We are tremendously proud to announce that our flagship OpenStack VPS For WHMCS has been rebranded to OpenStack VPS & Cloud For WHMCS to closely reflect the originality of its brand-new 2.0 version. This milestone upgrade is fueled by a smart new framework with ultimately pleasurable, aesthetic design and well-constructed code at the foundations. As a result, you are now being offered a more sophisticated product full of new features, with way broader scope for future development, as well as streamlined technical support ensured.

As a major bonus, OpenStack VPS & Cloud For WHMCS has received full-scale integration with several more OpenStack-based virtual server providers, such as:

• Bluvalt
• City Cloud
• CT Cloud Platform
• DS Public
• ELASTX OpenStack
• INAP Bare Metal
• INAP Cloud
• Limestone Networks
• Linaro Developer Cloud
• Open Telekom Cloud
• OVH Public Cloud
• Rackspace Public Cloud
• ScaleUp Cloud
• STC Cloud
• UOS Cloud
• VEXXHOST Public Cloud
• vScaler Public Cloud
• warescale Public Cloud

No doubt your eagle eye has spotted a familiar provider on the list above, which invites a rather natural question…

What’s in store for OVH Public Cloud For WHMCS?

Driven by the wish to devote due attention to the growing potential of OpenStack VPS & Cloud For WHMCS, and avoid getting sidetracked by the must to maintain multiple less feature-filled products simultaneously, we have decided to discontinue OVH Public Cloud For WHMCS as from December 22nd, 2020.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the news? There is no need to worry – not only will you lose none of the currently used features, but will gain a whole set of new tools all at once, such as for backup and firewall management. Also, the configuration as well as the module’s behavior is nearly the same as of OVH Public Cloud For WHMCS you are used to. And since our prime concern is to make this transition as smooth as possible by taking any uncertainty out of the process, we will continue with full support for OVH Public Cloud For WHMCS for as long as until June 2021. See? You have plenty of time to proceed with the free conversion of the modules in your environment. Then again, the sooner you will complete the upgrade, the sooner you will get to use every new functionality powered by OpenStack VPS & Cloud For WHMCS. No losers, only winners here!

And in case you look for an extra push to switch into a better quality software right away, keep in mind OpenStack VPS & Cloud For WHMCS is comprehensively integrated with our Advanced Billing For WHMCS module which boasts the most extensive choice of billing variants from among all WHMCS products offered on the market.

We trust that all fundamental questions have already been answered via official notifications we sent back in September to all current users of OVH Public Cloud For WHMCS along with some exclusive offers, but our support teams stand at your continued disposal for any further clarification. If any doubts come to your mind, be sure to share them with us.

Embrace the OpenStack revolution!

We wish to take this exceptional opportunity to recollect some of ours most noble achievements and milestones reached thanks to every single one of you, our beloved clients, by our side – it has been a challenging and exciting path, fueled by incredibly hard work, much talent, countless cups of coffee, and undying passion for software engineering. Among the accomplishments we boast of the most is our continuously expanding collection of nearly a hundred ready-made WHMCS modules next to thousands of custom software development projects delivered into the hands of the most demanding business entrepreneurs. What we are particularly proud of is the very recent launch of the absolutely unprecedented, complete WHMCS Cloud Billing solution with an end-to-end AWS integration. Aimed at expanding your target audience and broadening the scope of available revenue channels, the tool is meant to remove the pain of managing separate invoicing systems and automate the entire billing process from A to Z.

While our faces fill up with an ineffable sense of pride and accomplishment upon reviewing those victories, we are nowhere close to the end of our adventure! In the forthcoming future, we hope to reach even more spectacular heights with your unspoken patronage. So, what is on our agenda for the upcoming months? A while back we have started the development of three brand-new products that are bound to leave you at awe once they see the light of day. First off, you will soon receive the opportunity to bring maximum automation and comfort into reselling your products with our innovative Products Reseller For WHMCS. Not to mention that we are also putting the last final touches to the fully customizable One Step Checkout Template For WHMCS solution that along with the truly pioneering Google Cloud Billing For WHMCS will take effect in the second quarter this year – be ready!

Even after saying all the above, the main reason why we are all here may still be a bit of a secret. We are rushing with the exciting unveiling then! For this significant moment on the ModulesGarden timeline we feel particularly obliged to direct a due dose of attention to all of you, our dearest clients, about whom this celebration is really all about. Feel warmly invited to treat yourself to our two special offers!

