Computer and Web Articles

Does your website contain forms for visitors to fill out?  A general contact form? An online store checkout form? A special product inquiry form? If your site contains even just one form, take a moment to ask yourself the following questions; make sure your forms are working for you—not against you.

1. Are you asking site visitors to provide you with irrelevant information? Honestly; why are you requiring people give you their home and business phone numbers when all they’d like to do is ask you a quick question?
2. Are you trying to collect more information than necessary? Do whatever you can to minimize the amount of time it takes for a site visitor to contact you via your online forms.  Just because I want to make contact with your company does *not* mean I want to give up my lunch break by having to fill out a mile-long form.
3. Do you take care of your visitors after they submit their information? I’ve used forms where, after hitting Submit, the page flashes and I suddenly find myself looking at a completely empty version of the form I just filled out. No note saying “your information has been submitted”. No text saying “Thank you for filling out our form.” Nothing letting me know when I should expect a response. Do I fill out the form again? Did my inquiry go through? A simple, clear confirmation message can prevent confusion and frustration related to your online forms.
4. Do you have “Clear” or “Reset” button at the bottom of your form near your Submit button? If you do, get rid of it. Now. People do not take time out of their day to visit your website, carefully fill out your online form, get to the bottom–and then delete all the information they just typed out. Clear and Reset buttons only increase the likelihood that you’ll frustrate your site’s visitors; these buttons do nothing but make it easier for your visitors to accidentally delete all the information they just entered.