Announcements

[denny]

I've been using WHMCS for a while now but have never made use of the "Announcements" feature. I am interested in using it but had a few questions/comments:

 

1) Does WHMCS e-mail to all users when you add a new announcement? If not, is it possible that it might be implemented in a later version?

 

2) Have you considered adding categories to announcements? Along with e-mails being sent out, category support could easily turn WHMCS into a useful marketing tool if it were possible for users to opt out of certain announcement categories via their profile.

 

My vision is that I would have a default announcement category for very important news such as downtime alerts, changes to policies, etc. Then there might be an advertising category where coupons, specials, new features and services, etc could be posted.

 

I think the ability to opt out of announcements or mass e-mails is important, especially in a world where some people become enraged when they receive just one piece of unsolicited e-mail. Sure, it's in their best interest to get e-mails about the important topics, but just because they are a customer doesn't mean they want to be notified of every change.

 

I know this functionality could easily be implemented for my customers with a separate mailing list script (but then the announcements feature would be useless to me, plus having it IN WHMCS would eliminate the need for another database setup, script configuration/customization, data entry, etc). And I do worry about WHMCS becoming too bloated/feature-filled (at least without the ability to disable certain features). I'm just speaking my mind because I think this would be modification that can benefit both you and your customers (and our customers!). It would definitely had a lot of value to my business.

[MACscr]

I've been using WHMCS for a while now but have never made use of the "Announcements" feature. I am interested in using it but had a few questions/comments:

 

1) Does WHMCS e-mail to all users when you add a new announcement? If not, is it possible that it might be implemented in a later version?

 

2) Have you considered adding categories to announcements? Along with e-mails being sent out, category support could easily turn WHMCS into a useful marketing tool if it were possible for users to opt out of certain announcement categories via their profile.

 

My vision is that I would have a default announcement category for very important news such as downtime alerts, changes to policies, etc. Then there might be an advertising category where coupons, specials, new features and services, etc could be posted.

 

I think the ability to opt out of announcements or mass e-mails is important, especially in a world where some people become enraged when they receive just one piece of unsolicited e-mail. Sure, it's in their best interest to get e-mails about the important topics, but just because they are a customer doesn't mean they want to be notified of every change.

 

I know this functionality could easily be implemented for my customers with a separate mailing list script (but then the announcements feature would be useless to me, plus having it IN WHMCS would eliminate the need for another database setup, script configuration/customization, data entry, etc). And I do worry about WHMCS becoming too bloated/feature-filled (at least without the ability to disable certain features). I'm just speaking my mind because I think this would be modification that can benefit both you and your customers (and our customers!). It would definitely had a lot of value to my business.

 

I know this is an old post, but i was searching for categories and announcements and found this post. I really think the OP makes a lot of really points and i would realy like these features as well. Specifically the category support.

[MACscr]

Come on, i know im not the only person that would like category support for announcements. Help me out people. I need Matt to take notice. =P

[surfmarketing]

that would be very helpful.

[Adam]

Hey,

 

Same here....

 

From,

Adam

[chisel]

I also think category support for annoucements would be good, with the ability for users to subscribe to categories and be notified via email when new announcements are made.

[MACscr]

I also think category support for annoucements would be good, with the ability for users to subscribe to categories and be notified via email when new announcements are made.

 

A little harder request than mine, but definitely something i would like as well.

[Blueberry3.14]

Come on, i know im not the only person that would like category support for announcements. Help me out people. I need Matt to take notice. =P

 

No, you're not

 

I'm going through the forum posts now, trying to find if it's possible to pull an external RSS feed (an off-server WordPress hosted blog) into the announcements of WHMCS.

 

Hopefully it's possible, I'd rather not have to copy-n-paste all my server status entries over into WHMCS.

[MACscr]

Why even use the WHMCS announcements if your going to admin them from a different app? Why not just replace the whmcs announcements link with a link to your other app or just replace the page with a script that will parse the wp rss feed?

[Blueberry3.14]

Why even use the WHMCS announcements if your going to admin them from a different app? Why not just replace the whmcs announcements link with a link to your other app or just replace the page with a script that will parse the wp rss feed?

 

I did replace the RSS feed link and changed it to the WordPress blog, I just also wanted to be able to display announcements on the WHMCS announcements page itself, so clients don't have to go to yet another page (unless the server is down).

 

Replacing the page is an option, or even changing the main "announcements" link. That might be the easiest solution. I knew I was missing the obvious, just wasn't sure what the obvious was!

 

I would still like the option to display the WP blog posts within the WHMCS announcements page, just to keep 'um on my site so they don't have to go back and forth. I wonder if an Iframe would do it?

