Save your time with a FAQ page
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The addition of a FAQ page to your website will not only save your time, but also that of your potential clients. When you’ve been offering the same product or service for a while, you’ll become accustomed to the standard questions clients ask. Why keep typing the same responses into email after email?
Before choosing a logo designer, I recommend you ask questions. The decision shouldn’t be taken lightly, and to save you time, here I address some of the most frequently asked questions I receive.
I have added a new page to the top navigation menu of my website. It lists a number of frequently asked questions, and shows my answers beneath each. Read the full list of Q&A here: FAQs about hiring me.
Now, when I’m approached by a potential client, I can simply direct them to my FAQ page, hopefully answering their questions before even asked.
Do you have a similar page on your website? Can you recommend additional questions I should answer? If so, please do let me know.
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27 spot-on reader comments to “Save your time with a FAQ page”
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Yes, I agree that a FAQ is quite a time saver. For both sides. But I also think it’s important to make it clear to visitors that they can reach you personally. Even encourage them to do so. That your contact information (email & phone!) is as easy to find as the FAQ. Because a FAQ will never be as good at answering questions as you are yourself.
Chris Ritke’s last blog post…What? It’s costs $9? A month?
Your comment prompted me to add a contact form at the foot of the FAQ page, so thanks.
David I do agree that a FAQ page can help to get a few questioned answered for a potential customer and that they quickly can read if you are up for the job they are looking for. I am currently trying out FAQ-Tastic plugin at one of my coporate websites, it works good but still potential clients give me a ring to conform the answers on the questions they had. The flexibily of FAQ-Tastic is great. I enjoyed reading your FAQ, it seems you have put alot of thought into it, well done.
Sander’s last blog post…Book Review: Signage systems & Information graphics
Hi David, that’s quite a list!
Could I suggest that you have a Q&A on Quotes and Estimates? Do you just provide quotes to potential clients, or estimates based on the information that have given you?
I provide both depending on the project, but mainly non-logo work. I was just wondering if you just provided a quotation for logo design work.
Andrew Kelsall’s last blog post…How to get a Design Job using Tinned Meat!
David,
Your FAQ page is probably one of the best I’ve seen! Outstanding - and most importantly, it establishes UP FRONT that you’re not one of those “I’m open to being the lowest bidder” types.
Kathy @ Virtual Impax’s last blog post…Creating a Website that Does Almost Nothing.
As Kathy says, one of the best FAQ pages I’ve seen.
We don’t have an FAQ page on the website, and I like to think our hands-on approach to answering ‘pre-sales’ questions works well for us, even if it is a little time-consuming at times! If a client’s interested in working with us, we tend to ask their budget - it’s easier than tip-toeing around prices in quotation, and I think it makes the lives of both parties easier.
It only works, though, if there’s trust between us and the client; e.g. that we won’t overcharge them for a project just because they’ve budgeted more.
Anyway, a good FAQ page, David.
(PS, spotted a spelling mistake under ‘Paul Rand’ on logosdesigners.com - ‘reknowned’ (first para.) should be ‘renowned’).
I’ve got detailed FAQ pages on quite a few of the sites that I run, and I usually put a mini “faq column” on each page of the sites with the most common questions answered as well as a link to the full FAQ page. The problem is that in my experience 99% of the people out there just do NOT read. Period. If I got the proverbial nickel for every time a customers calls or emails with a question that is VERY clearly answered all over the site (sometimes even on the page they got the contact info from) I would be a very rich man.
FAQ pages can cut down on the number of questions you get, but probably not as many as you would think.
That doesn’t mean that it’s not a very important part of every site. Congrats on adding one to yours!
Has been on my to do list for a while…
Have you seen logo design factory’s FAQ page? It is pretty extensive and a good place to pick up some further questions…
http://www.thelogofactory.com/logo-design-information.html
Jacob Cass’s last blog post…Designer In The Spotlight: Chris Spooner
I certainly agree that a faq page is efficient for both sides. It can save website owners lots of time not answering the same questions over the phone or by e-mail and it is encouraging for site visitor / potential clients to be able to find the information they need. Thank you for the post.
I suspect that a FAQ page is even a good idea for those of us who don’t sell our own products or services. The information could be incorporated in the About page, but a FAQ page really serves a different purpose and could be used to answer some common questions about the topic of your blog. Thanks for the tip.
