Freelance writing is no longer just a passion project — it’s turning into a booming side hustle for thousands of people across the globe. With so many creators looking for ways to share their thoughts and get paid, platforms such as Medium, Vocal Media, Newsbreak, and Quora have been stepping up their game.
Among them, Quora has taken a bold step forward with its own monetization model. Known primarily as a Q&A platform, Quora now offers a subscription program called Quora+, giving writers new ways to earn.
But here’s the exciting part — unlike Medium, where success largely depends on polished essays and formal writing, Quora plays by an entirely different set of rules. The secret to thriving on Quora has very little to do with perfect grammar or fancy formatting. Instead, it all comes down to something much simpler: choosing the right questions to answer.
In this guide, I’ll break down exactly how I figured out Quora’s algorithm, built a large audience, and how you can use these same strategies to make money with Quora+.
Medium vs. Quora: Why They Work Differently
At first glance, Medium and Quora look like they’re in the same category — both are writing platforms where anyone can publish. But in reality, they couldn’t be more different.
- Medium is built around thoughtful, long-form content. Readers expect structured essays, storytelling, and polished takes on ideas. Success here often means creating evergreen articles with strong SEO or tapping into publications with large followings.
- Quora, on the other hand, is casual and conversational. The platform thrives on curiosity. Instead of essays, people come here with questions — sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but always looking for real answers. You don’t need to be a professional writer to succeed. In fact, some of the best-performing content on Quora looks more like advice you’d give a friend over coffee.
The way you gain traction is also different. Medium writers often rely on search traffic or curated distribution by Medium staff. Quora writers, however, can go viral overnight if they choose the right question at the right time.
How I Discovered the “Hack” to Quora’s Algorithm
When I first started writing online, Quora was my testing ground. I was brand new to digital writing and had no idea how to get people to read my answers. For weeks, I barely scraped together ten views on an answer.
But after experimenting, I stumbled upon a system that completely changed the game. Suddenly, instead of ten views, I was pulling in hundreds of thousands of views per day. At one point, I had a streak where my answers brought in over 100,000 views daily.
The difference wasn’t in my writing style — it was in my question selection process.
The Core Principle: It’s All About the Question
Unlike Medium, where quality and structure reign supreme, Quora is primarily about visibility. If you answer the wrong question, even the most well-written response can vanish into obscurity. But if you answer the right question, your words can spread like wildfire across the platform.
So what makes a question “right”? That’s where my selection process comes in.
Step 1: Start From the Quora Home Page
The strategy begins on your Quora home feed. This is critical — the algorithm recommends trending content on the home page, and that’s exactly what you want to leverage.
Here’s what to do:
- Open the Quora home page.
- Start scrolling through your feed.
- Ignore answers from people you already follow and skip over ads.
- Focus only on recommended answers that the algorithm surfaces.
This is where the goldmine is.
Step 2: Spotting Viral Potential
Once you’re scanning recommended answers, look for these three things:
- Recency: The answer should be no older than 2–3 days. Ideally, it was posted within the past 24 hours.
- Views: Does the answer already have thousands of views? That’s a strong sign the question is trending.
- Upvotes: Look for answers with hundreds or even thousands of upvotes — it signals high engagement.
If a question checks all these boxes, it’s worth a closer look.
Step 3: The Secondary Filter
Click into the question itself. Now, it’s time to analyze the competition and momentum.
Here’s what to consider:
- Number of Answers:
If a question has over 100 answers, your response could get buried. Look for questions with fewer answers, ideally under 50. - Who’s Answering:
Hover over other writers’ profiles. If the top answers are from people with millions of views and massive followings, your odds shrink. But if the competition is moderate, you stand a much better chance. - Overall Views:
Check whether multiple answers are getting traction, not just one. If several responses have strong view counts, the question itself is driving traffic. - Recency of Activity:
Look for questions that are still “alive.” If all the popular answers are years old, the trend has already passed. But if strong answers were posted in the last week, it’s still hot. - Upvote Consistency:
A good question doesn’t just have one viral answer — it has several with strong upvote activity.
When a question meets these conditions, you’ve found your target.
Why This Works
The system works because it’s designed around trends and visibility. Quora, like any content platform, rewards fresh, engaging content around topics that are currently buzzing.
- Recency ensures relevance. Recent answers mean the question is trending right now.
- Lower competition gives you a fighting chance. Fewer answers mean yours won’t get lost in the crowd.
- Engagement spreads engagement. If other answers are getting views and upvotes, the question itself is being promoted by the algorithm.
By jumping on the right question at the right time, you essentially ride the wave of visibility.
Applying This to Quora+ Monetization
Now that Quora has rolled out Quora+, this strategy is even more valuable. The program, similar to Medium’s membership, lets writers earn from their content when subscribers engage with it.
Here’s how to maximize it:
- Answer consistently. The more you write, the more chances you have to hit a trending question.
- Balance quality with quantity. While question choice is key, your answers still need to be engaging. Quora+ rewards content that keeps readers interested.
- Write for humans, not algorithms. Storytelling, humor, and personal experience will always keep readers hooked longer than robotic responses.
Common Myths About Writing on Quora Myth 1: More Followers = More Success
Many assume that having a large follower base is the only way to perform well on Quora. While it can help, it’s not the deciding factor. I grew my audience from scratch by focusing on the right questions, not by relying on existing followers.
Myth 2: Competition Makes It Impossible
Another myth is that Quora is “too crowded” to break into. But when you use this selection strategy, you’ll see that even new writers can rack up thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of views on a single answer.
Myth 3: You Need a Huge Social Media Presence
Unlike platforms that depend on external promotion, Quora has its own built-in audience. You don’t need a large following on Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube to succeed. The platform itself provides traffic if you play by its rules.
Final Thoughts
Breaking through on Quora isn’t about perfect grammar, elaborate formatting, or years of experience. It’s about understanding the flow of attention on the platform and placing your answers where the eyeballs already are.
The key is simple: choose the right questions. If you can consistently spot trending questions, analyze competition, and deliver engaging answers, you’ll watch your views (and earnings) skyrocket.
I used this process to go from barely ten views per answer to hundreds of thousands daily. And now, with Quora+ offering monetization, there’s never been a better time to turn your curiosity into cash.