But what really sets it apart is that anyone can provide an answer, and up or downvote it. Meaning the layman has the same potential for legitimacy as a self-proclaimed guru. No matter what the industry, everyone is on a level playing field. Even the most obscure user can become well-known thanks to a single answer, or question, going viral.
Obviously, one of the big questions to come out of this new format is how ecommerce players can exploit it. Quora is better equipped for promoting an individual, rather than a business. The ecommerce website that individual represents can gain indirect attention.
A good example of this is Chris Messina. You may know him as the father of the Twitter hashtag. But he is also an employee of Google, and was the UX Designer for Google+. Frequently contributing to Quora, he has created a great deal of visibility for himself, and flaunted his affiliation with Google. This is a method of using the site that many ecommerce businesses can learn a thing or two from.
Tips for Using Quora for Ecommerce
There are several ways that you can use Quora for ecommerce. Here, we will look at a few of the more helpful tips.
- Building a Reputation for Expertise
Not everyone has a fancy title next to his or her name, or a PhD degree. But that is not what ecommerce is about in any case. The trick is in knowing how many answers are too many. If you are well versed to a point where you can write half a dozen great answers in a day, fair enough. But most of the time you will want to limit yourself to providing fewer, higher quality posts. Think of it as quality over quantity. The better those answers, the more votes they are probably going to get. Over time, you will be seen as an authority in the Quora community. Or at least as knowing your stuff pretty well.
- Market Research
Any resource that provides an insight into what people think of any topic is an important one for a business. One that also shows you what competitors are saying, who they are following and what is gaining legitimacy in your industry is truly precious.
Many ecommerce businesses spend a fair chunk of their budget for this kind of business intelligence. But with Quora, it is right there at your fingertips, for free. Which explains why marketers, SEO experts, and small ecommerce businesses are a significant part of the Quora population. The potential is endless, especially if your competitors are active users.
- Old Dogs Learning New Tricks
It doesn't matter how long you have been in an industry, there is always something new to learn. While the fundamentals of business remain the same, the ecommerce competitive landscape is always changing. Which is why it is important to keep up to date, and adapt.
Quora is a great place to learn. Not only can you find answers, but also you can have personal communication with people who know about ecommerce. Questions get hot on the site fast, and you usually receive a fair number of responses. Sometimes, you will catch the eye of a legend in the field, which can be exciting and informative.
What Quora Isn't
Quora isn't a microblogging website. It isn't a social media platform like Twitter. It's not an area for pictures. It isn't a standard question and answer site. But most of all, it is not an advertising or promotion site. Which is to say, if you are going to promote yourself, do it indirectly. If you approach Quora the right way, it can be an excellent place for the savvy ecommerce professional.
