Improve the contact form on your website: 5 simple tips

Because even though your website looks absolutely great and your visitors are interested in your products and/or services, you can still see in Google Analytics that many people are dropping out of your online form.

This can have numerous reasons, of course, but often the cause lies with the form itself.

It doesn't work well or visitors simply aren't enticed well enough to fill it out completely and hit the submit button.

The former is easy to find out by filling it out yourself, but the latter can also be addressed.

In fact, with these 5 tips for more effective contact forms on your website, you will ensure more leads, customers and sales.

Simple, easy to implement and with immediate results ...

let's go!

1. Use as few fields as possible

Most people, if not everyone, loathe filling out long contact forms and, as a result, drop out at the sight of a screen full of input fields. Why enter your BSN number, the title of your guilty pleasure or your cat's name at all?

The secret to an effective contact form? Keep it simple: name, e-mail, and a message. That's often enough. In fact, research from HubSpot shows that forms with just three fields achieve the highest conversion rate.

So, stick to three pitches, folks. Three! And if it really can't be less, make it as short as possible. Exactly what visitors want - quick and easy contact.

2. Don't ask for a phone number if you don't have to

Question, do you feel comfortable leaving your phone number on a Web site? Probably not, and you're certainly not the only one.

Your phone number is personal and you don't just give that information to strangers. Besides, most people are busy during the day and are not waiting for inconvenient phone calls from a sales department.

In addition, the fewer fields, the more effective the form. If an e-mail address is sufficient, why ask for a phone number?

Consider adding the phone number as an optional field, not a requirement. This can also significantly improve conversion rates.

Source : http://seoexperts4all.com/strategies-boost-conversion-rates-online-business/

3. Communicate the added value

No one fills out contact forms for fun; people need to be convinced that they are getting something valuable in return. The principle of "one good turn deserves another" plays a big role here.

One effective way to address this is to clearly communicate exactly what the fill-in-the-blank can expect in exchange for their data. This can range from a competitive, no-obligation quote to exclusive content such as an e-book that reveals the secret to the perfect burger.

It gets trickier, however, when your form serves only to ask a question. Then what is the real added value? This is something to think carefully about. 🧠

Source : https://optimusonline.nl/

4. Generate confidence

Gaining trust is important when it comes to completing contact forms on Web sites. Although it seems obvious, in practice it is often found that many Web forms are not perceived as trustworthy by visitors.

For example, what happens after they click "send"? Are their data sold or do they end up on a mailing list unwanted?

It is as good as necessary to clarify this. Inform your visitors exactly what happens to their data. Whether they proceed to the next step in the ordering process, or whether they can expect a quick answer to their question: tell them clearly.

And if their data isn't used for anything else, confirm that. By setting expectations and meeting them, you link a sense of satisfaction with your business, which ultimately leads to increased trust and a more positive user experience.

Pro Tip

Use social proof if you can such as real testimonials or positive reviews near the infamous action button. This can really do wonders for your contact form conversion rate.

But something like "1187′ entrepreneurs went before you" can also persuade visitors to use the form.

5. Pay attention to design

Yes, design matters! Not only the design of your website, but also the position of the contact form matters.

Convincing visitors to actually fill in their data is no easy task, and distractions around the form certainly don't help. Unnecessary elements that draw attention away from the form, its added value, or its trust-building aspects can deter visitors from filling out the form.

To avoid this, it's smart to use plenty of "white space" around the form. This ensures that the form field stands out clearly. A button in a striking but appropriate color can also attract attention, increasing the likelihood that the form will be used.

Bonus: provide a happy ending

Do you recognize that feeling? You're at the Ikea checkout with a cart full of stuff you don't actually need, and yet it doesn't feel right. But as soon as you've paid and loaded up your car, you suddenly feel a lot happier. Why?

This is because Ikea adds something fun at the end of your shopping experience: a tasty hot dog or cool ice cream at a discount for family members. That little treat makes you leave the store with a smile.

This principle can also be applied to filling out a contact form on your Web site. Although this is usually not the most enjoyable task, you can still make the filler feel good by offering some form of reward.

Consider a happy thank you page, an automatically generated email confirmation, or even a discount code for your next purchase. Choose what best suits your business and leave your visitors with a smile after their digital interaction.

Test your variations!

Fair is fair, the above tips don't guarantee success, but they will help you a long way toward a more effective contact form.

There is only one way to find out what works well with your target audience, and that is testing. Test, with Hotjar for example, multiple variations of your web form and see which one performs best.

In doing so, be sure to let us know in the comments what you changed and what your results are!

Also read:

• Getting a website made: here's what to look out for from an SEO standpoint
• Here's what you need to know about Hotjar, heatmapping and installing Hotjar via Google Tag Manager
• Don't miss out on SEO opportunities: use Keyword Hero!