How to Ask a Question on LinkedIn Answers

Okay, you've thought about the right question, prepared enough detail to help someone prepare a good answer for your question, and now you want to put your question on LinkedIn. To post your LinkedIn question, just follow these steps:

On the LinkedIn home page, click the Answers link.

You’re taken to the LinkedIn Answers home page.

Click the Ask a Question tab.

You end up at the Ask a Question page.

On the Answers home page, you can also fill in the text box under Ask a Question and then click Next. That would also take you to the Ask a Question page, and your question would already be filled in.

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Type your question.

If you want your question to go only to designated contacts, select the Only Share This Question with Connections I Select check box. This option makes your question completely private and only available to your designated first-degree connections. No other LinkedIn users will be able to access or answer this question.

The Ask a Question box is intended to relay the main question you’re asking. Don't try to squeeze in every detail; you have a detail section for that information.

Type additional details in the Add Details text box provided.

The Add Details box is optional, but I recommend using it to give readers a more complete idea of what kind of response you're seeking, and any additional information they may need to answer your question.

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Pick a category and sub-category for your question.

You’re presented with a list of categories, where you can assign one to your question. When you click the category that most represents your category, the box to its right may appear with sub-category options.

Continue to select sub-categories that best represent the topic of your question. (You might even be able to pick a sub-sub-category in the rightmost box.) When you’ve selected a valid category, you see the full category name represented below the boxes.

Sometimes a question overlaps categories, such as when an entrepreneur asks about funding strategies from mergers as well as venture capital. If your question applies to more than one category, you can add a second category to expand the readership of your question and get different answers.

Select any check boxes relating to location and/or question content.

LinkedIn asks you to identify whether your question relates to a specific geographic location. If so, click that check box. In addition, if your question relates to recruiting, promoting your services, or a job search, select the appropriate check box so LinkedIn can flag the question and display it appropriately.

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Click the Ask Question button.

You see a confirmation bar and a new screen that gives you the option to send your question to your LinkedIn network.

Fill out the form and click the Send button.

Click the View All Connections icon next to the recipient field to pick people from your network to receive a copy of your question sent to their Inbox. When you’re ready, click the Send button to distribute your question to your network.