Start posting constructive posts about stuff you like and respond to other people threads you like. So long as their not spam then your status will change based on the amount of time you are active on the forums and amount of posts. Hang out in the newbie sections as some sections will be off limits for posting in and build some relationships up. Get to know people and the community and get posting away and build up your trust and friendship with people and then come back to topics and sections like this where you can then do all the stuff you did before and continue to post and get paid for your signage space each month.
No sections are off limits to newbs any more and you can't post your way through activity levels quickly. You can only get a max of 14 activity points every two week period, which the new one started yesterday.
Seems a few more things have changed since I joined was about posts for membership and activity points and worked your way up the ladder. New period starting yesterday then that's new to me. Would of been nice to get an announcement or new to changes on structure of membership lol.
I think the activity-based system has always been in (or has been for a very long time). You work your way up by posting but you can't spam your way through the ranks which is why it's a good system.