Know how to use text question services

Texting questions to a six-digit number can provide a wealth of information right at your fingertips. With such sites as ChaCha.com and Kgbanswers.com, you can find out everything from personal answers to sports scores and weather. Even history and health are covered by these services. Before you start asking, there a few things you should know, to create an ideal texting environment for you and the company you use.

  1. Read the online terms of service thoroughly. While you may not be one to do this, many do get frustrated with answers and threaten, harass, cuss and insult the agents taking the questions. This could result in banning and blocking of your number from using the service. TOS also lets you know liability limits. For example, if you ask a health question, do not take it as professional medical advice. Its not and this is clearly stated in company TOS.
  2. When you text, you are speaking to a real person, but every text is routed to someone different. If you don't get a good answer the first time, you may get a good one the second time because of receiving a different agent.
  3. While these companies try to hire people who will do a good job, some bad apples do creep through the hiring process. Don't be scared to grade or give feedback about these bad agents. If you get completely off-topic answers or abuse, report it. ChaCha has a grading system where you can provide a grade for your answer and the agent giving you the answer.
  4. It is sad that some people text in simply to find dates. Don't text these services looking for dates or asking for sexual favors. You would be surprised how often this happens and it takes away from serious work. No agent is going to hook up with you in any way. Get out and socialize if you want to find a date.
  5. Don't ask for racist, sexist or religious hate jokes or quotes. You may ask questions about these topics in history, but you will not gain assistance with your own hate practices. This could also result in termination of your texting privileges.
  6. Before you ask a question, remove all signatures from the text. While you are talking to a real person, they need keywords to help find your answer, and signatures are recognized as a keyword and can get confusing to agents. Be clear, watch your spelling and remove anything not associated with your question from your text.
  7. If you do not receive the entire answer, its most likely due to word count. Many texting answer sites only allow agents to type so many characters in an answer. This means plenty of cut off answers. If the rest doesn't come in after a few seconds, text "More" to get the rest or a new answer.
  8. Don't text in if you have a medical emergency. I am an agent and the two times I have had this happen have left me shaking my head. One was for a heart attack and the other alcohol poisoning. Call 911! Agents cannot give you emergency advice other than that, and that wastes valuable time that could be used saving a life.
  9. Although it may be funny, avoid the immaturity of texting in nonsense questions. Your keeping agents from offering a valuable service to those who are looking for real answers. If your bored, try texting questions that make sense such as history questions or sports scores.
  10. Many services do help out by giving advice to those who request it. We have helped with everything from relationship advice to helping prevent suicides. If your alone, need advice or are really down, don't be afraid to text. Many agents are very helpful and caring. They can also provide valuable information and phone numbers for you to get help.

Text question services are on the rise in popularity with today's busy society. You can enjoy these services by remembering the key points outlined above. If your interested in becoming an agent with one of these services, look to the bottom of the homepage for the Career's link for more information.

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, Tunnel Hill Family & Parenting 101 Examiner

Sharin Griffin has been writing professionally for 5 years. She is a mother and wife, owner of Southern Belles Sense blog at www.southernbellessense.com, and active in her community. Her passion for writing began at a very early age, and has blossomed over the years. Her work has been showcased...

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