TClaunch

I know, I know, it looks like I haven't been updating, but in fact, I have been a lot. Most of the updates have "been on the inside" recently.
Here's a list of updates I've recently provided:

-New Facebook Login
-Ads
-Tutorials Section
-Spam Prevention
-Added Additional Usergroups
-Edited Current Usergroups
-Added Paid Membership
-Added Search Engine Optimization


The new Facebook login is pretty neat! I wanted to get it before, but had some problems with software until I found a compatible one. Now, unlike the old one, you can register with FULL information gathered from Facebook. You don't even really need to add any information. Just simply click on the "Connect with Facebook" button.
If you're already registered, just simple click on "Login" and a popup from Facebook will show, allowing you to provide your login credentials. After logging in, you'll be redirected to the front page.
If you're not registered, after clicking the Facebook button, then click on the "Register Now" link. You'll be asked to login with Facebook, and then redirected to our registration page where you'll be asked to provide your desired username, forum password, and various other questions.

Your Facebook information is safe. The login is handled remotely through Facebook's official website.


Ads
We have three advertisement sections. Two of which are mine, and the third (which is still being worked on), will be for our users. There will be a 468x60 advertisement spot within my header and will allow our members to post their own advertisements. The members' advertisements are permanent while the other two advertisements will disappear after donating or paying for Gold Membership.

Paid Membership / Gold Membership
Our Gold Membership is our highest usergroup. This unlocks all kinds of features that allow you to get your word our faster. Gold members, as well as donators, have access to special member forums. These member forums provide higher quality, and safer service. This membership also allows you to provide your secrets without telling the whole world.
Say you have a FOR SURE strategy to making thousands of dollars in a week. There's no way you would want to tell the whole world about it, but our membership forums allow you to post it without telling the whole world. It will be for trusted eyes only.

Spam Prevention
We are proud members of StopForumSpam.com. We use their database to prevent known spammers from signing up. Our system compares new registrations with usernames, IP addresses, and emails saved on the StopForumSpam website, and it there's a match, the registration is automatically declined.

Usergroup Changes
We now have a variety of usergroups with promotions based on actions. Right now, the only 'actions' are posting and being active. The more you post, the closer you get to a new promotion.
These promotions are very useful and help us greatly. It also helps you. Each usergroup has it's own set of personalized permissions, the higher you are, the more features you unlock.

Here's a basic list of promotions already in set:
Newbie - 0-9 Posts / 10 max messages in inbox
Casual Member - 10-50 Posts / 30 max messages in inbox
Active Member - 50-199 Posts / 50 max messages in inbox
Silver Member - 200+ Posts / 100 max messages in inbox
Gold Member - Donation/Paid Membership / 500 max messages in inbox

That's just a basic list out of a whole range of features provided. These features are listed below.

Tutorials Section
Last but not least, the tutorials section is FINALLY up and running! I know it took me a long while to get it up, but there's a few reasons behind it. All I need to do is finish setting it up properly and hopefully start posting some tutorials.

TClaunch

Newbie: 0-9 Posts / Very Basic Functions

Basic functions, such as viewing and posting.
This is to relieve the forum of spam and users who create accounts to cheat the system.
This gives a safer, less cluttered, spam free forum.

Can view and post on forums.
Can view/search Tutorials.Limited to 10 PMs max. (To encourage posting )
Restricted to send PMs to 5 users at a time.
Sees advertisements.
Cannot view or create a blog. (Avoids spam)
Cannot edit or delete posts.
Cannot post polls.
Cannot upload attachments.
Cannot Use Invisible Mode.
Cannot have a signature.
Cannot give positive or negative reputation. (To avoid users giving themselves rep.)
Cannot add/view/post/reply/comment in albums. (To avoid spam)
Cannot use Visitor Messages. (To avoid spam)
Cannot view Social Groups. (To avoid spam and create security)
Cannot post/reply in tutorials. (To avoid spam and useless tutorials)

Casual Member: 10-49 Posts / Basic Functions
Unless otherwise stated, this usergroup is almost as restricted as the Newbie group.

Upgraded to 30 PMs.
Can now edit own posts.
Can now view/post/edit blogs.
Can now upload attachments.
Limited to 5 lines of signature. No images/custom colors/sizes/fonts.
Can view and comment, but not add/edit Albums.
Can use Visitor Messages.
Can view/join social groups, but not create.
Can now add/edit own tutorials, but limited to given categories.

Active Member: 50-199 Posts / Advanced Basic Functions

Upgraded to 50 PMs.
Can now post polls.
Can Track PMs.
Upgraded to send PMs to 10 users at a time.
Can now set self to "Invisible".
Upgraded signature to 10 lines, can change font/color/size, add 1 image.
Unlocked all Album features.
Unlocked all Social Group features.

Silver Member: 200+ Posts / Advanced Functions

Upgraded to 100 PMs.
Can now customize your blog's look and design.
Upgraded to send PMs to 20 users at a time.
Can customize your own User Title.
Upgraded signature to 20 lines, add 3 images.
Can give positive or negative reputation.

Gold Member: Donator/Paid Subscription / All Functions

Upgraded to 500 PMs.
Unlock member only forums.
View forums ad free (except permanent member's ads)
Upgraded to send PMs to 30 users at a time.
Can create/post advertisements for free.


That's our list of usergroups with their restrictions and features. We do this to keep the forum active and give our users something to look forward to in order to stay active. We also do this to eliminate any wrong doing, such as spamming, flaming, etc. This is for security, less stress, less moderation, and overall a non-clustered forum. It not only helps us as administrators, but it helps you as internet marketers and freelancers.

There are other usergroups which are actually just sub-groups. Such as the Blogger usergroup. This promotion is given when you've reached 10 blogs. It's nothing special, no extra features, it's just to show that you've accomplished something.
There is also a Donator usergroup, which is basically Gold Membership, but instead of having "Gold Member" as a user title, you have "Donator". This is to show that you've supported our ever growing forums.