Assumption: You've created a form that looks amazing and you now want to publish this form onto your website.
Only if you can answer YES to the following 7 questions should you publish your form.
The Checklist (in brief)
Does your form explain what to do at the top?
Are your validation messages friendly?
Did the data get stored in the correct occurrence?
Have you added your tracking codes i.e, Google Analytics to the form?
Does your Thank You text contain the next CTA?
Has someone else completed the form?
Does your form reassure what will happen next at the bottom?
The Checklist (in detail)
1. Does your form explain what to do at the top?
Q. Why is this important?
A. When filling in the form, your user will want to know why you want their information and what they are going receive in return.
2. Are your validation messages friendly?
Q. Why is this important?
A. If the user is required to give you certain information, then it's a good idea to explain why this particular detail is required. For instance, if you need their mobile telephone number, explain to them you need this information to send them last-minute updates on their booking.
3. Did the right data get stored in the correct occurrence?
Q. Why is this important?
A. Your teams will be relying on receiving certain information from the form completion. Check all the data you expect to receive turns up in the correct occurrence and the people who need to access it have access to that occurrence.
4. Have you added your tracking codes i.e, Google Analytics to the form?
Q. Why is this important?
A. Your marketing campaigns send traffic (enquiries, bookings, applications) to your website, and you'll want to measure visits and conversions in the tracking tool of your choice. Add your tracking code to the form so those visits turn up in GA etc.
5. Does your Thank You text contain the next CTA?
Q. Why is this important?
A. When the user completes your form, they should know what to do next. Let them know what will happen with their enquiry/booking and also drive them on to the next step. Maybe that's more information on courses or how to apply?
6. Has someone else completed the form?
Q. Why is this important?
A. You are too close to be objective with your work of art, so when you ask someone else in your team to complete it, they will likely pick up typos or places where you need to provide further clarification. Ask two friends to complete it and you'll get even more eyes on your work before it goes live!
7. Does your form reassure what will happen next at the bottom?
Q. Why is this important?
A. Meeting expectations is easier if you have set them out clearly, for example, if you want them to Enquire Now, then use the text at the bottom of the form to let them know when they'll receive a response to their question and how you'll contact them.
Summary
Each of your web forms is there to do a job, to achieve an outcome, to be a part of a process that helps a prospective student down through the recruitment funnel towards enrolment. Does each of your web forms get a 'yes' to the checklist above?
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