Google’s AI Mode is rewriting the foundations of on-line visibility—and Quora has rapidly turn into considered one of its prime sources.
We analyzed 26,000 Quora URLs cited in AI Mode and spoke with Quora’s personal staff to uncover the patterns behind which threads get surfaced.
Our analysis reveals why Quora threads floor, what alerts matter most, and the way manufacturers can improve their visibility in AI solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Quora is likely one of the prime 4 sources in AI Mode: About 1 in 14 solutions (7.25%) included a Quora hyperlink, making it one of many most-cited domains
- AI Mode rewrites Quora content material: On common, there was lower than 50% overlap between an AI Mode reply and the closest Quora reply. This exhibits that Google blends a number of inputs moderately than quoting straight.
- Matter alignment issues greater than key phrases: Quora threads have been usually cited even when the unique query didn’t precisely match the AI immediate—indicating Google prioritizes broader topical relevance.
- Engagement is a robust sign: Cited threads averaged 37 replies, with larger exercise making them extra more likely to floor in AI outcomes
- High quality alerts carry weight: Practically 90% of cited solutions have been labeled Most Related by Quora’s algorithm, suggesting Google depends on the platform’s personal high quality markers
Methodology
To know how Quora seems in Google AI Mode, we constructed a dataset of 278,279 distinctive prompts and tracked the responses.
From these, we recognized 26,000 distinctive Quora URLs that have been cited no less than as soon as by AI Mode.
We then measured the frequency of Quora citations and area share. We additionally checked out textual content similarity between AI Mode solutions and the closest Quora replies, together with thread engagement and relevance alerts.
As well as, we spoke with specialists from Quora’s staff who shared sensible tips about how one can get prioritized by Quora’s inside algorithm—and improve your probabilities of being cited in Google’s AI Mode.
Listed here are our prime findings.
1. Quora Is the 4th Most Cited Supply by Google AI Mode
Google AI Mode included a Quora hyperlink in 7.25% of responses. That’s 20,189 citations throughout our dataset of 278,279 responses.
Merely put, about one out of each 14 solutions contained a Quora hyperlink.
This makes Quora one of many prime 4 most-cited domains, behind solely LinkedIn, Reddit, and Google.
Our earlier analysis additionally discovered that Quora is essentially the most cited supply in Google AI Overviews.
What This Means for You
Quora advertising and marketing is price together with in your AI visibility technique.
It additionally requires the identical stage of planning you’d dedicate to LinkedIn or search engine marketing—with its personal technique and sources. Meaning:
- Constructing a branded presence and publishing solutions constantly
- Researching Quora threads to identify buyer ache factors and discover content material concepts
- Actively partaking with discussions as a substitute of dropping one-off posts
2. AI Mode Blends Concepts from Quora Responses in Its Solutions
AI Mode doesn’t copy textual content straight from Quora. As a substitute, it blends collectively parts from a number of Quora replies and restructures them into new textual content.
On common, Google AI Mode responses had an overlap rating of simply 0.435 with the closest Quora reply.
That means lower than 50% similarity.
For instance, after we searched “does vaseline assist wrinkles,” AI Mode highlighted this steering as if extracted from Quora:
Nonetheless, this textual content wasn’t copied straight.
The identical concepts appeared throughout Quora solutions (hydration, occlusive barrier, not lowering wrinkles), however Google reworded and blended them into a brand new response:
What This Means for You
Make your Quora solutions straightforward for AI to reuse:
- Write full solutions that stand on their very own. Clarify the “why,” define steps, or evaluate choices so your experience has weight
- Floor your factors in specifics. Use knowledge, examples, or case research—concrete particulars survive paraphrasing higher than imprecise claims
- Make your key message easy. Phrase your level in clear, on a regular basis language so it nonetheless comes via even when AI rephrases
- Manage your response into 2-3 clear factors. Use quick sections or bullets so every thought is straightforward for AI (and readers) to extract and mix
For instance, the writer’s response bought cited as a result of it’s detailed, evidence-based, and structured.
It explains the “why,” provides comparisons (e.g., retinol vs. Vaseline), and grounds claims with specifics, making it simpler for AI to reuse:
However it’s not solely about how you write.
Since AI Mode blends content material from a number of Quora replies and different sources, you additionally want to point out up for a similar subject constantly throughout platforms.
The extra locations your perspective seems—whether or not on social media, Wikipedia, or your individual weblog—the upper the prospect will probably be included within the remaining reply.
3. Matter Wins Over Key phrase Match
AI Mode doesn’t floor solutions since you repeated the precise phrases within the query. It seems to be for responses that deal with the intent of the question.