Unlock for yourself the staggering possibility to save 25% on the purchase of every single product available on our Product Marketplace.

Promo Code: ThankYou25K

For the price cut to be added correctly, simply copy the above code and paste it in the appropriate box while at the checkout. Be sure though to make most of the promotion before the end of March 15th, 2020!

Set off to the Product Marketplace!

Thirsty for more? Here comes our second treat!

Briefly describe your partnering with ModulesGarden and leave the story in the comments section down below before our promotion vanishes for good at the end of March 15th. We will then randomly choose the three lucky winners out of all submissions who will receive extra $25 in credits to be used for absolutely anything until the end of June 2020.

We will be awaiting your answers with bated breath!

By combining our own intense efforts and cutting-edge technology with your continued support, day by day we make small changes that will ripple through the web hosting landscape for many generations to come. Among the numerous accomplishments we boast of the most is our sizable collection of ready-made WHMCS modules (over 100 products), and custom software development projects that let thousands of businesses spread their wings with a whole new level of confidence. Following the voice of our customers, we have also remolded one of our prime services so as to reflect more the flexible nature of modern enterprises. Developer Outsourcing, the fruit of these endeavors, is an absolute novelty in our offer focused on providing assorted development services and technical support to even the most perfection-oriented clients.

We are overwhelmed with pride to have such loyal, understanding, and inspiring customers as you. While it is by no means original of us to say that you are the very lifeblood of ModulesGarden, all the things we can still achieve together in the future certainly are unique! Hope you look forward to all these exciting developments just as strongly as we do!

All that being said, let us not forget why we are really here. As you played a pivotal role in helping us reach such a memorable milestone, this is your celebration more than anyone else′s. For this reason, please accept from the ever-grateful ModulesGarden team a thank you gift most suited to this occasion!

Welcome with open arms a gigantic 33% discount applicable to every single product in the annual license available on our Product Marketplace.

Promo Code: 20K33%

Plan much bigger? Like the open source kind of bigger? We have something special for you, too! Choose whatever product in the decoded version you desire and we will reduce its price by as much as 11%!

Promo Code: 20K11%OS

Simply copy the code you wish to apply and paste it into the ‘Promo Code’ box while placing an order. Pretty simple, isn’t it? Now the best news of all! Both bargains offered above can be combined with other active promotions on our website including Deal Of The Week, Deal Of The Day, or a bulk discount, which only means your can drive your savings to sky-high levels. Be sure to squeeze out as much as you can from the promotion before the end of 10th September 2018!

Ready to give in to the shopping frenzy?

Pick what you want & pay less!

And how would you describe partnering with ModulesGarden? Is there any aspect of this ongoing cooperation in particular that fills you with joy, satisfaction, or motivation? Please feel free to share all your remarks in the comments section below!

Okay, so you have a potentially lucrative software-based business vision, but… now what? You may have come up with the idea that will revolutionize the world as we know it, but without the scrupulous execution, it will inevitably sound the death knell for your concept and, worse still, ruin your budget in the process.

The traditional approach whereby developers keep down their service to simply following the supplied instructions and specifications is no longer acceptable or desirable. Even the most elaborate description of your aims leaves enough room for ambiguity, making you risk ending up with something thoroughly purposeless. The outsourcing providers are nowadays compelled to go far beyond the bare minimum, and rightly so – expected to develop profound understanding of the underlying aim, offer a specialist input on how to structure the components into the harmonious whole, find technical shortcuts, avoid any extra expenses, and optimize the overall undertaking on top of that.

Obviously, putting such a pressing investment blindly into the care of the first supplier you stumble upon is a surefire recipe for disaster. The bad news is, with this huge variety of software companies being out there, there is no universal formula for choosing the one that will suit your needs best. You can, however, simplify your decision substantially by asking the prospect partner the right questions. Whether you seek custom-built software to streamline the specific company operations, or to expand your business in scale and size, be sure to run through this quick 6-point question checklist before arriving at the final decision.

1. How much do your services cost?

Before dedicating yourself to anything, assess the financial costs which you are prepared to bear and communicate your budget assumptions with the developer clearly, without hesitation or embarrassment. Be also extra vigilant not to fall into any thinly-veiled pitfalls such as suspiciously low preliminary project estimation. Would you rather have your custom solution done scrupulously although more expansively, or in a more frugal but somewhat superficial manner?

