FORMS & AUDIENCE
Which fields belong in a contact form?
Separate newsletter, quote and collaboration needs to build a form that collects useful information without unnecessary questions.
Adding one more field is easy. The useful question is why a customer needs to share that information. Work out what you need for a helpful first reply, and simplifying the form becomes much easier.
- Form purpose
- Necessary information
- Relevant first reply
Which conversation will this form start?
Joining a newsletter and asking for a quote are different actions. The first may need only an address; the second needs a brief description of the requirement. Make that purpose visible in the heading and questions so visitors know why they are here from the first field.
Do you need a phone number or company name immediately?
A phone number may not need to be required when you will reply by email. Budget or timing can help assess some projects. For each field, ask whether you could offer a useful first reply without it. If so, make it optional or discuss it later.
Do the labels help people answer?
“What would you like to know?” can be more helpful than “Message”. Avoid making people guess what to write. Keep the field label visible when typing starts, and explain what needs correction if something is entered incorrectly rather than showing only a generic error.
Have you completed it as a customer?
Try the form on a phone. Are questions in a sensible order, required fields obvious and the submission result understandable? Try missing or incorrect information too. This reveals where someone might get stuck, not only the successful screen. A short, clear first version is a useful place to begin.
Now let’s look at your own content.
- Write down why each field is needed.
- Distinguish required and optional information.
- Try unsuccessful and successful submission on a phone.
COMMON QUESTIONS
A few more things you might be wondering.
Should a phone number be required?
Make it optional unless a call is an essential part of the process. Explain why you are asking for it.
Should I ask for a budget immediately?
A range can help when it determines service suitability. Include a sensible option for people who have not decided yet.
Can one form handle every purpose?
It can be a simple starting point. Design separate purposes when newsletters, quotes and collaborations need different responses.
