Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Although the FAQ block doesn’t have the same pull for Google search today, it’s still a useful tool. It can provide more insight for your visiting readers. And using the FAQ block from Yoast SEO is quite easy to set up for your audience.
The FAQ block uses the FAQ scheme which is auto-detected by Google. Like I said, though, Google doesn’t use the FAQ rich results as it did in the past.
Essentially, it’s just a convenient element to engage your readers and help them understand the topic. The more you can help someone by answering questions so they don’t have to search the topic again, the better.
And that does impact SEO. Don’t forget that Google wants “helpful content” to deliver in the search results.
Using the FAQ Block from Yoast
Among the most popular SEO tools for WordPress, Yoast has a lot of functions available. In fact, I’ve been using Yoast for several years, both the free and the paid versions.
It’s among the plugins I use most.
For this tutorial, I’m going to assume you have Yoast SEO installed on your website.
Step 1: Add the Yoast SEO Block
Go to any post or page you want to add the Yoast FAQ block to in WordPress.
Place the cursor where you want the FAQ and click the blue button to add a new block.
Search for the FAQ block and click to add it to your post or page. I find it easiest to search for “faq.” Just make sure you’re selecting the one from Yoast as some plugins might add their own FAQ blocks.
Step 2: Add and Answer Your First Question
Once the Yoast FAQ block has been added, you can enter and answer your first question.
When you click into the block, you’ll notice that you can move the question and answer by using the up and down arrows on the right, add an image, or add another space for more questions and answers.
Step 3: Add More Questions (Optional)
Once you’ve added your first question and answer, you can add as many as you like by clicking the “Add question” button at the bottom of the FAQ Block.
You can add as many questions to the FAQ block as you’d like. However, keep in mind that your visitors might not want a wall of Q&As.
Should You Add Images?
Images can be quite helpful when answering questions, especially if a visual makes the most sense. As they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
However, not all answers will need images. There are some that you’ll undoubtedly be able to answer within a short sentence.
My suggestion is to use images in the FAQ section sparingly. Too many will make the post or page seem much longer and more intimidating to visitors.
Best Practices for FAQ Blog Post Sections
Yoast makes it relatively easy to add the FAQ block to posts and pages. But there is a bit more involved than simply slapping a question you think people will ask and then providing an answer.
While that might work to some degree, here are some best practices when crafting your own FAQ section of a post or page.
Keep in mind that I am referring to individual pieces of content. An FAQ page of itself is a different animal.
Keep Answers Succinct
You want to keep answers to questions as brief as possible. Most FAQ sections provide a quick answer regarding the topic. Try not to use more than 50 words if possible.
It’s not a blog post.
Visitors want fast answers that help them understand the specific question. You don’t need to go into great detail to get a point across.
Keep Answers Relevant to the Content
One of the most important elements is to keep your FAQ section relevant to the blog post or page.
For example, I have an FAQ section below, and the only questions on it are those that are relevant to the topic of this blog post.
You have a bit more leeway when crafting an FAQ page for your business or brand. But it still should revolve around the overall topic and niche of your website.
How Many Questions Is Too Many?
Some experts will say that there is no limit to the number of questions for your FAQ section. However, most are talking about a page specifically tailored for answering questions.
When using the Yoast FAQ block in a post, though, you don’t want to go overboard.
Usually, I’ll try to keep the FAQs between 5 and 10 questions, depending on the topic. Obviously, some topics will be easy to describe in the post itself.
Where to Get Your Questions
There are a lot of methods you can use to get questions for the FAQ section of your post. You can use the “People also ask” section of Google, just make sure the questions you’re answering are relevant to your content.
Sometimes Google goes a bit deeper and expands into other “similar” questions that may have nothing to do with your article.
You can also use AnswerThePublic.com for common questions in search. I like this option because Answer the Public often dives deep into the relevance of the search phrase, more so than Google.
Another method is to simply query your audience or use the comment section of your website or even a YouTube channel.
Using a Table of Contents
If you use a plugin or otherwise create a table of contents, make sure that the FAQ block is readily available. It’s a convenience for some visitors who simply want a few answers.
For instance, I highlight the FAQ section as an H2 header and use the Easy Table of Contents plugin. It’ll take that H2 and list it at the top of the post.
A table of contents is ideal, especially for longer blog posts, whether you have an FAQ section or not. It helps people find specific information about the topic without having to skim or scroll through the post.
Keywords and Phrases for Search
Although Google doesn’t use the FAQ schema anymore to promote them in search, your answers are still text that is crawled by the bots. As such, you want to provide the best answers to those questions, which sometimes will need keywords or phrases.
If you provide the best answer to a question someone is asking, there is a better chance you’ll appear higher in search results pages.
Never Copy Answers
Always ensure that your answers are unique and helpful. Of course, that’s something you’ll want to do in any piece of content. Google frowns heavily on copied or duplicated text.
What I try to do is word a question in my own voice and then answer it without looking at what someone else wrote. I base the answer on my own expertise and experience.
FAQs About FAQs
If you’re using an FAQ section for a specific topic, it’ll usually be somewhere within the post itself. Most people put them near the end of the article. However, you can also use a static page if you’re creating an FAQ about your site, business, or in regards to yourself.
If the question’s answer is a yes or a no, start with those. Otherwise, be brief when providing the answer to make it easy for your visitor, not to mention the Google crawler.
No. Not all blog posts will need an FAQ block to rank well in Google. It’ll mostly depend on how in-depth the topic is, how much information you provide, and whether there are questions worth answering.
Update your questions as often as possible when new information becomes available. You don’t want your answers to be obsolete as it would defeat the purpose of having an FAQ in the first place.
Yes. WordPress has a lot of FAQ plugins available. It comes down to finding the best option that works for your website. Yoast is just convenient as it also works as an SEO plugin.
Improving Visitor Experience
An FAQ section can help boost engagement of your content, and the Yoast block can help you structure it nicely. By providing the best answers, you’re solidifying yourself as a trusted source of information.
That part is key when succeeding with search engines, especially with how much leverage Google gives expertise and trustworthiness.
If you’re unsure if your post even needs an FAQ section, run a few experiments. Add the section and then track on-page time, bounce rates, and position in Search Console.
It may be what your post needs to get a little more love from visitors and search engines.
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