JoomShaper joyfully concludes yet another voyage around the sun. This past year has been an incredible journey, with challenges bravely faced, opportunities seized, and transformations embraced in the ever-evolving realm of Joomla web development. So today, let's pause and celebrate the visionary strides that represent JoomShaper's unwavering dedication throughout its 14-year odyssey.

Welcome to our celebration of JoomShaper's 14th anniversary!

A Year of Wonders: Showcasing JoomShaper’s Key Achievements

Over the past year, JoomShaper has been making waves in Joomla web development with some incredible milestones. 

• Launch of SP Page Builder 5: SP Page Builder 5, harnessed with an awesome backend editor, became a game-changer for Joomla site development, receiving enthusiastic acclaim from users.
• Unveiling of EasyStore: EasyStore joined the JoomShaper family as an intuitive Joomla eCommerce solution that simplifies online selling. It has been transforming eCommerce website creation ever since.
• Rapid community growth: The community is growing rapidly, supported by top-notch support and engaging community involvement. Let's keep those numbers going up as we strive for a community full of energy and endless excitement!
• Swelling plethora of templates: JoomShaper has released many cutting-edge templates catering to various design preferences. Whether you're building a corporate site, a creative portfolio, or an online store, JoomShaper's expanding collection of templates perfectly suits the diverse needs of our professional community.
• Significant updates: We consistently updated your favorite SP Page Builder, EasyStore, templates & extensions to simplify your experience. These updates keep JoomShaper and its users up-to-date with the latest trends and help us all stay ahead of the curve!

The past year has been nothing short of extraordinary. With a slew of new products and the phenomenal engagement of our users, JoomShaper has truly flourished.

JoomShaper's Journey is Brighter With You!

To our incredible JoomShaper community - your passion and support have been the heartbeat of our journey. From lively forums buzzing with ideas and suggestions to dynamic social media conversations, your engagement has been nothing short of inspiring.

We owe our success to your enthusiasm and dedication, and for that, we extend our deepest thanks. Together, we've built more than just a brand; we've created a vibrant, collaborative family. Here's to continuing this amazing journey, hand in hand!

Enjoy Massive Discounts on All Products

In celebration of JoomShaper's birthday, we're thrilled to offer our amazing community a special gift! For a limited time, enjoy a flat 35% discount on all our products. It's our way of saying thank you for your unwavering support and enthusiasm. Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to enhance your projects at a fantastic price. Hurry, this birthday bash discount won't last long!

Winding Up

Thank you for being the cornerstone of our growth! We take immense pride in all that we've achieved together and eagerly anticipate an even brighter future since our journey is far from over! We hope you'll continue to be a vital part of our unfolding story!

Grab Your Deal!

So this time, we'll be diving into the reasons why it’s the "update time" for your Joomla version and how the older ones can cost you in terms of security, performance, and functionality. Without further ado let's get started!

Update your Joomla versions to enjoy the latest SP Page Builder, EasyStore, Helix Ultimate, and templates.

Everything Changes!

The only constant in life is the “change”. Regardless of how “cozy” you may feel with the older versions of Joomla and related extensions, it's important to remember that they will eventually need to be upgraded. Despite the comfort, stability, and familiarity they may provide, it's crucial to acknowledge that upgrades are inevitable for the long-term health and security of your Joomla sites. It's all about keeping things running smoothly! 

The latest Joomla versions are created to make your web-building journey smoother and more efficient. Updating to the newest version of Joomla is actually pretty easy and can greatly improve your workflow.

How Sticking with Old Joomla Versions Could Hurt Your Site

So, what happens if you decide not to update your Joomla version to a newer one? Well, here's a breakdown of what you might face:

• Security Vulnerabilities: Older versions might have some security holes that hackers could exploit, leaving your website more vulnerable to cyber threats.
• Lack of Support: With each new version, support for older ones tends to dwindle. That means fewer resources available to help you troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Compatibility Issues: Your older Joomla version might not play nice with newer third-party extensions or templates, limiting what you can do with your website.
• Performance Issues: Older versions might not be as optimized as newer ones, which could lead to slower loading times and less responsive performance overall.
• Limited Features: Each new Joomla release brings cool new features and improvements. By sticking with an older version, you're potentially missing out on some neat stuff that could enhance your website.
• Compliance Concerns: Older versions may not be compliant with the latest web standards, accessibility guidelines, or legal requirements (such as GDPR), potentially exposing website owners to legal risks or penalties.
• Facing Challenges with Migration: The longer your website stays on an older version, the tougher and more time-consuming it can get to switch to a newer one later on. You might run into compatibility issues and tricky data migration problems.
• Potential Drop in Search Rankings: Search engines like Google love websites that keep up with the latest trends and standards. Using an outdated version of Joomla could mean your site takes a hit in search engine rankings and visibility.
• Less Community Support: As more users and developers move on to newer versions, finding help and resources for older ones can become trickier. Tutorials and assistance might be less readily available when you need them.
• Risk of Losing Data: If your site gets hacked or compromised, using an old version of Joomla could put your data at risk. Outdated software may need more protections and backups, increasing the chances of data loss or corruption.

How the Latest Joomla Versions Simplify Your Site Management

Upgrading to the latest versions of Joomla offers you several advantages. Let's have a look at some of them:

• Enhanced Security: New versions often come with security patches and updates, helping to protect your website from vulnerabilities and potential threats.
• Improved Performance: Updates often include performance optimizations, ensuring your website runs smoothly and efficiently.
• New Features: Each new version introduces new features and functionalities, allowing you to enhance the user experience and stay competitive.
• Better Compatibility: The latest versions typically offer improved compatibility with third-party extensions and templates, reducing potential conflicts and ensuring smoother operation.
• Long-term Support: Upgrading to the latest version ensures that you receive ongoing support and updates from the Joomla community, helping to future-proof your website.
• SEO Benefits: Joomla updates often include improvements to SEO features and standards compliance, helping to improve your website's search engine rankings.
• Bug Fixes: New versions address bugs and issues found in previous releases, ensuring a more stable and reliable website.
• Community Engagement: By staying up-to-date with the latest Joomla version, you can actively participate in the Joomla community, contribute to its development, and benefit from shared knowledge and resources.

The perks just don't stop there. Once you make the switch, you'll uncover even more delightful features that make your experience even better.

SP Page Builder, EasyStore, and Helix Ultimate - All Geared Up for the Latest Joomla Versions

At JoomShaper, we know how important it is to keep up with the latest technology. We're dedicated to making sure our components stay compatible with the newest Joomla versions so that you can enjoy the best performance and features.

We've already updated many of our templates to the latest Joomla 4.x and 5.x versions. And we'll continue to update our templates until all of them are compatible with the latest Joomla versions. Also, your favorite tools like SP Page Builder, EasyStore, and Helix Ultimate fully support the newest versions of Joomla. So, if you haven’t updated to the latest version yet, what are you waiting for? Update today to enjoy the latest features of your favorite Joomla tools and stay up-to-date!

EasyStore & SP Page Builder 5 are compatible with both the latest Joomla versions, 4.4.x and 5.x.

Update Update Update!

Ultimately, all discussions converge on one conclusion: updating your Joomla version is essential. There's simply no alternative. Whether it's today or tomorrow, upgrading to a newer version will eventually be necessary. So, why not take the proactive step now without second-guessing?

Have you given Joomla 4 or 5 a try recently? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Good luck!

As the year draws to a close, it’s time for a recap of everything we’re thankful for this year and an invitation for you to stroll through the corridor of time with us!

What Tales Unfolded for JoomShaper This Year

This year has been a remarkable journey for us! As we took initial tentative steps forward, we embraced a renewed perspective, gradually sensing our progress turning into confident strides. From launching a groundbreaking eCommerce solution to revamping our advanced Joomla page builder, while also managing various tasks on our to-do list, we've traversed quite a distance.

So let’s begin with the chronicle of our achievements this year!

EasyStore Brings a New Dawn for Joomla eCommerce

This year, we turned the dream of having Joomla eCommerce right at your fingertips into a reality. EasyStore was revealed and kicked into high gear, working wonders right from the start!

The grand launch of EasyStore was met with such enthusiasm from our amazing users, and we can't thank you enough for the fantastic response. And why wouldn’t it be fantastic? EasyStore is a one-man army when it comes to handling tasks such as product creation, adding product variants, tracking and updating inventory, and managing store essentials like currency, shipping, and tax. All this is geared towards letting you breeze through even the trickiest tasks with ease!