2. What is your area of expertise?

While reaching out to an expert in some field, you need the assurance that the task and money you are entrusting them with are really in good hands. Get to know how much real-life experience the software house to whose door you are knocking has in the exact industry you are involved in. For example, if you are in need of a customized app for your eCommerce store, it might be a big miss to engage with a firm specializing mainly in website design.

3. How can I trace the progress in the project?

How many times did you wait for goods purchased online with great apprehension because the delivery was taking longer than expected and there was no contact with the courier whatsoever? Being kept in the dark on the current status of affairs does not foster mutual trust and certainly does not guarantee a positive partnership experience. Make sure to ask your software development company about availability of tools that would empower you to easily track any stage of the development works with utmost precision and yet zero hassle.

4. Can I get in touch with a developer directly throughout the project?

Software development is a deeply complex process and, want it or not, you cannot simply submit your request and return one month later to retrieve it – signed sealed and delivered. More often than not, creating a customized solution requires of both sides a very close cooperation and open communication allowing to react to any changing expectations on the fly. A truly reliable developer should listen to what you have to say, whilst also offering professional guidance based on their experience.

5. Do you offer any other software-related services?

Have a rough, mental sketch of your project, but are gravely concerned about the general feasibility or practicality of such a solution? You may not be the expert in all things software, but some people are. Locate them, probe into other areas of their expertise including potential consulting services, product auditing, system monitoring and software optimization. The more comprehensive your tailor-made project execution is, the more satisfactory the final results.

6. Can I see any references from your customers?

The decision to subcontract IT services to a third-party is not something you should take on the toss of the coin or basing on the company’s eye-pleasing website and convincingly composed ‘About Me’ alone. Claiming to have a particular set of skills and achievements is one thing, but will the software developer be able to back this glowing image up with first-hand testimonials from the customers they had worked with? One look at the reviews and you should be able to grasp the basic idea if this is the kind of a company you can bet your money on.

Although we have just scratched the surface of this research complexity, the points above provide the most general impression of where to start from when choosing the custom software development company. And while exploring the alternatives, always follow the rule of thumb: the more extensive your ‘casting’ is, the more likely you will find the ideal candidate for your software-aimed duo. Found yourself stuck in the middle of your quest? Our Software Development Advisors will find genuine pleasure in being able to dispel any concerns you might have and help you build up a total picture of available services.

Customize Your Success!

Benefits of adopting emoji communication techniques

Emojis are all the rage in today’s world. It was only a matter of time, then, before companies jumped at the whole sea of new opportunities these colorful icons presented. But what exactly is so compelling about these tiny symbols that hundreds of enterprises around the globe started to blend them into their everyday marketing strategies?

Our organism is programmed to thrive on social interaction. On the most basic level, emojis compensate for the lack of body language and emotions in digital communications, humanizing our online experience. In a broader perspective, they help to break the ice between people interacting in the cyber world by building a relaxed, anxiety-free atmosphere. One of the biggest problems with monitor-to-monitor rather than face-to-face conversation is that it can additionally widen the already existing language gaps. Do you sometimes feel like there is some miscommunication going on between you and the customers who are speaking a different language? Trust us, the feeling most probably is mutual. Through a simple use of emoticons you can help your recipients grasp the nuances of utterances more easily, avoid erroneous interpretations, and consequently, bring the business negotiations to a successful fruition. Lastly, emojis hold one crucial advantage over plain text – they involve an extra sense (vision) which fosters better memorization. So if you wish to make an everlasting impact on your audience – you have just found your golden ticket!

To use or not to use – the etiquette of emojis

How many times did you want to say one thing, but opted for something totally different in the end for the fear of embarrassment? When it comes to business sphere, emojis tend to cause similar mixed feelings, even despite their ubiquitous nature. Sometimes the line between what is professional and what longer appropriate seems so blurry, that as an entrepreneur you would rather remain in your comfort zone than risk a major PR faux pas. But it does not have to be that way.

With these few tips you will learn how to effectively recognize the right contexts for using emojis in business discussions and turn them into your strong suit.

1. Who is your audience?

When you send a  or  emoji to your colleagues, you may only hope they have a good sense of humor (or at least enough patience to bear with your complete lack of social graces). Never assume the same about a person outside your workplace circle. Before flooding your message with symbols, first scan whomever you are addressing. Is it a potential client or a partner? Focus on facts and details rather than pleasantries then for this is neither the time nor the place for textual ornaments. The only thing worse from sounding unprofessional is being treated as a jester. If, on the other hand, you are communicating with a long-lasting customer (or the one who uses symbols in his/her messages too), you can also loosen up the tone with one or two emojis.

