Asking questions that get replies

"What do you all think?" is the most common question in new communities and the one that gets the fewest answers. Broad questions ask members to do the hard work of deciding what to say. Good prompts do that work for them.

Make it specific and personal

Compare "How do you handle onboarding?" with "What's the first message a new member gets from you?" The second can be answered by copying and pasting. Specific questions about members' own experience are easy to answer and interesting to read.

Lower the stakes

• Ask for one thing, not a list.
• Post your own answer first, so people can see the expected length and tone.
• Avoid questions with a "right" answer that makes people afraid of being wrong.

Either-or questions work well when things are quiet: "Morning or evening events?" Anyone can answer in two words, and the replies often turn into a real conversation about why.

Follow up

The question is only half the job. Reply to the first few answers, connect people who gave similar answers ("you two should compare notes") and later share a short summary of what people said. Members who see their answers being used are more likely to answer next time.

This week's task: take a question that didn't get many replies and rewrite it to be specific, personal and answerable in one sentence. Post it with your own answer.