To Gain Followers on Quora: Which is More Effective—Ask or Answer Questions?

When it comes to growing your presence on Quora, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether it's better to ask or answer questions to gain followers. This article explores both approaches and offers insights based on personal experience and best practices acknowledged by SEO experts.

Understanding the Challenges and Approaches

Quora can be a powerful tool for building a following, but the process isn't always straightforward. To gain followers, you need to engage with the Quora community and share valuable content. The most commonly used strategies involve either asking questions or answering them. Let's break down the process for both methods.

Answering Questions: The Laborious but Rewarding Approach

One of the more effective but more time-consuming methods is to answer questions. If you find a question with an eloquent answer, you can click on the profile of the author and follow them. However, if you want to post your own answer, you'll need to go through several steps. Here’s a typical workflow:

Locate a question that matches your expertise. Scroll to the bottom of the answers to find the author’s profile. Click on the profile and follow the author.

While answering questions is a more involved process, it can be more rewarding in the long run. By providing high-quality answers, you can establish yourself as an authority in your field and attract followers organically.

Asking Questions: The Less Laborious, but Riskier Approach

Another strategy is to ask questions. While you may not always be able to directly influence who views your profile, there's still a chance of gaining followers through this method. Here’s a typical process:

Post a well-crafted question. Wait for others to answer. When someone answers, click on their profile and follow them.

However, this method can be less effective because your name isn’t usually attached to the questions you ask. Once a question gains some activity, it becomes challenging to find the original poster (OP) in the statistics page. Therefore, while your followers might see your questions in their feed, they may not realize that you asked them.

Personal Experience and Insights

I joined Quora in 2016 but didn’t start actively engaging until 2018. Since then, I’ve faced challenges in building a following. Here are my key takeaways based on personal experience and observations.

Time and Effort

Building a following takes time. Here are the two primary ways to grow:

Answering Questions: If you answer questions well, people who are interested in the topic may follow you after reviewing your profile. Posting Comments: If you post comments that receive engagement (likes or dislikes), people might follow you.

Both methods involve a certain level of effort, but answering questions tends to be more effective in establishing a long-term presence.

Engagement and Behavioral Patterns

Followers on Quora can be both real and not so real. Some followers may not have actively engaged with the platform. The most important thing is to focus on providing value and engaging with the community. By sharing insightful answers, you can attract genuine followers who are interested in your content.

Conclusion

The decision of whether to ask or answer questions on Quora largely depends on your goals and the type of engagement you want to foster. Answering questions can be more effective in building a following and establishing yourself as an expert, while asking questions may lead to less direct but still valuable engagement. Regardless of your choice, consistency and quality content are key to growing your presence on Quora.