We see hundreds of web forms every day and often encounter forms that are created so carelessly. Some only have a title or just a user name field. Some don’t even have any text at all. These little tips & tweaks will help you create more professional looking contact forms and also improve your conversion rates.
1. Fool proof your forms:
Always give additional information about your contact forms. Even if it is a simple contact form explain what your visitors can do with it. Contact us can mean everything. Contact for what? For a job application, idea, chat, emergency, issues, and so on.
How?
Always start with a heading and sub-heading on your forms.
Example: (Which one looks better?)
2. Aid your visitors with extra info:
Help your visitors in every way that you can with tiny bits of information. Point out extra information for fields that can be confusing or to make sure the visitor is on the right path.
How?
1. By placing hint boxes
2. With hover texts
3. By using sub labels
3. Test forms before publishing
Preview your form, think like a visitor, and fill in your form to find any flaws.
4. Don’t use captcha
Unless you’re getting many spam responses, it’s a good suggestionnottouse it.
5. Don’t use a form in a pop-up window
It may be tempting to put the form right in the center of the screen to get responses quickly, but it can get annoying. People may fill out “I hate pop-ups” on your form… There goes a wasted submission!
6. Don’t use “required” for every field
Give your visitors some flexibility. They’ll thank you by filling out the form correctly.
7. Keep it simple
Simplicity is the key to success for almost anything. Don’t fill your forms with out of context questions.
8. Have 1 open-ended question
Leave 1 open question for the thoughts, comments, ideas of your visitors. Some may want to give additional and valuable information so don’t miss them out.
9. Be consistent on the grammar
Labels should follow title case. First word of the label should start upper case and the sub-label should follow with the same pattern.
10. Don’t think about phishing
Keep in mind that phishing is bad! Stealing passwords, credit card numbers, etc. is illegal and can cause you a lot of trouble. Use your forms for good.
That’s about it for our best practices. Which methods do you use? Please share them on the comments section below.
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30 Comments:
Great suggestions! I see a possible typo on the first "Best Practices..." The sentence, "...explain what can your visitors do..." might be better as, "...explain what your visitors can do..."
Do you know/have any recommendation to register people when they don't have an email account?
How do you allow users to edit a previously submitted form instead of duplicating?
did search on Hover Text - it is mentioned in this article
BUT it does not tell how to add hover text
did search on 'add hover text' and there was nothing
Congrats
Congrats visually appealing to the max:)
Thank you very much for your kind words and feedback, special thanks to the organizers and the jury! I really hope that our form will not stop and that it will fight for the main prize ;)
Indeed - Well deserved - :-)
Congratulations!
Awesome! Well deserved win!
Very nice!!!
Yeah! a beautiful contact form.
This is one of my favorite contact forms. COngrats!! :D
so cool! I am using it.
Congrats!
How'd you make that?!?!
Teach me!
So glad this one was chosen! My personal favorite!!
AWESOME design and use of the available tools.
Waking Girl
Congrats!
Congratulations! Well done!
Congrats!
What are best practices for protecting against spambots getting into your web form? Can you elaborate why Captcha should not be used?
This is the "name" I have used - and with that manner of spelling for about as long as I can remember.
The mar is the first letters of my name - the second set in the first letters of my wife's name and I am a professional photographer. Put it all together and it really keeps it "simple" for those that choose to remember my email address as well.
"Labels should follow sentence case."
I agree, but the example doesn't follow that. It's "First Name Last Name".
Damn it.
reference
duh.
#9 should probably be "grammar" in referance to the English language.
Sorry, but a pedant must live by their own rules.
;)
dfesgthre rhyrn h
#9 should probably be "grammar" in refering to English Language.
I would like to try your web
The images in your text are not visible!!!
My form seems to be justified right when I see it in my wordpress blog, with a margin on the left.
I need it to left justified like the rest of the text. This is important because part of it gets cut off on a mobile phone.
Would like to lift justify so client will not need to use the slide bar or pinch to view all of the form completely.
Thank you,
Rick
Thank you for the additional information.
Tim
Hi
I would like to add a password field box to my form. I want to allow only people with the code 'VIP08' to have access.
Can you give me some simple instructions please?
Kindest Regards
Christopher Hanlon