Web Forms That Boost Conversion Rates on WordPress

Every blog needs feedback from visitors, that’s natural. Yet another well-known asset is that a user who has written a line for you is more likely to come back to your blog than one who has nothing of his own out there to follow. Online forms are the best way to determine visitors to engage with your blog while avoiding spam.

Beside feedback purposes, web forms are handy means to grow your subscribers list, collect leads and organize simple ecommerce checkout. Here are some useful tips on building web forms that will get filled in and generate better conversion rates on your blog.

KISS – Keep It Short and Simple

Users should be exposed to as little typing stress as possible. The rule is to make them choose, not type. If there are several topics on which you need input, it’s best to include them in a dropdown list with predefined values, or a radio buttons field, instead of asking users to type the topic in a text field. Short forms that can be scanned at one glimpse are most likely to be filled out and sent.

Good design gets the big bonus

As any corner of your blog, the form speaks out for your image. The dusty grey blocks of text make a stale theme that appeals to nobody these days, so why do this with the form fields? Choose a colorful skin for the form, one that suits the preexistent graphics on your blog. A powerful element is your logo – if you have one, make sure you have it displayed on the form, too.

Field validation – make it easy to understand

The feedback form will certainly have a field for email addresses and maybe one for phone numbers. It’s best to validate them automatically, in order to prevent inappropriate form submissions. Make sure you placed instructions that tell users which is the desired input. Interactive system signals work like a charm – when input is invalid, the field is highlighted and the error message pinpoints what needs to be fixed.

Smart CAPTCHA instead of traditional CAPTCHA

Of course, nobody particularly enjoys deciphering CAPTCHA images, but they are still good weapons against spam. How to keep your form protected and not get on visitors’ nerves? Use smart CAPTCHA. With it, the verification image shows up only when the form seems to be abused.

Visibility stands first

Many blogs have outstanding graphics and valuable content, but choose to hide the “Contact us” link somewhere at the bottom of the main screen, in tiny characters. It’s not a secret recipe, nor a side effect of some medicine, so keep it visible in the main and within posts if you want people to reach you. The best placement for the form tab is in the header or sidebar of the page.

123ContactForm (http://www.123contactform.com) is a fast and easy way to build awesome web forms for your WordPress blogs and websites. Along with all the features required for creating forms and surveys, the service provides a user-friendly interface and very clear guidance. With the 123ContactForm plugin for WordPress, you can embed any type of form on your page. You only need a free account on 123ContactForm.

How to build a form for WordPress pages?

1. Download the 123ContactForm plugin for WordPress (from the plugins directory).

   

2. Install the plugin in your WordPress directory:
   a. unzip and move the downloaded folder 123contactform-for-wordpress into your wordpress/wp-content/plugins directory; 
   b. access  your WordPress dashboard -> Plugins tab -> click on the Activate button for the plugin named 123ContactForm for WordPress.
3. Log in/sign up on www.123contactform.com.

   

4. Go to your dashboard and choose Create New Form -> Contact form.
5. Edit your form (you can add fields, change labels, rearrange elements). Make sure you have included field validation where necessary.
6. In Form Settings, define the confirmation message that users will receive after sending the form and the email address where you wish to receive notifications. At this step, you can also change the color themes for your form or style it using custom CSS. Third party apps integrations are available to extend the capabilities of the form.

   

7. Here it is, your feedback form, in just the right place and about to hook your visitors!

AUTHORED BY LAURA MOISEI

I’m a tech enthousiast and always keep in touch with the latest news in design and programming, while working for 123ContactForm team. WordPress is my first and only love in which concerns blogging.