Why Might an Answer Get Less Attention than the Question?

Have you ever noticed that a question in your feed receives hundreds of views, yet the most relevant answer gets barely any attention at all? This phenomenon is not unique and can be explained through a variety of factors, including the nature of social media feeds and user behavior. This article delves into the reasons behind this discrepancy and provides insights from a SEO perspective.

Understanding the Engagement Disconnect

The question that gets 130 views but the answer has only received 1 view is a common occurrence on social media platforms. This scenario typically indicates that the answer is less engaging or interesting than the question itself. Users tend to focus on the freshest or most intriguing content, especially if the question is relevant or particularly captivating.

It's also possible that the answer was preceded by extensive and more interesting answers. This means that users might have seen and engaged with more captivating content before scrolling down to your answer, thereby losing interest. In such cases, even the most well-constructed answer may go unnoticed.

Visitors Scrolling Without Viewing Answers

Often, users who see the question do not scroll down far enough to read the answers. This behavior can be attributed to a combination of factors, such as time constraints, the presence of a less engaging answer, or simply the page's sorting algorithm. If the page is sorted using a system that prioritizes popular or recent answers, less engaging answers may get buried. As a result, even though the answer was seen by 129 people, none of them may have scrolled down far enough to read it.

Consider the anecdote shared by a LinkedIn user: 'I have just seen this question in my feed. I imagine lots of people will. As many people will be able to figure out the answer they will have no interest in seeing someone else’s answer.' This suggests that users often prefer to find their own solutions and may skip over detailed answers once they have a basic understanding of the question.

SEO and Content Visibility

From an SEO standpoint, questions that generate more engagement can negatively impact the visibility of subsequent answers. The content that garners the most interest is more likely to be seen and favorited, making it appear at the top of feeds and search results. This can create a snowball effect, where the most engaging content receives the most attention, and less engaging content gets overshadowed.

One reason for this is the use of the 'Stupid Recommended' sort algorithm, which may place less engaging content at the bottom of feed results. Consequently, users who scroll up to the top of the page may not even see less engaging answers. This is best illustrated by the user's observation, 'When the above view changes from “No answer yet” to “1 answer”, people will continue scrolling on by.'

Engaging Questions and Strategies for Better Answers

To improve the visibility and engagement of your answers, focus on creating compelling questions. A well-crafted question can attract more views and interest, which in turn can lead to more engagement with your answers. Here are a few strategies:

Use Clear and Concise Language: Make sure your question is easy to understand and provides enough context for potential answerers. Include Specific Details: Provide relevant details that can help answerers craft more accurate and useful responses. Ask for Unique Perspectives: Encourage users to share unique insights that can add value to the discussion. Highlight the Importance: Emphasize why the question and its answers are important, which can attract more attention.

Remember, the engagement cycle is cyclical. A well-crafted question can attract more attention to your subsequent answers, while engaging answers can improve the quality of future questions. Focusing on both aspects can help you achieve better visibility and engagement on platforms like LinkedIn and social media feeds.

Conclusion

The discrepancy between the number of views a question receives and the views an answer gets can be attributed to a combination of factors, including user behavior, feed algorithms, and the nature of the content itself. By understanding these factors, you can create more engaging questions and answers that draw more attention and improve your overall visibility on social media and networking platforms. Don't forget to prioritize your questions as well, as they can significantly influence the visibility of your answers.