An effective contact page includes a contact form. A contact form should ask for a minimum of information. It should also tell users when they can expect a response.
Make it easy for your visitor
When you visit a website’s contact page, there’s only one thing on your mind: getting in touch with the organization. The goal is to make the visitor think as little as possible. There are a number of rules of thumb for making contact forms that are easy to fill in.
Don’t make me think.
Steve Krug (usability expert)
Use as few fields as possible
In almost all cases, a contact form only needs the following fields:
- Name
- Email address (required)
- Message
Specify which fields are required
Indicate which fields are non-optional using a clear visual cue, such as an asterisk. A visitor will know they have to fill these in. This reduces their chances of receiving an error message, and feeling disappointed with the experience.
Label the send button ‘Submit’
Describe the action a button will perform as clearly as possible. This will give the site visitor a sense of security. ‘Submit’ makes sense for a button that does just that: send in a contact form.
Display a form success message
Show users a form success message after they have submitted the form. Use this message to manage expectations and to offer any alternative ways of getting in touch. Here are some tips for crafting the perfect success message.
Don’t say thank you
Don’t use this message to thank people for filling in your form. This doesn’t really serve any purpose.
Confirm that the form has been received
Let your user know that the form was successfully submitted. This tells them they don’t need to do anything at this point.
Don’t create false expectations
Tell the user how long it will take for them to receive a response. Be realistic. An early response will leave a great impression, but a late response will lead to disappointment.
Offer another way to get in touch
Your site visitor may need to talk to you sooner rather than later. If there any faster ways to contact you, mention them here. A phone number or a chat client, for instance.
Example form success message
Successfully sent
We will get back to you within two business days.
Can’t wait that long?
Reach us by phone at 012 – 3456789
Need some help?
Would you like some professional assistance with your website? Don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to offer help or advice.