The basics.
WHAT A FORM MUST DO
Collect what you need Tell the visitor what happens next Actually deliver the submission to you Confirm to the visitor that it worked
THAT THIRD POINT
A form that appears to work and delivers nothing is the most common and most costly website fault.
WHAT EVERY FORM NEEDS
Clear labels on every field An indication of which fields are required A visible submit button A confirmation after submission Somewhere the submission is stored
STORAGE MATTERS
Email delivery fails. If submissions are only emailed, a delivery failure loses the enquiry entirely.
Store submissions in the site as well.
WHAT TO TEST
Submit it yourself, from outside your own network, and confirm you receive it.
Retest monthly and after any change.
WHAT MOST SITES GET WRONG
Never testing, and never noticing when it stops working.
