Do you provide/offer a chance to get in a special group? What privleges do you offer your special groups? What are the privleges you offer? If you dont offer any special groups, why dont you?
I think Special groups are great, and members that are put into the groups are normally happy with the usual different rank colour and hidden forum. Although it is nice to try and give them special privileges such as previews to updates etc 🙂
I have a Premium Members group on my forum that members get when they donate or win a competition.. it's also given to members who were nominated for Member of the Month but lost the actual contest.
I have a Contributor group for those that contribute enough on one of my forums. On another I have an Elite group, which is just basically for those active and helpful individuals.
For my next forum, I won't have any special groups -- everybody will be on the same field. I will, possibly, add a donator icon for those that donate, but it won't be a separate group; just the button.
I don't...the groups in my forum are structured like this:
Each country has three groups; one for mem, one for national staff, one for the ruler.
One group is for new people who have no country.
One group is for packagers who come to post quickly and leave, it has the permissions to basically see where I allow them to post.
One for global mods.
One for the head mod who doubles as an admin.
As you can see, no room for it, though I'd have it, if I could...