Mastering Brilliant Directories: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our session on Brilliant Directories.

Today’s session is part of our ongoing Webinar Wednesdays series, and I’m pleased to announce that we are also streaming live on Facebook. This dual-platform approach allows for greater interaction and accessibility, enabling participants in the GoToWebinar to engage with us directly through questions and comments. Meanwhile, our Facebook audience can enjoy the presentation and absorb all the insightful discussions we have planned.

For those of you joining us for the first time today, a warm welcome! We’re excited to have you here as we dive into today’s topics and share valuable insights into how Brilliant Directories can elevate your projects. We encourage everyone to participate actively, as your engagement enriches the experience for all involved.

We look forward to a dynamic session filled with learning, interaction, and inspiration!

In today's session, we have the pleasure of introducing two key figures from Brilliant Directories: Jason, the co-founder, and Patrick, the brand manager. Patrick's role in shaping the features of Brilliant Directories is invaluable, as he collaborates closely with our customers to refine and enhance our platform. His enthusiasm and dedication are infectious, making him a vital part of our community.

For those who are new or haven't yet taken the step, we strongly encourage joining our LinkedIn group. This community is a vibrant hub where directory and membership website owners come together to share insights and strategies. It's not just about designing your site; it's about transforming it into a powerful conversion tool that aligns with your goals.

I highly recommend joining Brilliant Directories LinkedIn group.

Engaging with fellow members in this group can provide you with innovative ideas and strategies to optimize your website's performance. Whether you're aiming for increased conversions or exploring new features, this group is a treasure trove of knowledge and experience.

It's more about how to turn your site into a better conversion tool.

Join us in this collaborative environment where knowledge sharing thrives, and together we can elevate the success of our directory websites.

In this section, we outline the primary goals and interactive nature of our webinar. Our main objectives are to respond to as many participant queries as possible and to effectively demonstrate the capabilities of the Brilliant Directories platform. This session is crafted to cater both to new and existing customers, offering them an opportunity to deepen their understanding of our software's functionality and potential applications.

The goal of this webinar is we'd like to answer as many questions as possible.

To ensure a fair and inclusive environment, we encourage participants to limit their questions to one per person initially. This approach allows everyone a chance to engage and seek clarity on their queries. We are committed to addressing as many questions as we can, providing comprehensive answers that will aid in maximizing the use of Brilliant Directories for various projects.

Additionally, we are thrilled to announce last week's contest winner. Kevin submitted a video review of his experience with Brilliant Directories, showcasing both creativity and deep insight into our platform's utility. Stay tuned for more details on Kevin's prize and how his feedback can inspire your own exploration of our software.

This webinar is not just about passive learning; it's about active participation and shared growth within our community. We look forward to an engaging session with productive discussions that enhance your journey with Brilliant Directories.

Website Audit and Strategy Session

In our latest session, we are thrilled to announce the winner of our recent contest. Kevin, who submitted a video review of his experience with Brilliant Directories, has won a $400 website audit with Patrick. To claim this prize, Kevin simply needs to reach out via email to support@brilliantdirectories.com.

Kevin, we'll be discussing some different strategies that you can use for your website.

Patrick, our expert, will be conducting the audit and has shared insights into what this valuable session entails. The website audit is designed to offer strategic guidance on enhancing your website’s performance. This includes driving more traffic to the site and increasing lead submissions—key components in converting free members to paid members.

Patrick will also discuss effective strategies such as social media campaigns that have proven successful for other customers. Additionally, he will provide insider tips on creating impactful landing pages and ensuring they are set up correctly.

The audit session delves into high-level strategies not typically covered in standard website edits or member management calls. It's a golden opportunity to gain insights that can significantly boost your site's success.

The most beneficial of all is before somebody even gets started.

Who benefits most from these audits? Patrick highlights two primary stages when a website audit is particularly advantageous. Firstly, it is ideal before launching a new site. Engaging in an audit at this stage can set the foundation for success by pointing you in the right direction from the start.

Often, individuals who wait months or even years before seeking an audit discover quick wins they wish they had implemented earlier. Investing in this consultation early on can prevent prolonged underperformance and set you up for immediate improvements.

Secondly, audits are beneficial for existing websites not meeting expectations. A comprehensive review of current strategies, pricing models, and features can uncover new ways to optimize performance.

Most customers choose an audit right before launching their site publicly or starting a marketing campaign. This ensures all elements are finely tuned and ready for successful engagement with their audience.

Contest and Deal of the Week

This week, we are thrilled to announce Kevin Grol as the winner of our latest contest. Congratulations, Kevin! For those eager to participate in our next contest, stay tuned, as the upcoming prize is going to be huge. Although we're keeping the details under wraps for now, we assure you it will be worth your while.

To enter, simply share a specific message on your Facebook page. We'll provide this message in the chat box for easy copying and pasting. The instructions are straightforward: post the message "I'm using Brilliant Directories as my directory software and love it. Launch your own membership website. Check them out here [link to Brilliant Directories website]" to automatically enter the contest. Join us next week for the winner announcement.

