How might Quora improve its question suggestion system to help users find more relevant topics to follow or answer?

Introduction

To improve Quora's question suggestion system for helping users find more relevant topics to follow or answer, we need to analyze the current user experience, identify pain points, and develop innovative solutions. I'll approach this challenge by examining user segments, analyzing their journey, and proposing data-driven improvements that align with Quora's broader objectives.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• Looking at Quora's position in the Q&A market, I'm curious about the primary motivation behind this improvement initiative. Is the main goal to increase user engagement, improve content quality, or expand the user base?

Why it matters: This will help us focus our efforts on the most impactful areas. Expected answer: Increasing user engagement is the primary goal. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize solutions that encourage more frequent and meaningful interactions.

• Considering the complexity of Quora's content ecosystem, I'm wondering about the current performance metrics of the question suggestion system. What are the key metrics you're currently tracking, and how have they been trending?

Why it matters: Understanding current performance will help us set realistic improvement targets. Expected answer: Key metrics include click-through rate on suggestions, time spent on the platform, and number of answers per user. These have been plateauing recently. Impact on approach: We'd focus on solutions that directly impact these specific metrics.

• Given the importance of personalization in modern platforms, I'm interested in understanding the depth of user data Quora currently leverages for its suggestion system. How granular is the data we have on user interests and behavior?

Why it matters: The level of available data will influence the sophistication of our solution. Expected answer: We have detailed data on user interactions, topic preferences, and browsing patterns. Impact on approach: We'd explore advanced machine learning techniques to better utilize this rich data set.

• Considering the potential for cross-pollination of ideas, I'm curious about any recent innovations or successful features in other parts of Quora that might inform our approach to improving the question suggestion system.

Why it matters: This could provide valuable insights and ensure our solution aligns with broader product strategies. Expected answer: Recent success with a collaborative filtering algorithm in the "Related Questions" feature. Impact on approach: We might explore adapting this algorithm for the question suggestion system.