Last Updated on 1 year by Komolafe Bamidele
There always comes a time when a website designer goes through turmoil and confusion. That time is usually when he/she has to choose between using a single-step or multi-step form for his/her data collection process.
Forms are still the easiest and fastest way for any developer to collect information from their potential clients, whether for an event registration process, to create premium content, or to increase user engagement rate.
Forms are a simple but crucial part of website creation. They are used to collect much-needed data of users, which one can convert at a later time. Forms do not only serve developers; they help users as well.
For visitors, it serves as a fast and effective way of giving out their information, without wasting much time and effort. It also aids them in reaching their goals quickly without errors.
There are two different types of forms – Single-step form and Multi-step form. Each kind of form has its very own function. Their usage highly depends on the purpose in which their developer aims to achieve. This article will be focusing on Multi-step forms.
What Is A Multi-Step Form
Multi-step forms are lengthy forms that get divided into multiple, shorter and more logical sections. Lengthy forms tend to frighten or annoy customers, so to encourage users to fill out their information, long forms are shortened and divided into smaller bits.
Multi-step forms are known to raise flat conversion rates without affecting any other part of the website, and this is one of the most important reasons why most website developers prefer multi-step forms to single-step forms.
Examples of Multi-Step Form
Different multi-type forms exist for various purposes. The following are examples of multi-step forms:
GreenGeeks
They use a multi-step form for their post-click landing page, where each piece and individual field is boldly named, causing the signup/registration process for users to be smooth.
When users click on the “Get Started Now” button, step one of the form appears. Step one only contains a simple action – not to deter the user’s progress. Once users answer the question in form one, a page with the second step of the form loads
Uber
The Uber app and website use a post-click landing page, which encourages potential clients to fill in the information using a simple multi-step form. Multi-step forms enable them to create smooth conversion processes for users and significantly reduce traffic on the website.
Clicking on the “Next” CTA option will direct users to the different steps of Uber’s sign up process.
Who’s Who, Executives and Professionals
Using a multi-step form on a homepage can significantly increase users’ willingness to deposit their details, and that’s what this exclusive networking forum did.
They designed their forms with visual clues, progress bars, e.t.c, that make their forms look appealing to users. Later in this article, I will give a detailed explanation of ways to create comfortable and eye-catching multi-step forms.
Sprout Social
This website created a three-step form where the first step provides the user with the option of creating an account. Its second step directs them to a form where they can attach their social profiles, and step three loads a form for completing their signup process.
Mobile Multi-step Form
We are in the 21st century; Mobile phones are used by almost everyone and for nearly everything. Smartphones are so rampant that it would be very unrealistic for any marketer or web developer of this era not to make apps or websites mobile-friendly.
Multiple-step forms being available for mobile phones are essential to the conversion equation, especially if you have a significant amount of questions to ask. It helps save time and keeps the user informed on their progress.
To build an effective mobile multi-step form, the following tips are needed:
- Prevent Dropdowns.
- Use Sliders.
- Autofill and autocomplete user details to save time.
- Minimize form fields.
- Autocorrect is a necessity.
- Steppers help with range problems.
- Make the field mask visible.
- Avoid using placeholder messages.
- Ensure your call-to-action (CTA) is perfect.
- Shorter is always better.
WordPress Plugin
A plugin is a type of software built to carry out a set of functions that can be included in a WordPress website to improve functionality and add to the features already available. Plugins are written in PHP computer language, which helps them merge perfectly with WordPress.
More than a thousand different types of WordPress plugins exist for free at the official WordPress website, but it is crucial to note that not all of them come with tech support. Always use caution when choosing a plugin to use.
Below is a list of the very best WordPress plugins available for free:
- Ninja Forms: Active on almost a billion sites, Ninja Forms is among the best free Plugins to use. A beginner-friendly interface, AJAX – allows forms for submission of forms without the page reloading and opting to their premium extension if you require added functionality.
- TablePress: This Plugin has an impressive rating of 5-star at WordPress.org. It handles any type of table you could ever need while giving a simple and elegant interface. It also allows users to import data from google sheets, use any media in their table, and increase it with a wide variety of add-ons.
- Pretty Links: Every site developer knows how annoying affiliate links are. Pretty Links prevents your website from being marred by affiliate links using your domain to cloak them.
The following are plugins that are worth mentioning:
- Smash Balloon – The best for social feeds
- MonsterInsights Lite – An analytic Google plugin
- Yoast SEO – excellent for controlling titles, meta descriptions, and optimizes SEO readability.
- Soliloquy – amazing plugin for sliders
- WordPress Mail SMTP – Great Email tool
- WordPress Forms Lite – Form Builder
- Beaver builder – Best page builder
- Woocommerce – best eCommerce store
How to Create A Seven-Step Multi-Step Form In WordPress
The goal of any form is to reduce form fatigue and increase user engagement. One can easily do this with multi-step forms.
Multiple-step forms, also known as multi-page forms, help create clutter-free forms that convert smoothly. The steps below show how to build one in WordPress:
Step 1: Open a New WordPress Form
Download and install the WordPress form plugin. This app gives one the ability to sectionalize any type of form. Once installed, open the app and select the “Add New” option to start a new form.
On that page, fill in your name then select the simple contact form Template. When the template opens, drag the form and drop it on the builder to enable you to edit it. A contact form already comes with a name, Email, and Comment field, so you don’t need to add these fields when creating yours.
Step 2: Divide The Form Into Multiple Sections.
After you have edited your fields, input page break fields to divide your form into different sections, do this for every page you did like to split.
Step 3: Edit your progress bar
A progress bar informs users of their progress, as the name suggests. It dramatically increases and encourages users to fill out forms even though they are lengthy, as they are a fantastic visual indicator.
WPForms has three unique progress indicators/bars you can choose from:
Connector: uses page titles to show progress.
Circles: every step possess numbered circles and page label
Progress Bar: This indicates when each section of the form is complete.
Step 4: Set Up Your Form Setting Preferences
You have to select settings to configure your settings. In settings, one can find and edit GDPR, submit buttons, form description, form name, and even spam configurations.
Step 5: Configure Your Notification
WordPress An email notification is sent every time a document gets transferred to your WP site. WPSForm Notification gives users the option of choosing smart tags, allowing users to know the current status of their form, delivered or undelivered.
Step 6: Setup A Confirmation Alert
Confirmation alert is a short message shown to users when their forms complete the submission process. WPForm gives you three different confirmation messages to choose from.
Step 7: Publish form to WordPress
When finished building your multi-page form, it’s ready to be sent to WordPress for publishing.
Merits of Using Multi-Step forms
- It allows developers/marketers to collect detailed information about potential clients
- Multi-page forms are great for increasing conversion because they have the most output of all types of forms.
- Single-step forms tend to frighten or bore customers because of how overwhelming their length can be. With multi-step forms, long-forms are broken into less scary pieces, while still gathering the same amount of information.
- It is the best form to use for gathering user’s billing information.
- Multi-step form aids you avoid the Gridlock syndrome.
- It activates the endowed progress effect.
In Conclusion
Creating a multi-page or Multi-step form is an essential tool for every marketer/website developer to learn, as it can significantly benefit you and your user.
Reference
https://instapage.com/blog/multi-step-forms