Solved! How to Ask Better Questions on Experts Exchange

Want to get better solutions to your questions?

It all starts with knowing how to ask the most effective questions. Below, we explain some of the ways you can ask better questions on Experts Exchange.

What to Expect?

Part 1: A breakdown of the Question Wizard

1. Four main ingredients to a great question 2. Attach relevant content3. Create a concise and descriptive title4. Select relevant topics5. Preview and edit as needed 6. Submit!

Part 2: You’ve posted your question - now what?

1. Open communication with Experts within your question2. Review the Content3. Requesting Attention if you need further assistance4. Selecting a solution and awarding points5. Success!

Part 1: A breakdown of the Question Wizard

Four Ingredients for SuccessThe first step is to write a description of the question, because you will pull the title from the keywords in this section.

Four ingredients to a great description:Tone: Write the description as if you are speaking directly to the Expert.

First Sentence:Include the question you are asking within the first sentence so that Experts know if this is a problem they can assist you with.

Experience Level:Describe your experience level with the issue you are having. For example, have you ever used this technology before?

Steps Executed:Explain the steps you have already completed. This helps the Expert understand where you are in the process of solving this issue, and will save time in troubleshooting.

Attach Relevant ContentBe sure to include screenshots, code, or various attachments needed to clarify your question.

Please remove any personal information from this content before posting or attaching it to your question.

Create a Concise and Descriptive TitleReview your description and pick out the keywords within it to create your title.

Experts typically only see the first 40-50 characters of a title so it’s important to keep the title descriptive but concise.

Select Relevant TopicsWe recommend that you add up to five relevant topics.

The topics are ultimately what sends your question to the correct Experts who are qualified in that area of technology.

Preview and Edit As NeededBefore submitting your question, select preview to make sure that you have included the four ingredients of a great question.

Once you have reviewed and edited your question, click submit.

Check for formatting and spelling errors. Also, make sure that items are attached correctly

Part 2: You’ve Posted Your Question - Now What?

Communicate with Experts Within the Question

If an Expert has commented on your question but it does not solve your problem, reply to the Expert explaining why their suggestion has not worked. Include any steps that you have tried since posting the question.

Continue communicating with the Expert until you get a resolution to your question. If you cannot come to a resolution through communication with Experts on the question, Request Attention to get further assistance from the site Moderators.

Review the Content

At this point, please review these elements of your question:

1. TitleCheck that your title includes keywords that apply to your question

2. BodyRead your description out loud and confirm that makes sense. Does it include all four of the main ingredients discussed earlier?

3. TopicDo you have at least 3 relevant topics? Remember, you can select up to 5 total.

If you have not received a comment on your question within 12 hours of posting, the question will be labeled “Neglected.”

An alert goes out to the top Experts associated with the topics on your question to get more attention to your question. This is an automatic alert, and there is no action needed on your part.

Requesting AttentionUse the Request Attention button when:

1. The question has been posted for 24 hours with no comments2. If a comment is disruptive or not in the spirit of Experts Exchange3. Asking for sensitive content to be removed

After you click the Request Attention button:

Submit a comment to the Moderators to bring more attention to your question.

Be sure to detail why you need further assistance.

Selecting a Solution and Awarding PointsDo the comments on the question solve your problem?

Yes?

If you have received the solution from one or more comments on the question, select those comments as the solution.

If you find your own solution please post it onto the question thread and accept that as the solution. The question is added to our knowledgebase and future members can utilize the solution.

After you have selected the solution, post a closing comment explaining why you selected those comments

Resources

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Thank you!