AEO
FAQs People Actually Type
Use the question a customer would say out loud. “How much is a tradie website?” beats “What is our value proposition?” Match the heading to the question.
Why do most FAQ sections fail?
Most FAQ sections are written by the business, for the business. The questions are the ones the owner wishes people would ask: “What sets us apart?” “What is our approach?” No customer has ever typed those into a search box or said them on the phone.
Real customers ask short, practical and slightly blunt questions. “How much?” “Do you come to Redcliffe?” “Is it a fixed price?” “Can you start next week?” If your headings match those words, a person scanning the page sees their own question and a search engine sees a clear match.
Where do you find the questions people really ask?
You already hear them every week. You just haven’t written them down. Spend a week collecting, then sort.
- Phone calls and voicemails: note the first question each caller asks.
- Text messages, emails and the questions people send through your enquiry form.
- The questions people ask on site while you are working.
- Questions or messages on your Google Business Profile.
- Google Search Console, which is free: look at the queries that bring people to your site and which ones end in a question.
- Your quotes: any line you always have to explain is a missing answer.
How do you write the heading and the answer?
Write the heading the way the customer said it. Don’t tidy it into brochure language. Then put the answer in the first sentence under it, with the detail after. If the answer is a number, give the number. If it depends, say what it depends on.
Here is the contrast. Before: “Our Competitive Pricing Structure”. After: “How much does a tradie website cost?” followed by “Tradie websites start from $1,048, and that includes quote and booking forms, a reviews section and local SEO setup.” The second heading matches the thing a customer would type, and the first sentence delivers.
What does a before and after look like for a trade?
An example with a made-up business: a Brisbane electrician’s FAQ has the headings “Our Commitment to Safety”, “Why Choose Us” and “Service Excellence”. These tell the reader nothing.
The rewrite uses the questions heard on the phone: “Do you do emergency call-outs?” “Which Brisbane suburbs do you cover?” “Do you give a price before you start?” “Do you fix the hole in the wall after?” Each has a two- or three-sentence answer that starts with yes, no or a number. (Use only answers that are true for your business.)
How many questions should you include, and where do they go?
Fewer than you think. Five to eight good ones on a page beat thirty. Put each question on the page it belongs to: pricing questions on the pricing or service page, service-area questions on the location page. One shared FAQ page dumped at the bottom of the site is the weakest option.
Don’t repeat the same question in different words to fill space. If two questions have the same answer, merge them. And remove any question you can’t answer honestly. A gap is better than a made-up reply.
An FAQ is also a promise in print. If it says you cover Logan, you cover Logan. If it quotes a price, update it when yours changes, and read the whole list again every few months to add new questions from the phone and retire the ones nobody asks any more.
Where does HoneyPot fit in?
We write FAQs in the customer’s words as part of our builds, because SEO and answer-engine copy is included. Landing pages start from $548 and tradie websites from $1,048. You own the site, so you can add new questions whenever you like.
Questions people ask
How many FAQs should a page have?
Five to eight real ones. Quality and honesty matter more than volume.
Should the answer come before any explanation?
Yes. Start with yes, no or the number, then explain. The first sentence is the one most people read.
Get a clear quote
Tell us what the business does and where. We reply with what is included and what it costs. You own the site.