February 11, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Answering good questions is the secret to leveling up!
When visiting Answers, there are three main ways to engage with the members of the community: you can ask a question, answer a question, or vote.
By now, you’ve figured out that asking a question costs you points, and answering a question awards you points. But did you know that you can also earn a point by voting on an answer?
How do I earn (or lose) points on Yahoo! Answers?
- Get a best answer: earn 10 points
- Get a “thumbs up” on your best answer: earn 1 point (max 50)
- Answer a question: earn 2 points
- Choose a best answer for your question: earn 3 points
- Vote for an answer: earn 1 point
- Vote for no best answer: 0 points
- Ask a question: spend 5 points
- No Best Answer was selected by voters on your question: 5 points returned
- Log into Yahoo! Answers: 1 point per day
- Violate the community guidelines: lose 10 points
- Delete an answer: lose 2 points
More details on points and levels can be found here
How can I get to the next level on Answers?
When participating on the site, two tips will help you move from level to level in no time—they are:
- Provide Best Answers—be sure your answers are quality, don’t violate the Community Guidelines and answer the question!
- Search for your question before you ask it: while your question may seem unique, you may be shocked just how many people before you have come to Answers to ask “Why is the sky blue?” – Save your 5 points and use the Advanced Search feature to check the site for similar questions before asking your own.
- Use the “Sort” feature to find questions with the fewest answers- by filtering by the fewest answers you’re naturally “upping your odds” of earning a “Best Answer” as you’ll have fewer other answers to compete against, and, may be providing someone with the perfect answer!
With these tips under your belt, you’ll be at level 7 in no time! Happy answering!
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I think it would be good to rephrase “Ask a question: lose 5 points” to “Ask a question: spend 5 points”.
If people think of it as losing points, they might not ask a question.
Really helped a lot.
It would be great if you were to give new users a link to this excellent blog entry. Perhaps in a Welcome Packet?
Also a Help page: “How do I level up?”
(psst. typo: “Give a best answer: earn 10 points”
should be “[Get] a best answer”)
Very helpful!
Thank you!
You left out – Put a question to vote: earn 3 points upon resolution.
I had no idea that there were so many ways to gain and lose points. Very interesting!
You make it sound so easy.
Our C-Programmer here at the Iola Public Library, does not want me to join RSS because it takes up a lot of room…and the kids’ games here at the Library takes up a lot of room on the system. I can’t join to vote on Valentines or anything like that. I meant to vote a 5. Yes I liked the post however. Happy Valentines Day. Truly, Susan D. Snavely.
Unfortunately once you reach Level 7 there is no place to go. I still like Yahoo Answers, I just wish there were more levels.
lol. if you’re on Y!A, then you would already know this.
i’m already on level 7. ^-^
Since over 1/2 of the so-called answers that get posted are spam, I fail to see how sorting based on the total number of answers would indicate which questions have the fewest legitimate answers.
Yo!
I’m in Level 5.
“Ask a question: spend 5 points”
If the question fail to post, you can put it into voting and vote for no best answer. You’ll get your 5 points back. If you just to lazy to do that (need to wait for 4 hours), you can just delete the question.
∂яαgση™
i would give another tip. answer questions which have no answers and later go to your profile and click my naswers. you see your answer. select the questions and choose your answer as the best answer.
cool idea
but isn’t this cheting and shouldn’t yahoo answers change its rules by which we cannot vote our own ansewers
Sometimes answering a good question, requires answering a simple question, and not always a more complicated query,
Sometimes it is hard to decipher, what is a true question, and not a local anesthetic quibble for users categorical theory,
Sometimes I wish these resolves were more simplified, like a Valentines card, or a pennies thought worth, to endear me,
Sometimes, maybe sometimes, there are points to be made, even if they’re pointless, it’s nice to know, someone out there can hear me,
This was helpful! Thanque very much 4 posting it!~
Timothy
How about one point for every thumbs up and not just on the best answer?
I am sure it will help increase the number of answers.
When voting, how about leaving answers in the order they were given so we can vote for the FIRST best answer? That’s probably my biggest peeve. Other than the same questions being asked over and over…and over.
What “Sort” feature? Where is it located and how do I use it? I don’t see it on the “Advanced Search” page.
I agree with John L!!!
I have a suggestion for a new way to get points. If you get a thumbs down on an answer that you gave that was a thought out and perfectly acceptable answer that in no way deserved a thumbs down; you should get 20 points.
i agree with stephen. the spammers usually do that to questions that have nothing to do with the site they are advertising. they want, and get, the two points for answering, and i think if it’s proven to be spam, they need to deduct the points from the account.
I know this is kinda off topic, but how do you get a top contributor badge? I heard you have to have 10% best answer but nearly a 3rd of my answers are best answers. Can anyone help me please? And no rude answers thanks. Nice tips though btw! =) I’m a level 3 but it’s still nice to get tips lol specially for new users =]
I agree with Anthony!! Sometimes I get thumbs downs but I gave a really nice answer and it took me ages lol!
I already sent an email to you suggesting if there is something to make users stopping choosing themselves as the best answer
the end of TROLLS
How to raise the level of the Q & A if users ask questions, they themselves answer and they chosen themselves as best answer?
Great Info, Thank you very much!
another thing …. Asking halfway decent questions
doesn’t mean anything unless you are a celebrity trying to push your next movie or a sponsor spamming a product line ….
your question is going to get pushed to the back
of the board and no longer to be seen in a matter
of moments – you can consider yourself fortunate
to get more than ten answers
{if u even get that many}
:O
faces
:B 
Why did Y/A remove the spelling function except when you have posted your answer, then realize there’s a mistake in it, so you have to do an edit?
Also, what happens that when I go to extend my question there is nothing on the action bar (or any place else) for me to do that? I’d think that button would be under “edit” or near there. Sometimes the blue “best answer” button is not there, either. That’s frustrating! I have taken to thanking answerers personally when they give a good answer because of that, and good manners, of course.
I would also like to have a button that awards several answers with points as best answers because so many of them have good, but different points to make. That happens to me frequently.
Yeah, you’ll be up to level seven in no time and then they will suspend your account.
there is no much to say since the yahoo answers are the best.
Thanks for the info. One of the things that disturbed me was once being a ‘top contributer’, but lost the opportunity. I don’t quite understand how THAT works. Additionally, I enjoy answering questions, but I have stopped ASKING because of the removal of points. I really do care about the people who ask questions and I want to help. There are so many categories that I find myself comfortable, particularly teaching/education/entertainment. Over the years, I have seen a gradual decrease (I think) in people who leave sharp or inappropriate comments or questions. This is the only site that I believe is really engaged in helping people solve problems and issues. I do question this: How is it possible that some questions are asked several times and appear on my page? Also, it is disturbing to to provide a very detailed response to someone’s question, and THEN find out that their question has been removed. That needs some ATTENTION. Overall, I love this site and I encourage the TEAM to continue listen to us and RESPOND to our concerns and keep it coming!!!
I really like Golly’s idea of a “Welcome Packet”!
In the meantime, for all those looking for help, remember there’s a lot of information in the Help pages; and what you can’t find there, you’ll probably find in the unofficial YA tutorial (made by yours truly to help new users).
You can find it at http://calitorial.webs.com and I really really hope the editors are kind and allow this to be posted
Cali