Even an absolute beginner, a newbie if you will, can add EmailMeForm online forms to their WordPress site. In just a few simple steps, you can begin collecting leads, registering new users, and building your marketing list.
Let me start by assuring you that, unlike most of the EmailMeForm team, I’m not a super-technical person. I am a content writer with basic technical know-how and a self-taught WordPress user.
I am sharing screenshots of my implementation of EmailMeForm products with my freelance writing website to demonstrate how easy it really is.
Why your website needs forms
If you have are new to an e-commerce site or to blogging, you might be wondering if your website actually needs forms. The answer is a definite, “YES!”
But, they must be secure forms.
Secure forms allow you and your customers or clients to share data without compromising their security or yours. In this time of malware, bots, spammers, and trolls, you are responsible for protecting your site users.
This practice of using forms ensures that you don’t fall victims to phishing schemes or bot attacks. Can bots use forms? They sure can. That’s why secure forms are essential — using a CAPTCHA minimizes that risk. Don’t worry about that, we will show you how!
Two must-have forms every website needs are
a contact form and a subscription or registration form.
The contact form allows prospective customers to reach you with a question or comment without the need for you to publish your email address on your website.
The subscription form is similar — it allows people to subscribe to receive your email marketing and newsletters.
Other forms you might need (or want) to create for your WP site are checkout forms, feedback forms, games or quizzes, a payment confirmation form, and even satisfaction surveys.
Be aware that not all forms are created equally. I mentioned “secure forms” several times to underscore the fact that not all form providers or WP plugins offer equal levels of protection.
You can rest assured, EmailMeForm employs the best security practices to ensure the safest transfer of data possible. In fact, we are PCI-certified, passing the most stringent litmus tests.
When you provide a secure form, you are mitigating the risk of user data being stolen from your site. Savvy internet users look for this security, and when you provide a safe place for data, you will build your user list quickly.
Shall we get started?
First, set up your form
You can use EmailMeForm to make your WordPress site more productive — and without using plugins that might slow down your website. Blogging? Create user profiles. E-commerce site? Create checkout forms and gather newsletter subscribers.
How you decide to use forms is as unique as your business.
Today, I am showing you a very simple subscription form. I really needed this form on my website, so it seemed like the perfect time to add it. I literally took real-time screenshots step by step to share with you.
This form is as simple as if gets, and it’s an essential element for every website.
I took many images, but don’t let that volume overwhelm you. While it takes a few minutes to review and get started, the setting up of the form takes less than 5 minutes in actuality…or when you’re not pausing to capture images like I was!
Sign up with EmailMeForm
First set up your EmailMeForm account, and you will arrive at a dashboard.
Select “New”
From here, you will select “new” to create a new form.
“Add Form” options
An “Add Form” prompt will appear. You may choose to browse through our library of templates, start from scratch, or request for our CustomWorks team to create a custom form specifically for you.
I opted for “Blank and create my own form” to show you how.
Define your form settings
Your new form will default to the “form settings” tab. This tab helps you define the behaviors of your form.
Hint: As you are customizing your form, your screen will display two columns. You will work with your data in the left-hand column while the right-hand column displays your changes.
Start with giving your form a name and descriptions that will engage users and set their expectations.
Moving down that left-hand column, you can select a language setting, create a success message that will communicate with those new subscribers you’ll be getting, change the button label, and add a Captcha to add a layer of security.
There are many options in this column, but we will focus on the basics.
I moved down the column and clicked “Success Message” and kept the button name defaulted to the perfectly acceptable and always effective “submit.”
Here’s how I worded my success message:
Finally, I selected reCAPTCHA V2 to help prevent spambots from submitting forms. Don’t you just hate those guys?
Add fields and select field settings
Now it’s time to set up to collect the data that you need by adding some fields. Select the tab with the Green + and “add field” message.
For my business, I only wish to obtain the name and email addresses.
Select the “name” button — it will move name data into the form. Then, add the email address field.
In my case, I would like to require people to complete those fields. But, how? Don’t worry, we gotcha covered here, too.
Select the field that you are making mandatory by clicking in the area, then the “Field Settings” tab (the one with the pencil icon). You can check the “Make Required” box and BOOM! Users cannot skip entering that data.