 

YESSSS! An iframe works (when a php include wouldn't).

[Blueberry3.14]

Why even use the WHMCS announcements if your going to admin them from a different app? Why not just replace the whmcs announcements link with a link to your other app or just replace the page with a script that will parse the wp rss feed?

 

Found out it's not possible, and is a limitation of having a blog hosted on WP, rather than anything to do with WHMCS:

 

http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic.php?id=9547&page

 

Although....

 

LiveJournal allows their blogs to be embedded, and I have an LJ feed of my WP blog into LJ...so it MAY be possible.

 

I swear, I'm gonna find a way to do it, just to prove it CAN be done

Thanks again for your help, Mac.

[MACscr]

eww, iframes.

 

Just use a php script that will read rss feeds or make a php script that will grab them out of the wp database.

[Blueberry3.14]

eww, iframes.

 

Hahahaha! That's what *I* always said, as well ;-)

Just so you know, this is my FIRST iFrame.

 

Just use a php script that will read rss feeds or make a php script that will grab them out of the wp database.

 

Tried that, won't work. It looks as though WP won't allow it, just as the won't allow subdomain forwards without paying for their "domain mapping."

 

It might be a restriction of WHMCS though, as I tried to use a php include to pull in my personal blog from LiveJournal (just to test, to see if it would work). LJ allows embedding, so I knew it would work on their end.

 

But it works now (at least in Firefox, haven't tested in the others) the way I wanted, so I'm happy

[MACscr]

uh, how about not being lazy and doing a local install of wordpress versus wordpress.com? Heck, you can even install it using Fantastico. =P

 

And yes, whmcs allows php includes. Just do {include_php file="blah.php"}

[Blueberry3.14]

uh, how about not being lazy and doing a local install of wordpress versus wordpress.com? Heck, you can even install it using Fantastico. =P

 

And yes, whmcs allows php includes. Just do {include_php file="blah.php"}

 

Um, I'll ignore the 'tude. It's not being LAZY, it's being smart. Ever had a server crash? Ever had your business phone ring off the wall with clients calling because they have no OTHER way to reach you?

 

The WP server status blog was purposefully done OFF-SITE. And actually, installing a LOCAL copy of WP would in fact be *easier* that dealing with it being hosted on WP.com, and dealing with their restrictions.

 

I tried using {php} for the includes, and it wouldn't work. In any case, it's working now, and the way I wanted it to.

[Adam]

Um, I'll ignore the 'tude. It's not being LAZY, it's being smart. Ever had a server crash? Ever had your business phone ring off the wall with clients calling because they have no OTHER way to reach you?

 

The WP server status blog was purposefully done OFF-SITE. And actually, installing a LOCAL copy of WP would in fact be *easier* that dealing with it being hosted on WP.com, and dealing with their restrictions.

 

I tried using {php} for the includes, and it wouldn't work. In any case, it's working now, and the way I wanted it to.

 

Hey,

 

Thats why you host your main site, or companies site on a totally different server, like I do. The server doesn't have to be the biggest or the best, just something that can handle your load and be up 365 days a year.

 

But I have to agree with MACscr, you should really install WordPress on your site. From a customer point of view they see two things.

 

1) You, your self can't install WordPress, so you use an online GUI installer like WordPress.com to host it. Thats why some online software have a "hosted version" so people don't have to deal with MySQL database and so on.

 

2) Its hosted on a different site. All your company information should at least be hosted on the same domain as the rest of your site. Thats like your order system being on a different domain then your companies site. Clients think twice before they order. Same idea when you host a blog.

 

Anyways just my view on this.

 

From,

Adam

[Blueberry3.14]

Um, I'll ignore the 'tude. It's not being LAZY, it's being smart. Ever had a server crash? Ever had your business phone ring off the wall with clients calling because they have no OTHER way to reach you?

 

The WP server status blog was purposefully done OFF-SITE. And actually, installing a LOCAL copy of WP would in fact be *easier* that dealing with it being hosted on WP.com, and dealing with their restrictions.

 

I tried using {php} for the includes, and it wouldn't work. In any case, it's working now, and the way I wanted it to.

 

Hey,

 

Thats why you host your main site, or companies site on a totally different server, like I do. The server doesn't have to be the biggest or the best, just something that can handle your load and be up 365 days a year.

 

But I have to agree with MACscr, you should really install WordPress on your site. From a customer point of view they see two things.

 

1) You, your self can't install WordPress, so you use an online GUI installer like WordPress.com to host it. Thats why some online software have a "hosted version" so people don't have to deal with MySQL database and so on.

