Google's support forums, from AdWords to Chrome, from Mobile to Webmaster have "top contributors" helping Googlers help Google users.
These are not Googlers, but people nominated by Googlers and other top contributors, as helpful people to have slightly more 'power' in the forums to help the user out. They are not Google certified, they do not get paid but they do get the badge of honor and get to meet Googlers from time to time.
So how does one become a Top Contributor?
This week, one of Google's most active forums, the Google Webmaster Help forum, nominated a new Top Contributor. Archie Watt was nominated by Googlers and Top Contributors within the forum.
Which lead to the question, how does one become a top contributor?
John Mueller from Google explained:
No, we don't want to do any automatic "promotions." It's important to us that a user is not only active, but also very knowledgable and friendly. Sometimes this can result in people becoming Bionic Posters / Top Contributors with a lower post count / level (for example, if they are extremely knowledgeable in specific areas). We know that we (Googlers) aren't able to keep an eye on everything and every poster all the time, so we'll generally also ask for input from the existing Bionics -- they're generally all over the forum and see many active posters and the (frequently) fantastic help they post. If we can't find someone we can all agree on, then we'll generally wait ... We don't need to fill a specific quota of Top Contributors, so maybe we'll check back in a month or so, and see how things have been developing. :-) Sometimes these decisions take a lot of time :-)
It is kind of like being nominated to become a moderator at a forum but this one is at an official Google forum.
So it is not about quantity, but I am sure that has a factor. It is also about how helpful and patient you are.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
