It’s a common belief that displaying an email address on an ecommerce site is sufficient for customer communication. Many often question the significance of featuring an ‘extra’ contact form. However, this perspective overlooks the unique benefits that contact forms provide.
A contact form ensures that customer inquiries are consistent and easy to manage. It also offers an additional layer of security, protecting both businesses and customers from spam. These advantages contribute to a seamless user experience.
This article will show you how to create a WordPress contact form effectively. We’ll cover all the essentials to ensure your ecommerce site is equipped for optimal customer communication.
What is a WordPress contact form?
The importance of a WordPress contact form in ecommerce
The ecommerce sector is highly competitive. As a result, businesses must use all available resources to succeed.
Here’s why adding a WordPress contact form is essential for your ecommerce business:
1. Building trust: A contact form on your WordPress site symbolizes openness and accessibility. It sends a clear message that your business values customer communication. This transparency is vital to building trust and confidence among your consumers.
2. Handling queries: A WordPress contact form allows businesses to address questions promptly. This is crucial in facilitating potential sales. It is especially important for products that may require additional information or clarification.
3. Managing returns and refunds: It’s essential to have an easy way for customers to initiate returns or report issues. WooCommerce forms and specialized WordPress contact forms simplify this process. They ensure that any post-purchase concerns are dealt with efficiently. This level of customer service maintains customer satisfaction and loyalty.
4. Feedback collection: Customers can share their product experiences through a WordPress contact form, as well as leave reviews and suggestions. This direct line of communication is essential for gathering valuable feedback, which you can use to refine your products and enhance the overall customer experience.
Here’s an example of a contact form created for feedback collection:
Integrating the best WordPress contact form plugin into your ecommerce site is vital for efficiently handling customer inquiries, feedback, and concerns efficiently.
Key features of an effective ecommerce contact form
Creating a contact form that meets the needs of your ecommerce business and your customers is crucial. A well-designed WordPress contact form ensures a seamless communication flow, which enhances user experience and operational efficiency.
Here are a few key features to consider when integrating a contact form into your WordPress sites:
- Simplicity: Design your contact form to be straightforward for visitors to complete. A concise form encourages more customer interactions, better communication and customer satisfaction.
- Fields: Include essential fields such as Name, Email, Subject, and Message. However, note that the type of signup form you’re creating may require additional fields if you need critical information to respond effectively to customer inquiries.
- Security: Implement CAPTCHA or other anti-spam measures. This step is crucial in protecting your site from spam. Here’s an example of a simple form with reCAPTCHA:
- Confirmation message: Provide a clear confirmation message once the form is submitted. This reassures users that their message has been received and that you will be in touch soon.
- Mobile optimization: A mobile-friendly form guarantees a user-friendly experience, regardless of the device used.
- Integration: Incorporate the contact form with your CRM systems or email marketing tools. This integration allows for easy tracking and management of customer interactions.
Best WordPress contact form plugins
Selecting the right WordPress contact form plugin is vital. When choosing, consider the following:
- A user-friendly interface
- Flexible design options
- Compatibility with other tools
- Reliable customer support
Let’s take a look at some of the top WordPress contact form plugins. We will explore their features, pros, cons, and pricing to help you make an informed decision for your ecommerce site.
Let’s get started.
1. Omnisend
Omnisend is one of the best WordPress contact form plugins available. It is specifically designed to address the complex requirements of ecommerce businesses. This tool not only makes communication between you and your customers smooth, but also boosts user engagement with its sophisticated features.
Omnisend is simple to use, highly customizable, and easy to integrate. These qualities ensure that businesses can manage customer interactions and marketing activities effectively.
