FAQ (2024)

FAQs

How do you respond to a FAQ? ›

FAQs should always be short and to the point. Aim to answer each question as succinctly as possible. If any require longer answers, consider providing a short answer with a link the user can click on if they need more information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is a set of common/obvious queries your web visitors or customers may have. Some common examples include questions about service hours, shipping and handling, product details, return policies, etc., depending on the industry.

Though you want answers to be thorough, it's equally important to keep them short and to the point. Users come to FAQ pages for answers, you don't want to make them work for it. Include enough information to completely answer the question, but try not to exceed 2-3 sentences for each.

That said, you want to find a nice middle ground. Fewer than five questions might indicate you haven't done your research… or that you didn't need an FAQ to begin with. Fielding dozens of questions isn't good either, but if they're all necessary, consider splitting your FAQ into multiple pages.

A good rule of thumb is to write short answers to each question — two to three paragraphs would make a good answer. If you go longer, the page will be too long and cluttered.

In this schema type, a question can have multiple answers. This is the basic difference between Q&A schema and FAQ Schema. In FAQ Schema one question has only one answer but in Q&A schema, one question may have multiple answers.

Your FAQ information doesn't necessarily have to appear in the traditional question-and-answer format. That format is useful when customers look up their problems on a page, but your goal is to address the problem before the customer ever experiences it.

An FAQ page can help users navigate your site.

Visitors will primarily use your site menus to navigate through your site, but an FAQ page can also serve as a way to point them where they need to go—whether that's a product page, a whitepaper, or a blog post they might not have found otherwise.

Most companies have an FAQ — or Frequently Asked Questions — page on their website. This page includes a series of questions that are commonly asked by customers and cover topics including product or service usage, business hours, prices, and more.

The length of your FAQ page should be based on the number of questions that users might have, as well as the level of detail required to answer those questions. If you have a small website or product, your FAQ page may only need to include a handful of questions and answers.

How do you structure a FAQ for SEO? ›

Put your questions into categories so the users can quickly find what they are looking for. Be consistent with your tone of voice. Make sure your FAQ section reflects the same writing style as any other page of your website to keep your brand personality in check. Use simple language.

Incorporating FAQ sections within blog posts is a clever strategy to boost the SEO value of your content. By addressing related questions at the end of a post, or interspersed throughout, you can enhance the post's relevance for additional search queries.

To format questions and answers in APA format:

Use the correct punctuation at the end -- a question mark if the prompt is a question; a period if it is a statement. Use double spacing and one inch margins. Separate the answer from the question by beginning the answer on a new line. Always answer in complete sentences.

An effective FAQ page should include a clear and concise introduction, questions and answers divided by categories, links to additional resources, and a search function to help visitors quickly find the answers they are looking for.