7 common mistakes question box beginners make and how to fix them

Everyone goes through this

When you've just started a question box, everyone is feeling their way. You often realize later, "I should have done it this way." This article introduces seven mistakes beginners tend to make. They're all easy to fix, so if any of them sound familiar, try fixing them starting today.

Mistake 1: Waiting without telling anyone the URL

You make a question box, put the URL in your profile, and then just wait for questions to come in. This is the most common mistake. Only people who have just followed you look at the URL in your profile. Your existing followers don't even know you made a question box.

How to fix it: Announce "I made a question box" on your timeline or in your stories. Don't do it just once. Post something with the URL once or twice a week. There's no need to worry that people will think "Another plug?" A huge number of posts flow through your followers' timelines, so a single announcement won't reach everyone.

Mistake 2: Answers that are too short

"What's your favorite food?" "Curry." It's not wrong, but as a Q&A it isn't much fun, and if you share it, it won't get much of a response. The sender will be disappointed too: "I went to the trouble of sending that, and all I got was one word?"

How to fix it: Get into the habit of adding "one more line" to your answers. "Curry. I especially love spiced curry, and sometimes I make it myself on weekends." Adding just one sentence turns it into an answer that shows your personality. You don't need to make every answer long. "One more line" is enough.

Mistake 3: Running your box with Review before delivery turned off

When you create a question box, Review before delivery is turned on. You can turn it off in your dashboard settings, but if you keep it off, you'll be caught off guard when an inappropriate question arrives.

How to fix it: Check that "Review before delivery" is on in your dashboard. It takes 30 seconds. Questions caught by the review don't disappear either. They stay in Held instead of going to your inbox, and you can move them back to your inbox later. On the same screen, you can also choose whether to send questions marked "caution" to Held, and whether to send questions containing certain words to Held (Muted words).

Mistake 4: Trying to answer every question

The more conscientious you are, the more likely you are to think, "I have to answer every question people send me." At first this isn't a problem because you don't get many questions, but as they increase, you can't keep up, and the sense of obligation crushes you.

How to fix it: Switch to the rule "answer the questions you want to answer." A question box is something you do voluntarily, and you have no obligation to answer everything. It's okay to skip questions you don't want to answer or can't answer. The sender is anonymous, so they have no way of knowing you skipped it.

Mistake 5: Not sharing your Q&As

You write an answer, feel satisfied, and don't share it on social media. That's a big missed opportunity. Only people who go out of their way to visit see your question box's public page. If you share it on social media, the Q&A shows up on all of your followers' timelines.

How to fix it: Whenever you write an answer, be sure to share it on social media. When you share, include your question box URL too. When followers see a fun Q&A and think "I want to send a question too," it's important that they can find the URL right away.

Mistake 6: An empty profile

Posting your question box link but leaving your profile empty is another common mistake. People who want to ask you something look at your profile and think, "What should I ask?"

With no clues at all, being told "ask me anything" actually makes it harder. It's like walking into a shop with no menu and no sign. You don't know what to order, so you just leave.

Just one line like "High schooler. I love music and games. Ask me for recommendations!" gives people a reason to ask. Your profile is a guide for the people sending questions. A few lines is enough, so write a little about yourself and what you'd like to be asked.

Mistake 7: Quitting right away when nothing happens

Some people give up when no questions come in right after they start, thinking "I guess this just isn't for me." But that's a decision made far too early.

It's actually rare for a question box to take off right after it starts. It takes a little time for people to learn it exists and realize "this person will answer." Giving up because of the quiet at the start is a waste.

Announce it now and then, and answer the questions you get with care. If you keep that up patiently, questions will gradually start to gather. Even if you don't see results right away, don't rush. Simply keeping going is the best shortcut to a lively question box.

All seven of these mistakes are ones you could have avoided "if only you'd known." Put the other way, by reading this article, you've already graduated from beginner mistakes. Now all that's left is to put it into practice. Enjoy your question box.