We have also started adding video tutorials for our users to get a better grasp of the core features of EasyStore. You can check out our video tutorials from here.

SP Page Builder 5 Redefined Your Joomla Page Building Odyssey

This year proudly kicks off the journey of SP Page Builder 5, and let me tell you, it's been quite the kickoff! After investing a significant chunk of time in relentless efforts to align SP Page Builder 5 with our users' expectations in terms of functionalities and effortlessness, we were thrilled to set sail finally!

Our team, backed by the constructive feedback of our users, poured their hearts into shaping SP Page Builder 5 into its current form. Our gratitude will always be by our users’ side!

Let’s take a look at some of the features that made SP Page Builder 5 truly extraordinary:

• The Backend Editor Made a Triumphant Return: SP Page Builder 5 is dedicated to the backend editor! The butter smooth functionalities, stunning visual appeal, the inclusion of new features, and all other small but significant upgrades converted it into a treasure trove for our users!
• Addition of Font Book to Keep Your Fonts Organized: Font Book came into the picture to make dealing with your fonts a breeze. The concept was to let users handpick the fonts they wanted to play around with and install only those. And we absolutely loved the warm responses we received from your end!
• Generative AI Added Wings to Limitless Possibilities: We decided not to lag behind in the race of AI integrations. Thanks to the magic of Generative AI, SP Page Builder users can now create wonders, that too, in a snap!
• New Rich Text Editor to Simplify the Text Content Creation: Recognizing the need for a better and simpler text editor for SP Page Builder, we set out to turn that vision into reality – and we did just that. This new Rich Text Editor proved to be a simplified solution for our users and we are still on the move, sharpening the edges of Rich Text Editor!
• 12 New and Vibrant Additions Made to the Pre-made Blocks Family: We knew it had been a while since we last rolled out pre-made blocks. Hence, amid our crazy schedule, we are glad we could sneak in 12 new SP Page Builder Pro's Pre-made Blocks to our existing collection of pre-made sections! 
• Introduced Page-specific permission control (ACL): SP Page Builder also handed over the key to you to set permissions for your pages individually. You can now flex the power of Page-specific permission control (ACL), amping up your content's security.

But that's not all. If you wish to explore the vast possibilities that SP Page Builder comes with check out our website!

9 Fresh Templates Embraced Warmly

While juggling various commitments, we haven't overlooked the significance of providing our users with fresh templates. This year we've introduced nine new templates spanning different genres to our continually growing Joomla template collection. It's worth mentioning that 3 of these templates came fortified with EasyStore, to help you take your Joomla eCommerce journey to the next level.

Our released templates powered by EasyStore:

1. Allura
2. Jewels
3. Kreativa

Our regular templates released this year: 

1. Sphere
2. Event Planner
3. Savor
4. Fusion
5. Investa
6. Celestia

7 New Layout Bundles Joined the Pack

This year, we have also added 9 fresh layout packs to our layout bundle family! These new members cover different niches and come with fantastic color combos and designs. Import any pages you like and speed up your Joomla page development effortlessly!

Here’s the list of the layout bundles that have been released this year:

1. Architectural Firm
2. Tech Agency
3. Community Club
4. Laundromat
5. Woodland
6. Cake & Bakery
7. Renovation

All Our Community Support Now Unified Under One Roof

As we kept rolling out innovative Joomla products, the demand for individual product-based Facebook community pages continued to grow. This led us to the decision of uniting the entire community under one roof, and what better roof than the JoomShaper community? For streamlined communication and efficient handling of your queries, all our community pages have now merged into the JoomShaper community. Stay tuned to the JoomShaper Facebook Community page for the latest news and updates!

Nia - Our AI-Based Technical Support Assistant Took Form

This year, we decided to try out Nia, an experimental AI-based Technical Support Assistant designed to offer our users basic information. Although Nia has the potential to become an excellent technical assistant, it currently lacks a deep understanding of our products. We acknowledge this limitation and assure you that the system will steadily improve. We truly appreciate your patience as we enhance Nia's capabilities.

Proudly Sponsored Joomla Day to Keep the Joomla Spirit Aglow

Continuing our longstanding tradition, JoomShaper proudly backed the global Joomla event this year. Just as in previous years, we extended our sponsorship to Joomla Day, France, to keep inspiring the community to thrive, connect, and contribute to the vibrant world of Joomla. And we hope to keep supporting the Joomla events in the future as well. 

Venturing Into a New and Hopeful Year

As we eagerly approach the new year, our biggest wish is for 2024 to bring even more joy to everyone in our beloved Joomla and JoomShaper community. The signs are promising, especially when we reflect on the remarkable recovery we've experienced this year.

In wrapping up this post, we want to, once again, convey heartfelt gratitude for joining us on this annual journey. Wishing you a happy new year filled with love, laughter, and great camaraderie! From the entire JoomShaper team, Happy Holidays!

Get ready to treat yourself this Halloween, where we're slashing prices like a wicked witch's broomstick by a thrilling 35%! The offer starts from today and lasts till 5th November 2023. No coupon code is needed. Just browse and purchase. 

It's as easy as catching a ghost – no tricks, just treats.

Which Plans Will Have the Halloween Discount?

EVERY SINGLE PLAN!

We’re offering 35% off all plans at JoomShaper! 

NOTE: The discount offer is available on all new purchases, renewals, and plan upgrades. 

Hurry up and grab the discount before it ghosts away. 

• Templates: Unleash your creativity with 140+ templates of every niche, all bewitchingly reduced by 35%.
• SP Page Builder: Your key to crafting stunning Joomla websites visually and instantly is now at an eerie 35% off. 
• EasyStore: Start selling your potions and charms online with EasyStore at a spooktacular 35% off. 

Don't be caught snoozing! Hurry and snatch the discount before it vanishes into thin air. Let us know which plan are you planning to avail this Halloween. 

Happy Halloween to all!

 Grab your Deal!

We are excited to introduce a new member to our support team, Nia, the AI-based Technical Support Assistant, designed to enhance your JoomShaper experience. Nia is in its experimental stage and is ready to assist you in navigating through our platform's technicalities. 

Nia works by providing support based on the extensive documentation available for all JoomShaper products. The AI model behind Nia scans through all relevant documents and then offers solutions to your inquiries, making it a quick and efficient problem-solving tool. While we strive to ensure Nia delivers correct and relevant answers, it's worth noting that it's in the experimental phase and it's continually learning and evolving.

Like any other AI-based solution, Nia is not without its challenges. It might occasionally provide an inaccurate response as it navigates through the vast range of JoomShaper products and their associated complexities. However, the system will gradually improve, refining its knowledge and understanding of our products. We appreciate your patience and feedback during this experimental phase. 

As you interact with Nia, we want to remind all users not to share confidential information during the support conversation. This includes sensitive data like username, password, server access, and personal information. Nia is designed to resolve technical issues using available documentation and does not require any of your confidential data to perform its functions.

Our vision for Nia is to enhance the customer service experience by providing quick, effective, and user-friendly technical support, reducing waiting times, and improving overall customer satisfaction. We believe AI has immense potential to improve overall customer service, and we're thrilled to be taking strides in this direction.

We encourage all JoomShaper users to try Nia and share their experiences. Your feedback will not only help Nia improve but will also assist us in shaping the future of customer service in our company.

All our Pro users can use Nia from the Forum.

Remember, Nia is here to help, but your data privacy is paramount. Never share your confidential information.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to fine-tune and enhance your JoomShaper experience!

Team JoomShaper

But before sneaking you right into our success stories, we want to take a moment to thank all our precious users and fans for all your valuable contributions to JoomShaper and for helping us grow and thrive as a company. We truly value your input and appreciate the role you have played in helping us succeed.

And with that being said, let's take a look at what this year for JoomShaper looked like, and start the ride through our reminiscence lane!

Flashback to JoomShaper’s 2022

2022 has been a fabulous year of achievements! With new users joining, the launch of exciting products like SP Page Builder 4, and the announcement of the upcoming SP Page Builder’s own eCommerce molded this year into the picture-perfect form that we looked forward to. And amidst all the accomplishments, we thank all of you for your constant support and we hope to continue on this exciting journey together.

Curtains Raised on SP Page Builder 4 Stable Version

After numerous experimental releases, the stable version of the much-awaited SP Page Builder 4 finally made its way to your doorstep. Our core emphasis was to make your website-building journey smarter, better, and easier. And keeping that vision ahead of us, we could finally shape SP Page Builder 4 into what we perceived it to be. We promise to continue making SP Page Builder the best of its kind on this journey. 

