Free WordPress help can only be requested over the phone. Otherwise, well worded forum posts will work. Your best strategy is to a) have the right attitude and information when asking for help and b) send your request for help to the right place. Here are 10 ways to achieve both of these goals and increase your chances of satisfactorily resolving your WordPress issues. Play your cards right and win the game in step 1, which at the same time shows you how to formulate the problem yourself and increase the chances of an immediate solution.
Describe the entire problem in a separate short title. If this is a blog post or forum, think carefully about how to summarize the problem in one line. For example, suppose you want to change the image used for tags in an HTML document by using a cascading style sheet. Don't just put in the bullets. Type "CSS: How to Convert Images from Characters to Paragraphs".
Now, take that distilled thought straight to your favorite search engine. If you weigh your title carefully, you may not even need to document the actual problem. A great title can get you going with the help of quickly finding someone who is there and understands.
Enter the software version and, if applicable, the name of the web hosting provider. Instead of "delete database" we say WordPress 2.8 from HostGator: How to delete a WordPress database?
Don't pretend you have the right to help. A surprising minority of people will do things like ask a question at 8:13 am and then post an answer at 8:29 pm saying they are surprised that no one has taken the opportunity to answer their question. Another group asked really big questions like "Can someone tell me how to start a blog with WordPress?" When you start a post, make sure it's a question you want to help with if you can.
Don't offend the hand that feeds you. State your problem neutrally, as if your best friend caused it, and talk to your friend's mother. Don't start your message with “I can't believe the folks at WordPress failed to fix the post renaming error. I told you about that over a year ago. "Do you think that's what motivates the people at WordPress to help?"
Copy and paste any error messages. Don't paraphrase them.
First round: try your web host provider. Please search their forums and knowledge base first. But a good web host will help you with your WordPress problems. HostGator offers 24-hour phone and email support. They are responsive and very kind. I highly recommend email as you can come back to it later.
Check out the forums you like the most, even if they aren't related to WordPress. The reason is because WordPress is popular and you might have the same problem as your coworkers. For example, if you are interested in internet marketing, you can ask questions about WordPress on WarriorForum and SitePoint.
Try StackOverflow. Although new, it is already the most powerful secret weapon to support the high-tech masses. It was tailor-made to take down paid tech support websites and grateful crowds flocked to their door in just a few months.
And oh yes, WordPress helps itself. WordPress.org has a busy forum and a lot of paperwork. The organization and quality is a bit weak, but you're right at the source.
Bonus tip: create a file called WordPress help guide.txt and place it in the documents folder. If you get an answer, be sure to copy it to help. It's amazing how often these things happen.
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