Key features
- User-friendly interface for straightforward form creation and management
- Extensive customization options, making the forms ideal for various use cases
- Seamless integration with multiple ecommerce platforms, including WooCommerce
- Automation features to streamline marketing processes, save time, and boost sales
- Comprehensive analytics to track and improve contact form performance
Pros
- A complete marketing automation platform
- Provides extensive control over design and functionality
- Ensures smooth data flow between the contact form and other business tools
- Accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise
Pricing
A free-forever plan is available, suited to businesses with smaller contact lists. There are also two paid plans:
- Standard: from $16/month
- Pro: from $59/month
The video tutorial below covers how to create different types of signup forms for your website. The same steps and templates are applicable even when setting up a contact form.
2. WPForms
WPForms is a top-rated WordPress contact form plugin and suitable for both small and large ecommerce websites. The plugin is celebrated for its user-friendly nature, adaptability, and wide-ranging features.
If you are launching a new venture or running a major ecommerce platform, WPForms offers all the necessary tools to craft efficient contact forms.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop builder for easy form creation without coding skills
- A variety of pre-built form templates to speed up the setup process
- Fully responsive design ensuring forms look great on all devices
- Advanced spam protection using smart CAPTCHA and honeypot methods
- Instant notifications to respond promptly to customer inquiries
- Seamless payment integration with popular payment gateways
Pros
- User-friendly interface accessible to all skill levels
- Versatile functionality, suitable for everything from simple contact forms to detailed surveys
- Extensive add-ons available for added functionality
- Reliable customer support from a knowledgeable team
Cons
- Some advanced features and add-ons require the pro version
- The wide array of features and settings might be overwhelming for beginners
Pricing
A basic, free version is available for initial use and testing. There are also the following paid plans:
- Basic: $99/year
- Plus: $199/year
- Pro: $399/year
- Elite: $599/year
3. Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms is a premium WordPress contact form plugin. It’s known for its comprehensive features and adaptability, making it a favorite among ecommerce websites.
Known for its reliability and powerful performance, it’s ideal for businesses looking to create sophisticated contact forms.
Key features
- Comprehensive form builder with a wide range of field types and advanced options
- Conditional logic to show or hide fields based on user input
- Multi-page forms to break long forms into manageable sections
- Users can upload documents or images
- Integration with a variety of email marketing and CRM tools
- Add-ons for enhanced functionality and connectivity with other services
Pros
- Powerful and flexible, suitable for creating complex forms
- Extensive documentation and community support
- Regular updates and a strong track record for reliability
- Variety of integrations and add-ons to extend functionality
Cons
- It’s a premium-only plugin—there’s no free version available
- The wide array of features may be overwhelming for beginners
Pricing
- Basic License: $59/year
- Pro License: $159/year
- Elite License: $259/year
4. Formidable Forms
Formidable Forms is one of the best WordPress contact form plugins, catering to a range of ecommerce needs. It stands out for its advanced features and flexibility. This allows users to create complex forms and data-driven web applications.
Formidable Forms is one of the go-to plugins for users aiming to enhance the capabilities of their ecommerce platforms.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop form builder simplifies the creation process, requiring no coding
- Visual styler to customize form appearance and ensure brand consistency
- Advanced data collection, including conditional logic and calculations
- Integrations with popular email marketing services and payment gateways
- Built-in views feature to display form data on the front end of your site
- Mobile-responsive design ensures forms work seamlessly on all devices
Pros
- Highly customizable, accommodating a wide range of form types and uses
- Robust features for data management and display
- Comprehensive documentation and support resources
- Regular updates ensuring compatibility and security
Cons
- The extensive feature set may be overwhelming for new users
- Some advanced features are only available in premium versions
Pricing
A basic version is available for free, offering essential features. There are also four paid plans you could consider:
- Basic: $79/year
- Plus: $199/year
- Business: $399/year
- Elite: $599/year
5. Ninja Forms
Ninja Forms is celebrated for being user-friendly and flexible. These qualities make it an excellent option for ecommerce websites.
