Guide on Using WordPress Forms (All You Need to Know)

Guide on Using WordPress Forms are interactive tools that allow visitors to your site to submit various types of information, ranging from feedback to contact details. Essentially, these forms replace paper forms by enabling users to type their responses directly into fields on your website.

For instance, a contact form lets users fill in their name, email address, and message before submitting it. This makes communication much easier, allowing you to respond to inquiries quickly.

For small business websites, WordPress forms are an essential feature. They simplify the process for customers to engage, improving communication and offering a smoother experience.

At WPBeginner, we utilize forms for various purposes, such as:

Collecting inquiries via contact forms
Managing website migration requests
Running annual user surveys for feedback
Providing free tools, like our email signature generator

Why WordPress Forms Matter

Using forms on your WordPress site is an excellent way to boost engagement and gather valuable information. They are versatile and can be customized to meet your needs.

Some common types of forms and their benefits include:

Contact Forms: Let visitors get in touch with questions or comments, keeping your inbox organized.
Registration Forms: Ideal for membership sites, they allow users to create accounts, build a community, and control access to exclusive content.
Survey Forms: Collect user feedback to improve your site and make visitors feel heard.
Payment Forms: Facilitate secure transactions directly on your site, making it easier for customers to buy products or services.

In short, WordPress forms enhance user interaction and data collection, helping you improve the user experience.

Selecting the Right WordPress Form Plugin

Choosing a form plugin for WordPress requires considering key factors like ease of use, value, and compatibility with other tools.

Ease of Use: Choose a plugin with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, enabling easy customization without coding knowledge.
Add-ons and Integrations: Ensure the plugin offers additional functionalities, such as file uploads, payment options, or integrations with email marketing tools.
Value for Money: Evaluate the pricing structure, whether monthly or one-time fees and ensure the features align with your needs.

WPForms is a popular choice due to its user-friendly interface and range of add-ons. For detailed comparisons, check out our guide comparing WPForms, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms.

Expert Recommendation: For optimal results, we recommend WPForms for contact forms, OptinMonster for lead generation, and Charitable for fundraising.

Building WordPress Forms

Creating a WordPress form is straightforward. After activating your plugin, simply choose a template, customize it, and configure settings like email notifications. Once done, embed the form on your pages or posts.

Adding Contact Forms

Adding a contact form is a better alternative to displaying your email publicly, as it reduces spam. It also helps you gather essential details like the user’s name, phone number, and email address.

For a more dynamic experience, consider using floating contact forms. These forms remain visible without disrupting the user experience, making them easy to spot without being intrusive.

Adding a Job Application Form

Job application forms streamline the hiring process and keep your inbox organized. Instead of sifting through resumes, a job application form lets you collect all necessary details in one place.

Using Dropdown Fields in Forms

Dropdown fields allow users to choose from a list of options, ensuring data consistency and reducing invalid entries. They also enable dynamic features, like showing additional questions based on previous selections, all while making your form more concise.

Adding Order Forms

For businesses like restaurants, simple order forms can be a more effective solution than a full-fledged eCommerce setup. These forms streamline the ordering and payment process, whether for online or in-person transactions.

Forms with Payment Options

If you’re not running an entire eCommerce store but need to accept payments for a few items or services, a payment form integrated with payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal can simplify the process.

HIPAA-Compliant Forms

For healthcare providers or telehealth platforms, HIPAA-compliant forms are necessary to protect patient data. Using such forms builds trust and ensures you meet legal requirements, avoiding penalties.

User Registration Forms

Custom user registration forms let you gather more detailed information than just names and emails. You can include preferences, social media links, or other data relevant to your site’s objectives.

RSVP Forms

Event planners can greatly benefit from RSVP forms. These forms help you keep track of guest responses, ensuring you have a consistent way of managing attendance. WPForms even offers AI-generated options for checkboxes, dropdowns, and multiple-choice fields to enhance your forms.

By adding and customizing WordPress forms, you can enhance your site’s functionality, streamline business processes, and improve user engagement.

Adding a WordPress Form with a Date Picker

Including a date picker field in a WordPress form enhances user experience by allowing visitors to easily select dates. Whether it’s for registration forms requesting birthdates, order forms for choosing delivery dates, or rental forms for scheduling pick-up times, the date picker simplifies the process. It’s also ideal for callback or leave requests, where users can indicate when they’d like to be contacted or when they’ll be off.

By incorporating a date picker, you make it easier for users to input dates accurately, ensuring consistency across your forms.