Some of the notable features are as follows:

• Intuitive front-end dashboards with filter functionality
• 4 new functional addons
• Customize anything at any stage with Layers
• Resize and configure column width by dragging the column boundary
• Option to add images from external URLs
• Improved the URL routing system
• And many more!

Special thanks go to all our precious users for being a part of our success story. Like always, your constant and constructive feedback and support catalyzed JoomShaper and SP Page Builder 4’s success and growth this year!

The News of SP Page Builder With its Own eCommerce Takes the Stage

This year the news of SP Page Builder with its own eCommerce has been phenomenal for our SP Page Builder community. As we believe in keeping our users' convenience at the top of our priority list, we decided to harness SP Page Builder with its own eCommerce to fully help you build your envisioned online store. With this new development, you will no longer need to use any external extensions to create an eCommerce site using SP Page Builder. And we absolutely loved the warm responses we received from your end!

Here are some of eCommerce’s prospective features that you can avail of:

• Automatically Track Inventory
• Ship Your Products Worldwide
• Multiple Payment Methods
• Evaluate the Performance of Your Business
• Set Your Preferred Currency & Weight Units
• And more!

Check out our blog post HERE to learn more about all the exciting features!

6 Impressive Templates For Your Joomla Site

We had committed ourselves to continue to release new templates that meet the latest design standards and provide our users with the best possible user experience. Keeping the promise alive, we have released 6 stunningly beautiful Joomla templates throughout the year that our users absolutely loved and received thousands of downloads. 

Here are some of the templates released this year:

1. Nuron
2. Maestro
3. Travelin
4. Artion

9 New Layout Packs Greeted into the Layout Bundle Family

This year too, 9 brand-new layout packs made their way into our layout bundle family. These new layout bundle packs are fully responsive with stunning color palettes and designs that will not only speed up your development process tenfolds but also embellish your online presence just the way you want!

Check ​​out some of the popular layout bundles that have been released this year:

1. Physiotherapy
2. Political party
3. Home Decor
4. Law firm
5. NGO

SP Page Builder and Helix Fortified With Numerous Updates

Throughout the year, your favorite Joomla framework and webpage-building tool received several updates. SP Page Builder 4 started receiving updates shortly after the stable release in July and has already received 4 major updates comprising bug fixes, new feature additions, and overall performance improvements. The mighty Helix Ultimate and Helix 3 also received performance enhancements, bootstrap support, the latest PHP compatibilities, and more in a total of 7 updates.

Along with SP Page Builder 4, SP Page Builder 3 has been sharpened 7 times throughout the year ensuring sharper and smoother performance. While SP Page Builder 4 will be given priority when it comes to updates, we also have plans chalked out in place for SP Page Builder 3. Check it out HERE in case you have missed it!

Revamped JoomShaper Website

Another major change on our plate this year is the redesign of the JoomShaper website. The new vibrant interface and user-friendly ambiance of the website have been elaborately thought out to give our visitors a vivid idea about what our products can offer. Along with the polished look and feel we have also emphasized the smooth functionality and ease of use for our users. Check out our updated website HERE and see it speak for itself!

Many Joomla Templates & Extensions Got Joomla 4 Compatibility

Right from the beginning of the year, we started rolling out updates for our templates and extensions that required minor or major fixes along with the latest Joomla compatibility. Many of our extensions and templates have already received Joomla 4 compatibility and the number is still counting!

Here are some of the popular templates that have been updated:

• Hope
• ​​Finance
• ​​Floox
• Educon
• And more!

Joomla Tutorials and Tips

Throughout the year, we have published a large number of helpful Joomla tutorials that have been well-received and beneficial to many of you. Special thanks to our JoomShaper community for always putting forward your constructive suggestions and feedback to help us improve and grow as a company. Feel free to explore our treasury of Joomla blogs to get your hands on the various Joomla tips and tutorials. 

Some of the noteworthy tutorials are:

1. How to Create Mega Menu Using Helix Ultimate in Joomla
2. How to Make The Most Out of New Joomla 4 Web Accessibility Features
3. A Complete Guideline on the All-New SP Page Builder 4 Feature: Layers
4. Exceed Your Web-Building Boundaries With SP Page Builder Interaction & Animation

New Updated Documentation

With the release of SP Page Builder 4, we have also sketched out its complete documentation separately. More than 100 new documents have been released this year and SP Page Builder 4 alone consists of 90+ documents. Check out our SP Page Builder Documentation page where we have sectioned out the documents for Addons, Media, Interactions & Animations, etc separately for your convenience. We hope that these resources have been helpful for you in learning more about SP Page Builder 4 and its capabilities. 

Our Team Strengthened With More New Talents

On our journey to ensure our customers with more revolutionary products, our team has always been the frontline support. With an extraordinary base of exceptional product designers, professional web application developers, content developers, marketing professionals, and experienced support engineers we believe we can enhance the Joomla web community for everyone. We have continued to strengthen our team by adding talented individuals, resulting in a 26% increase this year.

New Year, New Goals

As we enter a new year, it's time for us to set new goals for ourselves. We have come a long way over the past year, overcoming challenges and achieving our targets. In the coming year, we are committed to building upon this success and focusing on improving our existing products to better serve our customers. With several exciting Joomla products in the pipeline, we are excited to continue delivering high-quality solutions that exceed our customers' expectations. We look forward to another year of growth and success as we work towards realizing our limitless goals.

This year has been an amazing one for us. As more hopes and dreams fill our realm of wishes, we look forward to the opportunity to turn them into reality slowly but steadily. We learned that the best way to usher in the new is by keeping our heads high up and looking forward to a future with endless possibilities.

We promise to give back to our JoomShaper community with more revolutionary Joomla products and ease up your web-building experiences tenfolds! Our jocund team will surely be back with more delectable updates and fixes for you to enjoy. And on that note, we wish you all a wonderful year ahead full of achievements, health, and fulfilled dreams!

Don’t forget to let us know how this year has been for you in the comments. Happy new year 2023!

So what are these nulled templates and extensions and why the fuss about using them? Let us clean the air for you here. In today’s article, you will get a comprehensive guide on what nulled Joomla templates and extensions are and why you should get rid of them right away if you are serious about your site.

What are Nulled Joomla Templates and Extensions?​​

Let's start with getting to know what nulled templates and extensions are. When you look closely, the term “nulled” already sounds skeptical. And indeed, nulled Joomla templates and extensions are modified versions of the original premium templates and extensions that have been cracked or hacked in order to remove licensing restrictions. Not just that, these nulled extensions and templates might have been modified to include harmful code that can make way for hackers to intrude on your website. Although these cracked or pirated Joomla products apparently come free of cost, in the long run, you may end up paying twice the price.

Are Nulled Joomla Products Illegal?

Joomla and most of the premium Joomla products like templates and extensions are GPL licensed. That means, any software under GPL license allows its user to run, study, share and modify the software however they like. So if a GPL-licensed template or extension is put up on a site for free download that's technically not illegal. However, this does not mean that you should fill your website with nulled extensions. Because such pirated products have more reasons not to be considered as an option when it comes to crafting your website. Let's look at the reasons why.

Reasons to Avoid Nulled Joomla Extensions and Templates

Now that we have learned about what nulled templates and extensions are, let's take a quick glance at why you should avoid using them. Here are some of the significant issues that you may face with nulled templates and extensions.

Security Issues 

Using nulled extensions and templates on Joomla can have serious security and privacy implications that can put your website and its visitors at risk. Because nulled extensions and templates are often modified versions of the original plugin and have been cracked to get rid of the licensing restrictions, they may contain malicious code that can compromise the security of your website. This code can be used to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial data, from your website and its visitors.

Consequently, using nulled extensions or templates can also put your website at risk of being hacked or taken over by cybercriminals. Since you won't receive any security updates, attackers may use the security vulnerabilities in the nulled plugin to gain access to your website and use it for their own purposes, such as distributing malware or spamming.

Can Damage Your Reputation

If you are a developer and have just started working for your clients, you might want to slash the cost by using the nulled templates and extensions for the site. That's where you are compromising your reputation. You have to remember that these nulled products will be deprived of future updates. So basically you are offering your clients a low-quality website that cannot be maintained with future updated versions of the templates and extensions resulting in a massive decline in your reputation.