Look through the field settings, and you’ll find further customizations, such as user instructions which are helpful for more complex forms. However, because this little form is only requesting name and email, I think we can skip that.
That’s the beautiful thing about EmailMeForms — you can make forms as
simple or as in-depth as your needs require, safely and securely.
Save your form
Finally, save your hard work. Once you do, you’ll see a menu that guides you to where you want to go next.
Here, you have several options. You can select a theme, see a preview, make edits, set your email alerts when the user completes a form, or manage how you work with the form.
We are going to head over to the ‘Form Manager” to see how we can use the form in a WordPress website — that’s where the real fun begins!
Add the form to your WordPress site
Now that you’ve mastered creating a simple form, you’re eager to add the element to your WP site. The great news is, you have flexibility from here in how you implement your form. Take a look.
Form Manager Dashboard
The Form Manager Dashboard is where you’re going to work your magic with the forms. That’s right, even a total newb can create forms that look like they were designed by a pro.
Select your newly-created form
Start by clicking on the form preview. If you have multiple forms, they will all display so you don’t need to remember all the names.
Once your project opens, select “Code”. You will reach a screen that looks like this:
This screen allows you to share your form in several different outputs, from a text link to embedded in your WP site or even a button.
Add a button to your sidebar widget
I wanted to create a button that would show up in the sidebar widget and be viewable on every page of my WordPress website. I like the consistency of giving users the option to register from every page.
I chose the “Button” option:
You can edit the button from the default to your own CTA. I chose a friendly “Join Us!” message. Then paste the code to your clipboard and head over to your WP admin.
Use your “customizing” dashboard, select the widget position you’d like. Remember that I’m using a right sidebar, but you likely have left sidebar footer widget options depending on your WordPress theme.
Select the “add custom HTML.” Don’t worry, you don’t need to actually know HTML–I don’t either! Luckily, that’s the data that you have pasted to your clipboard!
The title WP asks for will become copy on your website. It’s only a few characters, so choose wisely.
Then, paste in the code for the button from your clipboard.
Save, publish, and browse to your site. Your button will be alive and well.
Insert a simple link
Ok. So say you like all that, but you also want to create a link to your form. This is a popular option when you’re blogging, for example.
You’ll go back to EmailMeForm to the “sharing your form” section and copy the “URL” code to your clipboard.
Then, head back to your WP admin. You insert this as a link, just as you set any other link when you’re blogging.
So, select your anchor text, paste the form’s URL to the document, and publish as usual. Your text will look like this:
Easy, peasy!
Adding IFrame to your WP site
Would you rather embed your form on one or more pages of your website? E-commerce sites often choose an IFrame output to put their form in specific places.
In this situation, you’d head back over to EMF dashboard to share your form as an IFrame. Copy the code to your clipboard
Next, go back to your WP admin, find the page where you want to insert the form and create an HTML block. Paste the code into the block.
You can click from HTML view over to Preview to ensure the form looks ok to you, then publish.
I inserted the form at the bottom of my home page, and it looks like this:
Pretty neat, right?
Form tips for beginners
- You can create as many forms as you need for your site. However, keep them as short and sweet as you possibly can so that you don’t overwhelm your users.
- Name your forms descriptively. As you build a form library, this enables you to select the correct form to work with and eliminates mistakes.
- Don’t be afraid to play with the various form outputs in EmailMeForm. It’s really kind of fun, and it’s the best way to learn. As a non-technical person, I feared the process at first, too. Like any skill, the more you practice, the braver you become.
- If you decide you don’t like a form element for any reason, don’t be scared to go back into the Form Manager, find your form, and edit it. It only takes a few moments.
- Use short, effective CTAs of your forms. Sign up, join, try for free, and other standards that you see are time-proven.
- When a user completes a form, we’ll email you a notification. If you change your email address, remember to update your form with the new email info! Yes, it happens.
Go forth and conquer forms
Now that you have some basic steps to create forms for your WP site, go forth and conquer forms. With a little time and practice, you’ll be zipping off forms for every reason you can think of — and protecting your site visitors from cyber attacks at the same time.
You’ll be impressed with your new skills and begin growing sales quickly.
Deborah Tayloe
Deborah is a blogger and freelancer who often writes for EmailMeForm. When she’s not blogging, you’ll probably find Deborah working on DIY projects around her home in North Carolina.
