8 Ways To Improve A Website Form UX

Like it or not, we happen to fill out web forms whether we make eCommerce purchases or apply for a job, participate in a survey or want to be part of any online community.

What is a Webform and how can it be better designed to have a great user experience?
Web forms are interactive online pages that mimic a paper document or form. They allow user input for the collection of data like name and email address to sign up for a newsletter or fill in their credit card details to pay for online purchases.  They are varied, with no one format to meet all requirements. Its purpose defines its size, shape, color scheme, design solutions, and messaging.
Web forms are crucial tools for businesses to obtain the information they need from their potential customers and hence it is critical that they are engaged and create a positive user experience.
Hence, it is important to design web forms based on the below principles and in tune with the latest trends.


 

1. Short and easy to process – Users need to fill in the information as quickly as possible. Therefore, it is essential that only necessary fields are part of a web form like for an eCommerce purchase; delivery address, E-mail/ Phone No. for purchase confirmation, and payment details are sufficient to process the purchase. It is better to avoid information overload or language hurdles by requiring the filing of unnecessary information like landline numbers and difficult language/ words.
2. Highlight mandatory fields – Marking fields in the forms that are critical and mandatory with an asterisk (*) or highlighting it by making bold or color, enables users to quickly fill out the web form. Proper classification of fields into mandatory and not mandatory provides convenience and saves time for the user.  
3. Usage of multiple-choice – Using a drop-down or selection of checkboxes reduces the requirement of typing which encourages users to fill out the form.
4. Mobile-friendly – With the omnipresence of mobile phones, it is critical to factor in the mobile version of the web form. Webform design should be mobile responsive and should fit the smaller screen of mobile devices reducing the need for too much scrolling. If necessary, a separate web form for the mobile version can be developed for a better user experience.  
5. Call to action - While most buttons on contact forms say “Send” or “Submit,” they can be thought off as differently based on the need of web form - More specific and helpful usage for a specific audience can include Donate, Register Now, Send a Message, Download a Whitepaper, etc.
6. Labels and subtext – Labels representing the title of a line should be short and precise to help the user to understand the expected information. Additionally, a subtext can be placed to help users understand what is expected to be filled in a particular line and in a specific format, if necessary, i.e., the label can be “Date of birth” and the subtext “dd-mm-yyyy”.  
7. Splitting of fields – A concise web form is easier to scan and is not deterring for users. In case multiple information is required to be filled, a better approach is to split the web form fields into multiple pages or tabs to allow users to complete the web form in chunks.
8. Restrict and correct errors – Errors can be restricted by the usage of suitable input masks, especially for fields that can be filled in different ways like date, account information, contact details, etc. Further, before submission of the webform, errors need to be rightly highlighted, through multiple signs, font, color, etc. The position of the error can also be rightly placed for easy access to corrections.

Users of digital products or website visitors value their time and often react emotionally. The requisite information is necessary for business and it is essential to ensure that web form design encourages users to fill in and finish quickly. Great user experience leads to more sales, sign-ups, better references to newer customers, and higher chances of visitors and users returning to your product or service.

Exavibes has an experienced team of UX and UI designers to enable the right design of your digital web presence. Do reach out to us at sales@exavibes.com