As mentioned earlier, since the nulled extensions and templates may contain malicious codes, they can penetrate into the privacy of your website visitors. Some nulled Extensions and Templates may collect and transmit personal information without your knowledge or consent, violating the privacy rights of your visitors. This can lead to legal consequences and can potentially damage your reputation.

Negative SEO Impact

Among all the drawbacks of using pirated extensions and templates on Joomla, imposing a negative impact on your website's search engine optimization (SEO) is a significant one. Search engines like Google use complex algorithms to determine the relevance and quality of a website, and using nulled extensions and templates can signal to these algorithms that your website is of low quality. This can result in your website being ranked lower in search results, which can lead to reduced traffic and revenue.

Also, using nulled Joomla products can also lead to your website being penalized by search engines. If a search engine detects that you are using nulled extensions and templates on your website, it may flag your website and decrease its visibility in search results. This can be difficult to recover from, and it can take a long time for your website to appear in the search results.

Therefore it's only wise to use the original, adequately licensed versions to ensure that your website is optimized for search engines and has the best chance of ranking highly in search results.

No Access To New Features

Extensions and templates, particularly extensions, may have bugs when first released. Over time, these issues are usually addressed through updates that fix the bugs and sometimes add new features or maintain compatibility with others. Because nulled templates and extensions are obtained illegally, they do not have the same auto-update feature as legally obtained versions. This means that you are stuck with the version you have and will not receive updates unless you also obtain the updated nulled version and install it.

Try Free Versions Before Investing

​​If you're skeptical about buying a Joomla extension, why not try the free version first if available instead of the nulled version? Many Joomla templates and extensions creators offer free versions of their software that allow you to test out the products before investing.

JoomShaper offers numerous great Joomla products that are completely free of cost. Even the mighty Helix Ultimate won't cost you a single bean! We also have SP Page Builder Lite that allows you to try the leading Joomla page builder free of cost. Check out the website to find out more.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why you should not incline toward nulled templates and extensions. Always get your Joomla templates and extensions from reliable sources to ensure the safety and security of your website. Don't leave your site vulnerable to attacks by using spammy techniques and products. If you use nulled templates and extensions on your site, it may cost you a lot in the long run in terms of lost revenue and even damaged reputation.

What are your thoughts regarding such risky products? Let us know in the comments! 

Explore Joomla Products

Since its inception, JoomShaper has been on a constant journey to keep up with the ever-evolving web trends and help you get the best for your Joomla site. So far we have also brought about numerous updates and improvements to our existing templates and extensions to ensure you a hassle-free experience. And making all our templates and extensions compatible with the latest PHP version has been at the top of our priority list.

So here is a prospective look at what we are planning concerning the PHP 8 & 8.1 compatibility updates of your favorite Joomla templates and extensions.

Helix Ultimate Based Templates

All our Helix Ultimate based users can now join the party queue as the wait is almost over! Find yourselves gravitating toward the magnificent templates of Helix Ultimate as you can now expect to get the much-awaited PHP 8.0 compatibility in both Joomla 4 & Joomla 3 and PHP 8.1 compatibility with only Joomla 4 within the next three months - December,  January, and February. 

Please note that all our Helix Ultimate based templates have previously been updated to make Joomla 3 & 4 compatible.

Helix 3 Based Templates

Many of our users are also using Helix 3 and Helix 3-based templates and we haven’t overlooked you at all. While PHP 8.0 & 8.1 compatibility in Joomla 4 for the Helix 3 template framework is in the offing, those who are already using Helix 3-related templates can also rejoice as we are coming up with PHP 8 compatibilities for you too! All you have to do is hold your patience as this will be taken care of right after all the Helix Ultimate templates have been updated, that is, within the next three months after February 2023. Therefore, after the updates, you can enjoy PHP 8.0 compatibility in both Joomla 4 & Joomla 3 and PHP 8.1 compatibility with only Joomla 4. 

Extensions

Although some of our extensions had previously been geared up to suit the latest stable PHP and Joomla 4 compatibility, others were still waiting for the uplift. But that shouldn’t worry you anymore as we have also chalked out rigid plans to update all our extensions to the latest PHP version. You can expect your favorite extension to be completely ready to hit the floor by next February!

Have You Checked Our Black Friday Offer Yet?

The biggest Black Friday sale is also going on at JoomShaper and you don't want to miss the opportunity! Steal our blazing hot deal of a 50% discount on all JoomShaper’s premium products, including your favorite templates and extensions! This slashed offer remains for a limited time only and will end soon. Don’t let this fabulous bargain slip away!

Winding Up

We hope this article answers the many questions you might have had regarding the updates at the back of your head. So breathe out a sigh of relief, sit back and leave all the worries and work to us while you enjoy the perfect temperate weather and the festive spirit. Your constant patience can eventually unlock numerous doors to better possibilities and potentialities when it comes to building the next-generation Joomla CMS sites. Hence, stay tuned and keep supporting JoomShaper!

 Grab the Deal!

Celebrate this Jack-O’-Lanterns occasion with JoomShaper as we are bringing you a whopping 35% discount on all JoomShaper products! The offer is limited time only and lasts till 5th November 2022. No coupon code is needed. Just browse and purchase.

The 35% discount is available on all of our subscription plans. Offer valid from 26th October to 5th November 2022. No coupon code is needed.

Please note that the discount offer is available on all new purchases and renewals. 

Hurry up and grab the discount before it ghosts away. Browse our rich collection of Joomla templates and extensions, choose your best plan and save more than $104!

So which plan are you planning to avail this Halloween? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments below. Happy Halloween to all!

 Grab your Deal!

As we approach our 12th anniversary, let's lean back in ease and take a ride down the memory road, reminiscing about how far we’ve come since 2010.  

What you’ll find below are some highlights of the journey to date!

Flashback at JoomShaper

JoomShaper has always been a development powerhouse that puts a strong emphasis on product quality. Over the years, we have built quite a number of extensions and developed our products. Here we will look at some of the notable products and improvements that we have made over the past years.

• 2011 - Commencement of Helix Framework journey 
• Nov 2014 - SPPB stable version got ready
• Dec 2014 - SPPB was added to joomla.org
• Jan 2015 - SPPB v1.0.1 released
• Feb 2018 - Helix Ultimate 1.0 released
• Sep 2020 - Introduction of Helpdesk support system for more private and connected support
• Aug 2021 - Helix Ultimate 2.0.0 was introduced
• Dec 2021 - SP Page Builder 4.0 Alpha 1 was released

The achievement is not just limited to this. We have also reached a huge milestone of producing a total of 265 Joomla Products with a total download exceeding a whopping 11.5 million!

Proud Sponsor of Joomla Events

Over the past years, it has been an absolute privilege to be a proud official sponsor of Joomla events worldwide. As a proud sponsor of Joomla events, our core essence was to help you get the most out of your Joomla experience. Here is a reflection on some of the mention-worthy Joomla events.

• 2015 - JoomShaper co-sponsored Joomla World Conference 2015 held in India.
• 2016 - JoomShaper was a Diamond sponsor of the Joomla World Conference 2016 held in Canada.
• 2016 - JoomShaper was the co-presenting sponsor of JoomlaDay Malaysia.
• 2017 - JoomShaper was a Diamond sponsor of Joomla! World Conference 2017 held in Rome.
• 2017 - JoomShaper was a Gold sponsor for J and Beyond, an international Joomla! Conference.
• 2018 - JoomShaper was a Gold sponsor for JoomlaDay Italy and JoomlaDay Florida.

The Team Got Even Bigger and Better

Over the last decade, the JoomShaper team has swelled! This amazing journey of JoomShaper commenced back in 2010 with just 3 members onboard. Now we are a proud family of 60+ members working both from the headquarter and remotely with the count continuing.

One of the expansions that are worth mentioning here is the introduction of our Helpdesk support system for better, more private, and connected support. Our dedication to you is beyond compare and providing you with the best support is our team of experts' first and foremost priority.

What Our Community Has to Say About Us

With 356507 community users (still counting), JoomShaper is home to a vibrant community that has been a constant inspiration behind our hard work. We have highlighted some of the great feedback we’ve gotten from a great bunch of people who are part of this community.

JoomShaper’s Contribution to Joomla

Since the inception of JoomShaper, we have tried to contribute to the Joomla world by creating easier means of developing Joomla websites. Our most loved products like Helix Ultimate and SP Page Builder have helped shaped thousands of websites worldwide. Plus, we are always on the move to regularly update our extensions and templates and most of our products have been updated to Joomla 4 to keep up with the latest web trends! We have been, and continue to be, committed to contributing to the Joomla world with our world-class, easy-to-use products. 

