How to Find an Expert Online in Just About Any Subject

By Sherril Steele-Carlin

If you're looking for expert advice online, there are plenty of places to find just what you're looking for. Whether it's a homework assignment or a question from your kids or your boss you can't answer, now you have an alternative to spending hours in the library trying to find the information you need. You can easily reach the experts online and discover how to get the most out of their services!

For example, the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada offers an expert service that features many of the university’s faculty who volunteer as experts in a variety of subjects. You can ask them questions about anything they specialize in, and the service is free. You can find them at University of Calgary Experts Online. Many of the questions come from media (reporters and journalists) looking for information for articles and some come from other university professors around the globe. Often, they return for other questions once they understand the knowledge and data available from the volunteers. This site is particularly helpful for those sticky homework questions that you might not be able to answer, and need a comprehensive and knowledgeable source of credible information.

At the Eric Clearinghouse on Information and Technology, the staff provides information to teachers, librarians, counselors, administrators, parents, and others throughout the United States and the World. The site, known as Ask ERIC, started in 1992, and has been giving out helpful information on a variety of educational topics ever since. However, Ask Eric does not provide homework assistance for students.

What Kinds of Questions Can You Ask?

As you can imagine, with so many sites catering to information on just about any subject, there’s no limit to the questions you can ask. Answers are everywhere! There are specialty sites, like Practical Pet Care, where you can find experts in any kind of pet care and get answers to all your pet queries, from amphibians to aardvarks. Then there are more general sites where you can find a wide variety of expert sites to check out with all your questions. Just make sure you match your question to the expert's area of expertise, or you may not always get a helpful response. Also, it's a good idea to make sure your question is specific. Asking "can you tell me everything about the moon?" will probably not get you the response you're looking for, but "can you tell me about gravity on the moon" will.

Love It or Rate It

Many of these expert sites also have rating systems, where visitors can critique the help that experts give. This can help visitors decide if the experts are really right for their question, and what experts answer quickly and in detail. If you don't like the answer you've received from an expert, you can let the world know, but it's a good idea to clarify the answer with your expert, first.

By now, you’ve probably got at least one burning question you just have to have answered online. As you've seen asking questions online is simple and quick, but here are some tips that will help you target just the right expert for your needs – and get the perfect answers:

  • Choose your best source. There are a lot of sites out there, so first, you need to track down the one that really targets the subject you’re looking for. You may find several experts listed, but if you're careful, you can go through the list, and find the person who seems to have the best knowledge for your specific needs.
  • Read the directions completely. It sounds simple, but many people simply don't follow the instructions, and don't get the answers they're looking for. Read the instructions at every web site, because they are all different. Make sure you give them all the information they need to contact you. It may sound silly, but lots of people forget to give an email address, and then wonder why they never hear from the expert! Many experts we talked to said that lots of questions don’t get answered because of inaccurate email addresses or missing information. It’s very frustrating for the experts not to be able to answer your questions, so take a little time and follow the directions!
  • Be specific! The best way to get a specific answer to your question is to ask a specific question. Don't be too general, and include as much information as possible, so the expert knows exactly what you’re looking for. Most experts won't take the time to research massive and never-ending questions, but will answer specific questions on their subject.

For More Information:

If you'd like more tips for asking questions online, you can find them here:

Are You An Expert?

Do your friends, students, and kids always come to you when they need to know about history, technology, basketball statistics, or anything else? If you consider yourself an expert in any topic, many of these expert sites would like you on their team! Check out these sites to see if they are looking for experts right now: