Recent BiggerPockets Fixes and Upgrades 4-15-10

I wanted to keep everyone updated with some of the changes around BP . . .

Fixes:

1. We made some minor fixes to the groups system and all our group pages.
2. The site's search engine wasn't indexing new content.  We managed to find the cause and fix the problem.  Search is back and fully functional once again.
3. We made it so when looking at your colleagues and followers from the dashboard, the users are linked to their accounts.  This link was missing for a short time.

Current Upgrades:

1. We've made some fixes to the site's deactivation system.
2. We're currently working on a MAJOR improvement to the account activation system.  Far too many users make typos in their email addresses when registering for the site, or have such a high email security setting that our email activation never gets seen or opened.  Here's our solution: Once an account is created on the site, that user will be logged in and will have the ability to edit their profile, but will NOT be able to use any of the functions of the site that other members can until they VERIFY their accounts. These unverified users will be able to login and out and peruse the site, but until their email addresses are verified, their access will be very restricted.  To ensure VERIFICATION, we will have a message that appears on ALL pages of the site for those users, instructing them how to verify their account so they may have full access to the site.  We feel that this approach will improve the experience for those potential members who may have otherwise gotten frustrated due to not having their account activated. This should be live in the next days.
3. We've got a great designer helping us with a redesign of the BiggerPockets Blog.  We expect the new look blog to be launched in a few weeks.
4. We're working on doing a series of educational webinars/teleseminars with some of the best and brightest investors and other professionals who are actually doing it!  You won't be dealing with information from some marketer who is all talk here -- keep your eyes peeled and be sure to jump on these great opportunities to come!

There's much more to come as well . . . Stay tuned!

We're hard at work, making things better for all our visitors and members.  Don't forget to keep inviting your friends and colleagues to join you here on BiggerPockets!