How to Unlock the Full Potential of WordPress Form Builder? (Tips and Tricks)
While WordPress is widely recognized as the leading content management system (CMS), it’s less common to consider which specific feature truly defines it. Custom Post types? Or maybe taxonomies?
I’m confident that each WordPress component adds its value, but what every website needs is a form.
They serve as essential tools for fostering engagement and leveraging site functionality, ensuring clients feel both included and appreciated. One can hardly underestimate the importance of website forms since they act as the primary mediator between the site’s visitors and its owner.
Popular Types of Forms in WordPress
In WordPress, forms are far more than just a sequence of input fields; they aid in everything from straightforward data gathering to complex client interactions. If we have already understood the concept of forms, it’s time to get acquainted with their most typical representatives.
Below, I will cover the form types you can implement for your or your clients’ WordPress website.
Contact forms
At their core, contact forms are a bridge connecting the user and site owner, where you collect standard information: name, email, user-generated message, etc. Typically, such information is collected to create a user base and then work with it.
Subscription forms
The simplest forms in structure usually require email, after which the client begins to receive a newsletter with the latest news and marketing offers.
Feedback and survey forms
As you’ve already understood from the name, this form is intended to collect feedback and conduct surveys. Usually, this is a small questionnaire that seeks feedback from the client after they have placed an order or attempted to leave the website.
Registration forms
A registration form is a quick method of authorizing a client to access exclusive features and website content, which are not available to guests and unregistered visitors. The form may include fields for email, username, password, and other personal data.
Booking and appointment forms
Booking and appointment forms require the client to select a date and time for the service they wish to book. Usually, this is a simple and lightweight form consisting of several steps that should not be too hard. In addition to selecting the date and time, it can sometimes contain extra input fields for entering additional data.
Order and payment forms
Sites use order and payment forms not just to gather user info and handle transactions but also to make the checkout process smooth and secure for everyone involved. The main thing here is user convenience, so it is important to integrate several payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
How to Choose Form Builder for WordPress?
WordPress form builders are an outstanding choice for crafting forms on your website. These multifunctional and flexible plugins offer an intuitive user interface, making it simple to tailor customer interactions. But how to choose the best one?
For WordPress developers, selecting a form builder really boils down to two critical features: how robust its API is and the breadth of customization options available.
For example, JetFormBuilder combines all the qualities described in this article and has already proven itself as a reliable form creation plugin with more than 50,000 active downloads. It offers developers powerful form-building and customization tools, which are as follows:
- 19 field types, from simple text to advanced date picker and other form fields, allowing you to create forms to suit any need;
- conditional logic to dynamically show or hide fields based on user input;
- multi-step forms with pagination support and progress bars for making complex, lengthy forms easy to digest;
- integration with payment systems, including Stripe and PayPal (which is very important for working with an international customer base) to process payments directly through forms;
- REST API and webhooks to integrate with external services and automate workflows, extending form functionality beyond standard WordPress capabilities.
I highly recommend choosing a plugin that can adapt to all requests, provide a repeater section for inputting extra guests’ details, and have a “conditional logic” function that displays or hides fields depending on user choices.
Your main task is to ensure that the client has no problems submitting data and that the form responds correctly.
How to Make Your Forms Even Better?
Working with a customer base is the basis of any business, and WordPress websites are no exception. Look at Netflix, which tailors content using deep customer insights, illustrating the value of understanding your audience.
Their strategic approach to utilizing customer feedback not only enhances viewer satisfaction but directly boosts their bottom line.
What does this mean for us?
It underscores the importance of deeply knowing your users to drive engagement and profit.
You must understand the sequential chain: profit — customer service — database — forms.
Using forms alone won’t guarantee you 100% success, but they are one of the key factors in achieving it, which is why you need to understand the full potential of working with form builders.
Automation
So, the first option for greatly improving work with form builders is automation. Imagine for a second that a customer submits a form on your website, and the record goes directly to Google Sheets.
This is implemented through an API or integration with automation services such as Zapier or Make.com.
In short, by creating automatic scripts for forms, all the data your website receives is added to the table, bypassing manual entry.
Customization
Do not underestimate customization, as it directly affects the client’s perception of the form and proves how intuitive and user-friendly it is. JetFormBuilder allows you to customize field types and conditional logic for showing/hiding fields, styling each form element, and adding custom CSS/JS for unique user scenarios, thus customizing the appearance of the form as needed.
Fighting spam
The battle against cyber threats is ongoing, and your website’s forms could be prime targets for spam. However, with the right safeguards in place, turning these potential vulnerabilities into strengths is entirely possible. Let’s figure out how to do this.
Using captcha and reCaptcha
Integrating a captcha or Google reCaptcha into a site form will help filter out bots by requiring a task that is easy for humans but difficult for automated systems.
Spam filtering plugins
Why reinvent the wheel when a car is already available? Use ready-made anti-spam plugins such as AntiSpam Bee or CleanTalk.
Additional data verification
For additional user verification, one can set a verification through email, social networks, or mobile phone. This filtering method is rare because it can scare away the client, but certain specialized websites still employ it for various reasons.
Conclusion
Within the WordPress ecosystem, where distinction is the goal, the true secret to standing out lies in adaptability and engaging effectively with your audience.
Imagine forms that don’t just collect data in a boring way but do it with a twist and easily turn an ordinary process into a unique user experience. This is where JetFormBuilder comes into the picture, simplifying the creation of forms and making them easy to use.
