29).
- The development of these optimizations is ongoing, with new releases expected to be implemented soon (00:10:30).
- There are several key optimizations that are nearly ready to be released, with one major update being at the top of the list (00:10:33).
- The top optimization is one of several that are on the verge of being released, with its exact details and benefits to be announced (00:10:35).
SEO: Ability to Optimize Filenames and Alt Tags of Post Images & Album Images (00:10:36)
- The ability to customize file names and ALT tags of post images and albums is a useful SEO feature, allowing for optimization of these elements (00:10:36).
- Optimizing images was considered good practice in older SEO, and while it is still somewhat helpful now, Google can also read the content around images on pages to understand what they are (00:10:41).
- Having alt tags or ARA attributes on images is important because many screen readers rely on them to provide information about the images (00:10:52).
- Customizing file names and ALT tags can improve accessibility, as screen readers use this information to describe images to users (00:10:54).
- This feature can also enhance overall SEO by providing additional context about the images, which can be beneficial for search engine understanding and user experience (00:11:00).
DESIGN: Your Theme Colors Available Directly in Text Editor Color Picker (00:11:02)
- The text editor has theme colors, including button colors that have been selected for the site, which are accessible in the color pickers of the text editor, eliminating the need to copy and paste the color hex code each time (00:11:02).
- The available colors in the text editor’s color pickers include the button colors, header main menu colors, website background, and font colors, which are limited to about nine colors from the design settings key color (00:11:20).
- These nine colors, which include the key color, are available in the color pickers, so there is no need to worry about copying and pasting the color codes anymore (00:11:26).
- The availability of these theme colors in the text editor’s color pickers is intended to simplify the process of selecting colors, as there is limited space and only a select number of colors are included (00:11:18).
WEBHOOKS: Schedule Automatic Smart List Syncing to Send Out Webhook Data (00:11:36)
- The system is undergoing a big QA process to ensure its functionality and comprehensiveness, particularly in relation to scheduling automatic smart list syncing (00:11:36).
- The ability to schedule automatic smart list syncing allows users to create segmented smart lists, such as a list of inactive California members, and send the list to third-party platforms like Mailchimp using a webhook (00:11:39).
- The smart lists are dynamic, meaning people can leave and enter the list based on matching filters, and scheduling automatic syncing enables users to send updated data to third-party platforms at regular intervals, such as every minute, hour, or day (00:11:53).
- This feature is useful for keeping third-party platforms updated with the latest information from the smart lists, which can change frequently due to the dynamic nature of the lists (00:12:04).
PHOTOS: Access to Millions of Stock Photos Directly In Text Editor and Around Admin (00:12:11)
- The system allows users to add stock photos directly into the text editor and around the admin area, making it easier to find a hero image for a homepage or landing page (00:12:11).
- This feature is intended to help users design their site more quickly and efficiently by providing access to millions of stock photos without having to go elsewhere (00:12:15).
- The stock photo feature will also be available when creating blogs on the front end of the site, allowing users to easily add images to their blog posts (00:12:31).
- The overall goal of this feature is to help users design their sites more quickly and efficiently, saving them time and effort (00:12:38).
- The system aims to provide a more streamlined design process by integrating stock photo access directly into the text editor and admin area (00:12:43).
SEARCH: Infinite Scrolling with Insta-Load Search Results Add-On (00:12:45)
- The Insta-Load Search Results Add-On allows users to load more search results by clicking a button, instead of navigating through multiple pages, and this feature can be enabled on a website (00:12:45).
- There is a setting that enables automatic loading of more results after 2 seconds when the user reaches the bottom of the page, providing a seamless experience for users (00:12:57).
- The automatic loading feature can be demonstrated on a test site, where scrolling down to the bottom of the page automatically loads more results without requiring a click, and this feature is still being refined to ensure a smooth and sleek experience (00:13:12).
- The Insta-Load Search Results Add-On is expected to be highly effective on mobile devices, and there will be an option to enable this feature only on mobile devices if desired (00:13:32).
- The add-on is designed to provide a convenient and user-friendly experience, with options for customization to suit different website needs, including the ability to choose when and how the automatic loading feature is applied (00:13:36).
TONS MORE: Speed, security, quality-of-life features and exciting new releases on the way! (00:13:40)
- The focus for the next couple of months will be on speed and security updates, as well as quality of life features, with some exciting new releases on the way (00:13:40).
- A big thank you is extended to the community for their support, and there will be an opportunity to take a question or two before moving on to the tip of the week related to the new features or upcoming releases (00:13:48).
