Webinar Wednesday 191 – November 20, 2024

Brilliant Directories Mobile App (00:02:01)

• The Brilliant Directories mobile app is available for download for free, and users can find it by visiting brilliantdirectories.com or searching for “Brilliant Directories” in the App store or Google Play (00:02:06).
• The app allows users to stay connected with their Brilliant Directories website, providing access to recent members, new transactions, and other features (00:02:13).
• The app will receive updates in 2025, focusing on real-time push notifications to alert users of new members and revenue as soon as they occur (00:02:25).

BD Giveaway (00:02:39)

• A free IPad giveaway contest is currently ongoing in the Brilliant Directories Facebook group, and all are welcome to participate by commenting on the giveaway post (00:02:42).
• To enter the contest, individuals can join the Brilliant Directories Facebook group and comment on the giveaway post, with a link to the post available in the chat (00:02:55).
• The contest was posted about five days ago, and the winners will be announced on November 29th, which is Black Friday (00:03:02).
• If the contest reaches 1,000 unique comments, the prize will be doubled, and two iPads will be given away (00:03:13).
• The current number of comments is 513, and participants are encouraged to share the link with friends to help reach the goal (00:03:23).
• The Brilliant Directories Facebook group is open to all, and new members are welcome to join and enter the contest (00:03:35).
• Webinar Wednesdays are a way for the platform to share updates, newly released features, and suggestions from users, with the goal of strengthening the platform (00:03:58).
• The webinars also cover features that users can take actionable steps on to increase website traffic, convert visitors to members, and explore revenue opportunities (00:04:17).
• A Q&A session will be held during the webinar, and participants are encouraged to ask questions or seek help with their site (00:04:30).
• The BD lab updates are a key part of the webinar, with several notable updates recently released and more coming soon (00:04:50).

TEXT EDITOR: Drag-n-drop and clone content blocks (00:05:02)

• The text editor now allows users to drag and drop as well as clone content blocks within the editor, a feature released for everyone and available in all text editors (00:05:03).
• Content blocks can be dragged into the text editor and were previously not movable or easily duplicable, but now have two new buttons: clone content block and move content block (00:06:18).
• The clone feature allows users to create an exact copy of a content block, and the move feature enables users to relocate content blocks within the text editor (00:06:26).
• When moving or cloning content blocks, an extra paragraph space is added above and below the block, allowing for easy typing and spacing between blocks (00:07:06).
• This extra space can be removed if desired, but it is designed to provide convenience and flexibility when working with content blocks (00:07:43).
• The drag-and-drop and cloning features are available not only in the web page builder but also in other areas with text editors, such as email templates and the front end when creating posts or blog articles (00:07:55).
• These features can be used to create landing pages, posts, and other content with ease and flexibility, making it a helpful tool for users (00:09:33).

ICON LIBRARY: Choose color of icon images for download (00:09:39)

• The icon library feature has been updated to allow users to choose the color of icon images for download, in addition to the default black color, providing more contrast and branding options (00:09:41).
• Users can access the free icon library, as well as the image library, and download icons in any desired color, which can be selected from the branding colors or a custom color (00:10:05).
• The icon library is part of the stock photo libraries, which include sources such as Unsplash, Giy, Pixip, and Pexels, and offers millions of free stock photos and icons (00:10:42).
• Users can search for icons by keyword, and the search results will display icons in the selected color, allowing for easy previewing and selection (00:10:51).
• The selected icon color will be applied to the downloaded icon, and users can choose from a wide range of colors, including their pre-selected branding colors (00:11:25).
• The icon library feature is useful for decorating landing pages, animating pages, and connecting text with features, and provides a convenient way to access and customize icons (00:12:09).
• Users can access the icon library from the text editor, and can replace existing images with icons from the library, which can be searched by keyword (00:10:25).
• The icon library feature is also useful for creating contrast and visual interest, as demonstrated by the example of using white icons on a hero divider (00:13:01).