On common, the similarity between the person question and the Quora query title was simply 0.1.
This exhibits that AI Mode pulls Quora content material primarily based on subject alignment—not prompts.
What This Means for You
Stuffing key phrases in your Quora solutions or counting on precise phrasing gained’t enhance your probabilities of being cited.
You must present you really perceive the topic:
- Reply the query straight, then broaden. Add reasoning, analysis standards, and examples that give your reply depth
- Cowl associated angles. Contact on adjoining subtopics (options, use circumstances, pitfalls), so your reply applies throughout variations of the identical question
- Write for intent, not phrasing. Take into consideration what the person is absolutely making an attempt to resolve, and body your reply round that downside
For instance:
4. Engagement Issues: Surfaced Threads Are Lively Discussions
Google AI Mode additionally favors Quora threads with many replies, upvotes, and longer, considerate solutions. In different phrases, alerts of collective validation.
The cited responses had, on common, 37 solutions per thread, 15 upvotes, one remark, and have been no less than 535 phrases lengthy.
What This Means for You
If you would like your solutions to floor in AI responses, be part of energetic discussions.
Search for questions that already entice a gentle movement of solutions and engagement.
Then, contribute considerate, detailed responses and attempt to:
- Finish your solutions with a query to ask extra views and spark ongoing dialogue.
- Interact with commenters to maintain the thread energetic and sign that the dialog remains to be related.
- Hyperlink to associated Quora solutions so readers can discover additional and add their very own replies.
- Keep in mind, extra replies = stronger sign. Threads with sustained exercise usually tend to floor
- Prioritize high quality. A considerate, in-depth reply attracts each engagement from customers and credibility alerts for AI Mode
For instance, this Quora reply earned 848 upvotes and 26 feedback by providing a considerate, detailed response with particular examples:
5. AI Mode Follows Quora’s Algorithm: Surfaced Solutions Are Often Flagged As “Most Related” by Quora
Google AI Mode follows Quora’s personal algorithm when choosing responses to function.
About 89.7% of cited solutions have been additionally marked as “Most Related” by Quora’s integral algorithm—a tag additionally seen to LLMs.
What This Means for You
In case your aim is to be cited, it’s good to comply with Quora’s greatest practices for writing responses.
It’s so simple as that.
Greatest Practices for Writing on Quora—In response to Quora
The very best recommendation we are able to share?
Observe Quora’s personal greatest practices to develop your presence. Each on the platform and in Google’s AI Mode.
Listed here are the highest ideas for writing on Quora, straight from Quora’s staff.
Reply Questions Proper Away
Begin your Quora reply by giving a direct reply within the first 1-3 sentences.
This easy step boosts your “Most Related” probabilities on Quora, which makes it much more possible that Google AI Mode will floor your reply.
Getting straight to the purpose and answering questions straight throughout the first few sentences will help enhance your relevancy on Quora. Whereas AI analyzes full content material, opening and shutting parts usually carry a larger weight. If you happen to can’t reply a query rapidly, use a TL;DR on the very begin after which go on to clarify what and why, simply so you’ll be able to hit this metric.
For instance, this Quora response addresses the query within the first paragraph after which dives into particulars by offering further info and arguments.
Display Actual Credibility
Clarify who you might be and why you’re certified each time you publish.
Quora customers—and Google AI Mode—prioritize solutions that come from folks with demonstrable experience.
A robust credential line, a brief bio, and context in your reply construct belief and improve your credibility.
Folks come to Quora for a reputable human response. And that is what makes Quora stand out, proper? Demonstrating credibility additionally builds belief and differentiates you from different solutions. And it offers context as to why folks ought to pay attention.
And it completely matches into the fashionable advertising and marketing paradigm:
Folks purchase from folks. And that gross sales path shouldn’t be linear anymore. Individuals are partaking with product specialists, with specialists inside an organization, lengthy earlier than they purchase. Quora is a implausible place to try this.
For instance, on this reply, Justin Rosenstein, co-founder of Asana, alerts credibility instantly by highlighting his background and position in constructing broadly used productiveness software program:
Be Useful, Not Promotional
Observe the 80/20 rule. Make your solutions 80% genuinely helpful and solely 20% promotional at most.
Quora rewards genuine, helpful responses.
So, give attention to answering questions and integrating your model the place it naturally provides worth.
Quora favors solutions that really feel genuinely useful over ones that sound like adverts. rule of thumb is the 80/20 method: make 80% of your response centered on being helpful, and reserve solely the final 20% for a comfortable, related point out of your model.
