Top 5 Ways to Use Quora as an SEO and Brand Awareness Tool

By Jason Hawkins on September 16, 2015

The social network Quora has been around since 2009 and has been gaining popularity amongst Internet users ever since. Former CTO of Facebook Adam D’Angelo created the network, so it’s safe to say that the network knows a thing or two about the importance of audience and forming connections. Businesses, however, seem to just be catching on to the benefits that Quora can have for reputation and brand awareness. If you’re looking for a social network to master after you’ve conquered the big four (LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, and Twitter), this should be your next mission and become an integral part of your workflow and social media profile.

A Quick Look at How Quora Works

For those who are unfamiliar, Quora is a question-and-answer site that requires a login and profile in order to ask, answer or even view questions/answers. It also readily aggregates your contacts from Facebook, Gmail or whatever tool you use to sign up through, which you can see in the setup screenshot below:

Quora screen shot - themiamiseocompany.com

 

Think of it like “Yahoo! Answers,” but the Grad school version. It’s more advanced, more helpful, and more credible. Quora is filled with experts in essentially every field, ready to provide insight in an avenue not readily available just a few years ago.

Quora also allows you to create a profile, connect/ follow others so that you can see the questions they posted and answered, and follow questions or topics. Quora really is more of a place for individuals than companies, but all of these features, discussed in detail below, make it easy to connect your brand with an author face and name.

How Businesses Can (and Should) Take Advantage of Quora in 2015

The popular site has plenty to offer in the world of SEO and brand awareness, supplying unique tips and tricks while also providing another outlet to interact. Below list a few of the top ways Quora can be a tool to boost SEO and brand awareness:

Include Links

 

Surprised to see this one here? Anywhere you can provide links is an asset in the SEO world as long as the links are relevant and for readers (not SEO purposes). Obviously it helps with the basics—more links (especially from quality sites) equals a higher SEO profile—which has been a staple of building SEO since the dawn of the search engines. However, you can also use Quora as a way to get your website out there, much the same way you use any other social media website. It helps drive readers to your website to learn more about your answer and the link that you posted.

Quora provides another avenue to get your links in the right places, and the more people view your profile and answers, the better off you’ll be. This is where building up your Quora profile can come in handy.

Build Up Your Profile

 

Think of Quora like you would any other form of social media. Building your profile on Quora can have similar effects as gaining more followers on Facebook or Twitter. The more your name, company and brand are out there, the better off you are.

There are many ways you can build your profile. Start by answering questions that you actually know the answer to, meaning you should not answer as many questions as possible just to get your name in as many spots as possible. By providing the best answer to each question, your post can get the most “upvotes” and wind up as the first, and best, answer just below the question, which would carry a lot more weight. This is a great way to improve the SEO of your Quora account in general.  Think of it like quality over quantity. Nobody wants to be associated with wrong or uniformed answers on a social media site like Quora.

You can even include links in your profile, combining two of the most important aspects of utilizing Quora to the best of your abilities as an SEO, which you can see in the screenshot below from Digital Marketing Consultant of Search Engine Journal and avid Quora expert Kelsey Jones:

Quora profile example

 

Networking

 

You know all those SEO conventions you’ve attended in an effort to network? In reality, those types of “mixers” and social settings are not just in the field of SEO, but they’re prevalent across basically every profession. And networking is a key skill in any field. A couple decades ago, the only actual way to network was to meet people in person or to pick up the phone and cold call. Nowadays, social media has made it exponentially easier. How many people help each other out in a professional capacity despite never having met face-to-face? We’re talking bloggers, writers, SEOs, whatever. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, every social media avenue creates a simple way to reach somebody and build a relationship even if your countries or time zones away.

Quora is no different. You can build relationships by answering questions correctly, asking intelligent questions and even getting into discussions or healthy debates with other SEOs or like professionals. Quora is an easy way to break down the barriers and connect with people you may not otherwise have a chance to get to know or learn from. It’s up to you to see who is responding to your answers and then click on their profile and make that connection.

Learn Your Craft and Connect with Influencers

 

Think of Quora like an SEO convention for the information aspect, too. You have access to the insights and advice from some of the best in the business without needing a direct connection to the person. In the same way a Cubs fan may follow the Twitter accounts of beat writers to find more information about their favorite team, SEOs can use Quora in the same vein. You can follow some pertinent SEO or marketing topics, find answers from some high-profile names in the industry and even ask questions yourself and try to get direct answers from people with the knowledge and resources capable of answering your question to the fullest. At The Miami SEO Company, we use this as an opportunity for b2b companies to connect with other complimentary companies in the industry and create connections for further SEO opportunities.

Below is an example of a simple business question with one of the top entrepreneur’s answer showing up right at the top:

Quora Example 2

 

Quora isn’t like the FAQ section on a website where you have to try to figure out which question is most similar to the problem you have. On Quora, you can ask the exact question you need an answer to and given Quora’s rising popularity, you shouldn’t have to wait long for an answer. Connect with these influencers if you can to start to build your authority both on and off Quora.

Pointing You in the Right Direction

 

Quora is also a great place to go to find the exact information you’re looking to find. It’s something of a search engine combined with a social media hub. Regardless of whether somebody knows exactly how to answer your question to the best of their ability, they can at least help point you in the right direction to find exactly what you’re looking for. They can share links, explain where they found information that helped them in similar circumstances. SEOs can visit the site, share advice and tips, and even promote their own content (which goes back to the whole “Include links” header above). Below is a screenshot example of someone who offers these resources. Remember, you can do this as a brand!

Quora 3

 

Below is also a general page about a topic that shows you more resources you can use to discover the answers to your questions:

Quora 4

The Takeaway: How Can Quora Improve Your SEO Strategy?

In the end, this social network can help improve your SEO strategy in four major ways if you’re using it correctly: It can help you build authoritative links, improve brand visibility with a targeted audience, help you connect with influencers in the industry and find opportunities outside of Quora, and help answer your SEO questions directly. If you spend time managing your account and building up your reputation as an individual working for your brand, you should see benefits outside of the platform.

 

 



About The Author

Jason Hawkins
Jason Hawkins / http://www.themiamiseocompany.com

Jason Hawkins is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Miami SEO Company. He has over ten years of experience in search engine optimization, conversion rate optimization and lead generation. His core responsibilities include identifying ways to increase value of services rendered, training staff on advanced SEO topics, and A/B testing internal processes to consistently improve client return on investment.