The Quor-gasm shakes the social web
Feb 2nd
A few weeks ago, we had a great discussion on {grow} about the “Quor-gasm:” the many problems with Quora. The main point of the post was that despite the enormous buzz about the next “big thing” in social media, there were chronic problems:
- Quora is primed to be gamed into oblivion by flacks and SEO gamesters
- Meaningful contributions are edited or “collapsed” by the Quora gestapo
- The platform floods participants with annoying notices and requests.
- The long-format is far too time-consuming for most people.
I knew this blog post was swimming against an ocean of popular sentiment, but here’s what amazed me — almost unanimously, the {grow} community agreed with my perspective!
Now, this is definitely NOT a forum of sycophants. You keep me honest and frequently disagree in a meaningful way so I was really shocked by this … if Quora was such a hit, why did so many people hate it? I began to think — maybe all of the folks on the comment section were right, and the blogging elite like Chris Brogan and Robert Scoble were wrong.
Turns out the {grow} community was definitely a harbinger of a growing Quora backlash. In a period of just two weeks, the buzz on Quora is collapsing, precisely for the reasons the community explored and debated.
TechCrunch reported on Quora bitchmemes that were flooding the social web over the past two weeks. Dozens of anti-Quora posts have popped up and of course there was a huge thread on Quora about it.
Yesterday, influential New York Times tech blogger David Pogue trashed Quora as a confusing, annoying, unusable mess.
But over the weekend, the ultimate backflip occurred. Robert Scoble, the original catalyst for the mighty Quora buzz wrote a post entitled, Why I was wrong about Quora as a blogging service …
He essentially apologizes for his mis-calculation and over-statement of the benefits of the platform, as it crumbles under a host of problems.
Since I wrote the post, Quora’s challenges have become even worse. The service is filled with set-up questions where companies answer their own submissions, like “why is ABC the leading company for email marketing management?” In turn, the editing by Quora has become more severe and the annoying notifications have multiplied like social media self-help gurus.
I wanted to post this follow-up to say, Hey guys — GOOD JOB! I think the discussion on {grow} proved to be a leading edge of popular sentiment on this topic. Really proud of the guts, vision and intellect of this community.
Can Quora recover? Can they hire enough people to sort through the spam, especially when they are burning through start-up cash? It’s going to take some immediate and radical surgery. Perhaps a system of qualified or “authorized users” who get kicked out if they spam? No easy answers.
What do you think? Can anything save Quora or is it going to collapse into a niche?
Let’s not have a Quor-gasm
Jan 14th
I don’t like Quora.
As far as I can tell I stand alone in this sentiment. Every blogger this side of Silicon Valley has lined up behind Robert Scoble’s opinion that Quora is the future of blogging.
I am an unabashed fan of The Scobelizer. He is usually right, and much smarter than me. Most people are. And I understand some of the potential personal and business benefits of Quora.
But at the end of the day, any social platform has to connect with people in a consistent, meaningful way and on a personal level — even an emotional level. And the emotion I feel when I’m on Quora is anxiety. I’m not sure that’s the emotion they’re looking for. Why does this creep me out?
It’s already too crowded
When I first visited Quora (pre-buzz), I thought it was a breath of fresh air. It was so empty and wonderful! I could connect to some good conversations, contribute, follow along, and learn a few things.
The next time I visited, I had 380 followers. Huh? And 20 messages in my inbox, most of them crap from people I never heard of before — the Quora equivalent of an automatic direct message. But wait there’s more. I also had five notifications and “241 items related to you.” WTF?
Look I don’t need that in my life. I don’t need more freaking messages, notifications and items. I’m happy to answer a few questions to help people. Then leave me alone.
I already have too much to read.
Many popular questions have 10, 20, maybe even 50 answers. Long answers. Who has time for that? On a daily basis? ZZZzzz.
It’s too disorganized
There is already such a flood of questions that the site is a jumbled mess. People are asking the same questions over and over and over. There is no good way to sort through the goo to find something worthwhile.
Big buzz, little value.
So I’ve answered a few questions. I like answering questions because it makes me feel useful. One question I noticed was, “What makes a Twitter snob?” Now there’s a subject right up my alley! So I answered it and included links to my blog post, and Mitch Joel’s post which were directly relevant to this question. Apparently these links served as a red flag for the Quora gestapo who “collapsed” (erased) my answer. What a great way to build loyalty.
If you really want great answers to your questions without all the Quora flubber, join some LinkedIn groups related to your industry. With 600,000 varieties, you should be able to find a few you like. I’m constantly floored by the experts in those groups who give quality spam-free advice. Without collapsing answers.
A new channel for spam
Poor little Quora. It’s already like a little guppy in an oil spill gasping for breath. The spammers, SEO playas, and back-link re-sellers are probably circling like vultures. How to keep them out? I’m sure people will soon be selling us ways to build “massive traffic on Quora!!”
Obviously there is value to sharing information on Quora. I mean, how can you argue with that? There have already been a dozen posts written about the business benefits. If you have the time. If you have the energy. If you have the resources to respond to your 241 items.
I don’t.
But I’m a teacher, blogger, and consultant. When somebody asks me a question about Quora I better be ready to answer from a place of experience. So for better or worse I’m going to stick around and hope they develop an option for “I’m just here to visit, please don’t send me items.” And heck, let’s hope Quora can address some of these issues and make it. I always cheer for the guppy.
Look, I’m sure you have a much better bead on this platform than me. Have you tried it? What do you think? Am I missing the boat? What IS the future of blogging?
Welcome to {grow}
You’re in marketing for one reason: Grow.
Grow your company, reputation, customers, impact, profits. Grow yourself. This is a community that will help. It will stretch your mind, connect you to fascinating people, and provide some fun along the way. I am so glad you’re here.
-Mark SchaeferFollow Mark
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