For instance, this response delivers helpful insights and mentions the model solely close to the top. It feels pure and helps the reader by providing a transparent subsequent step:
Make Your Solutions Simple to Learn
Format your solutions in order that they’re scannable. Use quick paragraphs, bullets, and daring textual content for key factors.
Properly-structured solutions preserve readers engaged and likewise make it simpler for Google’s AI Mode to extract and reuse your concepts.
“With consideration spans shrinking, solutions have to be visually straightforward to scan. This implies breaking your content material into quick, digestible sentences and paragraphs, utilizing daring and italics to focus on key particulars. Taking only a few further minutes on formatting can considerably enhance engagement.”
As an illustration, this Quora response is straightforward to learn because of clear white area, quick sentences, and daring formatting that highlights key concepts:
Use AI, However Don’t Abuse It
Lastly, you’ll be able to let AI assist with velocity and repurposing, however make sure that your solutions replicate actual experience and a human perspective.
AI instruments are helpful for reformatting or turning your present content material into Quora-ready posts.
Use what you have already got. If you happen to don’t have time to put in writing solutions from scratch, repurpose pre-approved content material. That is gonna be your FAQs, your blogs, your white papers, your webinars, any content material that you’ve—use it. Copy and paste snippets, inform a solution, after which edit it.
Nonetheless, in case your content material is solely AI-generated and provides nothing new, it’s unlikely to have interaction customers or acquire traction.
If all you’re doing is dropping AI-generated content material as a substitute of actual worth, why ought to Quora not simply try this itself? Why ought to Google not try this itself? Folks purchase from folks. Folks have interaction with folks. And most of us by now can spot a ChatGPT response a mile away.
To sum all of it up:
Monitor Your Quora Citations in Google’s AI Mode
The easiest way to know what works—and what doesn’t—is by monitoring your AI Mode citations over time.
With Semrush’s AI search engine marketing Toolkit, you’ll be able to see what drives your visibility in Google’s AI Mode in comparison with opponents, all the way down to particular quotation sources.
Begin by opening the “Model Efficiency” report > “Narrative Drivers.”
Then, scroll all the way down to “Citations” and select branded or non-branded queries.
Lastly, open “Cited Pages” and enter the area you wish to examine (e.g., “quora.com”) to see pages that AI Mode cited as sources when mentioning your model.
From right here, you’ll be able to analyze which Quora threads are driving visibility. Then, use these insights to refine your participation technique, double down on high-performing subjects, or fill content material gaps.
FAQs
How Does Quora’s Algorithm Mark Solutions as Related or Irrelevant?
Quora’s algorithm for choosing related solutions comes down to a couple core issues like: structuring your content material (answering the query straight and making it straightforward to learn), avoiding overly promotional content material, and offering real worth.
Ought to I Embody Hyperlinks in My Solutions on Quora?
Embody hyperlinks in your Quora solutions, however sparingly. One or two well-placed hyperlinks that add context or proof are advantageous. A protracted record of hyperlinks would possibly typically really feel overwhelming and fewer reliable. Crucial issue is ensuring the hyperlinks you embody add worth.
Does Formatting My Quora Responses Improve the Possibilities of Being Cited by Google’s AI?
Structured, scannable solutions make it simpler for each readers and AI programs to extract the important thing factors. Simply keep in mind: Formatting solely helps if the content material itself is powerful.
How Do I Discover the Proper Inquiries to Reply on Quora?
To search out related subjects, begin with Quora’s search bar. Kind in broad themes related to your business, then drill down into associated questions. Discover the “associated questions” field on the precise aspect of any thread.
What if There Are No Questions on Quora About My Product But?
You possibly can ask your individual questions for those who can’t discover any related subjects on Quora. Use Quora’s “restricted” setting when making a query for those who don’t need it tied again to your profile. It can nonetheless be discoverable to others.
Ought to CEOs or Executives Reply on Quora as People?
Having your workers and executives write on Quora is usually a good suggestion. For instance, a CEO sharing firsthand expertise builds credibility and humanizes the model. Keep in mind: Folks belief folks.
Handle Misinformation About My Model or Biased Solutions on Quora?
To handle potential misinformation on Quora, have interaction and reply thoughtfully. Bounce into feedback and proper misunderstandings, present your perspective, and again it up with knowledge or sources. That manner, you’ll be able to management the narrative round your model.
How Can I Monitor Whether or not My Quora Content material Is Being Cited in Google AI Mode?
Use Semrush’s AI search engine marketing Toolkit to watch your Google AI Mode citations and see which of your pages (together with Quora threads) are surfacing in AI outcomes, how usually, and in opposition to which prompts—in comparison with different gamers in your area of interest.
