As a WordPress consultant with over 5 years of experience, I‘m often asked how to add an engaging Question and Answer feature to sites I develop.
Anonymous Ask Me Anything (AMA) segments have seen massive popularity on Reddit and Quora, where an expert host answers candid questions from the community.
Integrating something similar can have tremendous benefits for your WordPress site:
Benefits of Adding An Anonymous AMA
Here are some of the top reasons to consider an anonymous AMA:
Build Trust and Credibility
- According to a BrightLocal study, over 90% of consumers read online reviews to determine trustworthiness
- By openly and directly responding to visitor questions, you demonstrate transparency and establish authority
Understand Your Audience Better
- 40% of website visitors have questions but will leave rather than contact you ([Source](https://www. Crazyegg.com/blog/50-things-every-business-should-know-about-their-website-visitors/))
- An AMA gives insight into topics they care about and common issues
Increased Engagement and Conversions
- Sites with active comment sections see higher subscriber and conversion rates (Source)
- An AMA spurs participation from those normally hesitant to comment
Gain Valuable Feedback and Ideas
- Visitor submitted questions often provide unique perspectives you may not have considered before
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you how to add an anonymous Ask Me Anything to your WordPress site using a simple yet flexible plugin.
Step 1 – Install and Activate the Ask Me Anything Plugin
There are a few AMA plugins for WordPress available, but the one I recommend based on features and ease of use is:
To install:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for "Ask Me Anything Anonymously"
- Install and activate the plugin
Over 10,000+ WordPress sites use this AMA plugin with a 5 star rating, so you can trust it‘s well-supported and regularly updated for the latest version of WordPress.
Once activated, a new Ask Me Anything menu will appear in your dashboard.
Step 2 – Configure the Plugin Settings
Next, we need to customize the options for your AMA feature:
Go to Ask Me Anything > Settings
Here are key options to set:
Author Name – Enter the name you want displayed when answering questions
Title – Changes text in submission box from default "Have a question? Ask here!"
Verification – Adds a spam prevention captcha
Auto Approve – Automatically publishes questions without review
See the table below for more details on each setting:
| Setting | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Author Name | Name displayed when you answer questions | Branding so readers know who‘s responding |
| Open Status | Keeps taking questions (open) vs closed | Keep open indefinitely or for set AMA periods |
| Title | Header text shown above questions box | Make engaging like AMAs on Reddit |
| Labels | Question status labels (pending, answered, etc) | Clear communication on status |
| Verification | Captcha to prevent spam | Avoid spam questions |
| Auto Approve | Publish questions immediately without review | Faster publish if moderation not needed |
The Pro version also has additional options like multiple authors, email notifications, stats, leaderboards, theming, and more.
However, the free plugin contains everything needed to add a basic anonymous AMA.
Step 3 – Copy Your Unique Ask Me Anything Shortcode
Towards the top is a dynamically generated shortcode for YOUR AMA based on settings:
For example:
[askmeanythingpeople]
Copy this entire shortcode to add the AMA form anywhere.
Step 4 – Embed the Shortcode Into a Post or Page
Unlike forums or comments, an AMA resides in a dedicated post or page.
To embed:
- Create or edit an existing post/page
- Switch editor mode to Code (Text) view
- Paste your shortcode on a blank line
- Publish/update the post
You can include text and images above or below the shortcode to better integrate it.
As site owner, I like introducing my background and expertise to build trust for the AMA.
Step 5 – Moderate and Respond to Questions
As visitors ask questions anonymously:
- New submissions will be labeled "Pending"
- Go to Comments to review and approve questions
- Reply below a question to publish your answer
Unless you enabled "Auto Approve", this allows screening any inappropriate questions.
My recommendation is to check and respond to questions daily. Provide thoughtful answers and readers will actively participate going forward.
Display Your AMA in The Sidebar
Driving more visibility, you can also embed your Ask Me Anything directly into a sidebar widget.
Here‘s how:
- Create a Post/Page normally with AMA shortcode
- In plugin settings, choose Sidebar widget for location
- Enter the ID # of post you just created
- It will now generate a widget-ready shortcode
- Add a text widget to your sidebar and paste code
This allows visitors to discover and submit questions without having to dig through site content.
So that‘s my guide on implementing anonymous Ask Me Anythings in WordPress! Let me know if you have any other questions.