Birthday Sale - 50% OFF on All Products!

In order to spread our joy on this occasion, JoomShaper brings you a 50% massive discount on all our JoomShaper products including template club membership subscriptions, and SP Page Builder plans. Check out our other blog post for more details!

Ending Thoughts

We’ve gone through a lot of changes in these 12 years. One thing that has remained constant is our commitment to excellence. A big shout out to all our users who continued to put their trust in us and helped us grow into what we are today. Stay with JoomShaper as it continues to take its mincing steps forward and look right ahead into a brighter future!

Grab Your Deal!

And on this special occasion, join us as we celebrate the 12th birthday of JoomShaper with 50% OFF on all products!

Massive Discount on All Products

In order to spread our joy on this occasion, JoomShaper brings you a flat 50% massive discount on all our JoomShaper products including template club membership subscriptions, and SP Page Builder Pro plans.

This discount is also applicable on any membership/subscription renewal during this period.

The offer starts from June 17 2022 and is valid until June 30 2022. No Coupon Code needed!

Announcements

We would also like to take this special opportunity to announce that JoomShaper will be bringing you the much-awaited SP Page Builder 4 by the second week of July 2022. We’ve been closely following all the valuable feedback from our user base and we’re confident that SP Page Builder 4 will provide its users with a whole new level of ease of use and flexibility. 

So far SP Page Builder has shaped over 200,000+ websites and its popularity continues to expand for its convenient page-building experience. We hope you will be looking forward to the new version as much as we do!

Wrapping Up

Thank you for helping us grow into what we are today! We're so proud of all that we've accomplished together and we're looking forward to an even brighter future. We also want to take this moment to thank you for all the support we've received over the past 12 years. But there’s still a lot to dive into and we hope you will continue to be a part of our story!

Grab Your Deal!

So, before we step into 2022 full of hope and opportunities, let’s take a trip down memory lane on what made this year oh-so-special despite all the challenges! 

Flashback at JoomShaper’s 2021

Despite the difficulties and inconveniences that the pandemic brought along, our team continued to strive and work harder. And these relentless efforts brought about several products that have been loved and accepted by all with warmth. 

From releasing the Helix Ultimate 2.0 to updating our mighty SP Page Builder, Joomla extensions, and more - this year has given us so much to be proud of and happy about amidst this pandemic.

The Ultimate Joomla Template Framework Got a Facelift

As promised last year, we have introduced Helix Ultimate 2.0 - the widely loved Joomla template framework with many shiny new features. Our goal with Helix Ultimate 2.0 was to provide you with exceptional built-in functionalities, ease of development and updates, robust code, and top-notch customer support. And your constant support and thoughtful feedback throughout have made this journey an extraordinary one. 

We also kept updating Helix Ultimate further providing our users with required bug fixes, suitable features and several improvements and additions.

Some of the notable features are as follows:

• Compatible with both Joomla 3 & 4
• Extensive control with premade elements and layout builder
• Drag & drop menu & mega menu builder with real-time front-end preview
• 8 new header variations
• 5 striking Home variations
• Ability to add unlimited custom CSS/SCSS/JS files
• And so many more!

SP Page Builder 4 Alpha 1 Triggered Off

This year your favorite SP Page Builder has been reinvented with a brand new design system and advanced functionalities. We have released the Alpha 1 version for your test run and feedback. 

With impressive features like brand new system design, visually appealing interface, organized dashboards, new addons, and much more, the stable release is all set to take off earlier next year.

21 New Impressive Layout Bundles Joined the Pack

To accelerate your website development process, you won't find any answer other than the stunning layout bundles of SP Page Builder Pro. This year too, we made sure to keep the legacy of adding new packs to the family going for all our users. We have successfully added 21 brand new Layout Bundles that are befitting for every business niche!

​​Some of the popular layout bundles that have been released are:

1. Landscaping
2. Pool Service
3. Wanderlust
4. IT Solution
5. Cosmetics Shop
6. Logistics

9 New Top-class Joomla Templates

Like every year, we have done our best to remain consistent in releasing amazing Joomla templates. Our resolve is to keep bringing those contemporary templates in different categories that are useful and stylish enough to meet the needs of a wide variety of people. Thousands of downloads with amazing feedback and response are what kept us motivated and inspired throughout. 

Let’s have a look at the Joomla templates we have released this year.

1. Manufacturer - Joomla Template for Factories and Industrial Equipment
2. Politicas - Joomla Template for Political Campaigns, Parties, and Politicians
3. Gourmand - Recipe and Food Blog Joomla Template
4. BabyCare - Joomla Template for BabySitting and Child Care Agencies
5. Luxyort - Resort and Holiday Destination Joomla Template
6. SheFund - Joomla Template for Women NGOs and Charity Firms
7. Rythm - Music Band and Musician Joomla Template
8. Pitech - Technology and IT Solution Joomla Template
9. Magnin - Creative Agency Joomla Template

Many Joomla Templates & Extensions Got Joomla 4 Compatibility

Along with the addition of brand new templates and layout bundles, we have also updated many of our templates with Joomla 4 compatibility. In the process, we didn’t forget about our extensions at all. Many of your favorite Joomla extensions have also been adapted to Joomla 4 compatibility. 

Some of the popular extensions that have been updated are:

1. SP Easy Image Gallery
2. SP Property
3. SP Simple Portfolio
4. SP LMS

This year also came with good news for those who have been waiting for Helix3 to be updated with Joomla 4 support. Along with plenty of other significant renovations, we have released Helix3 v3.0.0 for our users to stay in trend and have the finest website building experience.

The main features that have been added to the Helix3 are:

• Joomla 4 compatibility
• Updated Bootstrap Version to 5.0
• Updated to Font Awesome 5

24/7 Support Team for Better, Faster Response

In order to give our customers light-years-ahead experience in solving issues, we have focused on building a thriving support team. With the new and extended number of support engineers, we are trying to deal with your difficulties round the clock. Hence, to address your issues ceaselessly, we have rocketed the number of support engineers and experts.

To make our customers feel positive and satisfied with our support system, we have tried to put in some extra effort to make the team more efficient. And our hard work paid off with an approximate 95% happiness score based on around 2531 customers’ ratings. 

Joomla Tutorials and Tips

Throughout the year we have released a great deal of constructive Joomla tutorials that resulted to be beneficial to a lot of you. We have continued to publish tips and tutorials on various Joomla topics that have been appreciated and loved by you.

Some of the most popular tutorials are:

1. How to Update Your Site to Joomla 4 (Detailed Guideline)
2. Complete Guideline on the New Workflow Feature of Joomla 4
3. How to Make Your Joomla Site GDPR Compliant
4. How to Create Multilingual Site in Joomla 4 Using Helix Ultimate
5. How to Use SP Page Builder Addon from One Joomla Template to Another
6. Joomla Security Best Practices to Follow in 2021
7. Ultimate Guide to High Google PageSpeed Score for Websites on Joomla

JoomShaper’s Plan for the Next Year

As the surge in Covid-19 cases continued throughout the year, our plans and to-do list had to go through a constant shifting. Fortunately, there are strategies and targets that are sure to help us overcome this upheaval. 

In the coming year, we aim to focus more on the following to continue to serve our customers even better than before.

• SP Page Builder 4 Stable Release: The SP Page Builder 4 stable version is just a step away from revolutionizing the entire site-building experience. Apart from introducing new addons, blocks, and layout bundles, the brand new SP Page Builder 4 will bring a completely new structure, user experience, and site-building capabilities for the users. As this is going to be something you have never experienced before, be prepared to be amazed!
• Make All Helix3 Based Templates Joomla 4 Compatible: This year we have released the latest version of Helix3 that lets you experience new enhancements, features, and flexibilities of Joomla 4. Therefore updating all our Helix3 based templates will be among our prime objectives next year for our users’ conveniences. 
• All Other Extensions & Components: JoomShaper’s team is working relentlessly to help you have the best website building experience. We are doing our best to update all our extensions and components to the latest technology to help you keep in trend! Hopefully, we can update all our extensions and components by next year.
• Several Ground-Breaking Joomla Products: Our team is already on the move to surprise you with several Joomla products that will only enhance your website building experience. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our JoomShaper website to find out more!

