I’ll be honest—I’ve abandoned more online forms than I can count.
You know the ones: way too many fields, unclear instructions, glitchy buttons. Ten seconds in, I’m already hitting the back button.
And if I’m doing that? Your visitors might be, too.
Forms are kind of the unsung heroes of your website. They’re what turn casual visitors into actual leads. But if they’re clunky, confusing, or feel like a mini interrogation?
You’re missing out on real connections.
The good news? You don’t need to redesign your whole site. Sometimes, small changes make the biggest difference.
Here are 8 tweaks I often help clients make to their forms—and they really work:
1: Cut the Number of Fields
Less is more here. Seriously.
Ask only for what you actually need. If you wouldn’t ask it in a first conversation with a client, don’t put it on your form.
Name and email? Great. A quick dropdown about what they need help with? Perfect.
Let go of the extra stuff for now—you can always ask more later.
2: Add Clear Instructions
We’ve all seen those vague boxes that leave you wondering, “Wait, what do they want here?”
If a field needs something specific—like a preferred date or type of service—say so. Clear, simple instructions make forms feel approachable, not frustrating.
3: Include a Privacy Notice
People are (understandably) cautious about sharing personal info online.
A quick note that says how their data will be used—and a link to your privacy policy—goes a long way in building trust. It’s a small touch, but it shows you’re legit and respectful of their inbox.
4: Use Action-Oriented Submit Buttons
“Submit” feels… meh.
Instead, try something a little more inviting:
- “Get My Free Quote”
- “Send Me the Details”
- “Let’s Do This”
That small shift in tone can make your form feel more like a conversation—and less like paperwork.
5: Use Social Proof
Place a short testimonial or a “Trusted by [clients]” line near your form.
It gives visitors a little confidence boost: “Okay, other people trust this person—I probably can too.”
Trust makes people click.
6: Enable Inline Validation
Nothing is more annoying than filling out a form, clicking submit, and suddenly being hit with a red wall of error messages.
Inline validation gently lets people know if something needs fixing as they go. It’s smoother, less frustrating, and helps prevent form abandonment.
7: Add Progress Indicators to Longer Forms
If your form has multiple steps, don’t keep that a secret.
Use “Step 2 of 4” or even a little progress bar to show visitors they’re moving forward. It’s a subtle way to keep them engaged instead of overwhelmed.
8: Test on Mobile (Please!)
Most of your visitors are probably viewing your site on their phones.
So if your form doesn’t load right, buttons are tiny, or fields get cut off—say goodbye to leads.
Always test your forms on mobile devices, not just your desktop.
Here’s the Bottom Line
Your forms don’t need to be fancy. They need to work.
That means being clear, simple, and user-friendly—so your visitors can take action without thinking twice.
Need a second pair of eyes on your forms? Or want someone to help simplify things so your site starts doing more of the heavy lifting?
Let’s make it happen.