For detailed instructions, check our guide on how to create a WordPress form with a date picker.

Adding Conversational Forms in WordPress

Traditional forms that display all the questions at once can sometimes discourage users from completing them. Conversational forms, however, engage users by asking one question at a time, mimicking a natural conversation. This interactive approach is less overwhelming and increases form completion rates.

You can also incorporate progress bars into your conversational forms to show users how far they’ve come in the process.

To learn more, check out our guide on creating conversational forms in WordPress.

How to Create a Custom Calculator in WordPress

A custom calculator is a great way to offer users useful tools directly on your site. For instance, health and fitness websites can provide a BMI calculator, while eCommerce sites can integrate metric-to-imperial converters or shipping cost calculators to avoid surprises during checkout.

Calculators can also be used to gather leads by requesting user emails in exchange for results.

For a detailed walkthrough, read our guide on how to create a custom calculator in WordPress.

Note: A reliable calculator plugin can streamline the process. Explore our expert recommendations for the best WordPress calculator plugins.

Adding Survey Forms in WordPress

Surveys provide a powerful way to collect feedback and understand your visitors’ preferences. Whether you’re gathering insights on your products or gauging customer satisfaction with your blog content, surveys help you make informed decisions.

Surveys can also be used internally, like assessing team feedback to improve collaboration.

To simplify the process, use the right survey form builder. For recommendations, check out our expert picks of the best WordPress survey plugins.

For detailed steps on creating surveys, refer to our guide on how to create a survey in WordPress.

Adding a Custom Airtable Form in WordPress

Integrating a custom Airtable form allows you to manage the data you collect on your website more effectively. Airtable helps organize form submissions, such as contact forms and surveys and lets you visualize and manage this data for tasks like CRM or inventory management.

This tool helps reduce data chaos and keeps everything organized, which is especially helpful for businesses or content creators looking to stay on top of their submissions.

For a step-by-step guide, refer to our tutorial on creating a custom Airtable form in WordPress.

Building a WordPress AJAX Form

AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) enables web pages to transfer data without a page reload. Using AJAX in WordPress forms lets you submit data seamlessly, improving user experience by avoiding page refreshes. This method is particularly effective for collecting feedback or managing logins without interrupting the user flow.

AJAX forms reduce server load and data transfer, which can enhance the overall performance of your website.

For instructions, visit our guide on building a WordPress AJAX form.

Adding HTML Forms in WordPress

HTML forms offer complete control over customization and functionality. While they can improve loading times and provide tailored design options, creating HTML forms requires coding knowledge. However, some plugins simplify adding HTML forms to your WordPress site without the need to code from scratch.

For a detailed walkthrough, check out our guide on how to add HTML forms in WordPress.

How to Customize WordPress Forms

Personalizing your WordPress forms is key to maintaining a consistent design across your site. A customized form looks more professional and builds trust with your audience. It also increases the likelihood of users completing the form.

To learn how to style and customize your WordPress forms, refer to our step-by-step guide.

Key Ways to Customize Your Forms

Choosing a Form Template

Many form plugins offer pre-designed templates to help you get started quickly. These templates cover common use cases like contact forms, order forms, and surveys. By choosing the right template, you can save time and adapt it to match your branding.

WPForms offers a library of over 1,900 templates to choose from, which can be easily customized to suit your needs.

Using Drag-and-Drop Functionality

Most form builders feature a drag-and-drop interface, enabling you to easily add or remove form fields without needing any coding skills. This user-friendly interface makes form creation efficient and accessible, even for beginners.

Exploring Customization Options

Form builders often offer extensive customization options, including adjusting colors, fonts, and button styles to align with your website’s theme. Many also provide pre-set themes, so you can apply a professional look to your forms in no time.

WPForms, for example, allows you to quickly select a theme through the WordPress block editor, applying an appealing style to your form instantly.

Post-Submission Form Tips

Redirecting Users After Submission

After a form is submitted, consider redirecting users to a thank-you page. This gives them a sense of closure and informs them of what to expect next. A simple message like “Thanks for reaching out! We’ll get back to you soon” can enhance the user experience.

For more information, check our guide on how to redirect users after form submission.

Sending Confirmation Emails

Confirmation emails are essential for keeping users informed. After form submission, sending an email confirming receipt reassures users that their data has been received. This communication can increase engagement and provide them with a record of their submission.

For further details, read our guide on how to send confirmation emails after WordPress form submission.

By customizing your forms, you not only enhance user experience but also improve engagement, making form submissions more likely.