- Viewers are invited to raise their hand if they have a comment or question about the new features or upcoming releases, and Tim and Stephen are noticed as having their hands up, with Stephen being given the opportunity to ask his question first (00:14:01).
- Stephen is given the chance to ask his question, and he inquires about the smart list presentation (00:14:09).
Selecting a member join date range for smart lists? (00:14:15)
- Creating a smart list can be done dynamically, but it is possible to add guard rails to filter members based on specific criteria, such as join date, to create a static list for a particular time period, for example, members who joined in the month of August (00:14:17).
- To achieve this, a smart list can be created with specific conditions, such as members from California, and then further filtered by join date to include only those who joined at a certain time, effectively making the list static for that particular time period (00:14:40).
- By setting a specific join date range, such as the month of August, the list becomes static because the join date is a solid and unchanging number, and no one can move in or out of the list once the time period has passed (00:14:57).
- This approach allows for the creation of a list with specific members, such as California members who joined at a certain time, without the risk of other members joining or leaving the list after the fact (00:15:04).
- The use of guard rails and specific join date ranges provides a way to lock down the list and prevent changes over time, making it a useful tool for managing member lists (00:15:11).
Can the BD Helpbot assist with utilizing the BD API? (00:15:27)
- The helpbot is expected to assist with utilizing the BD API, as it has been loaded with documentation from the support center, although it is still learning and improving over time (00:15:27).
- The API is a significant aspect that the helpbot will be able to provide assistance with, including endpoints and practical documentation, which will be crowdsourced from third-party developers (00:16:45).
- The helpbot’s development is motivating the team to focus on improving their documentation, making it more thorough, and providing better support for users (00:17:12).
- Users with specific questions about the API or helpbot can refer to the support team or ask in the Facebook group, and the team will review chats with the helpbot to strengthen its responses and improve its accuracy (00:17:48).
- The team plans to cover more information about using the API and helpbot in the tip of the week segment, which will include a Q&A session (00:18:03).
Using BD’s New AI Helpbot (00:18:20)
- The new BD helpbot is a tool that users can utilize to receive support, and there are slides available to help navigate its capabilities and limitations (00:18:20).
- The helpbot is a new line of support for everybody with a BD site, and it can be accessed in a few different ways within the system (00:18:45).
Where to Access BD Helpbot (00:18:49)
- The BD Helpbot can be accessed in different areas, including the support center, where an icon in the bottom right of the screen, represented by a light bulb, can be clicked to open the chatbot window (00:18:50).
- While working on a website or logged into the admin area, the BD light bulb icon can be found in the bottom right corner of the screen, allowing users to access the chat window (00:19:10).
- Within the account dashboard, the BD Helpbot can be accessed through a link or button at the top that says “BD Helpbot”, which will open up the chat window (00:19:23).
- The BD Helpbot icon is not visible in the bottom right corner of the screen when in the account dashboard, but instead, a button at the top provides access to the chat window (00:19:28).
Tips for Best Use (00:19:46)
- The chatbot’s source material includes Brilliant Directory support documents and blog articles, which it prioritizes, and it also has access to the internet for conducting research or generating content (00:19:51).
- The chatbot does not have access to account information, so users should reach out to the support team directly for billing questions or account-related issues (00:20:34).
- The chatbot is still in beta mode, so it is still learning and refining its responses, and users may need to reach out to the support team if they do not receive an accurate answer (00:20:58).
- Users can mark chatbot responses as helpful or not helpful, which helps the team refine the responses and improve the chatbot’s performance (00:21:28).
- The quality of the chatbot’s responses depends on the quality of the input, so users should provide clear, concise, and thorough questions to get the best results (00:21:41).
- The chatbot does not have access to Brilliant Directory’s source code, so it may not provide accurate answers to questions about code modifications or specific website elements (00:22:17).
- The chatbot uses Chat GP4 and can be used for a wide range of questions, including marketing, business strategy, and content generation, beyond just support for the Brilliant Directory site (00:22:45).
- Users can ask the chatbot to generate content, such as email templates or social media posts, to help with customer complaints or other business needs (00:23:20).
- The possibilities with the AI helpbot are endless, making it a great first line of defense for questions regarding the BD site, and it has a lot of information, but it is still in beta, so there may be times where users will still want to reach out to the BD support team (00:23:30).
- The chatbot is unable to visually identify errors on a website, so users will still need to reach out to the support team in certain circumstances, such as noticing visual errors on their website (00:23:52).
- The AI helpbot provides chat GB4 to BD customers all around the world, which is especially significant for customers in areas like Africa, such as Kenya, where they cannot access chat Generative pre-trained transformer or set up an account (00:24:15).
