10 Tips for Designing Contact Forms That Convert

When you own a website, one of the most important ways to generate leads and communicate with potential customers is through a contact form. A well-designed and high-converting contact or enquiry form can make all the difference in gaining new clients and growing your business.

It’s your ticket to getting in front of your target audience, so it’s crucial to ensure you’re doing it right. This blog will discuss what makes for a high-converting contact form and provide ten tips to help you optimise your contact form for better conversions.

Summary

1. What is a contact form?
2. Why Use a Contact Form on Your Website
3. Types of contact forms
4. Top 10 Tips to Design an Effective Contact Us Web Page

What is a contact form?

Before anything else, let’s define a contact form. Simply put, a contact form is an online form that allows website visitors to send you a message or enquiry without having to email you directly. It usually includes fields for the visitor’s name, email address, phone number, and the actual message or enquiry.

A contact form is the best tool for capturing inbound leads because it provides a seamless and convenient way for potential customers to reach out to you. Unlike other methods, such as phone calls or emails, a contact form can be easily accessed from any device with internet access, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

Why Use a Contact Form on Your Website

You’re probably thinking, why not just provide an email address or phone number for people to reach you? While those are valid ways of communication, there are several reasons why a contact form is more beneficial:

Lead generation

Did you know that 96% of people who visit your website are not ready to buy? This is where a contact form comes in handy. It will allow you to capture potential customers’ information so you can follow up with them and nurture the relationship until they are ready to make a purchase.

By encouraging visitors to fill out a contact form, you are essentially creating a database of leads that you can continuously engage with, increasing the chances of converting them into paying customers.

Offer Better Customer Support

The more accessible you make your contact information, the easier it is for customers to reach out to you with any questions or concerns they may have. Contact forms provide a more organised and efficient way of managing customer inquiries compared to emails or phone calls.

Moreover, with a contact form, you can include specific fields for customers to select the type of inquiry they have, making it easier for you to prioritise and respond to their needs promptly.

Keep Track of Inquiries and Leads

A contact form can also be a valuable tool for collecting data and keeping track of all the inquiries and leads you receive. This makes it easier to follow up with potential customers, track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts, and make improvements to your products or services based on their feedback. For instance, you can include a field in your contact form asking customers how they heard about your company, giving you valuable insights into which marketing channels are most effective for reaching your target audience.

Reduce Spam Emails

Who likes receiving spam emails? Nobody. By using a contact form, you can reduce the amount of spam emails you receive through your website. Most contact form plugins come with security measures such as captcha or email validation to ensure that the submissions are from real people and not automated bots. Similarly, you can also include a checkbox for customers to confirm that they are not robots, further reducing the chances of receiving spam.

Build your email list

Businesses must build email lists to stay in touch with their customers and keep them updated about new products or services. A contact form can be an effective way of collecting email addresses from potential customers who are interested in your business. One good example here is to include a checkbox that allows customers to subscribe to your newsletter or promotional emails. This way, you can build a targeted email list and send out relevant content to people who are interested in your business.

Types of contact forms

Understanding the different types of contact forms can help you choose the best one for your business needs. Here are some common types:

Pop-Up Form

A pop-up form appears on top of the webpage and requires visitors to fill it out before they can continue browsing. This type of form is useful for promoting a specific offer or getting visitors’ attention. If your website has a lot of traffic, pop-up forms can be an effective way to capture leads.

AI Chatbot

If you would like to answer customers quickly, you can integrate an AI chatbot to your website. Chatbots are perfect for responding to customers immediately, even beyond working hours. They can be programmed to point your customers to relevant links, share answers to FAQs, and help customers make purchasing decisions.

Sometimes, when customers are frustrated or anxious about a product-related query, having a chatbot to answer them quickly can alleviate their concerns. If the chatbots do not succeed in answering questions, you can connect them with a live agent when available.

Feedback or Survey Form

When a customer wants to provide feedback or fill out a survey, they can use this type of form. Feedback and survey forms are useful for collecting valuable insights from customers that can help improve your business.

Order, Quote, or Demo Request Form

An order form is used to collect customer details and process transactions for a product or service. A quote request form is used to gather information from potential customers about their specific needs, which can then be used to generate a customised quote. Finally, a demo request form is used to allow potential customers to try out your product or service before making a purchase.

Footer Form

Commonly found in the bottom section of a website, this type of form allows visitors to quickly and easily send a message or inquiry to your business. Footer forms are great for general inquiries or questions about your products or services. Businesses usually use this type of form to provide visitors with a way to contact them without having to navigate to a separate page.

