Reviving the Question Description Box on Quora

Quora, the widely used platform for thoughtful questions and answers, introduced a question description box in their early years. This feature allowed users to provide additional context and details, enriching the information available to others. However, the feature was removed a few years ago, and many users and content creators have been asking for its return. In this article, we explore the reasons for its removal, its impact on the platform, and the possibility of bringing it back.

Reasons for Removing the Question Description Box

One of the primary reasons for removing the question description box was an effort to make questions more succinct. This aligns with the platform's goal of encouraging concise and clear questioning. Additionally, any supplementary information that was previously stored in the description box was shifted to the comments section, allowing for more detailed discussions and follow-ups.

Current Management and Goals

With the recent changes in management and a shift in goals, Quora has a different approach to monetization and content creation. The platform now prioritizes canonical questions that gather comprehensive information, reducing the number of individual and personalized questions that require extensive details. These canonical questions are easier to monetize through advertising and sponsorships, whereas detailed, personalized questions might not generate the same level of traffic or engagement.

Technical Feasibility and Possibility of Revival

Technically, it is very straightforward to bring back the question description box. Given that Quora is primarily a series of well-structured code, enabling the feature would be a matter of reactivating the corresponding code. This would involve no significant changes to the platform's user interface but would greatly enhance the user experience by providing more context and detail in individual questions.

Impact on User Experience and SEO

The question description box can significantly improve user experience by capturing additional context and details that might be lost in the short-form structure of questions. Additionally, for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, having more detailed content within the question can help in better matching search queries and improving the relevance of Quora's content in search results. Users are more likely to find accurate and helpful information quickly if detailed questions are available.

Conclusion

While Quora has made significant shifts in management and goals, there is still a possibility of reviving the question description box. For both user satisfaction and SEO benefits, restoring this feature could be a positive step. Users and content creators alike should voice their support for bringing back the question description box. If enough feedback is gathered, it might prompt Quora to reconsider and re-enable this valuable feature.