A contact form is simply a series of questions filled out by a visitor to your website. When completed, the form is automatically sent to your email address. Contact forms typically include fields to type a name and email address, and a box to type questions. Some businesses also ask for telephone numbers, best time to contact, inquiry subjects, etc.
Here is an example of the contact form found on our website:
Pretty snazzy, huh?
Here’s a few examples of how a simple contact form can benefit both customers and businesses in a significant way:
Provides an Outlet For a Variety of Website Visitors. Generally, contact forms are where your potential or existing customer comes to communicate directly with you through feedback, questions, and service/info requests. However, there is a wide variety of visitors that may fill out a contact form on your website. You may draw in talented individual seeking employment with your company, new business opportunities, partnership inquiries, salespeople, press, and various customer service questions. Whoever your visitors may be, having a simple, well functioning contact form shows that you care about them and their concerns.
Builds Your Brand and Humanizes Your Business. Contact forms put a “face to a name”, so to speak, by providing a direct, personal, convenient way for customers to communicate with you. When people feel understood and cared for, they are more likely to trust you, choose you over your competitors, and remain fiercely loyal for a lifetime.
Eases the Burden for Customers. It’s always wise to put yourself in the shoes of your customers. How could you make things easier for them? Most websites have a ‘contact us’ page with various email addresses and phone numbers listed for customers to contact, but how many users actually want to go through that hassle? Rather than having to copy down an email address or open another browser to email you, which is especially inconvenient for those browsing on a mobile device, contact forms allow users to give you their info immediately. Contact forms also provide a way for customers to contact you whenever they have a question, not just during regular business hours.
Prevents Customers From Falling Through the Cracks. If someone has a question, you don’t want them to leave your site before they find an answer. How many potential customers could you be losing simply because they feel inconvenienced or don’t have time to search your site? Having a simple contact form on your website can significantly increase the amount of potential customers actually contacting you.
Makes Follow-Up Easy. Contact forms provide you with an instant pool of potential customers, complete with email addresses, names, phone numbers, etc. This provides you with more information to follow-up on later from customers who are more likely to be interested because they reached out to you first. And because you have control over what information potential customers provide in a contact form, you can get exactly what you need from them quickly and easily.
Less Spammy, More Secure. This is true for both you and your customers. Data submitted through contact forms is generally better encrypted than data sent via regular email, which is great for customers who provide you with sensitive information. Also, contact forms get website visitors in touch with you without you having to expose your email address. This makes it harder for spammers to get a hold of you.
Allows You to Provide Better Service. Inquiries that come via contact forms are guaranteed to come to your inbox, which prevents the risk of emails getting lost in your spam folder. Data received from contact forms can also be directed to a database, allowing you to analyze patterns regarding who is reaching out to you and what their needs or interests are. This data can also be directly routed to a CRM system, which boosts the efficiency of your lead generation and customer service.
Provides consistency and organization. Inquiries from contact forms are consistent, simplified, and better organized, which saves you time in the long run.
Now for some parting advice: Remember that simple is always better. Eliminate unnecessary fields in your contact form and keep it concise. You’ll see a much higher conversion rate by doing so. Also, be worthy of your visitors’ trust. Remember, they’re taking time out of their day to reach out to you directly and provide you with their personal information. Be user friendly, helpful, and timely in your responses. Don’t sell or share their information or add them to marketing lists without consent. Guarantee privacy and follow through on that promise.
How has using a contact form benefited your business?