DO You Answer Social Questions? | Social Media Services

In everybody’s life, there is that one person to whom everybody went for advice – anything from solving a difficult crossword puzzle clue to seeking help with setting up a retirement account. Maybe in your case, this person was a parent or grandparent, or one of those know-it-all friends who didn’t specialize in any particular trivia, but knew what you need by way of experience or absorption through media and observation.

These days, you might see people continue to turn to these sages, but in the online world – where people need specifics on improving sales and marketing and other outlooks – people prefer trusted brands for advice. Or else, somebody is apt to blurt out a question on Twitter with an appropriate hashtag and hope somebody catches it. Depending on your business, it’s probable you qualify as an expert in your field, and if you’re willing to invest the time in assisting others with questions and problems you’ll find your generosity goes a long way. Despite the proliferation of funny videos and snarky comments on news wires, people still do remember kind acts. The question you answer today could turn in a genuine lead sometime down the road.

That said, if you find the traffic isn’t necessarily booming at your website, blog, or social media profile to accommodate regular Q&A sessions, you may wish to extend your reach and find the questions not yet resolved. With the rise in social sites that guide people toward the best wines, recommended movies and music, and restaurants and local businesses, it stands to reason help sites would follow, and three in particular provide experts with added opportunity for exposure.

Yahoo! Answers

One of, if not the, oldest Q&A forums online, Yahoo! Answers is accessible through your Yahoo! account and allows users to ask questions on basically any topic. Here one will find everything from serious queries about PHP coding to more whimsical observations (“Why do emo bands suck so much?”) As you participate in Yahoo! Answers you’ll have a page that charts your activity and lets you add contacts. You can add a short bio and include your URL for reference.

Google Knol

While not an interactive Q&A site like Answers, Knol may prove a significant tool in your marketing if you invest the time in building your topics. As Knol is a term meaning “unit of knowledge,” this site serve as a type of wiki where contributors publish articles on a variety of topics. Your profile page allows you a bio and link and an RSS feed of your activity, which can be implemented elsewhere on the web.

Aardvark

Aardvark is a recent acquisition of Google, billed as a real time forum for people seeking assistance of any type. With Aardvark you can connect your Facebook account or your GTalk and have questions in the subjects of your choosing delivered to you. Your profile allows one URL for promotion. Because Google has purchased this social site, it’s not yet determined what will change in the near future.

Qhub

Short for “question hub,” Qhub.com allows users to set up their own forum site. Users can register to ask and contribute answers, and one can also customize headers and create form widgets to place on other sites and blogs to draw in traffic. Qhub presents a good opportunity for smaller businesses or individuals seeking a message board type solution that doesn’t require much coding.

However you decide to seek and resolve queries, what’s important is making yourself available. By building your reputation as an expert you can increase not only your authority but your visibility.

Please check our Social Media Pricing, Reputation Management Pricing andSocial Media A La Carte Pricing to choose the right social media strategy for your profile or business.