This Plimus service update due for release on October 12th 2009, is packed with new improvements. In particular, the registration process for new users has been simplified and new registrants will be shown a new area on the opening page of the control panel that will guide them through their first steps in the system.

All users will benefit by some interface improvements on the BuyNow template setup page, with a link to a tips section that offers some great BuyNow page examples.

What's new in this update?

Control Panel

Starter Panel for New Users: New Vendors and Affiliates will be shown a new help panel that will help them become acquainted with the system. Particularly, they will be shown how to set up their first products and contracts. This 'Getting Started' panel can be minimized and expanded at will, or permanently closed once the user has got to grips with the basic steps.

Tip: More seasoned users can view this information by clicking on the new 'Getting Started' link in the Support area.

BuyNow Template Pages

Interface Improvements: The BuyNow template now sports a clearer and more modular interface that makes it easier for users to set up and control the color and font styles of their Plimus sales template pages. Users will also be able to use the convenient Icon Wizard to add payment and security seals.

BuyNow Template Tips Page: This new page offers tips on how to increase sales conversion. It also contains links to example BuyNow pages that have proven effective in converting sales.

HTML-Format 'Submit' Button on Second Page of BuyNow Sequence: New BuyNow pages will include a neater HTML-generated 'Submit' button instead of the older-fashioned blue button.

Increased Language Support on BuyNow Pages and E-mail Templates

As part of Plimus' continuing objective of enabling users to sell successfully across the world in as many languages and currencies as possible the following services have been added or extended.

Custom Field Inputs: Text input fields for custom fields on BuyNow page templates and E-mail templates now support multiple language characters (UTF-8).

The system now allows non-Latin characters to be input in the custom fields on BuyNow templates and the Last and Thank You pages. In addition, E-mail templates can also use non-Latin characters, enabling Sellers to provide localized sales pages and related e-mails in a choice of languages including Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, Arabic, and Hebrew.

Error notifications: Error messages on BuyNow pages now include localized language translations.

BuyNow Processing Page Translations: This page supports automatic translation according to the language selected by the user.

BuyNow Results Page Translations: This page supports automatic translation according to the language selected by the user.

Additional multi-lingual support: Translations now included for Credit card security code information box.

Contract Setup

Subscription and Recurring Contract Settings: Vendors now have the option to define the life of the contract to a maximum number of charges, in addition to expiry date and total sum charged.

Expanded Language Support on Promotions and Coupon settings: The 'Alternative descriptions' field on promotions setup now supports translations, permitting customers to view translated versions of the descriptions. The coupon process is now multi-lingual and supports translations.

Notification E-Mails

Add Invoice Link Tag to Post-Sales E-mails:Vendors can now select a new tag to appear in the post-sale notification. This will link to the appropriate invoice.

New User Registration

Simplified Registration for New Plimus Users: An easy-to-use one-page user registration wizard for Vendors and for Affiliates makes it easier for existing Plimus users to bring new partners on to the Plimus platform.

Instant Notification System (IPN)

New Variables: Additional Instant Notification variables have been added that enable Vendors and Affiliates to be notified about changes to recurring contracts, especially when a customer has upgraded from one contract to another. These new fields are included in the published variables list, accessed from within the Contract setup page.

A new PDF guide to using the Instant Notification System is now available from the Learning Center along with a sample PHP code element.

License Management

Regenerate New License: A new button has been added to the Order Information page, allowing Vendors to replace an old license and create new one for their customers. The new license will appear on the Order Information page.

This is in contrast to the existing 'Resend' function which resends the original license information to users.