- The AI helpbot is being trained on the BD source code, which will allow it to provide more reliable answers to users’ questions, such as those related to their profile page, and help them with tasks on their site (00:24:30).
- The AI helpbot has several use cases, and there are many more that can be covered, making it a valuable tool for BD customers, with the goal of delivering reliable support and assistance (00:24:50).
4 Key Use Cases (Plus Infinite More) (00:24:55)
- The primary use cases of the chatbot include support, where users can get quick answers to basic questions while working on their website, instead of searching through the support center, and this can be done in less than a minute (00:24:55).
- The chatbot can be used for content creation, utilizing Chat Generative pre-trained transformer 4 to write articles, social media posts, and even generate content for emails to customers, social media influencers, or affiliates (00:25:19).
- The chatbot can also be used for development, generating code such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, but requires specific inputs from the user to provide the desired output (00:25:43).
- Additionally, the chatbot can be used for research, using Chat GPT 4 to answer any question, not limited to website-specific topics, and has access to other online resources beyond the support resources (00:26:00).
Use Case Examples (00:26:19)
- Some specific use case examples include adding a logo to a website, displaying membership plans side by side on a pricing page, and providing members with analytics on how many times their profile has been viewed (00:26:19).
- Broad questions can also be asked, such as those regarding website add-ons, analytics, and content creation, including asking the helpbot to write an article or a listicle, like a top 10 list for a city guide (00:26:50).
- The helpbot can be asked to write a short and engaging social media post, and it will provide ideas that can be used as a starting point for further development, even if the request is not specific (00:27:21).
- Development-type questions can be asked, such as providing code for a bootstrap Carousel slideshow, adding a shadow to an element using CSS, or activating specific tabs on a web page when it loads based on the hash in the URL (00:27:40).
- The helpbot can provide bootstrap snippets, specific CSS code, and JavaScript snippets, and its ability to provide accurate answers depends on the context and specificity of the question (00:27:51).
- The helpbot is a very good tool that can be used to generate ideas, write content, and provide code snippets, making it a useful resource for various tasks (00:28:35).
Demo: Using the BD Helpbot (00:28:44)
- The BD support center is a public site that contains a normal search function, allowing users to search for topics such as SEO, and it also features a bot that can provide assistance and answer questions (00:28:44).
- The bot can be used to search for articles and videos on specific topics, and it can also provide tips and suggestions, such as ways to motivate members to complete their listings and reduce churn rates (00:28:54).
- The bot is not only limited to support-related questions but can also act as an assistant, providing helpful information and suggestions while working on the BD website, such as exit surveys and improving retention (00:29:43).
- The bot can be used to ask questions about administrative tasks, such as logging back in, and it can provide instructions and reliable answers, reducing the need to email the support team (00:30:04).
- The bot is also available in the admin area, where it can be used to ask questions about settings and configurations, such as setting up a 301 redirect, and it is trained on the documentation to provide accurate answers (00:30:35).
- The support center has undergone a facelift, with articles now featuring a table of contents on the left-hand side, which was created using chat Generative pre-trained transformer to dynamically generate the contents based on subheadings (00:31:23).
- The team will be reviewing and updating articles to ensure they have proper subheadings, making it easier for users to navigate and find the information they need (00:31:46).
- The bot can also be used to ask for marketing ideas and suggestions, and it can provide helpful responses when given context and specific information, such as writing article topics for a directory website (00:32:08).
- The process of writing article topics for a blog is demonstrated, including writing an article outline and using headings, with the goal of creating content such as “top 10 tax law lawyers in San Diego” (00:32:40).
- The AI helpbot can be used to write articles, and it is recommended to be literal with what you want it to do, as this will produce better results, and it can even create articles with subheadings (00:33:00).
- The AI helpbot has a word limit, and it is possible to give it prompts to save time, and it can help create more templates for you, making it a useful tool for working quicker (00:33:40).
- The AI helpbot can also be used for designer development tasks, such as moving a logo 10 pixels to the left, and it provides the correct code and design settings (00:34:14).
- The AI helpbot can create JavaScript and JQuery to do complex tasks, and it can help develop things quicker, or at least review the code for errors (00:34:51).
- The BD helpbot can be found in the manage websites section, and it continues the conversation from a specific website, making it a self-explanatory and powerful tool (00:35:15).
- The AI helpbot is still being improved, but it is already powerful and will get better over time, and it can be used to answer questions and help with website-related tasks (00:35:31).
