Well initially, restrict yourself to answering questions about which you have something genuine to offer. Too often, people will do a search on internet and provide links or answers from third party which - whilst sometimes efficient - can never ever replace a true or honest opinion.

Read the question very carefully, some questioners don't understand English too well, and others perhaps learned English in a different area to yourself, you may well understand peoples' meanings as they intended you to.

Use plain English. Abbreviations R NOT 4 me IMHO m8.

Finally, try not to be lazy. Often I start to answer a question, and find that in order to explain properly some extra work may be involved. Including pictures (or links to them) might help explain more - so get a nice Dropbox account. (For example, how to copy a CD or DVD to ISO - http://files.getdropbox.com/u/446031/copy%20to%20iso.jpg is a good start).

Pictures make life interesting.

for as myself i'm a registered sex offender convicted in florida 12 years ago on a non-violent sex charge. i'm not trying to deny what happened but every offender should not be labelled in the same box.some are really trying to have a life again. i've paid my dues but i do not believe i should have to keep paying forever.it's not easy trying to put yourself back in this game called life.

you start from the heart

Don't use one word and short phrase answers like "cool dude!" or "I totally agree"

Do make sure you actually answer the question. I really hate it when I see answer after answer of stuff like "why should I care?" or "Why would you think to ask this?" Those kinds of answers do no help to the question asker and are nothing but spam on the part of a poster looking to boost post count.

Don't make a fool of yourself. If some one asks a question it is because they are seeking an answer, so don't come back at them with answers such as "That is so stupid!" or "Any idiot knows the answer you dork!". Rude comments are mean, cruel, unnecessary, are not going to make you any friends, well destroy your credibility on the internet (not just o this sight: remember, every thing you post on the internet is cached by Google and will be read by thousands of people for the nest 20 or 30 years or more).

Provide links to relevant websites. Relevant being the key word here. Don't leave a comment like: "Oh by the way, check out my blog at ...", unless you are linking to a specific post on your blog that pertains to the question at hand.

Do use good grammar to the best of your ability, (if you don't know how to spell or English is your second language, or you flunked Grammar, we'll understand and not complain). What I mean is, don't use "text talk" and say stuff like "U da bom. I <3 U".

Longer answers are better than shorter answers, so stop and think about what you want to say, what point you want to make, what reference links you want to add. You'll do much better at helping others if you take the time to write out a few well thought out paragraphs, rather than a one sentence blurb off the top of your head.

Know the difference between facts and theories/speculations. If it's a verifiable fact, provide proof to back it up. If it's a theory or speculation, say so.

Don't say I don't know because if you didn't post, I think it's pretty obvious that you don't know and it's not worth taking the time (or someone else's time) to do that. Answer a question you know the answer to, okay?

Go here yo...

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/138108

Be yourself and if you still need help,
go here yo...
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/138108

Show a link. Show some information from the website that is your source and give credit to the source.

Putting a little bit of thought into it. Providing some useful information. Using google to get better information.