"Next week's prize is going to be huge."

In addition to our exciting contests, we are reintroducing a popular special offer: Google Search Assist. Previously offered two weeks ago, this deal gained significant interest, prompting its return due to popular demand.

The Google Search Assist is an invaluable tool for directory websites. When a search yields no member results on your site, this feature fetches relevant results directly from Google based on the search keywords. This means visitors will see useful information rather than a "no results" message, enhancing their experience and increasing their likelihood of staying on your site longer.

For example, if a user searches for "yoga" in "Seattle" and there are no matching members on your site, Google Search Assist will display relevant external results like local yoga studios or classes from Google’s search engine.

Benefits of using Google Search Assist include:

• Providing visitors with valuable information even if there are no direct member matches.
• Increasing page impressions as visitors stay longer and browse more content.
• Opening external links in new tabs so visitors remain engaged with your site.
• Potentially improving your site's search ranking due to enhanced user experience metrics.

The Google Search Assist is available for a one-time payment of $90 through our promotional page at brilliantdirectories.com/promo. This offer is valid until next week’s webinar—don't miss out on this opportunity!

Interactive Q&A Session

Welcome to the most interactive segment of our webinar, where we open the floor for questions. Today, we're thrilled to start with Donna from Long Island, New York. Donna inquires, "Can you provide like a demo so I could see if I can navigate it correctly?" We assure her that a seven-day free trial is available at brilliantdirectories.com/free-trial, allowing users to explore the platform's features. After this trial, users can either continue with their developed site or start anew with a fresh understanding of the platform.

For those needing assistance during their trial or at any point while using Brilliant Directories, we provide extensive support resources. These include regular webinars, comprehensive documentation at bootstrap.brilliantdirectories.com, and responsive email support via support@brilliantdirectories.com. We aim to respond within one business day.

"We do have a lot of support resources."

Next up is Kevin, who has concerns about non-members becoming fully active members after verifying their email without making any payment. Jason and Patrick provide solutions:

1. Modify Email Templates: Remove verification links from the welcome email to prevent automatic activation upon email verification.
2. Adjust Membership Levels: Create an "unverified" non-member category that remains unsearchable until upgraded.
3. Redirect After Login: Set the login redirect page to guide users towards upgrading their accounts immediately upon login.

These strategies ensure that memberships are only activated upon payment while still verifying genuine email addresses.

These suggestions not only address Kevin's specific concern but also offer valuable insights for all users managing member activations and verifications on Brilliant Directories.

Advanced Features and Customization

In this section, we'll delve into the advanced features and customization options available in Brilliant Directories, providing insights into how these can enhance your directory website.

One common question we often receive is about customizing member profile URLs. Cindy, a participant in our webinar, asked how to remove "United States" from the URLs. This is a great example of how specific and detailed the customization can be.

For those managing directories with members from various countries, having the country name in the URL can be redundant. Fortunately, Brilliant Directories offers a setting that allows you to remove this and replace it with a more relevant location detail like state or city. This can make URLs more concise and user-friendly.

To implement this change, you need to access the advanced settings in your admin panel. Set "Replace country name variable with state name variable" to one. This change means that if a member's profile URL contains a country name, it will be replaced with the state or city name if available. Additionally, enabling "local member URL structure" ensures that new members will have their location specified at a more localized level.

"You can set a page to members only."

Beyond URLs, another powerful feature is setting static pages as members-only content. This feature is particularly beneficial if you want to create exclusive content for your members, such as resource pages or private information that enhances their experience on your site.

To make a page exclusive for members:

1. Navigate to the static page you want to restrict.
2. Use the admin panel's options to set it as "members only."
3. Save your changes.

Once done, visitors who try to access this page without logging in will be prompted to do so before they can view the content.

Creating effective landing pages is another area where customization plays a vital role. The goal of these pages should always focus on guiding visitors toward specific actions—whether it's signing up for memberships or engaging with specific content on your site.

In summary, Brilliant Directories offers robust customization tools that allow you to tailor both the appearance and functionality of your directory site according to your needs—whether it's through refining URL structures or protecting exclusive content for member engagement.

Content Protection and Member Engagement

In the realm of digital engagement, protecting your content and strategically managing member access can significantly enhance your website's effectiveness and profitability. Brilliant Directories offers a robust set of tools to help you achieve this, allowing you to control who can view your content and how it is presented.

One powerful feature is the ability to create members-only pages. By adjusting the settings in the admin area, you can restrict access to specific types of content, such as blog articles or coupons, ensuring only paying members have access. This not only protects your valuable content but also encourages users to upgrade their membership levels.

"You can make the blog members only."

The process is straightforward: navigate to the content section in your admin panel, select 'edit post settings,' and adjust who can view the posts. By setting this option to 'no,' you make it exclusive for members. This feature is ideal for promoting premium content and enticing users with limited access.

Moreover, Brilliant Directories allows for extensive customization of landing pages. You can hide headers, footers, and menus to create a streamlined experience focused solely on conversion. This approach is particularly effective when using paid advertising campaigns aimed at specific actions like newsletter signups or ebook downloads.

