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"Ro Choy is the CEO of PeerPong, a site that identifies the best people on the Web to answer any question, using their fast growing PeerRank Index.\nSince the beginning of the year, there has been a lot of activity in online Q&amp;A sites due to increased funding and launch announcements. The next generation of question and answer sites promise higher quality, informed answers, and the opportunity to publish and showcase your knowledge and expertise. Whether you\u2019re a consultant looking to increase your exposure, a small business looking to use product advice to gain new business, or just guy in serious need of help, first know that it's about so much more than just asking or answering. There are ways to ask the best questions, provide great answers and ultimately build your reputation; here are eight guidelines that can help. \nHow To Best Frame Questions To Get A Response\n\n\n\n\n1. Be Clear and Concise\nA great question is like a great haiku, it captures interest with its wit or structure, but it's short and to the point. Additionally, emphasizing the point of the question can generate a more immediate reaction.  Here\u2019s a quick example: \n\nWrong Way: What is the time spent on product development for Company X? \nRight Way: Why has Company X been so slow to develop products? \n\nBe aware of how much content you are competing with online. Readers have small attention spans, and you need to grab them. The wrong example above references the company in question at the end, which readers might miss entirely. By emphasizing a controversial point, in this case the word choice of \u201Cso slow,\" there\u2019s a clearer incentive to either support or refute, but ultimately answer. \n2. Details, Details, Details\nWhen thinking about asking a question, remember that getting a response is directly related to the content of the question. If your question is too general, and could be easily answered by Google, then experts are going to be to less interested in taking the time an answer your query. \nAdding details to the initial question in a follow up can generate more thoughtful responses and comments.  Better yet, personalizing the question content by including details as to why the question matters to you will add the color needed to get potential responders to care.     \n\nWrong Way: What are some over-the-counter medications for asthma?\nRight Way: What is a good non-prescription medication for asthma? My son has had a recent issue with certain medications. He is 5-years-old and has no other allergies. \n\nBy personalizing the question and adding specific details, responders have a better base on which to deliver more detailed and thoughtful answers. In addition, the circumstances attached to the question makes it more meaningful, and a query that can\u2019t simply be answered by a search engine. \nHow To Best Answer Questions Helpfully\n\n\n\n\n3. Depth vs Breadth\nAn answer should always touch on all prominent points that deliver a comprehensive, well structured response to a question. But be aware that sometimes greater detail can limit the effectiveness of an answer. \nWhile lengthy responses can connote greater understanding of an answer, this completely depends on the community and type of question you're responding to. On more \"search-like,\u201D high volume Q&amp;A sites, users tend to look for more straight-to-the-point and immediate responses.  Normally, traffic on Q&amp;A sites is driven from search engine queries. The time frame for engaging this type of user is very short, and delivering a concise summary of an answer with links to more content, like a personal blog or news site, can be more effective than trying to give a highly detailed answer that may be skipped.\nHowever, on more \"community\" oriented Q&amp;A sites, longer responses will often be met with greater acceptance, generate further increased responses and interaction around the question and answer. On these sites, since the engagement of the user is higher, they have a greater inclination to spend more time reading through a thoughtful, detailed response. \n4. Yes. No. Maybe. \nA great answer can be like writing a high school essay. Start with a quick summary answer (yes, no, maybe) that captures the interest of the reader. Follow the summary with data or supporting facts to back up the answer, and end with a more detailed understanding or conclusion.   \n5. Drop Your Cred\nThe Internet has a reputation for being shady, and as such you have to prove yourself. When answering a question, be sure to qualify yourself as an expert. You need to let readers know why your answer is reputable and why you're the right person to answer it. This gives greater credence and integrity to the response, and a higher likelihood for a recommendation or a vote up.  Here are a couple of examples:\nAnswering a question about pastries in San Francisco? \nWrong Way: I think the best cookies are the little yellow ones with the...Right Way: I'm a pastry chef here in SF and I've tried every bakery in the city, and have found that X makes the best morning bun...\nAnswering a question about Google PPC? \nWrong Way: So here is the thing you need to know about Google PPC, it doesn't...Right Way: I was the product marketing manager at Google Adsense from 2004-2007 and we found that XYZ...\"\nBuilding credibility from the start hooks readers immediately and proves why they should be reading through your response and will often generate a positive action on their part. \nHow To Build Your Rep As An Expert\n\n\n\n\n6. Be Open\nBuilding and growing a reputation as an expert in your field has obvious benefits for a business, consultant or an individual looking to increase his or her network. And it all starts with actually putting what you know online. \nThe most direct way to start building your reputation as an expert is to start blogging, and blog a lot.  Most blogging platforms or sites are well tuned for search engine optimization and you\u2019ll find that your blog will start gaining traffic from people running queries against the very content you\u2019re writing about. \nAfter establishing a blog, responding to questions on Q&amp;A sites in areas aligned to your interests can help drive greater awareness and build blog traffic as well.  Much like blogs, Q&amp;A sites are also very well tuned for search engine traffic. Plus the new generation of Q&amp;A sites are socially enabled, which can help to promote your expertise and content.  \n7. Get Opinionated\nIf you\u2019re looking to build recognition as an expert, you can\u2019t be shy.  Start commenting on other active blogs and communities in your field. Make sure to include a link back to your blog as part of your profile. This can help drive readers with similar interests to start engaging with your content directly, or at the very least, continue publicly asserting what you know across multiple online sources. \n8. Be Aggressive\nMake sure to use Twitter to build a follower base. Twitter is one of the few places where hundreds of millions of users are actually looking for content from people they don\u2019t know, but who share their interests. Make sure to include a URL-shortened link back to your blog or online profile on your account. Often, the 140-character limit per post makes it difficult to deliver an expert opinion, but frequent tweets with links back to a blog can deliver both traffic and readership. \nFinally, make sure to include sharing options through Twitter and Facebook on your individual posts on your blog or site to maximize the social engagement of your content.\nMore Social Media Resources From Mashable:\n- 5 Ways to Clean Up Your Social Media Identity- 5 Ways to Build a Loyal Audience on YouTube- How Real Estate Pros are Using Social Media for Real Results- How Social Media is Helping Veterans Connect- HOW TO: Help New Users Stay Engaged on Twitter\nImage courtesy of iStockphoto, geopaul"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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