What Is Quora? Everything You Need to Know About This Platform

People ask a lot of random questions.

How long do sea turtles live? How many kilometers are in a mile? Who is the king of Sweden? 

Nowadays, when a question pops into your head, the internet is the first place you go. While search engines provide quick answers, Q&A platforms like Quora offer deeper insights and discussions. But what is Quora, exactly?

After reading that description of Quora, you might wonder, “Why not just use Google or any other search engine?” The answer lies in what Quora offers beyond simple search results. While search engines provide quick answers, Quora creates a unique experience by fostering community-driven knowledge and deeper discussions. 

With Quora, you can follow topics and experts aligning with your interests, giving you a more tailored experience. The platform also boasts high-quality answers, often coming from industry professionals and subject matter experts. Its crowdsourced system ensures that the most helpful and well-researched answers rise to the top through upvotes. And the best part? It’s completely free, granting you access to valuable insights without any cost.

Now, let’s dive into how Quora works and how to get started.

How does Quora work?

Quora functions as both a searchable knowledge base and an interactive community, making it a go-to resource for expert insights and first-hand experiences. Here’s how it works:

• Users ask and answer questions: Quora connects people with questions and those with answers. Users can ask anything from "How does digital marketing work?" to niche queries like "What is the best coffee for cold brew?" Answers can be short or detailed, and include images, links, and sources for added depth.
• Answer ranking: Quora ranks answers using an upvote system that highlights the most valuable responses. High-quality answers get upvoted and appear at the top, helping users find trusted information quickly. Users can also comment, share, and suggest revisions to improve answers.
• Tailored feeds and topic discovery: Instead of displaying random questions, Quora curates a customized feed based on topics you follow, questions you’ve engaged with, and users you interact with. This ensures your homepage is filled with relevant discussions tailored to your interests.
• Profiles and expert contributions: Users can build credibility by showcasing their expertise on their profiles. Many professionals, CEOs, scientists, and industry leaders actively contribute insights, making Quora a valuable space for real-world experience and thought leadership.
• Quora spaces and community engagement: Quora Spaces allow users to create and join communities around specific topics. These Spaces function like niche forums, where people can share content, discuss ideas, and engage with others who have similar interests.

To use Quora, you need to create an account. Make sure to follow subjects of your interest. Quora covers a wide range of topics, from business to art and science to technology. Then, you can learn the website's basic functions, like asking and answering a question and upvoting or downvoting an answer according to your liking. 

Check out the instructions below to easily create your account and navigate the website.

How to create a Quora account

When you first visit Quora, you will be asked to either sign in or create an account on this colorful screen:

From that screen, click "Sign up with email." After you fill out that page, you'll be asked to follow 5 topics that interest you. Then, you can complete the other typical account creation requirements, like adding a photo to your profile and connecting with your friends on the site.

Quora is the perfect mix between a search engine and social media. You follow things on the website, but there is a greater emphasis on topics, like the ones shown below, rather than people. Either way, whatever you choose to follow will make up the content in your feed.

Quora questions and answers

After you’ve created an account and chosen topics to follow, you can start using Quora. This includes asking and answering questions on the site.

1. How to ask a question on Quora

To ask a question on Quora:

• Hit the red Add Question option in the top right corner
• Enter your question and then hit "add question"
• You can select topics and spaces relevant to your question and share it there. Additionally, you can send the questions to suggested writers.
• After that, simply wait for responses.

2. How to answer questions on Quora

On the other end of Quora is the ability to answer other users' questions.

Before we go into how you can answer questions on Quora, let’s touch on why you should.

Answering questions on Quora is more than just sharing information. It’s about adding value, building credibility, and engaging in meaningful discussions. Whether you’re an industry expert, a professional, or simply someone with firsthand experience, your insights can help others while also positioning you as a trusted voice in your field.

Well-thought-out answers gain visibility through upvotes, increasing your reach and influence. However, Quora thrives on quality, so responding only when you have relevant, well-informed insights to contribute is important. Doing so, you help maintain the platform’s integrity and fosters a space for real knowledge-sharing.

That being said, answering questions on Quora is simple. Your feed will consist of questions related to the different topics you follow. Click on one of those questions you have a solid answer for, and hit the Answer button.

Go ahead and submit answers on Quora to your heart's content, and make sure it is all accurate and helpful to the user who asked the question.

3. How to upvote and downvote answers on Quora

Another feature on Quora that is helpful to users is the upvote and downvote options. If you see a response on Quora that you think perfectly answers the question presented, you can upvote it. On the other hand, if you see an inaccurate and uninformative answer, you can downvote it.