BUSINESS DATA: Search by business name and/or category (00:13:16)

• A new feature has been added to import business data, allowing users to search by business name in addition to the existing 4,000 pre-selected business categories (00:13:17).
• To use this feature, users need to search by location and then can search by either business name or category, or both (00:14:08).
• The search function allows for partial name matches, exact name matches, and the ability to exclude specific names (00:14:43).
• Users can also filter results by preferred attributes such as email address, phone number, website URL, and recent data updates (00:15:41).
• The feature is particularly useful for local business directories, but may not be as applicable for private clubs or organizations (00:13:50).
• Searching by business name can help find businesses that may be miscategorized in the system, allowing for more accurate results (00:17:00).
• The feature can be used to find businesses with specific keywords in their name, such as “Roofing”, and filter results by preferred attributes (00:16:20).
• The search function can also be used to find businesses that do not include a specific name, such as “McDonald’s“, in their name (00:15:31).
• Searching for businesses with distinct endings in their company names, such as Limited liability partnership, can be an effective way to find specific types of businesses, like accounting lawyers, even if they are not easily found by category (00:17:23).
• Using a partial business name match can help find businesses with unique or distinct names, especially if searching by category is not yielding results (00:17:54).
• The search tool can be used to find businesses with LLP in their name, and it appears that these businesses are primarily accounting attorneys (00:18:14).
• The search results include profile logos and photos, as well as an “about” section that provides more information about the businesses (00:18:31).
• The search tool allows for unlimited searches without using credits, making it possible to test different combinations of category, business name, and location (00:18:55).
• The tool supports international searches, allowing users to search for businesses in any country or location worldwide, although results may be limited in more remote or less populated areas (00:19:14).

LOGIN: Show/hide password feature for better user experience (soon) (00:19:30)

• The member login page will soon have a hide or show password feature to improve user experience (00:19:34).
• This feature is beneficial for accessibility, as more people have complicated passwords, allowing them to see or hide the password as they type it in to log in (00:19:39).
• The hide or show password feature will be available not only for members but also for administrators when logging into the Brilliant Directories admin area (00:19:53).
• The feature will be represented by an eyeball or lock icon, a common design element for password visibility toggles (00:19:46).

BD API: New endpoint to search and fetch member results by any fields (soon) (00:19:59)

• The BD API is being further developed to include a new endpoint that will allow users to search and fetch member results by any fields, effectively enabling the creation of a search module on third-party websites (00:19:59).
• This new feature will enable users to conduct a search for Brilliant Directory members on a site outside of the Brilliant Directory’s website (00:20:17).
• The fetched data can be rendered in various ways, such as in an app, by designers or developers, providing flexibility in its usage (00:20:30).
• The new endpoint was requested by developers, who are being acknowledged for their input (00:20:40).
• The new feature is expected to be available soon (00:20:44).

LANGUAGES: More text label options-Portuguese, Italian, Hindi, and more (soon) (00:20:45)

• More text label options will be available soon, allowing users to translate their site with one click into additional languages (00:20:49).
• Currently, the supported languages are English language, Spanish language, French language, and German language, but users can manually translate their site into other languages (00:20:56).
• The update will add more languages, including Portuguese language, Italian language, Hindi, and Polish language, among others (00:21:08).
• The new update will enable users to rapidly add more languages to their site (00:21:13).
• Users will be able to set their site’s primary language to a language other than the currently supported ones with just one click (00:21:20).

GATEWAYS: More gateways coming-Razorpay for India (soon) (00:21:25)

• More payment gateway options are coming soon, including Ideal, Single Euro Payments Area, Razorpay, and a few more, especially in areas where there are gaps in supporting payments and transactions (00:21:26).
• Razorpay is expected to be available for India soon, complementing existing payment options (00:21:27).
• Paystack will also be added, serving several Africa countries (00:21:38).
• Additional payment gateways will be added throughout 2025 (00:21:44).
• The suggestions from users have been helpful in identifying areas for improvement and new features to add, and users are encouraged to continue providing suggestions (00:21:50).
• A Q&A session will follow, where users can type their questions in the comments or request to have their mic unmuted to ask their question verbally by typing “QUESTION” in all caps in the comments chat (00:22:05).