Top 10 Tips to Design an Effective Contact Us Web Page

Now that we have discussed the various types of contact forms let’s explore some tips for designing an effective Contact Us web page:

1. Keep The Contact Form Simple

Sometimes, the simpler the form, the better. Avoid asking for too much information on your contact form, as it can be overwhelming for visitors and discourage them from filling it out. The colours and the placement of the form should also be simple and easy to find.

In addition to keeping the form simple, it is also important to make sure that the form is easy to understand and fill out. Use clear and concise language, and avoid using technical jargon or complicated terms.

2. Add A Call To Action To Your Contact Us Page

A call to action or CTA is a prompt or instruction that encourages visitors to take a specific action. In the case of a Contact Us page, the CTA should encourage visitors to fill out and submit the contact form. A well-designed CTA button can make all the difference in getting visitors to actually complete the form.

Some examples of effective CTA phrases for a Contact Us page could be:

• “Get In Touch”

• “Send Us A Message”

• “Submit Your Inquiry Now”

3. Optimise for Multiple Devices

Not all potential customers use a mobile phone or a desktop to browse the internet. Make sure your Contact Us page is optimised for all devices, including tablets and laptops. This will ensure that no matter how visitors access your website, they can easily find and fill out the contact form.

Why is this important? Well, think about the experience of a customer who is browsing on their phone and has to zoom in and out multiple times just to fill out the contact form. This can be frustrating and may result in them abandoning the form altogether. If your form is optimised for all devices, you increase the chances of visitors actually completing it.

4. Make it Attractive

It might sound obvious, but a visually appealing Contact Us page can make a significant difference in how many people actually fill out the form. Use high-quality graphics, colours that are pleasing to the eye, and an overall design that is consistent with your brand’s aesthetic.

Also, consider adding images or videos that showcase your products or services, as this can help visitors understand what your business has to offer and entice them to reach out. However, make sure that these visual elements do not distract from the main purpose of the page – filling out the contact form.

5. Provide Examples of the Right Format

If there are fields that require a specific format, leave an example of the required response. For example, an order number can be specified as having 6 characters or the date format can be indicated as DD/MM/YYYY. Clarifying the format makes it easier for users to type in the right information and for businesses to respond appropriately.

6. Provide Confirmation

Once a visitor submits their contact form, make sure to provide a confirmation message or page that lets them know their submission was successful. This not only gives visitors peace of mind but also provides an opportunity for you to thank them and let them know when they can expect to hear back from you.

7. Pay Attention to User Privacy

The contact form is where visitors provide personal information, so it’s essential to ensure their privacy and security. Make sure your website has an SSL certificate installed to encrypt data transmission between the visitor’s browser and your server.

Consider adding a brief statement or link to your privacy policy on the contact form page, informing visitors about how their information will be used and protected.

8. Use CAPTCHA

CAPTCHA, which stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart,” is a type of security feature that helps prevent bots or automated programs from spamming your contact form. This can save you time and effort in sorting through irrelevant or fake submissions.

When you add a CAPTCHA feature to your contact form, make sure it’s user-friendly and not too difficult for real visitors to decipher. Otherwise, you might risk losing potential inquiries from frustrated users.

9. Offer Different Communication Options On Your Contact Page

Make sure to consider adding more than just a contact form on your website’s contact page. Providing alternative communication options such as email, phone numbers, or social media links can cater to different preferences and increase the chances of receiving inquiries.

For example, a millennial might prefer to send a direct message on Instagram, while an older individual might prefer to make a phone call. On the other hand, some people may prefer to keep their communication channels separate and opt for email instead. By offering multiple options, you show that you value your visitors’ preferences and make it easier for them to reach out to you.

10. Include Your Social Media Channels

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn are just a few examples of popular social media platforms that businesses use to connect with their audience. By including links to your social media accounts on your contact page, you make it easier for visitors to reach you and provide them with alternative ways to stay connected and updated with your business.

Having active social media channels can also serve as a form of social proof for your business. When potential customers see that you have an active presence on social media, it can build trust and credibility for your brand.

Choose Verz Design For A High-Converting Website

Your contact page is crucial to generate a high conversion rate through your website. By implementing the tips mentioned above, you can ensure that your contact page is optimised for maximum effectiveness and provides a positive experience for your visitors.

At Verz Design, we understand the importance of a well-designed and functional contact page. We help all our website customers with a complimentary ‘Thank You’ page and email so your customers know you are listening. Our team of experts can help you create a professional and user-friendly contact page that will enhance your website’s overall performance. Contact us today at +65 6841 1680 or [email protected] to learn more about our web design services!