Step1
Find the right forum. If you're a regular member of a community and are familiar with many of the participants, off-topic questions are generally received more cordially. If you're visiting a forum or community specifically for information, however, make sure you choose a group that regularly discusses the topic you need help with.
Step2
Read the community guidelines. All forums, message boards and communities have user pages, special posts for new members or topic lines about regulations. Be sure to read and follow any directions for posting and how to properly introduce yourself.
Step3
Browse the forum. Read other postings to get a feel for how things are done and what the group dynamic is. If newbies seem to be treated with hostility, it's probably best to find a different forum.
Step4
Make use of any search functions and browse topics to see if your question has already been answered. Many forum members will ignore a question that's already been covered, especially if it was a recent topic.
Step5
Look for question topics to see if the poster received good answers to their queries. See which questions got better responses and compose your post in the same way.
Step6
If the forum has separate areas for different topics, make sure you post in the right area.
Step7
Be polite. Make requests not demands, and thank the forum members in advance for any help they can give you.
Step8
Be specific. Don't give a general overview of a work project and say you need help. Ask a pointed question that the forum members can easily give an answer to. If they don't know exactly what you want, they don't know if they can help and will probably just pass right by your post.
Step9
Be brief. Don't spend two paragraphs explaining who you are and what your background is before getting to your question. If regular forum members don't know who you are, they're not likely going to read a big rambling post.
Step10
Respond respectfully to any replies you get, even if they don't answer your question. If it appears you're not hanging around to interact, you might not get any more responses once the first one or two replies. These responses may also serve to clarify your question for those who may not have got it the first time.
Step11
Avoid conflict. If you get a rude reply or a reprimand for posting where you're not wanted, don't attack the responder. Getting into an online battle won't endear you to other members of the forum and won't get you any better answers to your question.
Step12
Limit your postings. If a forum is set up in such a way that your question gets buried after a few days while more active posts are on the front page, try posting again. Post on a different day or time to try to catch different forum members who might be able to help with your question.
Step13
Limit the number of forums. While you may find several forums that can help you, don't post on all of them at once. Some members may belong to more than one of these forums, and your multiple posts could be considered spam that will be avoided or responded to harshly.
Step14
Become a regular member. If you have a research project or new hobby that aligns perfectly with a forum or community, become a regular contributor to that forum. People are always more willing to help those who interact on a more frequent basis. If you see any questions on the forum that you can answer, definitely take the opportunity to help out and give back to the community you're hoping to get help from.
Novice 