Examples of all API usage? (00:22:37)

• The Brilliant Directories API has various usages, and technical documentation is available to demonstrate these uses, including conducting tests and tapping into the API. (00:22:37)
• The API documentation is available in the support documentation and has been shared in the chat for everyone, particularly for developers looking to tap into the Brilliant Directories API. (00:23:05)
• The API documentation shows different endpoints, which are ways to access the data in the Brilliant Directories database, and allows users to perform various actions such as create, read, update, or delete (CRUD) operations. (00:23:21)
• Using the API, users can create or update users from the database, leads, search for single image and multi-image posts, user reviews, and different post types, including photo albums and blog posts. (00:23:40)
• The API also allows users to update their unsubscribed list in their Brilliant Directories account, and new features are being developed along the way. (00:23:55)

Explain the webpage editor SEO Settings? (00:24:06)

• The Search engine optimization section of a page can be updated in a few areas, including the webpage builder, where there is a tab for SEO settings with variables that can be customized or removed and replaced with the website name (00:25:33).
• The SEO settings include the meta title, description, keywords, and social media sharing options, which can be updated for the homepage and other pages in the webpage builder (00:26:04).
• The homepage is the only unique page in the webpage builder where the H1 and h4 can be edited in the design settings, while other pages have built-in SEO settings (00:26:18).
• For those just starting their site, it is recommended to watch videos on SEO, make the main title and subtitle SEO-friendly and user-friendly, and include main keywords in the homepage title and subtitle (00:26:55).
• To help Google and Microsoft Bing start ranking a new site, it is recommended to save changes, use the BD helpbot to generate SEO text, and create content with sections for about, what the site does, why use the site, and why it is better than competitors (00:27:51).
• The BD helpbot can be used to generate SEO text for a directory website, including content with sections for about, what the site does, why use the site, and why it is better than competitors (00:27:55).
• Two recommended videos on Search engine optimization are “FastTrack your membership website’s SEO Google ranking” and “SEO 11”, which cover enhancing the SEO value of a site’s homepage (00:24:52).
• The variables in the SEO settings are based on the website name and can be updated automatically if the website name is changed (00:25:42).
• To improve a website’s search engine optimization (SEO), it is recommended to create content with relevant keywords, such as “wedding vendors in California,” and use tools like ChatGPT to generate SEO content (00:28:35).
• The generated content can be pasted into a custom content section on the website and saved to improve the site’s visibility in search results (00:29:22).
• Submitting the website to Google through the Google Search Console and Microsoft Bing Search Console can also help improve its visibility (00:29:43).
• New websites may be placed in the “Google sandbox” for several months, during which time Google verifies the site’s validity and content before adding it to search results (00:29:56).
• To signal to Google that the site is online and relevant, it is recommended to include keywords on the homepage and internal pages (00:30:19).
• Search engine optimization is just one marketing strategy, and it may take time to see results, especially in competitive markets, so it is recommended to create multiple marketing strategies, including social media and pay-per-click ads (00:30:38).
• When using Google ads, it is recommended to start with a small budget and focus on building a strong negative keyword list to avoid wasting budget on irrelevant search terms (00:31:04).
• A strong negative keyword list can help prevent the website from showing up for unrelated search terms and reduce unnecessary ad spend (00:31:40).

How to select United States Only Membership Signup? (00:32:09)

• To select United States only in the membership sign up, the country is asked on the sign up page when members are putting their email and password, but only for paid plans (00:32:19).
• If the membership is not open to people outside of the United States, the text on the sign up page can be updated to inform users that only United States members can sign up and that other accounts will be removed (00:33:22).
• To restrict the billing address countries, go to payment settings, then additional settings, and select billing address countries (00:33:56).
• All countries can be set to “not active” except for the United States, which can be set to “active” and featured (00:34:23).
• After saving the changes, the only country that should appear on the billing page is the United States (00:34:47).
• There is also a way to pre-select the country on sign up pages, but it may not be available for all cases (00:35:41).
• The support documentation may provide more insight on how to limit signups to one country (00:36:08).

