How to Answer a Question on LinkedIn

As you go through LinkedIn Answers, you may see a question that you would love to contribute an answer to, whether it’s to help someone avoid the same mistake you made about something, or a topic you enjoy discussing.

Perhaps you want to share your knowledge, hoping the person who posed the question will want to work with you further on their problem. Whatever the reason, when you are ready to answer a question, just follow these steps:

Locate a question you can answer.

Click Answers on the top menu of the home page to get to the main Answers page.

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Click the Answer Questions and browse the categories of open questions.

You see an Open Questions list.

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Click a category name in the pane on the right.

This step narrows down the Open Questions list. Suppose you choose the Startups and Small Businesses category. You see the Open Questions list for that category, as shown here. You also see a new pane of sub-categories on the right.

(Optional) Click a sub-category.

This narrows down your search even further.

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When you find a question you want to answer, click the link for that question.

This brings up the Question page. Read through the specifics of what the person is asking.

Scroll down to see what answers, if any, have already been given. This way, you can incorporate their information into your answer so you’re not repeating the same thing and you are providing new, helpful information.

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Click the Answer button to start preparing your response.

The Your Answer form smoothly pops open right in the middle of the page you’re looking at.

If you don't see the Answer button, it could be that this question has been closed by the person who posted the question, meaning that person isn’t looking for any more answers to this question. It could also be that the question automatically closed after seven days of being on LinkedIn. You can only contribute to open questions.

Type your response in the Your Answer text box.

Additionally, you can enter Web sites that are part of your answer, into the boxes provided. You can also suggest up to three experts who could further expand on your answer.

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When you have your answer ready, click the Submit button to send it in.

You’re taken back to the Question posting page, but now, your answer is posted along with any other answers given already. The person who posted the question will be notified that a new answer has been posted.

If you feel like you can’t provide a quality answer, but you know someone who should be able to give an expert answer, click the Select Experts button in the Your Answer form. This opens up a window similar to the one shown here, where you can pick up to three people from your network by clicking the Select Experts button. You can also select the check box to write a private note to the person who posted the question.