How to Use Quora
Got a question? The website Quora may have the answer. And you may be the one to provide it! Here’s how it works.
Up next in How to Use Internet Search & Web Browsers (30 videos)
Learn how to use Web browsers and computer operating systems like Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux with these videos.
You Will Need
- Quora account
- Questions
- Answers
- Facebook and Twitter posts (optional)
Steps
-
Step 1
Understand Quora
Understand what Quora is: A collection of questions and answers created, edited, organized, and continually updated by users. Ask questions you're looking for answers to, or contribute by providing information that someone else is looking for.
-
Step 2
Become a member
Join Quora at "quora.com":http://www.quora.com/. You have to use your real name to join, but you can pose and answer questions anonymously. You can also connect your Quora account to your Facebook and Twitter accounts and your blog.
-
Include a short biography that indicates any areas of expertise; it helps validate answers you provide to other people’s queries.
-
Step 3
Post a question
Type a question into the box at the top of the page; make it as specific as possible. This also serves as a search box, so you'll see immediately if your question, or a similar one, has already been posted. Each question should be a complete sentence with correct spelling and grammar. Survey questions are not allowed.
-
Begin questions with "who," "what," "when," "where," "why," or "how" to avoid getting a simple "yes" or "no" answer.
-
Step 4
Post on Facebook and Twitter
Help get your question answered by sharing it on Facebook and Twitter, asking a particular Quora member to answer it, or inviting a non-member to reply.
-
Step 5
Follow people and topics
Follow specific topics by typing subjects that interest you into the question box and clicking the green "Follow Topic" button. You can also follow fellow Quora members.
-
If your Facebook account is connected, you can find Facebook friends on Quora under Settings.
-
Step 6
Answer questions
Answer questions if you can contribute useful, honest information; joke responses aren't appropriate. Include as much explanation and evidence as you can, and try to provide the "why" behind your reply. If you link to an external source, include a brief summary of it.
-
If you’re new to the site, your answer may be marked "Answer Pending Review" until a Quora reviewer checks it out.
-
Step 7
Rate answers
Rate answers by clicking on the up or down arrow to the left of responses. You can also add a comment, send thanks to the person who posted the answer, or mark as "Not Helpful." Feedback helps organize the replies so the most useful ones appear first, and user engagement helps make Quora fun!
-
The name Quora comes from "quorum," the number of people needed to vote or conduct business, and rhymes with "flora," which the founders felt is "about being healthy and alive."