While there is no denying that we had our share of loss and hardships, it’s also important for all of us to look at ways to transform these hardships into powerful catalysts. And only through these transformations can we help ourselves cope with whatever curveballs are thrown our way in the future. With renewed goals, dreams, and aspirations set before us, we pledge to build better relationships with our customers and support our team members. 

And finally, as the end of the year inches closer we want to take this very opportunity to thank you all for yet another amazing year! Stay with us and stay in vogue with the latest web trends!

If you are a JoomShaper fan and waiting for the right deal to Joomla templates and extensions, this is your chance. You can avail this offer and save up to $105 on your purchase. No coupon code is needed. Just browse and purchase. Limited time only!

35% Halloween discount on all of our subscription plans. Offer valid from 25th October to 5th November 2021. No coupon code needed.

Note: Discount is available on all new purchases and renewals. 

So, visit the pricing page and look at the big savings you will make on the purchase. Happy Halloween!

 Buy Templates & ExtensionsBuy SP Page Builder Pro

What This Change Means to Our Users

All of our users who are using the Finatic Joomla template on their sites are requested to change the name Finatic to Finion in order to avoid any unwanted circumstances. The template features and functionality are remaining the same; we only changed the name in this update.

So, have no worries, just change the name of the template wherever applicable on your site and stay happy.

Explore FinionView DemoBuy Now

But we didn’t give up! With the pandemic still raging, we have given 2020 our absolute best shot and achieved the goals we had set for this year.

Flashback at JoomShaper 2020

Yes, this year has been a tough one. But besides making the abrupt shift to working from home to adapt to the new normal, we have had quite a few releases and updates. From releasing awe-striking Joomla templates, Helix Ultimate 2.0 Alpha to updating our mighty SP Page Builder, Joomla extensions, and more -  there are so many things we have achieved amidst the pandemic that we are truly proud of.

Here’s a recap of 2020 and what we have achieved so far.

12 Joomla Templates

We have been consistently releasing amazing Joomla templates throughout the years and this year is no different! We kept the legacy going by introducing some top-class Joomla templates in the market so that you can keep building excellent websites. Like every year, this year’s Joomla templates also came in different categories to address a range of consumers and meet their needs.

Let’s have a look at the Joomla templates we released this year.

1. Podcast - Audio Blog, Radio & Podcast Template for Joomla.
2. Wimble - Multipurpose Joomla Template for Agencies and Corporate Firms.
3. Fortune - Elderly Care Joomla Template for Agencies & Non-Profits.
4. Affility - Complete Affiliate Marketing Website Solution on Joomla.
5. Innovate - Multipurpose Joomla Technology Website Template.
6. eSports - Joomla Template for Professional Gaming Websites.
7. Edulif - Joomla Education Template for eLearning Sites.
8. Dylan - Athlete Joomla Template to Gear Up Sportsmanship Online.
9. Unei - Smart Home Device Joomla Template with eCommerce Functionalities.
10. Ensure - A Business, Finance, Insurance Joomla Template.
11. Keynote - Complete Event Website Solution on Joomla.
12. Startup Landing - Joomla Template for Agency, App & SaaS-based Sites.

SP Page Builder: Joomla 4 Compatibility & Major Enhancements

Your favorite page building tool also got new features and several performance improvements throughout the year. It is now fully compatible with the newer build of Joomla 4, has a completely redesigned admin interface, and is optimized to deliver the finest website building experience.

29 Stunning Layout Bundles Added To the Family

Speed up your development process with SP Page Builder layout bundles just by importing the pre-designed web pages and customizing them on the go. We have added 29 new layout bundles this year to cater to every business niche!

Some of the popular layout bundles that have been released are:

• Coworking Space
• Digital Marketing
• Minimal Agency
• Psychiatrist
• Plant Shop

Helix Ultimate 2.0

Earlier this year we released the Helix Ultimate 2.0 Alpha 1 for you to test what the next-generation Joomla template framework is going to be. We’ve then worked relentlessly to bring you another sneak peek into Joomla Helix Ultimate 2.0 Alpha 2. The newest alpha version of Helix Ultimate 2.0 comes with an improved core, an enhanced codebase, and some new features to future-proof your website development experience.

New and Improved Support System for Faster Response

In our effort to move to a more improved and connected support system, your favorite support forum also made a come back with more privacy options. Apart from fixing our customers’ issues on our Helpdesk - a new and modern support system that we have added this year, we will also solve your issues on our support forum with added privacy and security options. You asked for it, you got it!

Joomla Tutorials and Tips

Throughout the entire year, we have consistently published tips and tutorials on various Joomla topics and you guys have loved it. We appreciate all the positive feedback and love you’ve shown to our Blog.

Some of the most popular tutorials are:

• How to Fix Broken Links on Joomla
• How to Create a Portfolio Site on Joomla
• How to Take Your School Online and Teach from Home
• SP Page Builder Carousel Addons: Which One to Use, When, and Why?
• Joomla - Myths & Misconceptions You Should Know in 2020

New Site Design for JoomShaper

This year, besides coming up with new releases and updates, we have also renewed our JoomShaper’s website design and freshened up our entire business website. Keeping user-friendliness and ease of use in mind, our site has been redesigned to look more polished and up-to-date with the web trends. That being said, if you still haven’t checked out our updated site - what are you waiting for? Visit us HERE.

Our Team Got Even Bigger and Better

JoomShaper is a collective hub of industry-leading product designers, top-notch professional web application developers, content developers, marketing professionals, and experienced support engineers working together toward a common vision. Here, we believe the secret to a company with great success and scale is to build a great team. Our team got even bigger and stronger as more talented individuals have joined the family in the effort to deliver groundbreaking Joomla products. This year, we have hired 20 new members in total including in-house members, remote members, and interns.

Fighting COVID-19 and Remote Work

The outbreak of Covid-19 is the most detrimental crisis we have faced in 2020. To fight the virus, we’ve made the abrupt shift to work from home earlier this year to ensure the safety of our employees and to protect the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate. We have provided technology, tips, and resources to our team members to help them do their best work while remote.

JoomShaper’s Plan for the Next Year

After dealing with the curveballs 2020 has thrown at us, we’re ready to see what the next year has in store. As we look back at the past year, and all that we have overcome, we’re taking these lessons and applying them to our 2021 strategy.

In the coming year, we aim to focus more on the following to continue to serve our customers even better than before.

• Helix Ultimate 2.0: We will proceed to the final release of Helix Ultimate 2.0 step by step in the next year. We’re super excited for you to try out and see what we’ve built! Keep your eyes on our blog and our newsletters for more updates on Helix Ultimate 2.0 and releases.
• Team Expansion: As we move to a bigger work area, we have plans to expand our team and welcome more talented individuals to work with us. Hopefully together, we will take the company to new heights.
• Several Groundbreaking Joomla Products: Like every year, we promise to work tirelessly to deliver some groundbreaking Joomla products to take your Joomla websites to the next level. Let’s keep it a surprise.

While 2020 had its fair share of ups and downs, this year has also taught us to focus on what really matters. Building authentic relationships with our customers, supporting our team members, and spending quality time with our friends and loved ones - in 2021, the focus is solely on what matters the most!

As the famous saying goes celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings. Cheers to new beginnings, new hopes! Stay with us, we promise to keep you delighted with our work.

Previously, we introduced Helpdesk to modernize our support system with some new features. But we have noticed that some of our users aren’t quite happy with it for a few reasons. We care about your choices but we can not ignore your privacy at the same time. That’s why we are introducing a new support system where your previous support forum is coming back with new security and privacy options. You are going to love this!

What Our New Support Forum Brings You

Our brand new support forum brings you some exciting features and privacy layers. Let's have a look at what exciting new things are awaiting you.

Simple and Effective Q&A System

Our new support forum brings you a very simple yet effective question-answer system. You will be able to post your issues and our support agents will come up with their best solutions.

It has got a brand new interface with some security and privacy layers to ensure the best possible support for our valued customers.

Interactive Forum Search System

The new support forum brings you interactive search where the forum’s most voted threads will be shown as search results along with documentation. You will no longer have to ask a question that has already been asked and resolved.

This advanced search system will save time by reducing the number of repetitive questions. Our support professionals will now have more time focusing on your newly asked complex issues. Our users can accept/reject the most useful answers to their question and the accepted answers will stay on top of the answer list.

Post Private Questions That Are Visible to Support Agents Only

We always care about your privacy and within the new support forum, we are adding some extra layers to protect your privacy.