Ninja Forms provides an extensive array of features to design functional and visually appealing forms. Moreover, the plugin is an ideal choice for users of all levels of technical expertise.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop form builder enables easy creation and customization of forms
- Multiple field types to cater to different data collection needs
- Conditional logic to dynamically change forms based on user input
- Multiple form templates for a quick start and consistent design
- Extensive integration options with email marketing services and CRM tools
- Responsive design ensures that forms are accessible on all devices
Pros
- Intuitive interface, ideal for beginners and advanced users alike
- Vast collection of add-ons for enhanced functionality
- Strong customer support and a wealth of educational resources
- Regular updates for performance improvements and new features
Cons
- While there is a free version, many advanced features require premium add-ons
- The sheer number of features and add-ons can be overwhelming for new users
Pricing
A free version is available, offering basic functionality. There are also three paid plans:
- Plus: $99/year
- Pro: $199/year
- Elite: $499/year
How to create a WordPress Contact Form with Omnisend
Adding a WordPress contact form to your ecommerce site is a strategic decision to improve the user experience and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. Omnisend offers extra advantages in terms of efficiency and functionality, including the fact that forms are available on the free plan.
You’ll need to follow some simple but specific steps to integrate Omnisend with WordPress, so let’s look at the process now.
Sign up for Omnisend
To integrate Omnisend with your WordPress site, you first need an account. If you don’t have one, sign up on the Omnisend website . Follow the registration process to create your account.
Create a signup form in Omnisend
Step 1: After signing up, log in to your Omnisend account.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Forms’ on the dashboard to start creating your contact form.
Step 3: Choose your form type.
Step 4: Design your form using the drag-and-drop editor, including essential fields like Name, Email, and Message.
Step 5: Save your form once complete.
Integrate the form with WordPress
Omnisend will provide a unique code snippet for your form, usually in JavaScript. Copy this code for the next step.
WooCommerce users can also integrate Omnisend forms using the Omnisend for WooCommerce plugin .
Add the code to WordPress
Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
Step 2: Go to ‘Appearance’ > ‘Widgets’.
Step 3: Add a ‘Custom HTML’ widget to where you want the form, such as the sidebar or footer.
Step 4: Paste the Omnisend form code into this widget and save.
How to add the WordPress contact form to a post or page
Step 1: Open the editor for the specific post or page you want to display the form.
Step 2: Click ‘+ Add Block’ > ‘Custom HTML’.
Step 3: Paste the Omnisend form code and then either publish or update the page.
Test your form
Ensure everything works smoothly. Check that the form displays correctly and submissions reach Omnisend. Confirm any connected automations, like autoresponders, are functioning correctly.
You can also check that your form displays appropriately on multiple devices.
Create automations in Omnisend
Leverage Omnisend’s automation features to engage your subscribers on autopilot. You can set up a welcome email series for all new subscribers, or send a thank you message when a visitor submits a contact form.
Monitor & optimize
Regularly review your Omnisend dashboard. Analyze form performance, track views, conversion rates, and assess the quality of submissions. Make adjustments as needed based on the Forms Reports to optimize performance.
Additional tips for your WordPress contact form
Optimizing your WordPress contact form is crucial for user engagement and trust. Below are some additional tips to help you enhance your forms.
1. Ensure GDPR compliance
It’s crucial that your WordPress contact form complies with GDPR when accepting a European audience.
To meet these requirements, include a clear checkbox which users can tick to consent to your data collection practices and terms.
2. Focus on aesthetics
Pay attention to the visual appeal of your contact form. Ensure it aligns with your brand’s aesthetics to maintain consistency and build trust.
3. Craft a clear call to action
Your CTA should be straightforward and engaging. Use concise, compelling language to motivate users to submit their information.
How to create a contact form in WordPress without a plugin
Creating a contact form on your WordPress site doesn’t always require a plugin. You can do it using HTML and PHP or by employing a third-party tool. Here’s how you can proceed with both methods:
Using HTML and PHP
Step 1: Navigate to your WordPress theme directory. Create a new PHP file, perhaps naming it contact-form.php .
Step 2: Start your file with PHP code to handle form submissions. Ensure to include validation and security measures to protect against spam.