The number of upvotes and downvotes on a particular response will affect its visibility. If a response has a lot of upvotes, it is seen as valid, and Quora will push it to the top of the response list. If an answer has more downvotes, users see it as invalid, and Quora will not prioritize it for others to see.

Here’s what the screen looks like beneath the section for an answer on Quora. The upvote button is labeled to the left, and the downvote button is right next to it, pointing straight down.

4. How to delete questions on Quora

If you’ve posted a question on Quora and want to delete it, the platform allows you to remove your question under certain conditions. However, unlike answers or comments, questions cannot always be fully deleted if they have received engagement from other users. Here’s what you can do:

• If no one has answered your question yet, you should see a “Delete” option when you click the three-dot menu next to your question.

• If your question has received answers, Quora may not allow full deletion, but you can edit the question to clarify or improve it.
• If your question violates Quora’s policies (spam, misinformation, inappropriate content), you can report it or request Quora moderation to remove it.

Once deleted, the question cannot be recovered, so ensure you want it removed before confirming.

How to delete Quora account

If you no longer want to use Quora, you can permanently delete your account through your settings. Remember that deleting your account is irreversible, and all your content, including questions, answers, and profile information, will be removed. Here’s how to do it:

• Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner, then select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
• Navigate to the “Privacy” tab, and in the privacy settings, scroll down until you find the “Delete Account” option. You'll also find a "Deactivate Account" option here.
• Choose "Delete Account".
• Enter your password and confirm. Once confirmed, your account will be scheduled for deletion.
• Wait 14 days for full deletion. The deletion request will be canceled if you log in within this period.

Frequently asked questions about Quora

The FAQs below cover a range of topics providing information on different aspects of Quora. 

1. What is Quora used for?

Quora attracts a variety of professionals for different purposes. Business personnel use Quora to promote their services, stay up-to-date with developments in their domain, and establish themselves as experts by answering questions related to their field. Content writers use it to find inspiration and information for their articles. Researchers and academics use it to connect with others in their space and gather information on the desired subject.

2. What is Quora Digest?

Quora Digest is the platform's newsletter sent to registered users. The email consists of a list of personalized questions based on the user's interests and history, and Quora's algorithm picks the best answers. It also includes a call to action (CTA) to check out the complete answer, which takes you to the website.

3. Is Quora reliable?

Quora can be a helpful resource, but its reliability depends on who is providing the answers. While many experts contribute valuable insights, others share opinion-based or unverified information. The upvote system helps surface quality responses, but users should always cross-check facts with trusted sources.

4. How to use Quora for content marketing?

Quora is a powerful platform for content marketing because it allows businesses and individuals to build authority and engage with a relevant audience. By answering industry-specific questions with high-value insights, marketers can establish themselves as thought leaders while subtly linking back to useful content on their websites. Consistently participating in discussions, following key topics, and providing in-depth responses can lead to long-term brand exposure.

Engaging in Quora Spaces also allows marketers to share insights, promote valuable content, and grow a dedicated following, making Quora an excellent tool for organic brand visibility.

5. How to get more views on Quora?

Providing well-researched, engaging answers to trending questions increases visibility. Formatting responses for readability, optimizing a strong profile, and sharing answers in Quora Spaces or on social media help attract more views and engagement.

6. How to unsubscribe from Quora?

To stop receiving emails from Quora, go to Settings > Email & Notifications in your profile. From there, uncheck the boxes next to the types of emails you no longer want, such as Quora Digest, new answers, messages, and space invites. Changes take effect immediately, ensuring you no longer receive unwanted notifications.

7. Quora vs. Reddit

The most notable difference between Quora and Reddit is the presentation of content on the platform. Quora follows a question-and-answer approach for the website. On the other hand, content on Reddit is in the form of links, images, and text posts, which users can upvote or downvote to influence its visibility.

Another significant difference is the tone of content both platforms host. Where Quora usually has a more professional and informative tone to the content, Reddit is a social news aggregation and discussion website with a more casual style. Reddit contains various topics, from technology and business to entertainment and even controversial topics.

Back to Quora basics

In a world full of search engine options, find the one that best fits your personal preference. Quora is a great tool for anyone looking to find and share information, especially if you enjoy a more social and conversational experience when researching. If you liked what you read above, you might want to consider creating a Quora account.

Want to learn more about establishing yourself as an expert? Discover how content marketing promotes thought leadership and provides value to your audience.

This article was originally published in 2019. The content has been updated with new information.