What does the grey icon on the left of the sites mean? (00:36:24)

• The gray icon stripe on the left-hand side of the sites is the admin bar, which is only visible to the website owner when they are logged into the back end and visit the website from there (00:36:25).
• The admin bar provides special privileges, such as the ability to show text labels, edit text, and access the source code for different modules and sections of the site (00:37:19).
• The admin bar can be exited by clicking on the exit button, and it will not be visible to regular users (00:36:52).
• The admin bar allows users to customize text labels, with yellow indicating default text and purple indicating customized text (00:37:30).
• The admin bar also provides access to widgets and source code for higher-end edits, but beginner users can rely on point-and-click settings in the design settings (00:38:12).
• The admin bar is like a “Superman dashboard” that provides access to advanced features and settings, but can be removed by clicking the exit button (00:39:12).
• The admin bar is only visible to the website owner and their staff when they are logged into the back end and visit the website from there (00:37:03).

Non-indexed & canonical tag issues in Google Search Console? (00:39:21)

• Canonical tag errors in Google Search Console can be distinguished into errors and warnings, and not all warnings require action, as some may be intentional, such as setting a page to not index, which may be shown as an error but is actually a warning (00:39:34).
• A large number of non-indexed pages, such as 990,000, may be due to redundant pages, such as member profiles with multiple related pages, like send message pages, writer review pages, and search pages with different combinations (00:40:10).
• Google may choose to only index a small fraction of pages that are deemed meaningful, useful, or valuable for the user, and may consider pages with thin content or low content, such as contact pages, as not worth indexing (00:41:10).
• Duplicate content, such as profiles with the same name, phone number, and address found on other websites, may also lead to non-indexing of pages (00:41:42).
• Canonical tag errors can be troubleshooted by emailing the support team with screenshots of the warnings and affected pages, and they will be able to figure out the issue and provide assistance (00:42:11).
• Improvements to canonical tags are expected in early 2025, which will help with similar pages and duplicate content issues, and the support team can be reached out to for assistance with canonical tag issues (00:42:27).

Can you update URL/permalink structures for SEO with BD? (00:43:08)

• It is possible to update URL or permalink structures for Search engine optimization purposes, allowing for organization and customization of member information and content channels. (00:43:09)
• In the web page builder, users can update the URL and permalink for static pages, landing pages, and one-off pages, and can also create custom URLs for expert launch pages. (00:43:43)
• In the post settings, users can edit the URL and permalink for post types, such as blogs, job openings, discussions, and community articles, and can also clone post types to create different content channels. (00:44:18)
• For member profiles, the system can create a unified structure for permalinks, and users can dictate the variables and structure of the member profile URL in the advanced settings. (00:45:19)
• The member profile URL structure can include variables such as country, state, city, and name, and users can order and customize the structure to suit their needs. (00:46:00)
• The system automatically creates pages for member profiles, and users can remove slugs and customize the URL structure for search results pages. (00:46:37)
• The customization options allow for flexibility and organization in creating content channels and member profiles, and can be useful for creating different types of content and profiles. (00:47:00)
• Google indexes the page or combination that it thinks is the most valuable and might choose not to index other pages, which is why customizing URL can be beneficial for Search engine optimization (00:47:13).
• Customizing a member’s listing URL can be done by the admin through the quick edit option under Advanced options, allowing for a shorter and more personalized URL (00:47:51).
• When customizing a listing URL, an automatic redirect is created, ensuring that link juice and traffic from the old URL are preserved (00:48:35).
• Offering customized listing URLs can be sold as a service or boost to members, especially for those with popular domains or who want to show priority or status (00:48:54).
• Customizing post URLs is also possible under the manage post option, allowing for the use of default post settings or custom post URLs with added keywords (00:49:17).
• Custom post URLs need to be slugged in the post type that it is, as part of the website’s hierarchy, but can be further enhanced to include custom keywords (00:49:34).
• Customizing URL can be a valuable service to offer to members, and there are other surface-level things that can be done to enhance website functionality (00:49:47).