 

2) Its hosted on a different site. All your company information should at least be hosted on the same domain as the rest of your site. Thats like your order system being on a different domain then your companies site. Clients think twice before they order. Same idea when you host a blog.

 

Anyways just my view on this.

 

From,

Adam

 

Forgive me, a THOUSAND apologies that I'm not at the point to have more than ONE server.

 

I happen to be a full time developer, a .75-time web host, renovating a house, and those are the EASY parts of my life.

 

Please don't presume to tell me or anyone else where they SHOULD BE in relation to their business. I'm stretched about as many ways as any one human being can be without cracking, and I don't need to come in here to, looking for information, and be told how I should be running my business or that I really SHOULD have more than one server.

 

Any time either one of you think you can run my life better than I do..you're more than welcome to it.

 

Since 2003 I've had more design business than I could get to. I got into hosting as a service for my design customers. I haven't even had time to do my OWN business website until now, and that's because I told a couple of waiting clients they'd just have to wait a bit longer.

 

And the comment about clients thinking I have an offsite status blog because I "can't set it up myself" is pure crap. Clearly you haven't spent much time seeing which companies have THEIR offsite status pages hosted by WP.com.

 

Enjoy one-upping someone else. I'm outta here.

[MACscr]

Um, did you not notice my smiley face? I wasnt trying to be a jerk. Also, it only costs a few bucks a month to have a site hosted at a difference DC and only a few dollars a month to setup failover dns so that if your main hosting account goes down, your backup site/account (same domain) at another DC is used.

 

Also, if you want to ask for help/opinions on a website, you better be ready to accept whatever help your given. Dont b itch at us because you dont like our answers. I think i was more than helpful in my posts. I know Adam was not trying to "attack" you either, but just give you some advice on smart business/hosting practices. Maybe you dont agree and maybe its not possible for you, but that doesnt mean its not the right thing to do.

 

You also mentioned that your tried {php}, but i never said a thing about that tag. You should also be using fopen to open external urls or even curl. A normal php include most likely wont work that way for you (depends on servers config, i think).

 

Anyway, glad you got it working the way you like it.

[willow]

I know its an old thread but i was searching for same thing is the OP with regards to emailing clients.

 

Is it possible for WHMCS to automically email clients when an annoucement is made please?...no-one really did answer that

[Matt]

Why can't you use the mass mail feature that already exists to send your email after adding the announcement? It allows you to customise the message for the client then and include their name for example "Dear [CustomerName]" which you wouldn't do in the actual announcement text.

 

Matt

[willow]

Why can't you use the mass mail feature that already exists to send your email after adding the announcement? It allows you to customise the message for the client then and include their name for example "Dear [CustomerName]" which you wouldn't do in the actual announcement text.

 

Matt

That never occured to me Matt to be honest

[cgoleman]

I agree that you could just copy and past the announcement into the mass email feature but it would be nice if the system could automate announcement mailings, etc - like was originally posted allowing users to subscribe/unsubscribe and have different announcement categories for topics like system maintenance, outage announcements, or just general promotional announcements - each with its own subscribe/unsubscribe function. I guess it would be like building a list manager into the announcements module...

[amico]

I agree that you could just copy and past the announcement into the mass email feature but it would be nice if the system could automate announcement mailings, etc - like was originally posted allowing users to subscribe/unsubscribe and have different announcement categories for topics like system maintenance, outage announcements, or just general promotional announcements - each with its own subscribe/unsubscribe function. I guess it would be like building a list manager into the announcements module...

 

I think it will require time in order to develop such kind of features, and for that I recommend that whmcs alternatively uses other software as a module like phplist, which have an excellent management over email subscriptions.

[lostinspace]

New to WHMCS and started searching for some of the original topic feature requests.

 

While I agree that finding a third party option is plausible, this defeats the purpose of having a completely enclusive accounting/billing/support system.

 

After posting one of our announcement I quickly realized most wouldn't even know it was there since we've just converted over. Natuarlly I began posting a mass e-mail with the duplicate announcement but then realized not everyone would be interested in an e-mail about the announcement.

 

Yeah it would be work to enhance the announcement area but isn't that the natural progression of things?

 

So for what it's worth, I think providing admins the ability to check a "send announcement via e-mail" box when posting announcements and then providing a "receive announcement e-mails" box to the client area would be helpful. I dunno, seems the e-mail system is already available to build on.

 

Regardless, WHMCS has been fantastic for us in every respect.

[ravishg]

I want to fetch the rss feed from my KAYAKO announcement area page under the pages of WHMCS. Can somebody give me tips how this could be done.