Forms are the guardians of the internet. They are often filled as the starting point of a trip, to sign up for an account. In addition, they are filled out to enter an account, like the access forms. Have you ever realized that by writing a tweet or an email you are technically filling out a form? They are everywhere and are underrated. Online form builder optimization is key when you want to improve conversions.Here, we will discuss some tips to improve and optimize the forms.
1. Keep it Simple, Silly
The best thing to do when creating a form is to keep it as simple as possible (this hardly needs to be said, but it’s a common mistake).Make sure you ask users questions that you really need. If it’s not necessary, don’t bother asking. This makes the user’s life easier, which is what you want.
2. Keep it Organized
The fewer fields you have, the better. This makes the experience cleaner. However, if your form is long, don’t be afraid. Divide it into parts and sections by placing similar information together. Let’s say it’s a questionnaire about parents, separate the questionnaire into father and mother.Keeping things organized will help make the user experience easier. It’s fine if you have to split the form across different pages, but do it only if you have to.
3. If the Form is Long, it Shows the Progress
A multi-page form, such as an online purchasing process, must be documented so that the user knows where they are in the process. When there are multiple pages involved you need to be transparent. Shows how many steps / pages are left to complete (try to keep the number of pages to a minimum). In addition, you will have to show where the user is in the process.
4. Specify the Input Syntax
Have you ever wondered about the different ways you can enter a phone number in a field? A marker text can help specify in what syntax you would like a text to be entered. If you don’t specify what format you want something in, be flexible about the format. Do not show errors when the information entered does not match your standards.
5. Use Proper Button Names
Buttons are becoming notorious for being poorly named or labeled. Having a form submission button called “Submit” is inadmissible because it doesn’t say what will actually happen once you click it. Using “Submit” or “Create an account” is more descriptive and reassuring. Let users know what they are actually doing.
6. Use Proper Labels
The input labels and those on the forms should be direct and descriptive. You want users to know exactly what to enter. Let’s say again that you have a form about parents. Be direct and mention “Mother’s last name” to be as specific and clear as you can be.Don’t make users guess which last name you are referring to.
7. Explain why you Need Certain Information
Try as I might, sometimes I can’t figure out why certain registration forms or questionnaires want my phone number. This is because they do not explain why they need it. “It’s for security reasons” doesn’t mean anything to me. If you need some more sensitive information like a phone number, please explain why.
Personally, I don’t like to give my phone number. However, if you tell me that it is because it is an easy way to contact me in case something happens with the flight I have booked, I will be sure that they are taking good care of my information. Security is key in the conversion of the forms.
8. Avoid using a Drop-Down Menu
With only a few options, having a drop-down menu makes little sense. The biggest flaw is that the drop-down menus don’t allow you to see other options. A user has to click to see what else is available. If you give the user a choice of two or even four, it is best to see all the options at once. Instead, use option buttons or a toggle button.
