Experts Exchange
is the number one knowledge sharing community on the web. We've created
a forum where people can rapidly gather the information they need. Experts
Exchange develops topic-specific knowledge sharing communities. We match
people with tough questions with people who have the solutions and relevant
comments to answer the question. As the leaders in web-based knowledge
sharing, our internet community hosts over 75 topic areas, with a current
focus on information technology.
Our Mission
We are working to expand our current web site to include an unlimited
amount of topic areas, making Experts Exchange the international backbone
of knowledge sharing. At Experts Exchange, we filter irrelevant information
through our unique point and grading system, which insures the highest
quaility of standards for asking and answering questions. Our topic-specific
communities combined with our high standards make Experts Exchange the
best place to ask and answer questions
What is a Knowledge Sharing Community?
Communities are where we work, play, and live. Knowledge communities,
such as schools and universities, are places where members can interact
with each other and exchange information or "knowledge." The
phrase "virtual community" has become popular, describing communities
where people interact using digital technology.
Some of the common elements of a community are a political structure,
an economy including a currency for exchange, and dealing with anti-social
behavior. Virtual communities in particular are vulnerable to the anti-social
behavior of discontents. The challenge is to encourage free expression
and keep those expressions focused on the task at hand.
The economy of Experts Exchange maintains focused communications between
individuals aimed at obtaining specific information through its point
system. With a limited supply of points available, serious knowledge (questions
and answers) are the standard for expression.
As a member, you have the right to use your question points to buy answers from our experts, or from our archive of previously asked questions (PAQ). This is the most powerful tool for solutions anywhere.
As an active member, you accrue points with which you may ask questions. You do not have to pay for these points, and a regular, active member earns enough points to ask 2-3 questions a month. You also acquire tenure through participation–and that gives you special privileges when asking questions.
When you register "as an expert," you become a part of the heart of Experts Exchange, which was created by and for experts. Experts enjoy all the same benefits as members do, but they also enjoy the following:
The first additional benefit an expert receives is recognition. By accumulating points an expert obtains tangible evidence of their expertise. This evidence may be used in resumes or letters of recommendation. This is especially important for experts who lack formal credentials, but may possess more skill and hands on knowledge than certified or degreed peers.
In the future,
there will be a second benefit: the opportunity to win prizes and purchase
products with the points they have accumulated! We believe you will like
the products we will offer (and the point costs we've assigned to them).
For now, you may be eligible for a free t-shirt.
Is Experts Exchange really free?
Yes it is. Free but limited. You receive 75 free points when registering and 5 more free points every day thereafter as long as you remain an "active" member (activity in the past 30 days). This works out to about 2 or 3 free questions every month.
Points, or
knowledge credits, are used as currency to buy knowledge at Experts Exchange.
Limiting the supply of points is an important part of our knowledge
community, but we provide many ways to earn additional points should
you need them: filling out surveys, product reviews, giving us feedback,
visiting advertisers, etc.
How is Experts Exchange different from Newsgroups or discussion groups?
Newsgroups,
using the NNTP protocol, are designed for "conversation." Messages are
posted and strung together in a free form manner. In contrast, Experts
Exchange is designed to "answer difficult and specific questions." It
is not a place for rambling conversations, sharing ideas, collecting opinions,
or expressing dissatisfaction. It is solely designed to answer your difficult
questions and get you quick and thorough solutions.
How does the point system work?
When you register at Experts Exchange, you receive 75 free points with the opportunity to earn 125 points by filling in the user profile plus 5 more free points every day after as long as you remain an active member. These free points should be enough to ask two or three questions each month or to view previously asked questions (PAQ), which are available for 10% of their original value. You may also earn points through participation: filling out surveys, reviewing products, giving us feedback, visiting our sponsors and advertisers, etc. You do not pay anything unless you need even more points.
You assign the point value of the question based on its difficulty. As a guide, a basic question is worth 50 points; an intermediate question is 100 points, and an advanced question is 200 points. The more points assigned to a question, the more likely it will be answered.
When you
accept an expert's answer, the question points you offered are deducted
from your account. The expert's score is then increased by the number
of points you offered for the question, multiplied by the grade you assigned
to the answer. These expert points are not exchangeable back to question
points. Although this seems unfair, we are forced into this position by
our income tax authority (IRS), which could tax such interchangeable points
as "barter income." An expert does earn question points, however,
through their increased site participation. Experts mainly accrue "expert
points" which may be used to purchase products through Experts-Exchange.
They are also eligible to enter in a number of contests where they may
win prizes.
Are my email address and other personal information confidential?
Yes it is,
along with any other information you provide to us. If you are suddenly
receiving a lot of SPAM (unsolicited commercial email), the mass marketers
have probably intercepted your email address from a Usenet Newsgroup posting
of yours. This is one of the many ways we are different
from Newsgroups.
Please post
any problem you may have in our "Community
Support" topic area. For problems relating to another member, please
include their login name. If the problem relates to a specific question,
provide the title, topic area, and question, or the question number.
What White Papers have been published about EE?
Dr. Leonard
Jessup, an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems at Indiana
University, provides an independent review of the Experts Exchange model
at his Website. Click
here to see it.
How do I make suggestions for EE?
We welcome
and appreciate suggestions for improving Experts Exchange. Please post
your suggestions in our "Suggestions"
Topic Area. Thank you, again. Don't be surprised if you see your suggestion
added to our site.
If your question
has not received an answer, you may delete it by viewing the text, selecting
the "delete question" link, and then clicking on "refund." All other requests
to delete a question must be posted in our "Community
Support" topic area, and we will review the question, delete it for
you, and refund your points. Please include the question number, or your
login name and question title.
We view partnerships as a cornerstone for accelerating the growth of Experts Exchange in developing further topic-specific knowledge sharing communities. We are actively pursuing the following types of partnerships:
- Co-branding
- Nesting
- Private labeling
- Portals and Other Web Sites
- Corporate Technical Support
- Corporate Developer Relationships
For more
information please contact bizdev@experts-exchange.com
Do I need to be a member to get answers?
To ask questions
or view the answers in our Previously Asked Questions (PAQ) archives,
you must be a registered member. Click
here for information on registering.
How do I change my personal account information?
First, access your personal account by clicking your highlighted login name on the top header of every page. Choose the "edit user" option in the upper, right-side navigation bar. After you have made changes to your account, make sure to click the "Submit Changes" button at the bottom of the page.
What are the EE Guidelines
In order to maintain our forum as a "Clean, Well Lit Place" for knowledge sharing, members must keep in mind two golden rules. First, when posting a question, remember to follow through with your responsibility to the experts and community by responding to comments aimed at answering your questions and provide grades as soon as possible. Delays in this process crowd the forums with unnecessary information and make it difficult for experts to find those who still need answers.
Second, propose answers only when you believe the information is a useful response aimed at answering the specific question.This practice will reduce "white noise" and keep the site information focused. Often, it is difficult for experts to find questions in need of answers when the questions are locked by members interested in only obtaining points. For more information please see our guidelines.