10 Types Of Online Forms (and How To Use Them)

Online forms have been receiving a bad reputation lately , but online forms are still the best way to collect information and create premium content.

Every website uses forms in some way. Form design is crucial because it can be the difference between generating new sales leads and making visitors bounce.

Interstitial forms asking for personal information can frustrate prospects who visit your website. Interstitial forms that ask for personal information can sometimes frustrate prospects who visit your website.

Online forms are a great tool for Lead generationspan styling=”font-weight 400 ;”>. You can use them in many ways.

Online forms simplify everything. Online forms allow prospects to leave messages that they can reply to at their convenience. While it is important to respond quickly to messages, most companies don't have the resources or time to support live communication 24/7.

Here are some online forms that you can use to build your website. Also, there are some tips and tricks you should be aware of.

Types Of Online Forms

1. 
   Sign up for the newsletter
   
   

Signing up for the newsletter is very easy. Users only need to fill in a few fields. A user signing up for your newsletter is indicating a desire to read your content on a regular schedule. This creates a channel for marketing communications.

Newsletters are a great way to build loyalty and encourage advocacy. Users are more likely to stay in touch with brands when they make a purchase decision.

2. 
   Sales Contact
   
   

Sometimes a prospect is ready to sell once they have passed the consideration stage. Without having to break a sweat, you can gather their information and direct them to your sales team.

Remember that a sales contact page is not the same thing as one on your “contact us” page. This form asks for specific sales information and connects the user directly to the sales department.

3. 
   Event Registration
   
   

Organising an event can seem daunting. However, an online form that allows you to manage your attendees lets you quickly and easily provide event-specific details such as time, venue and event schedule.

4. 
   Customer Feedback
   
   

These surveys/forms are sent after the customer has received the product. These forms/surveys can be used to ask questions such as:

• 
  How satisfied are you with the product/service.
  
• 
  How satisfied are you with the sales process?
  
• 
  Would you recommend us to a friend or colleague?
  
• 
  How did they tell you about us?
  

These data will help you determine the next steps for your business' performance evaluation.

5. 
   Online Orders and Payments
   
   

Prospects should have the ability to buy at their own pace, regardless of whether you are selling a product/service. It's a smart idea to offer an online ordering and payment option on your website in order to convert sales immediately.

It seems counter-intuitive for customers to wait until they can pay you.

6. 
   Sign up for an account
   
   

Account signup forms are used by social media sites to collect registration data and allow users to access exclusive content. Consider Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as examples. These platforms require users to create an account before they can engage with them.

This form can be used if your business requires membership. This form doesn't force customers to sign up immediately. To encourage them to make a purchase, you can send them future marketing communications.

7. 
   Website Visitor Comments
   
   

This form is designed for businesses who want to segment their online audience. These people can't be assumed to be the same as your customers, since they are just website visitors.

The feedback you receive from the form can help you identify areas where you can make improvements to your website. This feedback form is great for testing different layouts and UX best practice.

8. 
   Contest Registration
   
   

This form allows users to sign up for contest entries. Brand awareness can be increased by using contests.

While users submit the form primarily for the chance to win a prize, it is important that you follow up with them after they have finished the contest with the goal to convert them from contestants into sales leads.

9. 
   Donation
   
   

A donation form makes it much easier to support causes. Your customer's information, just like order or payment forms, should be safe stored in an organized database.

You can use your customer information to offer them additional opportunities, such as invitations to events and donations.

10. 
    Free Audit/Audit
    
    

Free assessments are a great way to generate leads, especially for SaaS companiesspan styling=”font-weight 400 ;”>. It takes a certain form to get users to sign up.

The free assessment forms are short and contain only the most basic information, such as name and email address. A free assessment will show prospects how valuable your service is. Make sure to make it as simple as possible.

Signup Forms Best Practices

Now you're familiar with your signup options, what do you need to create a high converting landing page ?

• 
  Keep it Simple
  
  

Complex online forms can overwhelm your customers and make them feel lost. It is a good rule of thumb to only ask for information that you are actually required for the next stage of the sales/marketing process.

• 
  Optimized for Mobile
  
  

Mobile devices account for more traffic than computers. It's strongly recommended that you make your form mobile-friendly

Mobile is all about accessibility and speed. Mobile conversions will be hampered if the font is too small or the buttons too difficult to use.

• 
  Point and Guide
  
  

Your customers will appreciate it if you highlight the field they are currently typing in or allow prefilled data. You should also implement an input validation system that will notify your customers if there are any errors. This will allow them to immediately correct them before they hit the submit button.

• 
  Minimize Typing
  
  

Typing on mobile devices can be just as difficult as typing on a computer. It's therefore a smart idea to reduce the amount of typing by using dropdown boxes or other selectable fields.

Key Takeaway

It's easier to generate leads than to ask prospects for their consent and information. Keep in mind that not all forms are the same. These tips will help you make sure that the right form is used when it comes.

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