Why You Should Be Using Webforms Right Now

What is a webform?

A webform is a digital form that has several advantages over paper forms, not least of which is the ability to have your computer sort and store the information instead of doing it yourself.

More to the point, webforms are available on your website for anyone to access from anywhere, anytime. You can use webforms for any number of things. Some examples include:

• Order webforms for online stores, 
• Online booking webforms to make reservations, 
• Contact webforms that will put your business in contact with potential clients. 

Once the information is filled out you can not only have the information easily displayed to you, but you can also view analytics online.

Why Use a Webform?

Having these webforms on your website allows you to collect and sort information easily and efficiently. All the user needs to do is fill out the webform using their computer or phone. Compare this to driving all the way to your business themselves, or even picking up the phone and making a call. The easier you are to reach the more likely the customer will give you their business.

Moreover, the best part of including a webform on your site means you can turn everyone who fills it out from a visitor to a lead. When your customers fill these forms out, you can use there data to analyse your current market. Once they have filled in their contact details, you can use that to advertise to them through e-mail or sign them up to an online newsletter (should you have one).

How to make a Good Webform

1. The webform should be simple – The most important thing to consider when designing a webform is whether it is easy to use. Webforms are designed to make the process easy on the user. Give the user easy instructions with clear headings. For example, do NOT use a heading like ‘Please write your first name here.’  Instead, simply write ‘First Name’. Anyone who has filled a form out before will be able to infer what they should write there.                                                                                                                                                                               
2. It should be appealing – In the theme of keeping it simple, your webform should have as few input lines as possible. It should be easy to read with large, clear font. Stick to a single colour theme, white being the safest bet. Don’t fill the screen up with conflicting colours.     
3. It should be accurate – Make sure the information on the webform is accurate. If you are selling t-shirts online, do not give users the option to order sizes of shirt that you do not have. Keeping the webform regularly updated will help here. If your restaurant is fully booked for the night, disable the option to reserve a seat for that night.