DR’s last blog post…How to Pick a Lucrative Online Money Making Topic
A nice addition to the site, David. Good stuff! I think I’ll be adding a FAQs page to the rapidly growing list of changed and updates I need to make to my site.
Aaron Russell’s last blog post…Real men don’t drink and drive
I wasn’t familiar with the FAQ-Tastic plugin, but just looked at the website and read a little. Sounds interesting. Perhaps too many features for my personal benefit, but I’m glad it’s working well for you so far.
Andrew,
That’s an interesting question. I don’t provide estimates, but often provide quotes prior to invoicing. For me, an estimate is an unecessary step.
Kathy,
How kind of you. Thanks very much.
Richard,
I work along similar lines to you, asking about budgets towards the beginning, so as not to spend too long with time-wasters. That’s great you picked up on a typo on http://www.logosdesigners.com (my spelling can go wayward from time to time).
George,
Thankfully, many of my clients are those in the minority i.e. they do read. I know exactly what you mean about so few people paying attention to text. That’s an advantage of attracting clients by using a blog. Straight away they’re more likely to read what you have to say.
Jacob,
Thanks for the Logo Factory link. I’d expect Steve to come up with something effective, so will definitely head over for a read.
DR, bubble,
You’re both very welcome.
Aaron,
Thanks bud. I’d recommend adding one, and look forward to the launch of your own (so I can take notes).
huh, very interesting article, never thought design related websites could need FAQ, but example in Your homepage shows how usable it is :)
Dainis Graveris’s last blog post…30 Sources To Get Your Web Design Inspiration
Hmmm… good idea. And a great job of your FAQ.
Mark McGuinness’s last blog post…Spark Better Creative Thinking With Extra Headroom
Grea article David and your FAQ page is very detailed and comprehensive… off to write one myself!
David, Nice FAQs. They help to clear many misconceptions and questions users are hesitating to ask (sometimes). But as Chris Ritke said, If our contact information is available at a glance then FAQs will add up the value.
Small observation, though I use Firefox, today it happened to visit your site in IE8, the rollover effect for the top and footer menu is not working. I don’t know whether it happened it only in my machine.
Chaitanya VRK’s last blog post…Creativity’s 2008 Awards Winners
Good points David! An FAQ page saves your and clients’ time. So, make sure that you have some ‘knowledgebase’ somewhere in your site especially, if you offer some products.
Aurelius Tjin’s last blog post…The Home Business Lifestyle of Aurelius Tjin
Hey David!
You are much more conservative than I was in my FAQ hahaha!
Nice FAQs, but I think under the heading “Do you create style guides for your logos?” you misuse the word dependant. I know there’s a British vs. American distinction in usage, but I looked it up and it seems that every usage derived from the verb “depend” should be spelled dependent. Other than that it looks great!
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861603806/dependant.html
Thanks very much. Today I improved upon the functionality of my FAQ page. It’s now easier to find specific answers.
Chaitanya,
Hmmm. Why am I not surprised IE8 is throwing up some new design concerns? I’ll leave things as they are for now, as the percentage of visitors using IE8 is less than 0.5%, but thanks for letting me know. I’ll certainly keep it in mind when the next change comes around.
Raja,
More conservative, but a lot less amusing.
Julia,
Good of you to correct me. Thanks. I’ll get to that now.
I think this is a great idea. I’ve been putting together a list of ideas for “How I Work” for potential clients to read before asking me a lot of questions. They will still ask questions anyway, I’m sure, but I think an FAQ page would be even better. Always learn something new from you - cheers, mari
mari’s last blog post…Irma Vega de Bijou, Ceramic Artist, Website Complete
Thanks!
Very very interesting your website! Fantastic!
Ideas, news, design, all I need!
This article is very important!
..i respect your opinion..and not only….especially after i looked on your feedburner….impressive..
Happy to offer something of help. Thanks for visiting.
I can tell you from my experience that appropriate FAQ is next best thing besides project questionnaire! And you did a damn good job on yours too! Now i have to find some time to update mine :) There were times when i was spending better half of my working hours replying to same questions from potential clients - how i don’t miss that :) Good FAQ is a god sent - it helps me concentrate more on creative side of this beautiful profession.
Thanks for the compliment, buddy. I also used to spend lots of time answering the same questions. Now it’s not as necessary.
I will be adding a faq page to my sites as well which i had never thought of doing. Thanks a lot for the tip and great read.