The OpenWater Blog

Learning Series: What FAQs Do I Need?

Your awards website is the central hub for your program. As such, it should be the place where you’re able to direct entrants when they have questions so that each entrant doesn’t contact you individually.

So, why do so few awards programs include FAQs on their websites? For most, it’s because they’re unsure of which questions they should include.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• Why FAQs matter; and
• How to come up with FAQs for your awards program

Why are FAQs Important?

Before we talk about what FAQs you should ask, you need to consider the why behind FAQs. After all, if there’s no compelling reason why to include them on your website, why would you?

There are a few key reasons why you should include a FAQ page on your website, including:

• Frees Up Time – Instead of having staff members answer the same, redundant questions time and time again, you can publish them online to save your staff time for more important tasks.

• Encourages Entrants to Apply – Some entrants may have questions but will never reach out to you to ask them. With an FAQ page, they can get the answers they need without ever having to directly speak to anyone at your program.

• Boosts Entrant Trust – By featuring FAQs, you boost entrant trust and program prestige along with it.

How to Come Up With FAQs

No two organizations will have identical FAQs. However, there are a number of best practices you should understand to come up with FAQs that will serve their purpose for your organization.

Here are some of our favorites you should consider to build your FAQ page:

• Review Your Site With Fresh Eyes – Browse through your website and forget everything you know about your program. What would you have questions about? This is a great place to start for your FAQs!

• Keep it Basic – Most FAQ pages have basic questions with information about submissions, judging, deadlines, timelines, and other common topics. Don’t over-complicate your FAQs or make them too specific – this defeats the purpose of the page!

• Consider Previously Asked Questions – If you’ve run your program for a number of years but this is the first year you’re creating an FAQ page, it’s best to tap into your memory for questions you were previously asked. This is a simple way to build a straightforward page, even if it doesn’t include every question you’ll need.

An FAQ Page is a Highly Recommended (Though Not Required) Page for Your Awards Website

While you don’t have to include a FAQ page on your website, you should.

By using the best practices above, you’ll be well on your way to building your own.

Kunal Johar

Kunal Johar is the OpenWater platform evangelist. He currently manages our development teams and enjoys diving into the fray. Find him in our community chat room.

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