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How can we get more questions and good answers on Mahalo Answers when someone asks a local question?
A local question is about a city. It's too bad that we get people answering questions about a city who do not live here, or have never been here without even researching the map good enough. Any way you believe more answers pertaining to a local city can be answered better?
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Interesting Question. Local information guides and travel tips are key.
Perhaps Mahalo can allow users the ability to answer 'local' questions about only the area (re zip code) they live in or have lived in based on the information they provide when they sign up.
Just not sure how this could be verified or if we want that degree of information available. For example, if I 'can' answer a question about Arizona then users will know that I live there or used to live there, and this might not be something that I want as community knowledge.
Perhaps a user could opt in or out of the 'local' user question group based on preference for anonymity.
Perhaps Mahalo can allow users the ability to answer 'local' questions about only the area (re zip code) they live in or have lived in based on the information they provide when they sign up.
Just not sure how this could be verified or if we want that degree of information available. For example, if I 'can' answer a question about Arizona then users will know that I live there or used to live there, and this might not be something that I want as community knowledge.
Perhaps a user could opt in or out of the 'local' user question group based on preference for anonymity.
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Great answer! Not so sure about only allowing them to answer questions about their local area.
A zip code is one example of a parameter for identifying a user's local area or region of 'expertise'.
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Regional categories would probably help out with that. We all know that questions get lost and buried very quickly unless you surf by category, and presently there's nowhere location specific for regional questions to be sorted. I'd be very likely to check a category devoted to where I am several times a day to see what was being asked. I'd also be more likely to post a question I have about something local at Mahalo Answers than I am now, as I think it would be more likely to be noticed by people who could help.
Though, this would certainly be a big undertaking, as we're talking about thousands of subcategories here.
Though, this would certainly be a big undertaking, as we're talking about thousands of subcategories here.
The underlying problem exists throughout all of the categories here at Mahalo Answers.
People do not have to be qualified in any way to answer any question.
The drawback to this (as you've highlighted) is that people without first hand knowledge can answer questions to which they have no first hand experience.
However, is this a bad thing? Personally, I think that it adds an interesting dynamic to the answers here and that especially in local answers, provides a wider answer as a whole.
A good example of what I'm saying can be found in this recent question:
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/united-states/what-are-the-top-5-must-dos-for-first-time-visitors-to-seattle-assuming-you-only-have-a-day
This is a basic local knowledge question. While I've been to Seattle on business and have enjoyed what the city has to offer, I'm sure that not all of the people who replied to the question have visited the city. I can't however find a bad answer in that question.
Most local questions are also subjective. Asking "what is the best widget store in NYC" without providing a criteria will result in answers that do not require exact local knowledge.
So, unless Mahalo is planning on qualifying "professionals" in each category, I think that this is a mute point that should be addressed individually.
People do not have to be qualified in any way to answer any question.
The drawback to this (as you've highlighted) is that people without first hand knowledge can answer questions to which they have no first hand experience.
However, is this a bad thing? Personally, I think that it adds an interesting dynamic to the answers here and that especially in local answers, provides a wider answer as a whole.
A good example of what I'm saying can be found in this recent question:
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/united-states/what-are-the-top-5-must-dos-for-first-time-visitors-to-seattle-assuming-you-only-have-a-day
This is a basic local knowledge question. While I've been to Seattle on business and have enjoyed what the city has to offer, I'm sure that not all of the people who replied to the question have visited the city. I can't however find a bad answer in that question.
Most local questions are also subjective. Asking "what is the best widget store in NYC" without providing a criteria will result in answers that do not require exact local knowledge.
So, unless Mahalo is planning on qualifying "professionals" in each category, I think that this is a mute point that should be addressed individually.
Though I hate to give away my methods... I tend to call the local chamber of commerce in the city that question was asked about. They know the city and normally have good input on local specifics. I normally tend to stray away from those kinds of questions. Mostly because I figure someone else will know.
source(s):
Mumbles...giving away my edge.
Mumbles...giving away my edge.
One way would be for current users, or maybe the Mahalo staff, finding local message forums and posting on them. Topics newspapers has a network of sites just for moms (although men frequent it too). I'm sure there are other similar sites.
As far as limiting it by zip, in my particular zip there is almost nothing but cornfields. But I have good knowledge of my city, plus pretty good knowledge on a couple of other cities where I spend time and could answer questions. And what about someone who's just returned from a trip and knows exactly where the best hot dogs in Chicago are, or Lincoln Park Zoo's winter hours? Limiting people to answering questions by zip or even city would mean a lot of educated answers would be lost.
I think the best bet is to find those other websites and find a way to work Mahalo Answers into responses there. According to research, it takes 5 exposures to something for people to remember it, so that should be the minimum goal.
As far as limiting it by zip, in my particular zip there is almost nothing but cornfields. But I have good knowledge of my city, plus pretty good knowledge on a couple of other cities where I spend time and could answer questions. And what about someone who's just returned from a trip and knows exactly where the best hot dogs in Chicago are, or Lincoln Park Zoo's winter hours? Limiting people to answering questions by zip or even city would mean a lot of educated answers would be lost.
I think the best bet is to find those other websites and find a way to work Mahalo Answers into responses there. According to research, it takes 5 exposures to something for people to remember it, so that should be the minimum goal.
source(s):
www.stepintosuccess.com/
www.stepintosuccess.com/
We have a local strategy on the road map. For now we don't have enough people to give answers in each city so it's probably better for folks outside the city to take a shot at it. Down the road I suspect we'll have people select their city (if they want) and be able to answer questions about that city.
Good, it would be nice to see the Google Maps. I answered about this in this question. http://www.mahalo.com/answers/new-features/community-feedback-what-would-you-like-to-see-an-a-mahalo-answers-iphone-application
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