Every e-commerce website should have a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page. If it is done right, the FAQ Page will become a real work horse for your sales and SEO efforts.
Check out these tips for getting your page up, and how to use it to your advantage.
What To Put On Your FAQ Page
The main purpose of the FAQ page is of course, to answer visitors’ queries. Start by compiling a list of actual questions you have been asked. You may need to review past email messages you’ve received from customers, or questions submitted via your online contact form.
While you are doing this, pay attention to trends. If you are getting a lot of questions about something simple, like shipping costs, then you should make this information more readily available. You don’t want potential customers to be frustrated by lack of basic information that should be easy to find where the buyer would expect it. Save the text on the FAQ page for more detailed explanations.
If you don’t already have a lot of actual customer questions, have several friends or family members take a good, deep look at your site and come up with questions they might have if considering making a purchase. This is difficult for you as the business and site owner, to do as you already know what you need to, and may skip over obvious omissions.
Another function of the FAQ Page is to overcome buyer’s objections. Think of all forms of resistance you have encountered in the past. Turn these objections into questions and answer them by touting the benefits of your products or services. In this way, the FAQ page can serve as another form of sales letter on your website.
FAQ Page For SEO
But more than just serving as a page aimed at visitors to your site, an FAQ page can also perform some SEO functions. After you’ve written out all your questions and answers, go back and rework the text to include as many of your keywords as you can. It should be easy to form a natural flow that includes primary, as well as long tail keywords. Be sure to add these to the meta tags on your FAQ page, as well.
Another way to use the FAQ page for Search Engine Optimisation purposes is to provide intra-site links. There is nearly no page on your site that couldn’t benefit from a link to the FAQs. Include it on every product page, the home page, the contact us page, and even the about us page. Be sure that if you are running a pay per click campaign you add the link to the landing page, too.
One design element you might consider is to list only the questions at the top of the page and hyperlink them to the place further down the page where the answer is located. This gives you additional links within the site.
If you don’t already have an FAQ Page in place, be sure to get one up as soon as possible. And if you do already use an FAQ page, take a second look and see if it could use some updating. Remember to incorporate as many keywords as you can for maximum benefit.
Have a most outstanding day.
Sean RasmussenAussie Internet Marketing
www.SeanSEO.com © 2008 - 2010
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Sean
Do you cover setting up a FAQ page in YOTA? So much to remember I’m amazed at all this stuff. You definitely exceeded all expectation. Cheers
Hi Becs,
It may be something I can look at in the future, it is something that needs to be done on an individual basis for your particular website. Great to hear you are getting huge benefits from YOTA. Plenty more to come
Regards – Sean
I’d also suggest putting your online Contact Form at the bottom of your FAQ page. That way if people skim through the FAQs and don’t see their question the form is right there for them to submit a question to.
I’d also suggest trying out my BreezyFAQ tool that lets people search questions.
Great idea Colin, thanks for the tip
Regards – Sean
I didn’t realize SEO included all the pages as well.
My About Me page probably needs a rework.
FAQs are great because they have so many benefits. Visitors to the site are impressed that you took the time to answer the questions on their mind. It looks professional, thorough and helpful. And less time for the vendor to deal with admin requests.
Hi Sean,
I like the idea of writing a FAQ page. I often look at them when I’m thinking about buying a product. It makes sense to include your keywords in the FAQ page.
However I’ve never thought to use the FAQ page to link to other relevant pages within my own site or to hyperlink the answers to the questions. There’s a lot to learn.
Hi Sean,
This article has highlighted something very important for me. I’m well aware that in off-line sales (especially during a demonstration) that if I can answer all questions asked, about the product, I’m certain to make a sale.
I had not realized that a FAQ page on-line and on my website is equal, and can produce the same sales results. And with extra benefits as well!