2. Probe the situation

You would not wear a tracksuit to a wedding party, would you? Smileys also may appear awkward (if not disrespectful) when inserted in the middle of a serious conversation. Whether you are securing an important business contract or passing on some sensitive information to a client, it is best to refrain from emojis completely. But what if your client boasts about having a new baby? How can you not press  while congratulating them on this great news? Feeling your way through the situation is the key to success.

3. Know your emojis

With hundreds of similarly-looking symbols, it is easier to send your recipient a mixed message than you might think. Take a look at this emoji: . What a cool peace sign, isn’t it? Not exactly. Quite many people in fact are oblivious to its true meaning which is ‘V’ for ‘victory’. If you are not 100% sure whether the given icon fits in the particular context, better leave it alone. Express your idea with plain words instead, or use very basic emojis which leave no room for misinterpretation.

4. Focus on the positive

There are two types of emotions which human beings find almost impossible to hold back – happiness and anger. While your customers are entitled to expressing both, you on the other hand need to be more selective. To the extent where you reduce negative emojis to the absolute minimum. Having a rough day? Unsatisfied with your customer’s behavior? Learn to keep your nerves under control. Excessive use of such emojis as  or  may cause your customers feel intimidated, or worse – only add fuel to the fire. Showing understanding and forgiveness rather than reprimanding is definitely more rewarding.

5. Do not go overboard

Let us assume you have already tested the waters and decided it is safe to put the emoji symbol in your online conversation. But before you do, bear with us a little longer and take this one final tip. There is only one step separating you from sounding like a friendly businessman and an overly emotional teenager. And this step is moderation. Do not let emojis become your trademark – using them once in a while is an acceptable frequency, but deploying them on a regular basis (every day, every client, every message) is a big no-no.

Emojis have turned into such a widespread phenomenon that trying to resist their charm (and potential!) is simply futile. We are positive that by following our five golden rules of emoji etiquette, these lovely symbols will add much valor to your business discourse and help you build long-lasting relationships with your clientele.

And how important are emojis to you in business communication? Share your viewpoint by voting in the comments below! Use the 1-5 rating scale, where 1 marks means ‘rather unnecessary’ and 5 means ‘very useful’.

Lastly, we have great news for all emoji enthusiasts! Up until 22nd July you can save as much as 25% on the purchase of our Emoji Picker For WHMCS module. In order to seize this extraordinary opportunity, simply apply the special promo code available on our website!

Lighten up your day!

Here are five major benefits of your company being active on social media.

1. Positive Rapport With Your Customers

As new companies are springing up on the market, customers occupy the central point of each marketing strategy now more than ever. And how to best attract and then retain customers? Make them feel important! Come down off your high horse and show them you are not an idealized, desensitized robot but a caring, emotional human being just like them. And this is where social media come in, working wonders. While posting on social networking sites you have a chance to address your customers directly, interweave your actual message with some humoristic elements every now and then, and receive an immediate feedback. Remember: you have not only reputation to uphold but also customers to satisfy and entertain!

2. Increased Brand Recognition And Brand Loyalty

No TV, radio or billboard advert can guarantee the dynamics social media ensure. Have a new product or just want to indulge your customers with a tempting discount? Spread the news with a Tweet or a Facebook post in the matter of a few seconds, link the product and wait for the customers to crowd on your website, digging deeper into your offers. The more information you share, the more trustworthy and sincere you appear to be. And nothing is more important for a business than making people trust you, trust your products and eventually – want to come back for more.

3. Driving traffic to your website

Social media provide a whole range of tools for analysing customers’ needs and determining the target group for your services. When you advertise a new product or announce an attractive bargain, you want the customers to have an instant access to it so a natural thing to do is to insert a link redirecting them to your website. The more click ons you get, the higher your website climbs in google rankings and the better its visibility in the search engine is. You would probably never generate so much traffic advertising your business by means of the more traditional mass media. After all, who would bother to write down a web address on a piece of paper anymore just to check it out in their spare time?