Step 3:
Below your PHP code, add the HTML for your form fields. Include elements like name, email, message, and a submit button.
Step 4: Create a new page in your WordPress dashboard. Then, select contact-form.php as your page template from the page attributes section.
Step 5: Publish the page, making your form live and accessible to visitors.
Make sure that you test the form to verify that submissions go to your designated email address and that all form fields are working as intended.
Using a third-party tool like JotForm
Step 1: Visit JotForm’s website. Sign up for an account or log in if you already have one.
Step 2: Use JotForm’s drag-and-drop builder to create a new form. Customize it according to your needs and branding.
Step 3: After creating your form, save your changes. Navigate to the Publish section to obtain the embed code.
Step 4: In your WordPress dashboard, go to the page or post where you want the form. Switch to the text editor.
Step 5: Paste the JotForm embed code where you’d like the form to appear.
Step 6: Save your changes and view the page. Ensure the form displays correctly and functions as expected.
Your personal preferences and comfort level with the different options will dictate whether a third-party tool or coding the form yourself is most suitable for you.
Best practices for ecommerce contact forms
Contact forms serve as a direct line for inquiries, feedback, and support requests. However, you want more than to just have a contact form. To get the most from it, you’ll need to adhere to best practices to ensure effective communication and a positive user experience.
Let’s explore some of these practices to optimize your ecommerce contact form.
Response time: Importance of timely replies
A swift response time is key to maintaining customer trust and satisfaction. When customers reach out through your contact form, they want a quick resolution or answer. Here’s how to ensure you meet their expectations:
- Immediate acknowledgment: Send an automated response as soon as a customer submits a form. Confirm that their message has been received.
- Quick follow-up: Aim to provide a comprehensive response within 24 hours.
- Resource allocation: Ensure that you have enough staff to handle incoming inquiries.
Personalization: Using plugins or integrations to personalize auto-responses
Personalization can significantly enhance the customer experience, making them feel valued and understood. Here are ways to infuse personal touches into your automated responses:
- Use of customer’s name: Personalize automated responses by including the customer’s name. This helps make the interaction feel more genuine.
- Relevant content: Tailor your auto-responses to provide relevant information to the inquiry.
- Integration with CRM: Integrating your form with CRM tools can help you personalize future communications and track customer interactions.
Pro tip: Utilize multi-step forms to gather more data about your prospects or customers, which will help you personalize your emails more effectively.
Data protection: Assuring users their data is safe and compliant
Every customer needs assurance that their personal information is handled with integrity. Here are steps to ensure data protection and compliance:
- SSL encryption: Use SSL encryption to secure data transmitted through your contact form. This protects customers’ data from potential breaches.
- Compliance with regulations: Comply with data protection laws such as GDPR and CCPA.
- Clear privacy policy: Clearly communicate your privacy policy. Highlight how customer data will be used and protected.
Feedback analysis: Regularly reviewing received feedback for business insights
Feedback received through your contact form can be a goldmine of insights. Here’s how to effectively analyze and act on this feedback:
- Regular review: Set aside time for regular reviews of feedback and inquiries. This ensures that you don’t miss any key insights.
- Categorization: Organize feedback into categories to identify common issues or themes.
- Actionable insights: Analyze feedback to extract actionable insights and guide improvements in products, services, or customer experience.
These best practices make your ecommerce contact form more than a communication tool, transforming it into a tool for customer engagement, trust-building, and business development.
Wrap up
Choosing an effective plugin like Omnisend or WPForms and following best practices is crucial. Omnisend, for example, provides comprehensive features for building responsive WordPress contact forms.
If plugins aren’t your preference, you can create a contact form with HTML and PHP or use third-party tools. Regardless of the method, prioritize a user-friendly, secure, and efficient contact form.
Remember, continual improvement of your contact forms is crucial. Integrating them into email and SMS campaigns will amplify your marketing efforts. Together, these strategies propel your ecommerce success. They guarantee a powerful impact and lasting results.