Can I have multiple get-matched pages for different categories/leads? Use cases for matching sponsors with businesses? (00:49:56)

• It is possible to have more than one “Get Matched” page for different categories and lead purposes, such as matching sponsors with businesses, by adding a hidden field to the lead form (00:49:56).
• To create multiple “Get Matched” pages, clone the default “Get Matched” form and add a hidden field with the top ID of the desired category, which will pre-select the category and submit it with the lead (00:51:51).
• The process involves adding a new hidden field to the form, searching for the category ID, and setting the value of the hidden field to the category ID, allowing the lead to be matched with the specific category (00:52:52).
• This method can be repeated to create multiple “Get Matched” pages for different categories, and it is recommended to document this process for future reference (00:50:10).
• Brian, a user, has successfully implemented this method and can be invited to share his experience and provide more information on the variable he used in the lead form (00:51:15).
• The MySQL database can be used to verify the category ID and ensure that the lead is matched with the correct category (00:51:44).
• The process of creating multiple “Get Matched” pages is considered a good tip for the week and can be useful for creating landing pages with the “Get Matched” form and lead form (00:53:46).
• Pre-select categories can be used to prevent users from having to manually select categories, with the option to remove old categories and select new ones using top ID, subcore ID, and subcore subor ID (00:53:55).
• Brian shared his experience with creating get match forms, including one for careers, guest list, and party buses, which was his intention (00:54:42).
• The bottle service get match form was reviewed, which included a hidden field and default value corresponding to the ID of the membership plan, and a sub category with ID 70 and top level category 10 (00:54:52).
• The sub category with ID 70 matches leads with members who provide bottle service, and Brian was thanked for sharing his experience and suggesting updates for the platform (00:55:20).
• The discussion acknowledged Brian’s contributions to the platform, including suggesting good updates, and expressed appreciation for his participation (00:55:33).
• A question from Debbie was mentioned, indicating that there were still questions to be addressed and time left for discussion (00:55:45).

Does adding Google ads improve SEO? (00:55:46)

• Adding Google ads to a website can have both positive and negative effects on Search engine optimization, depending on the context and implementation. (00:55:48)
• For small communities or private clubs, having ads on the site may not be necessary, but for larger public-facing websites, strategically placed ads can add credibility and make the site appear more established. (00:56:09)
• Having Google ads on a website can make it appear more credible and trustworthy, which can lead to visitors staying on the site longer and engaging more with the content, ultimately benefiting SEO. (00:57:02)
• However, it’s essential to avoid overdoing it with ads, as too many pop-ups and clutter can negatively impact the user experience and detract from the site’s credibility. (00:56:48)
• While Google ads themselves do not have a direct SEO value, the intangible benefits of increased visitor trust and engagement can contribute to improved SEO. (00:57:36)
• Alternative options to Google ads, such as internal promotion banners, can also be used to add credibility and visual appeal to a website. (00:56:30)

Importing Business Data for a coupon site? (00:57:52)

• Importing business data through BD can be useful for a coupon site, even if the site doesn’t belong to a specific business category, as it can help find businesses that may be interested in offering coupons (00:57:54).
• Businesses that lend themselves to offering coupons, such as “kids eat free” restaurants or certain chains, can be added to the site and their claim listings used to find email addresses or phone numbers for outreach (00:58:05).
• Outreach emails can be sent to these businesses to see if they’re interested in adding their coupons to the site (00:58:23).
• Franchise businesses, which are often owned by individual “Mom and Pops,” may be more likely to add their coupons to the site, as they may be more motivated than corporate headquarters (00:58:44).
• Searching for specific franchises, such as Subway (restaurant), can help find businesses with preferred attributes like email addresses, phone numbers, and URL (00:59:00).
• Filtering search results to exclude businesses that haven’t been updated in the last 30 days can increase the number of potential leads (00:59:22).
• Reaching out to individual franchise owners, rather than corporate headquarters, may be a more effective way to get coupons added to the site (00:59:39).
• Using the business data importer can be a great way to find potential businesses to partner with and add their coupons to the site (01:00:01).

