Hiya!
I wanted to share a quick update regarding the Hostcrate website, billing system, email notifications, and a few things currently being worked on behind the scenes.
Email notifications are currently still a work in progress and are taking a little longer than originally anticipated. This feature is important for things like renewals, invoices, service updates, and customer account notices, so I want to make sure it is working properly before fully rolling it out.
The website itself is live, but it is not fully completed yet. I am actively working on getting everything finished as soon as possible (am only one person). This includes the website, the billing system for real life customers, and other final pieces needed to make everything easier to use.
As it stands right now, the website and billing system should be completed in their entirety within the next few weeks (fingers crossed!).
I am also working on completing the Knowledge Base, especially for the streaming services side of Hostcrate. This includes help docs for broadcasting software such as:
- Mixxx
- VirtualDJ / VDJ
- SAM Broadcaster
- and other commonly used broadcasting tools
If anyone would like to help with writing or improving documentation for streaming software setup – maybe even videos, please send me a message. Any help with making the Knowledge Base clearer and more useful would be greatly appreciated.
Since the website is currently live while still being worked on, I would also appreciate bug reports. If you notice anything broken, confusing, missing, or not working as expected, please let me know so I can fix it. This is especially true if you are using any Apple products as I do not have those myself to test with.
Another feature I would like to add is a Venue & Events page. This would be a place for clubs, DJs, live performers, and other event hosts to share their schedules. The goal is to have a calendar where customers can send in their event schedules, and I will list them in one organized place.
This could include:
- Club event schedules
- DJ sets
- Live performer shows
- Special events
- Recurring weekly events
- Other Second Life entertainment listings
The plan is for these schedules to be listed on the website and also posted at the Hostcrate office in-world, giving customers another way to promote their events and helping visitors find active venues, performers, and DJs.
Hostcrate also has advertising spots available on the website. Website ad spots will be listed on the Sponsors page, and advertising can be paid in either real life currency or L$. Please reach out to me to get a spot. For those who have rented an adboard inworld at our office, I will be reaching out soon.
Advertising Pricing & Special Offer
Ad spots are $1 per month (L$275) and are available in the following packages:
- 3 months: $3 – L$825
- 6 months: $6 – L$1650
- 12 months: $12 – L$3300
Cross-Platform Bonus
To help customers get more visibility, Hostcrate is also offering a cross-platform advertising bonus:
- Rent an ad spot in Second Life and get 1 website ad spot free
- Rent an ad spot on the Hostcrate website and get 1 Second Life ad spot free
I would also love feedback on what else Hostcrate could offer to help customers. Any suggestions, ideas, recommendations, or feature requests are very welcome.
Whether it is something for streaming, billing, support, tutorials, customer tools, event promotion, advertising, or anything else that would be useful, easier, and or better to use, please feel free to reach out to me in Second Life.
Thank you all for your patience, support, and feedback while these updates are being finished. Hostcrate has been around for a long time (18 YEARS YAY!), and this work is part of making sure everything is more organized, easier to manage, and better supported moving forward.
Thank you for everything! I appreciate you all more than I will ever be able to put into words! 🙂
—LustyLexxi Larimore
