Brilliant Directories
By Brilliant Directories
Log in to the admin dashboard and launch the Setup Wizard, which guides you through the essential initial steps.
Enter your website or company name, industry, profession, contact details, and configure members-only access if needed.
Initially, your site is on a staging URL. When ready, connect your custom domain using the Domain Manager.
Integrate payment processors to enable recurring payments and monetize memberships or listings.
Define membership plans, categories, and set up member management features for your directory.
Add or import member listings, set up demo members, and adjust content as needed.
Update SEO settings, connect analytics, and integrate with third-party tools if desired.
Design & Branding:
Easily customize colors, fonts, and overall design through point-and-click settings or by selecting from pre-made themes. You can upload your own logo, adjust banners, and modify the homepage layout to match your brand.
Advanced users can access HTML and CSS widgets to completely overhaul layouts and styles, allowing for a unique, modern look that aligns with your main website.
Menu & Navigation:
Menu items, button sizes, placements, and overall menu structure can be fully customized to mirror your main website or unique business requirements.
Profile & Listing Pages:
Profile pages can be tailored extensively, including the option to remove tabs for a streamlined appearance or to display all content on a single page.
Listing layouts and features can be adjusted to fit industry-specific needs.
Create and manage multiple membership levels, each with unique features, pricing, and access permissions.
Membership-dependent menus and custom features can be implemented for different user groups.
Custom Forms:
All forms (contact, registration, listing, etc.) are fully customizable. You can edit fields, add new ones, and assign different forms to various membership levels or features.
Content & Features
Add or customize content types such as articles, events, coupons, classifieds, and blogs. You can also create or clone your own features and control their permissions and visibility.
Integrations:
Sync data with 5,000+ third-party apps using built-in webhooks and integrations with platforms like Zapier, Pabbly, and Integrately
Payment gateways, analytics, social logins, and live chat can be integrated and customized as needed.
SEO & Marketing:
SEO templates and URLs can be updated for categories, listings, and content, ensuring your site is optimized for search engines.
Built-in tools for email marketing, lead generation, and banner ad management can be tailored to your business goals.
Developer Tools
For advanced customizations, developers can use widgets, custom scripts, and deeper code access to implement unique features or integrations.
The platform supports a wide range of business models and industries, including business directories, education, entertainment, nonprofits, online communities, job boards, and more.
Access a searchable knowledge base with detailed documentation and step-by-step guides covering all aspects of the platform, including setup, customization, and troubleshooting.
Free live training webinars are hosted regularly by the Brilliant Directories team, including co-founders and senior coaches, offering expert tips, live demonstrations, and marketing best practices.
Extensive video tutorials are available on Brilliant Directories’ official YouTube channel, covering both basic and advanced topics such as member management, site setup, and feature usage.
All plans include premium email support. Users can submit support tickets directly from their account dashboard for assistance with how-to questions, troubleshooting, and platform guidance.
Personalized 30-minute or 1-hour live support sessions are available for booking. During these calls, a senior coach can review your website via screen share, help with setup, and provide tailored advice on topics like membership settings, design, SEO, and more.
Join the official Brilliant Directories Facebook Group to connect with over 10,000 users, share experiences, ask questions, and get peer support.
For advanced customization or development needs, users can hire certified third-party experts through the Partner Marketplace.
SSL encryption is included for signup and checkout pages by default, protecting sensitive customer data such as passwords and credit card information. Full-site SSL protection is available via a managed SSL add-on, or you can install your own SSL certificate for comprehensive encryption across your website.
Websites are hosted on Brilliant Directories’ secure cloud infrastructure, which is monitored 24/7 to ensure compliance with rigorous security standards and protocols.
All data is stored in the IBM/Softlayer data center in Dallas, TX, which implements industry-standard security best practices for hosting and data storage.
Automatic daily backups of website data and uploaded files are performed, with options to download backups at any time or upgrade to extended backup storage (up to 14 days).
The backend admin panel operates on a protected, closed-source network, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities and unauthorized access, while still allowing frontend source code access for customization.
Security features include IP address tracking and protection against brute-force attacks by locking out users after several unsuccessful login attempts.
Data encryption is applied to sensitive information, enhancing data privacy and security for users and administrators.
Tools and resources are provided to help website owners comply with GDPR, including features for user consent, data export, data erasure, and access control.
Unlimited forwarding email addresses can be set up, helping to manage communications securely within your own domain.
Brilliant Directories releases updates very frequently, typically multiple times per month. Recent changelogs show monthly summaries with dozens of enhancements, new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
For example, over 80 feature enhancements and software updates were released in a single month, and weekly updates to widgets and features are common.
Updates include new features, bug fixes, performance optimizations, enhancements to existing tools, and updates to widgets and add-ons.
