GET ANSWERS TO YOUR POSTS!

[Karen Margrave]

If you are posting a question on BP forums, you want to get answers. In order to do that, someone with the answer needs to read your posts. Many times posters put one word in the subject line, or it's so generic that it draws no interest. If you want your posts responded to here's some suggestions:

• Make the subject line relevant so that someone scanning posts will be able to determine right away if the subject is something they can help with, and if it's in their realm of knowledge or interest
• Choose the correct forum for your post
• Give enough detail to explain exactly what your situation is, what it is you and the information needed to give you an answer. Be specific.
• Don't write a book, or a blog, make it short, sweet and to the point.

Also, try doing a search first, because more than likely the question has been answered. For instance, I don't know how many posts I see where it says: If you had $XXXXX what would you do ?

Don't take this wrong, it's always fun to see the new things people are doing, help with others questions, etc. At the same time, I see posts not getting answered and people get frustrated. Many times it's obvious that it was the title of the subject, so I message the poster and get it changed. It may be in the wrong category, so I'll message them and change the category, etc.

It's also important to remember, not everyone, in every niche is on BP everyday, though we do have an overwhelming number of regular participants, but it may be that the right person didn't see your post, and it cycles through the list, so repost or reword it!. If you have a question you know someone specific deals with, @mention them! Don't be shy!

[Bill Gulley]

Very good points Karen.

As one of the more senior posters, your point of doing some searching for an answer is right on target to my feelings of getting involved by posting.

No one likes saying the same thing 200 times.

Taking that a bit further, asking something like "how do I do a lease-option" really indicates a lack of effort. Newbies appear to want to be spoon fed and given the "how to" from a very broad question that could take a book to answer. I don't begin to answer those, but after the topic get narrowed down I may. We all know to that new folks may not know enough to ask a question.

Searching and doing some reading will clue you into more specific issues. Being specific and target a narrow aspect of lease-options will get you more responses. I skip vague questions usually. But if you were to ask how ensure you are protected by getting an option you'll have better luck.

I'm sure most of the older pros on here have similar views, it's not just me and Karen is dead on.

Another thing, fill out your profile! A simple question may be asked that may not be so simple to answer. We often check the profile to see the level of experience of the poster.

That really plays on the answer you get, if you're new say so, so the answer doesn't fly over your head, I recall giving a very simple answer to an attorney who was obviously looking for much greater detail, that was wasted time and effort. I try to tailor my reply to the poster's experience level if I can and I know others do too. It just takes more posts to get to the meat of an issue too. Including your expertise also means an answer can be addressed in your language so to speak, an accountant may get an answer anchored in accounting rather than in a less specific manner.

Don't hesitate to ask, jump in, just give it some thought before you jump and complete your profile. :)