Web forms are the defining interface between a business and its customers. They’re the gateway that takes users from your website to your data collection system, so it’s important to design them with user experience in mind. Simple decisions like when to use form progress indicators, how large or bold your headers should be, and whether or not to add animation can have a major impact on the way a user fills out a form. Considering the importance of web forms in the modern business world, it’s no surprise that many businesses have been trying to figure out how to make them more engaging and easier to complete. But not all methods for making forms more attractive and user-friendly are equal.
Some can be too much of a good thing and end up turning off users instead of encouraging them to complete the form. Forms are one of the most common online interactions, so people have a pretty clear idea of what they should look and feel like. This is partly due to the fact that most forms are very similar, so when companies stray too far from this norm, it can cause confusion and lead to a poor user experience. To avoid this, designers should try to stick to the basic form elements that work for most users. For example, it’s a good idea to use short and easy-to-read labels for form fields, and avoid any wording that could have negative connotations (like “spam”). On the other hand, it’s OK to be creative with the text in a form as long as it doesn’t contradict the purpose or ask for information not necessary for the task at hand.
Another great idea is to create forms that look as close as possible to the rest of your site. This makes the user experience feel more natural and familiar, which is key to keeping them engaged. The best way to do this is by using a no-code form builder that lets you drag-and-drop Predefined Content (like Field Labels and Form Headers) into new forms. This will save time and ensure that any future forms built with the same template are on-brand and optimized for user experience. For instance, FormAssembly’s no-code form builder allows you to create a custom template for your form that includes all of your most used Predefined Content.
This can help your team work more efficiently and ensure that all future forms are designed with a consistent style, and that the form experience is on-brand for your company. This will also prevent forms from getting too busy or confusing, which can cause users to abandon them altogether. The result will be a form that is more appealing, easier to navigate, and a more effective tool for gaining customer data. Click through the slideshow to see some of our favorite examples of highly-engaging web forms that are both on-brand and engaging to fill out.