When will email newsletters overhaul be released? (00:36:03)
- The email newsletter overhaul is still on the watch list, with a self-imposed goal to have it ready by Black Friday (shopping), if not sooner, specifically targeting a release in October (00:36:22).
- The overhaul will add a lot of value, including three key features: scheduling newsletters for a future time, segmented stats of open, click, and deliver rates, and the ability to create smart lists from those statistics (00:36:47).
- The scheduling feature will allow users to send newsletters at a later time, such as scheduling them at night to be sent the next morning (00:36:53).
- The segmented stats feature will enable users to create smart lists from people who did or did not open the email, allowing for targeted follow-up emails (00:37:06).
- The goal is to have at least the first iteration of the email newsletter overhaul online by October, which is about a month from the current time (00:37:28).
Add custom SEO content to specific post and post category pages? (00:37:47)
- To address concerns about SEO for individual post type pages and category pages, a workaround is available by creating a static page and selecting the post type, which allows for custom SEO content to be added to specific post and post category pages (00:37:47).
- The process involves going to the front end of the site, copying the URL of the post type, creating a static page, and selecting the post search results page type, which then allows linking to a post type (00:38:35).
- Once the page type is set to post search results page, the meta title, description, and keyword can be customized, and social and custom content can be added to the page (00:39:32).
- The custom SEO content can be positioned above or below the member results, above or below the body content, or inside a tab, and can include videos, images, and other media (00:40:40).
- Additionally, a hero section with a background image can be added to the page, and the colors and other elements can be controlled (00:40:55).
- The process also allows for customization of category pages, which can be done by following similar steps and selecting the category page type (00:39:22).
- A color overlay can be added to a page, with the text color set to black, and a call-to-action (CTA) button can be included to prompt users to join or add blog articles and events, with the option to customize the button size and save the changes (00:41:41).
- The blog page has been enhanced with SEO-friendly meta tags, H1 headers, and the option to add H2 call-to-action headers, as well as custom SEO content, allowing for improved search engine optimization (00:42:02).
- To create a category page, a new web page can be created and set to the post search results page type, with the option to choose a specific category and customize the SEO settings, hero, and custom page content (00:42:21).
- The chatbot can be used to find information on how to add custom SEO content to post search result pages, and links can be shared on how to turn post and post category search results pages into static pages, which allows for added SEO value (00:42:52).
- Turning post and post category search results pages into static pages can solve SEO-related problems and provide enhanced SEO capabilities (00:43:12).
- The webinar will have a replay available, allowing viewers to re-watch and slow down the content if needed, and the host will move on to the next topic with Michael (00:43:35).
How to add name field to free member registration page? (00:43:48)
- To add a name field to the free member registration page, the first step is to edit the free signup form by going to the toolbox and form manager, and then adding a single line text field for the first name at the top of the form (00:44:19).
- The database variable for the first name field is important, and it is confirmed to be “first name” after checking the documentation, but for paid signup plans, it is recommended to use “member first name” to avoid conflict with the credit card name (00:45:10).
- After adding the first name field, it is also possible to add a last name field to collect the full name of the member, and both fields can be made required to ensure that members provide their complete name (00:46:05).
- To test the changes, a quick signup test can be done to verify that the first and last name fields are working correctly and that the information is being pre-filled in the dashboard (00:46:13).
- The process of adding name fields to the free member registration page is straightforward and can be completed quickly, allowing members to provide their full name when signing up for the basic membership (00:43:48).
Can members choose which language they want to receive emails in? (00:47:02)
- To accommodate French-speaking clients in Quebec, it is possible to create an alternate membership plan, such as a “Premium plan – French language” and a “Premium plan – English language”, which allows for emails to be sent in the preferred language of the member, based on the membership plan they are signed up to (00:47:10).
- Cloning membership plans and email templates, and rewriting them in French, can help to provide French correspondence to members who prefer it, and this process can be facilitated by using tools like chat Generative pre-trained transformer to translate email templates (00:47:21).
- Creating additional actions in workflows, such as automating lead emails to be sent in French to members who are signed up to the French membership plan, can also help to provide French correspondence, and this process can be customized based on the specific membership plans (00:49:02).
- Segmenting members into smart lists based on their membership plan, such as creating a smart list for all members who are signed up to a French membership plan, can help to ensure that newsletters are sent to members in their preferred language (00:49:56).
- While there is no single “silver bullet” solution to providing French correspondence, using a combination of these methods can help to achieve about 85% of the desired outcome, with some additional effort and “sweat equity” required to set up and manage the system (00:50:31).