From now on, you will be able to post questions privately that are only visible to our support professionals. Your questions will not be made public unless you want to. 

Option to Hide Confidential Information From Public

Not only we are allowing you to post questions privately but also we are giving you a way to hide confidential information in a public post.

There’s a section where you can place your confidential information like login credentials or anything that you don’t want to share publicly.

Revamped Notification System

You will be notified of the update of your questions via emails. You will be notified when someone adds a comment to a thread you are a part of. Agents will also be notified when customers accept their answers. 

Most interestingly, there’s a Facebook like live notification system to let you know the updates when you are logged in to our support forum. Also, there’s a leaderboard for the support agents to track the ways they are helping you out.

New Support System Feature Highlights

Here are some key highlights of the support system features you are going to love.

1. Simple and effective question-answer system.
2. Ability to post a private question that is only visible to the support agents. This feature is for those who don’t want to post their project’s problem publicly.
3. Ability to add hidden content that will protect users’ sensitive information from the general users and only support agents can see the hidden information.
4. Interactive search. Most voted threads will be shown as search results along with documentation which will reduce the new post creation.
5. Users can accept/reject the most useful answers to their question and the accepted answer will stay on top of the answer list.
6. Email notification when someone adds a comment and you are assigned to that thread.
7. Email notification when customers accept your answer.
8. Live notification like Facebook.

Useful Tips for the Forum Users

1. A complete guide to the markdown editor

I am sure you all are so excited to experience this newly introduced support system. Hopefully, this is going to revolutionize the way you get support from us. We have worked hard to bring you this more optimized and private support forum, please do let us know what you think about it. Enjoy!

Explore New Support Forum!

JoomShaper is offering a big 35% discount on the occasion of this Halloween. It’s an absolutely great opportunity that will last for a very limited time. No coupon code needed. Just browse and purchase. 

The 35% discount is available on all of our subscription plans. Offer valid from 27th October to 2nd November 2020. No coupon code needed.

The most exciting part of this SALE is our club's Developer subscription plan which saves you more than $104! The $299 plan is now on sale at only $194! Don't miss out on this massive deal!

So, visit www.joomshaper.com now and browse our rich collection of Joomla templates and extensions (especially SP Page Builder Pro). Happy Halloween!

 Buy Templates & ExtensionsBuy SP Page Builder Pro

Having a keen focus on customers, JoomShaper has been maintaining its support superbly from the very beginning. We owe a great deal to our customers who trusted us all the way and our support professionals who made it all possible.

Instead of the previous support forum, we will fix our customers’ issues on our Helpdesk, a new and modern support system to offer a better support experience. Let’s shed light on the new Helpdesk and answer some of the questions you might have in mind.

What it Means for Our Customers

Our new support channel Helpdesk will improve the overall support experience for our customers and support engineers. It will be here for a much faster response and more private communication.

• More Private and More Connected Support: Your support queries will only be viewed and accessed by you and our support professionals. In no way, your tickets and the information you provide with support tickets will be accessed by others. 
• Faster Response Time: We are gradually improving our response time. Support in our new Helpdesk will be faster than ever before. We are hoping to amaze our customers with a much quicker response time on the latest support Helpdesk.

Apart from that, only the ticket opener can close the ticket and can reopen if he/she feels necessary. You can also rate our support professionals after you have resolved your support queries. After all, it’s a better way for us to keep everyone on the loop to improve our support.

What it Means for Us

We are moving to a new support system to improve our customers’ experience. There are also some benefits to us. The new support system will help us fix customers issues faster. With the rating system, we can understand how satisfied our customers are. It will help us improve our support further. We will be able to have everyone in the loop to continue supporting our customers in a better and improved way.

Now, let’s answer some of the questions you might have in mind regarding our new support channel.

Q: When will Helpdesk arrive?

Answer: Our new support channel Helpdesk will be open on 2nd September 2020. From that day onwards, you will be able to open tickets and get your issues fixed on our new and improved support channel.

Q: What will happen to the old support forum?

Answer: The current support forum will be archived. We will no longer provide support on the existing support forum once it is archived. 

Q: Will I be able to access my previous support ticket? 

Answer: The archived support forums can be accessed publicly but it will be read-only. Option to ask new questions or reply to existing threads will be disabled.

Q: Is there any other channel to get support?

Answer: Community support will be available for free products on our Facebook groups. We have the following Facebook groups for community support.

• Helix Framework Facebook group
• SP Page Builder Facebook group

Please join these groups to discuss JoomShaper products and ask for community support or help the community. 

The new support Helpdesk will be open soon. As I mentioned earlier, it’s due on 2nd September 2020. We hope our valued customers will love our new support channels and help us fix their issues as they did before. We will always try to go the extra mile to make our customers happy. Please let us know your thoughts on the new support channel. Thanks!

We have been getting a lot of queries regarding Watchful support in our extensions and SP Page Builder for quite some time. With so many Joomla websites running on our extensions and SP Page Builder, we understand the demand was a valid one. If you own a dozen of websites or run a website agency, it can be daunting for you to individually update extensions for each website. Well, worry no more.

We are delighted to share the news that you can now use Watchful to update extensions from JoomShaper, including your favorite SP Page Builder.

If you are not familiar with Watchful already, Watchful is a web-based service that gives you a central dashboard to monitor all your Joomla and WordPress websites. Before proceeding further, let’s have a look at some of the amazing things you can do with Watchful.

Why Watchful

Extensions need regular updates and maintenance. Watchful is a single dashboard where you can add and update nearly all of your Joomla sites with just one click. With a quick overview of all your websites that utilize JoomShaper’s extensions and SP Page Builder, you can see what versions of them are running and update when available.

Other amazing features of Watchful includes:

• Plugin and extension tracker
• Server status
• Uptime monitor
• White-label reports
• Customized apps
• Google analytics

With an uptime monitor to tell you whether the site is online or not, Watchful also has integration with Akeeba backup so you can see when the last backup was taken and set up a regular backup schedule. Overall, Watchful is a great webmaster tool to do mass changes and regularly maintain all your websites in one place.

Watchful for SP Page Builder & Other JoomShaper Extensions

We can’t stop raving about SP Page Builder! And why not? It is an incredibly powerful drag and drop tool trusted by 400,000+ people worldwide. Why is SP Page Builder the best? Anyone with no prior coding knowledge can build websites with its huge collection of pre-built sections and layout libraries within minutes. It just made the lives of developers so much easier.

To make the lives of the SP Page Builder users even easier we are happy to break the news that you can now update SP Page Builder Pro via Watchful. Since this is a paid extension, Watchful currently supports updates for it through a centralized license manager.

Here’s how to add your JoomShaper license key and email to Watchful:

1. Go to the dashboard of Watchful.
2. Then head over to Settings and then License Keys.
3. Look for the “JoomShaper Download Key” and “JoomShaper Email Address” field.
4. Fill out the boxes with your license key for SP Page Builder Pro and email address of your JoomShaper’s account. Save.

And you’re done! Now you can update SP Page Builder Pro and install it on other Watchful-managed sites from the Watchful dashboard. Same thing applicable for other JoomShaper extensions as well.

Wrapping Up

Our endless love and passion for Joomla will always continue to be on the rise. Here at  JoomShaper, we work non stop to provide you the best tools to make your website development a piece of cake, even for a complete novice. To know more about Watchful supporting JoomShaper visit HERE. Enjoy the service and let us know your feedback on how we can serve you better. Good day!

Try SP Page Builder for FREE!Get SP Page Builder ProRate on JED

If you are a JoomShaper customer, you get options for templates and SP Page Builder’s layout bundles. You may ask yourself: “Should I go with a template or a layout bundle? What are the differences between them? How would I know when to use which?” This article will help you decide which product (template or layout bundle) should be used for which purpose. 

We see so many people rush past the design step and jump into a website redesign. Since we offer both options, in this post, we wanted to give you our thoughts on which one to pick and why so that you have one less thing to worry about when it comes to building your dream site. Let’s start with the template.

What are Joomla Templates?

A template is like a framework that controls the overall look and feel of your website. Joomla comes with a few pre-installed templates, but in this modern time and age, you don’t have to be limited to them. 

We offer 120+ responsive and dynamic Joomla templates designed for business, eCommerce, portfolio, agency, personal, and effectively all other websites. They come with powerful features like homepage variations, mega menu, off-canvas menu, built-in pages, blog, newsletter, and many more. 

