Managing what accumulates.
WHAT ACCUMULATES
Every submission, indefinitely, unless you remove them.
Including spam.
WHAT THIS COSTS
Database space Difficulty finding real submissions An obligation you may not want
WHAT TO DO
Decide a retention period Delete submissions older than that Delete spam promptly Export anything you need to keep
A REASONABLE PERIOD
Long enough to handle the enquiry and any follow-up.
For most businesses, months rather than years.
FOR ENQUIRIES THAT BECAME CUSTOMERS
Those move into your customer records, with their own retention.
The form submission itself need not be kept.
FOR DELETION REQUESTS
Someone may ask you to delete their data.
Have a process. Know where their submission is stored.
WHAT TO STATE
Your retention period in your privacy notice.
WHAT TO AUTOMATE
Many form plugins can delete submissions after a set period.