"Force them to join as a paid member."

The ability to control what visitors see on landing pages ensures that their attention is undivided, increasing conversion rates and maximizing the return on your marketing investments.

In essence, Brilliant Directories equips you with the tools needed to protect exclusive content effectively while enhancing member engagement through strategic access controls and specialized landing pages.

Lead Management and Sales Strategy

In the dynamic world of directory websites, Brilliant Directories offers a robust lead management system that empowers directory owners to efficiently handle inquiries and maximize revenue opportunities. This system is a favorite tool among users, providing the essential functionality to connect website visitors with professional members, ensuring seamless communication and potential sales.

"There's a lead management engine that comes with the Brilliant Directories platform."

Understanding Lead Stages

Benjamin, one of our users, inquired about how lead stages work within the platform. Essentially, when a visitor attempts to contact a member through your directory site, this action is recorded as a lead. The lead management engine allows you to track these interactions meticulously.

The platform offers several stages to categorize these leads:

• Pending: Initial stage when the inquiry is submitted.
• Accepted: Indicates that a member has accepted the lead.
• Sold Out: Occurs when the maximum number of members has accepted a lead.
• Requires Callback: A reminder for further action or follow-up.
• Closed/Bad Lead: Final stages for completed or spam leads.

Strategies for Selling Leads

Brilliant Directories provides flexibility in how you handle leads. As Jason explained, you can choose whether to send inquiries directly to members for free or charge for these leads akin to platforms like Angie's List or Thumbtack. The price can vary widely based on industry standards and quality of leads.

"You can match that inquiry to the members that fit the criteria."

For instance, if someone is searching for a mechanic in San Francisco, your system can automatically match this inquiry with relevant members in that location. This targeted approach not only enhances customer satisfaction but also increases your potential revenue streams by selling quality leads back to your professional members.

Importance of Customer Relationships in Lead Management

Building strong relationships with your members is crucial. When you see active engagement from members who accept leads or interact with their dashboard, it's an opportune moment to reach out and strengthen these connections. As Pat noted, following up with interested parties can foster long-term relationships and trust in your platform.

The "Sold Out" stage is particularly beneficial as it prevents users from being overwhelmed by multiple responses while ensuring maximum exposure for your site’s professional members. By capping responses at a manageable number, you maintain high user satisfaction and encourage repeat visits.

In summary, Brilliant Directories' lead management system not only helps streamline communication but also provides invaluable data insights that can drive sales strategies and enhance member engagement. By leveraging this tool effectively, directory owners can maximize their revenue while fostering positive relationships within their community.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, customizing member profile pages is essential for creating engaging and user-friendly directory websites. As demonstrated in our recent session, the ability to adjust the order of tabs on member profile pages provides a significant advantage in tailoring the user experience to better suit the needs of your audience.

In response to Greg's question about a video directory, we explored how to prioritize video content on member profiles. Typically, the overview tab, which includes maps and directions, is displayed first. However, depending on your directory's focus—such as videos, properties, or events—you might want different content to take precedence.

"You do have control over the order of these tabs."

To customize this setup, navigate to the "content" section and access "edit post settings." Here, you can adjust the tab order by modifying a simple numerical value. For instance, setting the video tab's order number to zero will prioritize it over others like "overview" or "specialties." This straightforward change enhances user engagement by presenting relevant content first.

This customization is not limited to video directories; it applies across various niche sites. For real estate directories, showcasing property listings or photo galleries first can be more visually appealing and informative than starting with an overview tab.

"High quality images keep people on the site."

Visual content plays a crucial role in keeping users engaged. High-quality images and videos contribute significantly to your site's credibility and usability. By strategically placing visually rich content at the forefront of your member profiles, you not only enhance user experience but also improve site stickiness—ensuring visitors stay longer and interact more with your platform.

In conclusion, the flexibility offered by Brilliant Directories in customizing member profile pages allows you to present your most compelling content first—whether it's videos for an entertainment directory or job listings for a career site. This adaptability is key in creating an engaging platform that resonates with users' interests and needs.

As we wrap up this engaging session, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who joined us today. Your participation and questions have made this webinar not only informative but also a delightful experience for us.

We’d like to remind you about the exciting contest of the week. Simply share the message, "I'm using Brilliant Directories as my directory software, and love it. Launch your own membership site. Check them out," on Facebook to enter. Also, don’t miss out on our deal of the week: the Google Search Assist feature is back by popular demand for only $90. This tool ensures that your website always displays relevant results, even when there are no member listings available.

Don't forget to register for next week's webinar.

We invite you all to register for next week's session, which will take place at our usual time: 4 p.m. Pacific Time or 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Registration links will be sent out shortly after this webinar concludes, so be sure to secure your spot as spaces are filling up rapidly.

It was great being with everyone here today.

Once again, thank you all for being a part of this community and making today’s session one of our favorites so far. We look forward to seeing you next week, ready to tackle more questions and share more insights with you!