- The membership plan can be used to determine the language of correspondence for members, and there are ways to have members indicate their preferred language, such as during the verification process or by creating a custom field for preferred correspondence language (00:51:00).
- The system currently sends automatic emails that cannot be easily translated, but there are potential solutions, such as turning off these emails and using web hooks to manage correspondence through a third-party platform (00:51:23).
- Web hooks can be used to send data to another platform when a member receives a review or submits a lead form, and this data can be used to determine the language of correspondence and send emails accordingly (00:51:59).
- The developer Hub can be used to access web hooks and set up automation tools, such as Zapier, to manage correspondence and send emails in the preferred language of the member (00:52:02).
- When a member signs up, a custom field can be added to ask for their preferred correspondence language, and this data can be used to determine the language of emails sent to them (00:53:36).
- The web hook will have all the information, including the preferred language, and can be used to route emails accordingly, allowing for automated correspondence in the member’s preferred language (00:54:01).
- The solution requires some configuration and work, but it is possible to set up a system that sends emails in the preferred language of the member, whether it be English language or French language (00:54:16).
- The conversation starts with a greeting, and a person named Milad is acknowledged, with Jason being asked how he is, to which he responds that he is fantastic (00:54:26).
- Jason is asked about the type of podcast microphone he is using, and he mentions that he is currently using his MacBook Pro, without any additional microphones like a Snowball (00:54:32).
- Jason explains that when he does his lessons as a professor at a college, he uses a more professional microphone, but his current setup sounds great (00:54:40).
- The conversation then shifts to asking Jason about his question for the day, but the question itself is not immediately stated (00:54:50).
- The discussion is informal, with the participants exchanging pleasantries and discussing their equipment, before moving on to the main topic (00:54:53).
How to prevent new signups for certain membership plans? (00:54:55)
- To prevent new signups for certain membership plans, it is possible to disable public sign up pages by editing the membership plan and setting “disable public sign up pages” to yes, which will not affect existing members (00:57:06).
- Another option is to set new signups as inactive or on hold after they sign up, which will prevent them from activating their own account (00:57:27).
- It is also possible to remove links to create a free user account from the login page by hiding or deleting the buttons, which can be done by adding CSS code to the page level or design settings (00:58:31).
- The Canada Made Products website had an issue with new members signing up despite the free membership being closed, and it was discovered that people were changing the URL to sign up for a different plan (00:56:37).
- To resolve this issue, the membership plan can be made dormant, and the public sign up page can be disabled, which will prevent new signups (00:56:33).
- Additionally, the login form can be checked for any links that may be allowing new signups, and these links can be removed or hidden (00:58:04).
Best way to send newsletters to members? (00:59:19)
- Members who have signed up to a platform have already opted in to receive marketing material, and it does not matter if they are not signed up to a newsletter, as they can still be contacted through the platform, with the option to opt out of correspondence later (00:59:56).
- When emailing a large number of people, it is recommended to send emails in small chunks to avoid errors and ensure that the email is working correctly, with the option to email the rest of the list after a few reliable sends (01:00:50).
- There is a limit of 1,000 recipients when sending newsletters, but this limit can be overcome by connecting a SendGrid account, which allows for an unlimited number of emails to be sent (01:01:12).
- Emailing people who have signed up to a site is not considered spam, as long as the emails are not burned and the recipients are given a good experience, with positive news, company updates, and opportunities to engage or upgrade their account (01:02:01).
- Members can be exported as a CSV file and contacted through a client like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, but it is also possible to use the platform’s built-in features to send emails, with the option to use SendGrid for larger email lists (00:59:25).
- The chat bot can be used to learn more about SendGrid and how to connect it to the platform, allowing for more flexible and efficient email sending (01:01:38).
- The cost of sending emails through SendGrid is much cheaper compared to other services like Constant Contact or MailChimp, making it a more commercial solution for integration (01:02:44).
- To set up a SendGrid account, users can quickly create one, provide their credit card information, obtain an API key, and plug it in to remove the send limit in their BD admin (01:03:11).
- An article is available that explains the process of setting up a SendGrid account and provides links to get started (01:03:07).
- The webinar will be taking a break and the next session will be held in two weeks, still in the month of September, with the replay to be posted in the Facebook group and on YouTube (01:03:49).
- The BD helpbot is available to answer questions, and users can find it in the support center and dashboard of their website admin, with lab updates and additional resources available (01:03:41).
- The Brilliant Directories team appreciate the participation and look forward to seeing users in the next webinar and in the Facebook group, where unanswered questions can be asked and answered (01:04:08).