What are basic FAQ questions?

The Essential FAQ Checklist for Every Business

When launching a new website, you might not have a history of customer support tickets to analyze. However, you still need a FAQ page. Why? Because users expect one. A missing FAQ page can signal a lack of professionalism or support.

There are basic FAQ questions that are universal across almost all industries. Answering these proactively removes barriers to purchase (conversion blockers) and builds immediate trust.

Here is your categorized checklist of must-have questions.

1. Logistics and Shipping (E-commerce Essential)

If you sell physical products, this is the first thing customers look for.

• "Where do you ship to?" (Be specific about international shipping).
• "How much does shipping cost?" (Explain free shipping thresholds if you have them).
• "How long will it take to get my order?" (Distinguish between "processing time" and "shipping time").
• "How can I track my order?"

2. Returns and Refunds (The Trust Builder)

Shoppers are risk-averse. They need to know they aren't stuck with a bad product.

• "What is your return policy?" (30 days? 60 days? All sales final?).
• "How do I initiate a return?" (Provide a link to the portal or email address).
• "Do you offer full refunds or store credit?"
• "Who pays for return shipping?" (This is a huge factor in purchase decisions).

3. Payments and Security

• "What payment methods do you accept?" (Credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Crypto).
• "Is my payment information secure?" (Mention SSL, PCI compliance, or trusted payment gateways like Stripe).
• "How do I apply a coupon code?"

4. Account Management (SaaS & Membership Sites)

• "I forgot my password, how do I reset it?"
• "How do I change my email address?"
• "How do I cancel my subscription?" (Make this transparent; hiding it hurts your reputation).

5. Company and Contact Info

• "How do I contact customer support?" (List hours of operation).
• "Do you have a physical store?"
• "Are you hiring?"

Why These Basic Questions Aid SEO

You might think these questions are too simple to matter for SEO, but they are critical for Voice Search.

When a user asks Siri, "What is the return policy for [Your Brand]?", Siri looks for a concise, well-structured answer on your FAQ page. By including these basic questions and answering them clearly, you increase the chances of being the "direct answer" provided by voice assistants and search engines.