Last week I checked Quora seriously for the first time. Those of you who don’t know, Quora is a knowledge-sharing site where you can ask any question and let people provide advice and expert tips.
I had dismissed the platform, thinking it is for the gossipers and bored people who had nothing better to do. Imagine my surprise when I dug in and read a few responses on the topic I was researching at the moment.
Quora has come a long way since its inception in June 2010. Three hundred million unique people visit Quora each month. They ask questions; provide answers to the ones they could, and follow either the people or the topics they are interested in. They also help edit answers either factually or in the form of opinions making the experience more like a lively and exciting discussion between like-minded people.
Why should new writers consider Quora?
Unlike the specialised sites where experts write articles on topics they select, Quora is driven by seekers who want their queries answered. The responses are direct and mostly by those who have some knowledge and experience in the field.
Take, for example, the question: How do I make my fantasy novel less clunky? Click on the link, and you will find 29 responses: some short, some very detailed. The response by Jennifer Quail has received 750 upvotes. Upvotes are the way the readers rank the quality of the answer earning the writer a reputation.
Benefits of writing on Quora
Although you will not get paid to write, Quora could be an excellent platform for new writers. Here are five ways new writers can benefit from Quora.
1. To practice as a new writer
If you are new to writing and don’t know where to start, Quora is an easy platform. Even before you blogging or begin writing articles on online magazines, you should start writing on Quora and build your writing muscle. You can do shorter pieces to start with, and can eventually launch into long-form articles.
Just start with anything. When you write regularly, your grammar and spellings will begin to improve. If you ask specifically, many people will edit your piece and even help you with your grammar.
2. To be a part of a big writing community
I believe the most significant benefit of Quora is to be able to make acquaintance with other writers which ultimately might lead to a lasting friendship.
Unlike other places where writers hang out, such as Medium, Goodreads, Facebook communities, etc., Quora allows you to connect with other writers and learn from them directly. You can ask direct questions and get specific solutions to the particular issue you are facing, whether it is bringing traffic to your blog or how to make the antagonist of your novel a three-dimensional character.
3. To stay up-to-date with the writing industry
There is so much going on with the writing industry at the moment that it is hard to keep up-to-date. What is happening with traditional publishing since the COVID crisis? Should or should you not consider publishing on Kindle? What are your options for self-publishing? How to market your book yourself? Any questions you want to be answered, rather than searching on Google, try asking at Quora, and chances are you will find genuine people with first-hand experience responding to your query. You not only save time searching the answer on the internet but also get to know how other writers like you are doing.
4. To build a reputation and personal brand
If you are writing, chances are you want to be known as a writer. Quora is the best place for new writers to build a name for themselves. You can do so by responding to the questions people are asking. It will take much less time to respond to a problem than writing a blog post or a whole article. Write good, helpful, and well-thought answers from your own experiences, and you will get noticed. Over time you will build up a following as well as a name for yourself on a platform that is much informal and easy to use.
5. To drive traffic to your website or blog
Once you’ve built up your reputation, you can use your answers to direct traffic straight to your website. Quora allows you to link your website when you are answering a question. If your answers get noticed, you will mark a rapid change in your traffic.
Quora is an excellent platform for all off-page SEOs (search engine optimisation). When you will create links to your website you will drive organic traffic to it. This is one of the most popular features which most of the experienced Quora users use.
Initially, read everything you are interested in Quora. Once you get the hang of the platform, start asking questions. If you find an item you can answer, respond to it. It doesn’t matter your responses initially are bit awkward or short. You will get good eventually. You will find that you can write an article-length response to some questions, which will not only help the person who asked the question but many others who will read it.
But eventually the person who will benefit most from your article length response is you, yourself.