The internet, over the years, has become people’s go-to place for just about anything.
It’s where you can find entertaining videos of pandas being cute even when they are tumbling down the ground. It’s also the place where you find blogs about what ingredients are needed to cook pancakes.
It is also where you can find the most random questions like “why do cucumber and shampoo taste alike?” Or “why is the face placed on the head?”
But you know what, it’s also where you can find the answers to those random questions! Sometimes, there are even several answers to your questions.
That’s how amazing the internet can be. It can even provide you with a couple of suggestions as to where you can eat for dinner or on a more serious note, where you can find true happiness.
And since the internet can be a good source of answers, even overwhelming sometimes, the question arises “which one is the real and correct answer to my question?”
And that can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re indeed not familiar with the answer to your question.
Thankfully, there is an answer to that question: QUORA.
What is Quora
Quora is a website built by Adam D'Angelo and Charlie Cheever, who are both former Facebook employees.
If fancy making your own forum website, Strikingly might help you with it.
Quora is like a forum where you can post all of your questions and get answers to them. It is also a place where you can answer other people’s questions.
What is Quora doing to be a reliable source of information is that when you sign up, you will be asked to input your credentials like education, employment, and location. Also, it will ask you to pick topics you are an expert on or knowledgeable about.
Those help build your credibility as an answer provider.
So be honest in providing those credentials, okay?
By the way, Quora is more than just a forum, it’s also a social media platform.
How?
Quora, in 2018 launched a new feature in its website called “spaces”. These spaces are communities of people grouped according to a certain topic they are interested in.
If you want, you can create your own blog with a community section, checkout number 6 of this blog. So, these are like organizations in schools where you get to socialize with other people who have the same interests as you.
Here, you can join several different clubs or again “spaces” that talk about different topics. You can share links to articles or videos and whatnot so that you and the other members of that particular space can have a discussion about it, share thoughts, and ask questions.
What’s great about these spaces is that they somewhat organize the communities in this Quora society. So when you enter a space, you won’t have to hesitate and have a hard time posting your questions or share your ideas because you know that the people there are familiar with the things you are about to say.
In this regard, there is a free flow of ideas and meaningful discussions among members. It’s like your own social media platform where everyone can relate to your posts!
But how can you take advantage of this wonderful platform?
How to use Quora
For you to become a part of this lovely community, you have to sign up first. You can sign up using your Facebook account, Google account, or an email address.
When you have successfully done that, a screen of topics will appear on your screen. You will then be asked to choose 10 topics that pick your interest. Your answer to that question will be the basis of how your feed will go.
So if you choose food, music, cooking, and photography for the moment, your feed will be filled with questions and discussions related to those topics. You won’t have to keep on seeing posts that irritate you or are uninteresting for you.
Isn’t that great?
Anyways, when you’re done with that, you will then be asked if there are “spaces” or specific groups you want to be a part of. You can choose from several spaces and enjoy the company and discussions within them!
Okay, now that you have set up your account, you then need to update or edit your profile. This part is crucial since this is where you establish your credibility. As was previously stated, Quora will ask you to input your educational background, employment, and location.
Again, be honest in filling your credentials!
So, what is Quora going to do about that information?
It’s nothing that you should worry about. Quora will not use it to stalk you or steal your identity. Don’t be paranoid.
What is Quora going to do about this information is that she will indicate them in your profile. In that way, when others view your profile, they will know which field you are an expert on or are knowledgeable about.
And seeing these credentials in your profile will encourage them to trust the answers you provide in the questions related to your education, employment, and location.
For example, if you are a Chartered Financial Analyst, and you provided an answer to an inquiry of a businessman regarding how he can reduce the outflow of funds in his business, and then there was this other person who also provided a good answer but he is not a chartered financial analyst like you but still into the field of finance. Likely, people will still consider the answer given by that person but they would much prefer the answer you provide since you have that heavy credential in the field of finance.
Now, don’t take offense to this or be embarrassed for not having a very long curriculum vitae like others. If you’re confident enough, make your own portfolio and share it.
Remember, what is Quora again?
Quora is a place where any questions are welcome and answers are appreciated. So, if you are not an expert yet about a particular subject, don’t worry. By reading the answers and also by raising questions, you’ll become more knowledgeable about that certain topic. Also, you might just be able to provide a different answer than others haven’t thought of.
So don’t be disheartened. Even if you’re just learning website design, that’s okay. Go and fill that profile with your credentials!
Alright, after finishing your profile set up, you can start exploring your feed! You will see there what is Quora about—questions and answers.
Unlike typical social media platform feeds, instead of seeing pictures with captions and memes, your Quora feed will present you with Quora topics. You can choose to follow certain Quora topics that you want to see in your Quora feed.
In each of those Quora topics are questions that rattle your brain and soul because these questions are after all about the topics you like and are interested in.
So, how does Quora work?
What is Quora doing about the questions being posted?
Quora, of course, categorizes them under a certain Quora topic. Quora will then post these questions on the Quora feed of those that follow that particular Quora topic. Just like in other social media platforms, there will be options provided for comments or answers.
What is Quora going to do about the answers?
So aside from letting you answer the “ask Quora” questions, it will also let you, as a member, upvote the answer if you like and are satisfied with it. You can also downvote an answer if you think it is not enough.
Now the answer with the most upvotes will be deemed the best answer and will be the first to be posted just below the question. The following answer with the next highest upvotes will be posted right below the best answer. So on and so forth.
To illustrate, you have decided to visit and follow certain Quora topics. In a particular Quora topic, you came across a question that picked your interest, let’s say music. If you need a recommendation on a music website, you can even ask for one.
You read the second answer you saw and that to you seemed to be the best. You then checked the credentials of that member and you saw that he or she is knowledgeable enough in that field. So you decided to upvote it and another member also upvoted it.
Over time, others saw it as the best answer as well. And so the next time you checked on that question, the answer you picked is already the first answer you see.
So the more members upvote a certain answer, the more it will be ranked as the best answer and be presented as the first answer to the question.
Now, how does Quora work?
Somehow filters from the not so good ones and put it as the first answer to the question. And if you are not satisfied with it, what is Quora going to do is show you the other answers to the question just below the first one.
Now you see that Quora appreciates all answers. So do not be afraid to post yours too. You might just be the answer to someone’s question!
