FAQ Style

[Ivana]

I am writing an FAQ and I would like your input on the style.

So far I have two models:
- One long FAQ
- Split up in 4 categories

I need to write as much as possible as it has to be an in depth FAQ and might be the main content on the site.

Ivana

[Mark_A]

Ivana I think if you ask yourself what is your objective from the FAQ section then it should become clearer how to structure it.

[richardb]

What sector are you targeting I?

Rich

[Ivana]

Richardb, I can't really answer that ;)

Mark_A, yes, but I thought all you clever people out there might add some angles I hadn't though of yet!

I'm thinking of having one page with Q and then a link to the A (on its own page), with links to other relevant answers.

[richardb]

I think your best bet would be to apply to be a mod @ WW, oh but Nick already is. :P

[digitalghost]

I'd split it up into categories, for two reasons. If the categories are natural and easy to define, the user will benefit from not having to read the entire faq to get to the pertinent info.

Secondly, with the FAQ split into sections, you get to use more anchors, and more anchors means more anchor text, and more anchor text... well, you get the picture.

[Ivana]

Yeah, I thought the split up might be best as well. What do you think about one answer per page (I will be able to fill it out with enough text, it won't be one lonely paragraph)? I think I would prefer that, I really don't like those incredibly long pages that would have been 10 pages in print.

[digitalghost]

One answer per page would work well, though I might call a new browser window, a small one, not full size, for the answers. Will save a lot of clicking back to the FAQ pages and people aren't confused by a new browser window if it's not full size. The added bonus is that you get to optimize all the answer pages too.

[Nick_W]

Good idea! - I've seen that with '?' links next to checkboxes on forms and it works really well...

Can it be done so SE's follow it too?

Nick

[digitalghost]

Sure thing. Put a footer on the FAQ pages. Point the footer links at the answers. More anchor text too. :)

[mipapage]

We don't use the pop-up idea. But to keep the readers interested and from having to click 'back' etc., we do use a 'if you were interested in this faq try this one' link at the bottom of each faq, just to keep them on our site and reading...

Gets a bit tough to organize though if you have a lot of Faq's... (tho I'm sure there is an easy 'dynamic' solution for this...)

[rogerd]

Nick's comment implies that SE considerations exist. (Don't they always?) FAQs are actually a great way to create targeted content. Hence, the most common method - a massive FAQ page with links at the top and short answers farther down - is a bad idea. Rather, creating individual pages for each topic (it could be one question if the answer is long enough) makes much more sense.

From a user standpoint, I like DG's popup idea. If you go this route, though, be sure to provide some kind of mechanism to navigate back to the site. I.e., if a SE indexes the answer popup, people will be delivered to that page. You'll need to provide a way to get them to load your site, like a "more questions & answers" link, a "Home" link, etc.

[yogis]

It all depends about what you are targetting. However the model fgor FAQS remains more or less the same. Yet their are variations.

[Nick_W]

Yep, we went with one page per answer. We've knocked out over 60 of them at minimum 300 words and more often than not, much higher.

Seems to work well and has provided the 'core content' or 'seed' for the site.

Thanks for all the help!

Nick