Search Engine Marketing

I've heard that having an FAQ is good for SEO. Is that true?

If an FAQ is well written and well structured, it can have SEO benefits. There are three reasons why having a 'Frequently Asked Questions' section can increase a site’s search engine rankings.

One: Website visitors find comprehensive, well-written FAQs genuinely useful. Not only can an FAQ answer a question immediately, it can also give a strong impression of a company. If a customer is interested in your business and considering getting in touch, they may well have a good look around the FAQ section first to help make up their mind.

Two: Opportunities for search engine optimisation. Well-written FAQs provide ample opportunities to include appropriate keyword phrases relating to your business.

Three: Distinct, optimised FAQ answer pages can be a good way to increase a site footprint if new questions and answers are added regularly.

Many websites have FAQs that help users but miss many opportunities for search engine optimisation.

For example, a poorly optimised FAQ entry for an online vendor might be:

Q: Do you have a shop?
A: Yes, we can be found at 123 Example Road, London, W1 4TFX

A better way to provide useful information to customers in the same frequently asked question whilst also using keyword phrases would be:

Q: Do you have a perfume shop?
A: Yes, we have perfume shop in London W1. If you would like to visit in person, you can find “The Perfume Shop” at 123 Example Road, London, W1 4TFX.

The key to getting the most SEO benefit from an FAQ section is to include keyword phrases without getting in the way of answering questions. The structure of the FAQ is also important.