The Journey of a Newbie SEO: Insights from My Most Viewed Answer
As a budding SEO specialist with over a year of experience on Quora, I've learned a lot about what makes content go viral, particularly in the world of social media optimization. In this article, I will share my experience, reflecting on the journey from my first 15,000 views on January 13, 2021, to reaching 50,000 views today. Plus, I will offer some insights on how other high-performing answers were created and the impact of writing for fun versus serious research.
From 15,000 to 50,000 Views
On a cold January day in 2021, my answer to the question "Is Robert Downey Jr. a jerk in real life?" began to gather attention. The answer started with 15,000 views, but over the years, it continued to grow, eventually reaching nearly 50,000 views. This journey has been a fascinating experience, as the answer has evolved from a simple response to a more engaged and dermatological exploration of fame and media perception.
Other High-Performing Answers
My highest views come from a myriad of high-performing answers. For instance, Deepansh Yadav’s weekly tweet recaps have consistently been popular, reminding us that topical and engaging content can draw a lot of attention. Another notable mention is Raja Srinivasan's succinct and detailed explanation of human evolution—one of my most viewed answers, with 167 views (admittedly, a modest amount, but significant for a platform with my age).
Lessons Learned from Fun Content vs. Serious Research
Not all of my content is destined for success. A particularly memorable experiment involved an answer posted with a playful, -69 negativity, intended to observe people’s reaction to outdated memes. However, it quickly transformed into a content that garnered over 500,000 views, almost 21,000 upvotes, and became quite challenging to manage. While it was initially fun, it veered away from my usual style of in-depth research.
My Most Viewed Answer: A High-Performing Case Study
The following answer, which I share with pride, Rajesh Manickam’s answer, stands out for its sheer volume of engagement—reaching a staggering 741,700 views, 37,600 upvotes, 213 shares, and a whopping 581 comments. This example reveals the power of authentic engagement and a genuine connection with your audience. Each upvote, comment, and share adds to the visibility and engagement of the post, making it a success story.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
My journey on Quora continues, with each answer, I learn more about what resonates with my audience. While some posts like the one with 500,000 views have been entertaining, I have learned to prioritize research and in-depth content. Looking forward, I aim to bring more such insightful and engaging answers to the platform. As a SEOer, I am continually refining my approach to ensure the answers not only have enough views but also drive meaningful engagement.
Thanks for reading and supporting my journey!