The templates also utilizes the most advanced Joomla page building tool SP Page Builder Pro. You can take advantage of its powerful design tools, interaction effects, and more. Simply install and customize them until you get the look you want!

Figure: Some of our functional Joomla templates in a display.

When Should You Use a Template?

You should use templates when you want to maintain a constant look throughout the site. You can use blank templates to maintain the same header and footer throughout the entire website and generate customized pages based on your needs. If you are on the time crunch, we offer QuickStart packages that include the Joomla CMS, the template pages, extensions, databases, and dummy content. Once you install the QuickStart successfully, you should have a website looking exactly the same as our Demo. 

A standard template package from JoomShaper is so powerful. It includes everything you may need for the specific website that it was developed for. As an example, let’s think about an eCommerce template like Arino. The template package of Arino includes the eCommerce site design and all other functionalities to build an online store. It comes with the extensions you need to create the eCommerce store, the payment mechanism and more. 

On the other hand, a layout bundle would give you just the static page designs. The functionalities are not included.

Don’t flip flop between templates, it will make you puzzled. Before you choose your template, we highly recommend you to have a clear understanding of your overall business plan and what message you want to deliver through your website. Do your research on the template, note down its features, then choose the one that fits your niche and needs. 

What is an SP Page Builder Layout Bundle?

All SP Page Builder Pro users, upon configuring license key, can access and import the layout bundles it offers. Layout bundles come with a collection of pre-designed page templates. Basically, layout bundles are static website packs creatively designed for business, media & entertainment, travel & lifestyle, personal, marketing,  non-profit, portfolio, and more types of websites.

The pages inside a layout bundle are designed aesthetically to attract visitors to your site. A bundle consists of all the necessary pages required to run a business successfully and are conversion friendly. They also come with notable features like interaction effects, contact forms, newsletter boxes, and more. Before choosing a layout bundle, we suggest you go through the pages, check if it has all the features you need and then import it. 

Figure: A collection of our SP Page Builder layout bundles in a display.

When Should You Use a Layout Bundle?

There are a few reasons why you would want to go for a layout bundle. If you already own an SP Page Builder Pro subscription, and you don’t want to buy a template, you can easily use a layout bundle to build your site.

Again, if you want to build a static site that doesn’t need dynamic functionalities like a store, a content manager, appointment booking, event registration and so on, you can simply go with a layout bundle. This will save you time and money.

If you decide to use a blank template to maintain the header and footer and generate customized pages for your site, you have two options to build the pages:

• Create the pages manually using the drag and drop options of SP Page Builder.
• Or, choose our beautifully designed pages from the layout bundles to create an aesthetic and professional looking website.

The SP Page Builder layout bundles are customizable, easy to work with, and will leave your site visitors in awe. Pick a bundle and you are ready to go! Check the SP Page Builder documentation to learn how to use a layout bundle.

Wrapping Up

Each template comes fully-functional, responsive, customizable and ready to use. With the help of a template, you can have a beautifully designed site up with dynamic functionalities in no time. And each layout bundle comes with all the necessary pages and features to help you craft an aesthetic and modern looking static site where you can add dynamic functionalities on your own.

A poorly designed website can work against you. To optimize the design and the performance of your website you can choose between a template or a layout bundle or use both depending on your needs. 

Layout bundles and templates exist to make your life easier. Just identify your needs, explore your options, and take your business to the next level by creating a well-designed and well-functional site. Feel free to ask us questions and let us know how we can serve you better. Good luck!

Browse Templates   Explore Layout Bundles   Get SP Page Builder Pro

If you already know about GDPR, then it will probably seem like deja vu when you are reading about the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). As both of them are aimed at protecting the private sensitive information of the masses. It was first introduced on January 3, 2018, and has gone into motion on January 1, 2020.

Here is a short summary of the soon to be implemented CCPA Act.

• Californian users’ right to know what personal information is being collected by the websites they visit
• The right to know whether their personal information is sold or disclosed and to whom it’s been sold/disclosed
• Capability to opt-out from the sale of personal information
• Ability to request the deletion of collected information
• The right to equal service & price, even if they exercise the privacy rights

This is only a short summary of the full California Consumer Privacy Act. There is much to the bill and we recommend that you read the full version.

Which Businesses Need to Address CCPA

You might be wondering if your business needs to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act. Though it’s a bit of a tricky question, the following requirements seem to be the gist of the CCPA policy. You will find the full document here.

If you are a for-profit company, doing business in California, or with Californians, then the new California Consumer Privacy Act applies to your company if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Your business’s annual gross revenue exceeds $25 million ($25,000,000)
• You collect personal data of Californians ranging from 50,000 or more people. Data can be your customers’ basic information, emails, payment details, etc.
• You earn 50% or more of your annual revenue by selling the information of California consumers

Publicly available information is not considered as personal data by CCPA. You can head over to the official CCPA fact sheet for more detailed information. If you’re still unsure if CCPA applies to your business, a qualified attorney should be able to help you answer that question. 

Please note: we are not professional lawyers. This article is for educational purposes and you should always consult with a professional lawyer before implementing CCPA.

Penalty For Not Complying With the CCPA

According to the CCPA law, companies that do not comply with the new act or are caught to violate any of the laws will face penalties. The fines differ for the specific situation it was caught in.

For non-compliance violations of the CCPA act, businesses will be fined $2,500 per customer. And for intentional violations, the fine goes up to $7,500 per person. 

For reference, if a company violates the privacy of 100 Californians, by the non-compliance violation penalty of the law, the business will be fined  ($2,500 X 100) = $250,000. The intentional violation fine goes as high as ($7,500 X 100) = $750,000.

How To Implement CCPA In Your Joomla Site

If you have already implemented GDPR on your website it will be much easier for you to add the new privacy policy & necessary components for the CCPA.

It is advisable that you talk to a professional lawyer before implementing any of the following.

• Before making your website CCPA compatible, you need to first understand what personal information you collect.
• Understand what tools and sources you use to collect the visitors/users’ data.
• Research the analytics tools that you use on your site and how they use the data you share with them.
• Just using a cookie consent banner is not sufficient now. You need to properly define what data will be collected and how you intend to use that information. 
• Opt-out option for all data. Users should have complete ownership of their data. 
• Full ability to stop you from doing anything with the user data that the user doesn’t want you to do at any time.
• Enable users to access, change or remove their personal data that you have collected.
• A concrete method for verifying the identity of a user who is making one of those requests.
• Create a privacy notice that states everything clearly.
• Create/update the privacy policy page with the CCPA laws and reassure the users/visitors that their data is safe.
• Include a checkbox to take consent in accordance with the new law in every available form. Example: Contact form, Payment form, etc.
• Specific consent checkbox on newsletter sign up forms that describe what data is being collected, why and that the user has full control over their information.
• Add an age verification for your users.
• Add an SSL certificate to your website.
• Specify everything in easy to understand, simple language.

Only the basics are covered here and in no way ensured complete CCPA act compatibility for your website.

Getting Ready For The Future

You should start implementing the CCPA right now as the law will go into action from 1st January 2020. The tricky part is even if you don’t do business in California, this law might apply to you when any of your visitors are from California. 

The CCPA law only affects your business (or the parent company/subsidiary), when you meet one of the following:

• Your annual revenue (not profit gross revenue) is more than $25 million 
• Every year, you buy, receive or sell personal data from 50,000 or more California devices, households or residents
• Your business involves receiving and/or selling personal data of 50,000 (+) California devices, residents or households
• 50% of your annual revenue (minimum) comes from selling personal data of California residents 

According to the definition of California Law, a resident is someone who:

• Is in California for something other than a temporary or transitory reason
• Lives in California, even if they’re not currently in the state due to a temporary or transitory reason

You should pay close attention to the new California Privacy law because nine other states have already proposed their own privacy bills. 

Resource You Need

All the above-mentioned pieces of information are just a starting point to get you started with the latest privacy law. We are only aggregating the information and giving you a simple representation. 

• TITLE 1.81.5. California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 [1798.100 - 1798.199]  ( Title 1.81.5 added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 55, Sec. 3.)
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) FACT SHEET
• TITLE 11. LAW DIVISION 1. ATTORNEY GENERAL CHAPTER 20. CALIFORNIA CONSUMER PRIVACY ACT REGULATIONS PROPOSED TEXT OF REGULATIONS

These are official documents related to the CCPA law & contains more information. 

You should always research the original documents and talk with a professional lawyer. The above information should be taken as a basic guideline. Implement them by consulting with a privacy expert.