Where to add “Male” and “Female” to profiles? (01:00:08)

• To add a field for male or female to a member’s profile, edit the membership plan and go to the dashboard to see which form is being used for specific data collection, then edit the contact details form to add a new field (01:00:23).
• The new field can be added by cloning an existing field, and options can be set to male and female, with the option to make it a required field or not, and to display it on the profile page (01:01:30).
• The display view option must be set to “on” for the field to show up on the profile page, and the input view option must be set to “on” for the field to show up when the member is filling out their information (01:02:01).
• A placeholder text can be added to the field so that it’s not preset on male or female, and this can be done by toggling the placeholder text option and typing in the desired text (01:02:50).
• Once the new field is added and saved, it will show up on the member’s profile page, and the member can select their gender and save the changes (01:04:02).
• This process can be used to gather any type of information from members, such as hair color or height, and to connect people based on this information (01:04:14).
• Free swag is available for everyone on the webinar who hasn’t received any from Brilliant Directories this year, and can be claimed by visiting the shop at shop.brilliantdirectories.com (01:04:27).
• To get the free swag, use two promo codes at checkout: “webinar20” to bring the price to zero (up to $20) and “freeshipwebinar” to remove the shipping cost (01:04:56).
• A variety of products are available, including mouse pads, fanny packs, hats, notebooks, speakers, coffee mugs, and tumblers, with most items covered by the $20 promo code (01:05:10).
• If choosing an item worth $15, it’s also possible to get stickers (worth $5) to reach the $20 limit (01:05:41).
• The webinar replay will be posted in the Facebook group, where unanswered questions can be asked and will be addressed as many as possible (01:06:08).

Is BD compatible with custom integrations like Hot Jar, HubSpot, chat bots, and opt-in tools? (01:06:14)

• BD is compatible with third-party custom integrations like Hot Jar, HubSpot, chatbots, and opt-in tools, allowing users to integrate these tools into their website (01:06:21).
• To integrate these tools, users can go to their admin area, design settings, and custom CSS head, where they can drop in the embed code provided by the third-party tool (01:06:41).
• It is recommended to put the embed code in the footer code instead of the head code, as this can improve page speed scores in Google and is ideal for 99% of embed codes (01:07:16).
• Some embed codes may require being placed in the head of the website, but this is rare (01:07:36).
• BD is also integrated with Zapier and other integration marketplaces, allowing users to integrate data between their BD site and other platforms (01:07:47).
• Users can drop in third-party code onto their site, and can have chat modules sitewide or on specific pages (01:08:02).
• To add code to a specific page, users can go to their web page builder, click edit, and add the code to the head or footer of the page (01:08:14).
• The preference is to add the code to the footer, where it will render on the specific web page (01:08:28).

Can I export all category URLs and names for subcategories? (01:08:47)

• Michael is working on creating articles with deep links to all subcategories in the directory, which helps with Search engine optimization and allows Google to discover more pages and understand the importance of certain pages on the site (01:08:47).
• To export a complete list of category page URL and category names for all subcategories, go to the Developer Hub, click on “my SQL database”, and then select the “directory” database (01:10:12).
• The top-level categories are under the “list_professions” table, and the subcategories are under the “list_services” table (01:10:31).
• To export the top-level categories, go to the “list_professions” table, click on the “Export” button, choose Comma-separated values, and export the data (01:10:54).
• To export the subcategories, go to the “list_services” table, click on the “Export” button, choose CSV, and export the data (01:11:51).
• The exported data can be used in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (01:11:57).
• The category names can also be exported under “Member Categories” and then clicking on “Export Categories”, but this will only give the names, not the URLs (01:09:28).