Exploring the process of creating a contact form in WordPress

WordPress is a mind-boggling content management system that enables you to create and manage websites with great ease. One of the features that makes WordPress so powerful is its ability to easily create contact forms. Contact forms are a bursty way for your website visitors to send messages and inquiries directly to you, which can come in handy in case you are running an e-commerce site or a business website. In this article, we have a perplexity-driven approach to exploring the process of making a contact form in WordPress.

Choosing the right plugin

There are several plugins available to help you create a contact form in WordPress, but two of the most popular and widely used are Contact Form 7 and Gravity Forms. Both plugins offer a range of features and functionalities tailored to your specific needs.

Contact Form 7

If you are just starting out and want a basic contact form, Contact Form 7 is a great place to begin. It’s free, easy to set up, and has a simple user interface. Additionally, it comes with a variety of customization options that allow you to alter the design and appearance of your form.

Gravity Forms

On the other hand, Gravity Forms is a paid plugin that offers more advanced features, such as conditional logic and integrations with third-party websites like Salesforce and MailChimp. It also has a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to create complex forms without needing any coding skills.

Installing and activating the plugin

Once you have chosen your preferred plugin, you need to install and activate it on your WordPress site. To do this, go to the WordPress dashboard and select the “Plugins” tab. Then click on “Add new” and search for the plugin you want to install.

Once you have found it, click on “Install Now” and wait for the installation process to complete. Afterward, click on “Activate” to activate the plugin.

Creating a new form

After installing and activating the plugin, you need to create a new form. To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard and select the plugin you installed earlier. Then, click on the “Add new” button to create a new contact form.

Fill in the appropriate details about your form, including the title, description, and the individual fields you want to include. Within these fields, you can specify options such as the field type, whether the field is required, the default value, and any validation rules.

It is crucial to include a clear call-to-action that entices your website visitors to fill out the form. This includes instructions on what information you need and how their information will be used.

Customizing your form

Both Contact Form 7 and Gravity Forms come with a range of customization options, so you can tailor the appearance and functionality of your form to meet your specific needs.

Contact Form 7

If you’re using Contact Form 7, you can head to the “Form” tab within the plugin’s settings to modify the layout of your form. You can change the font size, color, and alignment of your fields, as well as add additional sections such as headings, paragraphs, and checkboxes.

Gravity Forms

With Gravity Forms, you have even more customization options. The drag-and-drop builder allows you to arrange fields so that they look and function the way you want them to. Plus, there are pre-built templates and styles to choose from, so you never have to worry about designing your form from scratch.

After you’ve customized your form, you can preview it by clicking on the “Preview” button. This will show you how your form looks to your website visitors.

Adding your form to your website

Once you’ve created and customized your form, it’s time to embed it onto your website. To do this, copy the shortcode that is generated by the plugin and paste it into the page or post you want it to appear on.

To paste the shortcode, you can either use the Gutenberg editor or the Classic editor, depending on your preference. Simply add a new block and select the shortcode option, and then paste the shortcode into the designated area.

Once you’ve added the shortcode to your page, publish or update the page to see your form in action.

Conclusion

Creating a contact form in WordPress is relatively easy, as long as you follow the steps outlined in this article. The process involves choosing a plugin, installing it, creating a form, customizing its design and functionality, and then embedding it onto your website.

By creating a contact form, you offer your website visitors an easy and accessible way to get in touch with you. This can help you generate leads, build customer relationships, and improve your overall online presence. So what are you waiting for? Start building your contact form today!