Both core platform improvements and specific add-on or widget updates are delivered regularly.
Updates to the core platform and default widgets are automatically rolled out to all users.
If you have customized any default widgets, you must manually update your custom widgets to incorporate the latest changes, as updates to default widgets are not automatically pushed to customized versions.
Changelogs and detailed documentation for each update are published in the Brilliant Directories support portal, allowing users to review what has changed and determine if manual action is needed for customizations.
The website owner (license holder) retains ownership and full administrative control over their website’s data, including member information, content, and settings. The license holder is considered the “Controller” of the website and its data for all compliance and management purposes.
Brilliant Directories provides tools to enable data export. Website owners can export member data and other information in standard formats (such as CSV) directly from the website’s database via the admin panel. There is also an Export Member Data Add-On for easier data extraction.
This ensures compliance with regulations like GDPR, which require that individuals have the right to receive a copy of their personal data in a portable format.
Members can access, update, and request deletion of their personal data through their accounts or by contacting the website owner. The admin can fulfill these requests using built-in tools.
Ownership of a Brilliant Directories website (including all data and content) can be transferred to another party through a formal process managed by Brilliant Directories. This includes removing the old admin’s access and assigning it to the new owner, ensuring data continuity and security.
The original owner is responsible for removing any sensitive data before transfer, and only the website owner can initiate this process.
Administrators can create, edit, and manage multiple membership tiers, each with unique pricing, features, and access privileges. Members can upgrade or downgrade their plans directly from their dashboard, allowing organizations to adjust offerings as their needs evolve.
The platform provides built-in tools for configuring which plans are available for members to upgrade or downgrade to. This is managed in the admin area under Finance » Membership Plans, where you can set specific upgrade/downgrade paths for each membership plan.
When a member upgrades, the system starts a new subscription for the new plan and cancels the previous one. Downgrades work similarly. The system does not automatically prorate or refund unused portions of the previous plan, but administrators can issue refunds manually through the payment gateway if needed.
For platform licensing, users can upgrade or downgrade between available license tiers (for example, via AppSumo deals) within a specified period (typically 60 days after purchase). This allows organizations to scale their software usage up or down based on current requirements.
Changes to membership levels, access, and features can be made without coding, making it easy for organizations to adapt quickly as they grow or restructure.
Subscriptions for Brilliant Directories renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle (monthly, yearly, etc.), unless cancelled by the user or the company. The renewal is for the same duration and at the price agreed upon at the time of subscription.
You can cancel your subscription at any time, free of charge- there are no cancellation fees.
To cancel, you should provide timely notice so the Brilliant Directories team can assist in properly closing your account.
Cancellations can be initiated by the member from their dashboard or by the admin through the admin panel.
When a member cancels, they can choose to close the account immediately or at the end of the current billing period.
Upon confirmation, recurring subscriptions are automatically cancelled, and the member receives a cancellation confirmation email.
There is no expiration date for recurring subscriptions; they continue until cancelled by the member or admin.
After cancellation, you retain access to your services until the end of the current billing period. The subscription will not renew thereafter.
Payments made to Brilliant Directories are generally non-refundable. There are no refunds or credits for partially used subscription periods. However, refunds or credits may be granted at the company’s discretion on a case-by-case basis.
If a refund is issued, it does not obligate Brilliant Directories to provide future refunds under similar circumstances.
Brilliant Directories reserves the right to terminate your access to the service at any time, with or without cause, effective upon notice. In cases of immediate threat or violation, access may be terminated without prior notice.
Brilliant Directories provides tools and features specifically designed to help website owners comply with the European Union’s GDPR. These include user consent tools, data access and erasure features, and data export capabilities. The platform enables website owners to collect and record user consent, offer data portability (export in CSV format), and fulfill requests for data access, rectification, and deletion as required by GDPR.
While Brilliant Directories offers these compliance tools, the ultimate responsibility for GDPR compliance lies with the website owner (“Controller”). Brilliant Directories is not liable for violations but supports compliance through technical features and, upon request, provides data processing agreements for UK and European customers.
.
All Brilliant Directories websites are hosted in the IBM/Softlayer data center in Dallas, TX, which implements industry-standard security and compliance practices for hosting and data storage. IBM’s data centers are known for robust security and compliance certifications, which underpin the platform’s infrastructure.
SSL encryption is supported and recommended for all websites to ensure secure data transmission.
The platform includes a free User Consent Tool that adds GDPR-compliant consent checkboxes to forms, records user consent, and helps website owners track compliance with lawful basis requirements for data processing.
Upon request, Brilliant Directories can provide data processing and sub-processing agreements for customers in the UK and Europe to support GDPR compliance efforts.
