Keep It Short

However cool you think your form is, the fact is your users don’t like to fill them out. As an avid web user myself, I have to battle through dozens of forms every week, getting in touch with people, registering new accounts, and so on.

And let me tell you... at least once or twice a week, I don’t submit a form I initially intended to, just because the form is too long and/or asking for info I don’t want to submit. So, if you want people to submit your form, keep it short and simple.

Here are my recommendations on the matter:

• Just ask what you really need to know
• Use default choices (if you own a business in the US, most people who’ll get in touch will be from the US as well. So, if you’re asking for their country, make sure that “USA” is the default!)
• Don’t overuse mandatory fields. If someone tries to reach you by email, there’s really no point in requesting a phone number!
• On registration forms, offer the possibility to register with Facebook and Twitter.

Use Ajax Validation

I already talked on CatsWhoCode about a very useful jQuery plugin named jQuery Form. It makes Ajax validation very easy, so make use of it to provide a better experience to your users.

Make Sure It’s Mobile Friendly

Give People Other Ways to Reach You

Take It Easy With Captchas

Use the Correct HTML5 Input Types

HTML5 makes it easier for your users to complete forms and is widely supported, so there’s absolutely no reason not to use it. Check the article below for a reminder of the input types introduced by the HTML5 spec.

Answer!

That may sound simple, but actually, all of the above tips are meaningless if you fail to answer on time to your visitors’ requests. Things are fast on the internet, and the competition is tough. So if somebody contacts you through your website and hasn’t heard back from you in 24 hours, you can be sure that this person is going to contact your competitor. Take pride in providing top-notch service!