How to Answer Questions Before They’re Asked

by Shirley George Frazier on May 22, 2008

Do you provide your Web site’s visitors with a frequently-asked questions area?

This information is just as important as the gift baskets you create. The answers provide prospective clients with a comfort zone, letting them know in advance that their order will be handled with care and that you’ll respond to them in a timely manner.

I created a frequently-asked questions area for this site as I found myself responding to similar questions about starting a gift basket business, how to select products, and other important basics.

What do site visitors and customers ask? Put yourself in their shoes. If you were buying a gift basket for the first time, what would be your concerns? That’s what you consider when creating your own FAQ page.

These questions help get you started.

  • What are your hours of operation?
  • Do you ship to other countries?
  • Can I pick up the basket if I’m in the area?
  • Will you make a custom order if I want something that’s not shown on your site?
  • Can I exchange one product in a basket for another?
  • Also include questions that haven’t been asked but will give visitors ordering ideas that they haven’t considered.

  • What type of non-basket gifts do you make?
  • I’m a meeting planner. What types of gifts and baskets do you create for conventions?
  • How do you handle orders that are to be delivered discreetly?
  • Add a portion of your FAQs to a brochure for mailing to prospects and with deliveries.

    The more information you provide, the easier the order process becomes for the person who found your site.

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    { 2 comments… read them below or add one }

    Lorie Obernauer May 25, 2008 at 9:29 pm

    Shirley, This is a great idea! Not only is this a terrific service for customers, but also saves staff a lot of time by not having to answer the same questions again and again. As staff gets new questions from customers, these could be added to the list. If one customer has a question about policies, deliveries, etc., it’s likely that many others have the same question.

    Reply

    Shirley George Frazier May 26, 2008 at 6:46 am

    Hi Lorie,

    You’re so right about this. One prospect’s questions do reflect the sentiments and concerns of others.

    An on-site FAQ section quickly streamlines responses and encourages sales. My hope is that many designers create this area on their sites and expand it, as needed, over time.

    Reply

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