4. Decreased Marketing Costs

Why pay through the nose for, say, the TV or magazine ads which may be aesthetically pleasing, but contain very little relevant information on the product due to the limited broadcast and space time, if you can achieve much more for much less? Even a few e-marketing specialists truly worth their salt can make a huge difference with the use of free-of-charge social media tools. Posting news about your newest developments has no time or space restrictions attached to it, and you can keep your customers posted every single day!

5. Peeking At Your Competitors

No matter if you are a small company just starting the entrepreneurial adventure or a global corporation – you will always want to keep your finger on the pulse and monitor your competitors’ operations. Does it mean you should hire a private detective and spy on them? Of course not! Or… not exactly. You can ‘spy’ on them on social media as much as you want: peek at what they share, how they advertise their services, how they build rapport with customers. Let them inspire you! Do not think of it as a crime or some sort of cheating – as long as you draw ideas not content, your competitors will be none the worse for wear and you will gain an invaluable insight into how to do business.

Naturally, there are far more profits of incorporating social media into your marketing strategies, but it is entirely up to you how you will utilize this modern and powerful tool.

In the meantime, you can always follow our social networking profiles in search of new ideas!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• LinkedIn

These are our three golden numbers. Each one of them represents different values which are closely interlinked with each other. As it is known, any given company is composed from a set of many connected factors, assets and achievements. All of them together form the current shape of a company and the way it is perceived by its customers. Generally, you shall be able to distinguish just a few of them which describe your business in mere seconds. Can you do that?

In our case the numbers are mostly related to custom software development services which basically are the backbone of our business. Let’s see what hides behind the nine digits above.

• 30 Devoted Developers – From only 2 of them back in 2011, up to 30 qualified software developers now. ModulesGarden hires programmers with a wide range of abilities and interests who specialize in many fields. All these to be able to cope with your expectations and to be capable of delivering you the finest software related to web hosting, eCommerce, web applications and CMS. Our developers simply love what they do! Naturally, they are not the only ones who work for ModulesGarden and care about your projects but that is a topic for another article.

• 300 Various Systems – In the course of our several years lasting adventure with professional software development we had the unquestionable pleasure to work on many systems, platforms and web applications. We have coded with WHMCS, cPanel, Magento, Plesk, WordPress, Blesta, PrestaShop, OnApp, Proxmox, SolusVM, OpenStack, Rackspace, Zendesk, Kayako, Asterisk, EasyDCIM, Virtuozzo, DirectAdmin, SpamExperts, CloudFlare, OpenSRS, PayPal, GoDaddy, Amazon Payments, RushFiles and many more!

• 3000 Completed Projects – The number which fills us with pride. To the present day, we have succeeded in delivering over three thousand custom software development projects to our satisfied customers who keep coming back for more. Owing to such a great number of projects, we acquired so much experience and useful skills to be ready to accept any project request and any challenge. Would you like us to build a system from scratch? Not a problem!

Can you describe your business in any three numbers? Feel free to share them in the comments section below.

A little puzzle! 

Can you guess how many software developers have been constantly working for ModulesGarden for at least 3 years?

The most accurate answer will be rewarded with a $100 discount for any project! The lucky winner will be announced by the end of August so stay tuned.

See what kind of approach to the situation has Mike Levine – Product Manager at OpenSRS.

In dynamically changing industry the improvement of existing services is very important. If you do not want to go out of circulation, you need to constantly adapt to rapidly changing customer needs and current trends. But with all this improvement you shouldn’t forget about offering something new, something amazing, something which your competition does not have.

Upgrading old and offering new – this is the way to success. One way to offer customers new services may be the creation of sophisticated and tailored to the specific needs of the client modules. Properly thought out and well made modules will increase your sales, popularity and broaden the range of services offered.

Mike Levine – Product Manager at OpenSRS knows it well. See how he described our cooperation in creating modules and its effects:

“One of our goals this year at OpenSRS was to do a better job at integrating our products with our resellers’ billing platforms. We worked with ModulesGarden to rewrite our WHMCS Domains module to provide a better experience for our resellers and their end users when registering and managing domains. In addition, we also worked with ModulesGarden to develop modules for our SSL, GoMobi, SiteLock, TrustE, and GeoTrust Anti-Malware products. We’ve seen significant interest from resellers who are excited to be able to sell multiple products from a single vendor and many of our resellers have already integrated these modules into their existing WHMCS system, providing them with additional revenue streams.”

Nothing more and nothing less. As you can see, it is worth to improve existing services and offer new ones.