Many website owners discover the importance of a proper contact form after experiencing an influx of unwanted spam when they initially post their email address directly on their contact page. This common issue can lead to important messages being lost amidst a sea of irrelevant emails.
While WordPress is a robust platform, it does not come with built-in contact form functionality. This often leaves site owners searching for an effective solution or grappling with complicated setups.
Our team has extensively tested various form plugins over the years, and a particular solution consistently proves to be the most user-friendly and dependable choice. In this guide, we will walk you through the precise steps to create a professional contact form in WordPress, requiring absolutely no coding expertise.
Why You Need a WordPress Contact Form
It's a valid question to ask why a dedicated contact form is necessary when you could simply display your email address on your website. This is a common query among newcomers, often stemming from a misconception that contact forms demand coding knowledge.
Fortunately, you can integrate a contact form into your website effortlessly using a suitable WordPress plugin, with no coding required on your part.
Here are the primary reasons why a contact form offers significant advantages over merely listing your email address:
- Spam Protection – Automated bots frequently scan websites for email addresses. By placing your email directly on your site, you risk receiving a considerable volume of spam. In contrast, a well-configured contact form can effectively deter spam, significantly reducing unwanted messages.
- Consistent Information – When visitors email you directly, they may not always provide all the details you need. A contact form allows you to specify exactly what information you require, such as their phone number, project scope, budget, and other relevant particulars, ensuring you receive complete inquiries.
- Saves Time – Contact forms are invaluable for streamlining communication and saving time. Beyond ensuring consistent information, you can implement automated confirmations to guide users on their next steps. For instance, you can inform them about a typical response time or direct them to relevant resources, which helps prevent duplicate inquiries.
With these benefits in mind, let's proceed with a step-by-step guide on how to effortlessly create a contact form in WordPress. We will cover the following essential steps:
- Step 1. Choosing an Effective WordPress Contact Form Plugin
- Step 2. Installing a Contact Form Plugin on WordPress
- Step 3. Creating Your Contact Form in WordPress
- Step 4. Configuring WordPress Form Notifications and Confirmations
- Step 5. Adding Your WordPress Contact Form to a Page
- Step 6. Adding Your WordPress Contact Form to a Sidebar
- Bonus Tip 🌟: Enhancing Your WordPress Contact Form
- Video Tutorial
Let's begin!
Step 1. Choosing an Effective WordPress Contact Form Plugin
Your first task is to select a reliable WordPress contact form plugin. While a variety of free and premium options are available, our experience shows that a particular solution stands out as the most accessible and effective choice on the market.
Here are key reasons why this plugin is highly recommended:
- It is renowned for being incredibly beginner-friendly. Its intuitive drag-and-drop builder allows you to create a contact form with remarkable ease, often in just a few clicks.
- A free version of the plugin is available, enabling you to build a basic contact form. Millions of websites currently utilize this free version for their contact needs.
- Should your requirements grow, and you need more advanced functionalities, you have the option to upgrade to a more powerful version of the plugin.
Once you've decided on the right contact form plugin, the next step is to install it on your website.
Step 2. Installing a Contact Form Plugin on WordPress
For this tutorial, we will use the free version of the recommended plugin due to its ease of use and accessibility. To install it, simply log into your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins » Add New.
In the search field, type the name of the plugin (e.g., 'Forms') and then click the ‘Install Now’ button. This action will automatically install the plugin on your site.
Following installation, you need to activate the plugin by clicking the ‘Activate’ button.
If you encounter any issues finding the plugins menu or require more detailed instructions, comprehensive guides are available on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Step 3. Creating Your Contact Form in WordPress
With the plugin now activated, you are ready to create your contact form in WordPress. To start, go to Forms » All Forms in your WordPress admin panel and click the ‘Add New’ button.
This will open the plugin's drag-and-drop form builder interface, presenting a template library. Begin by assigning a name to your contact form. You can then choose how you wish to create your form: starting from a blank canvas, using an AI-powered form builder, or selecting from a pre-designed template.
If you opt for the AI builder, hover over the ‘Generate With AI’ box and click the ‘Generate Form’ button. On the subsequent screen, you can either pick from existing prompt examples or input your own custom prompt for the AI. The AI will then generate the form for you, which you can preview instantly.
Alternatively, to use a template, simply hover over your desired template and click the ‘Use Template’ button. The free version of the plugin typically offers a selection of useful form templates. You can utilize the search bar to refine your choices if needed.
For this example, we will proceed with the ‘Simple Contact Form’ template. This template automatically includes standard fields such as Name, Email, and Message.
You have the flexibility to click on any of these form fields to edit their properties. When a field is selected, a ‘Field Options’ panel will appear on the left, allowing you to make various adjustments. Furthermore, you can easily reorder the fields by dragging and dropping them with your mouse.
If you wish to add new fields, simply select them from the available options in the left sidebar. You can either drag them directly onto your form or click on them, and they will be automatically added.
Insider Tip: In addition to an AI-powered form builder, this plugin also offers advanced features such as AI Choices, which can automatically generate options for fields like multiple choice, radio buttons, checkboxes, and dropdown menus. Another powerful feature is AI Calculations, which can instantly generate formulas for fields requiring calculations, eliminating the need for manual setup.
Once you have finished customizing your form to your satisfaction, remember to click the ‘Save’ button to preserve your changes.
Step 4. Configuring WordPress Form Notifications and Confirmations
After successfully creating your contact form, it is crucial to properly configure the form notification and form confirmation settings. These settings ensure that both your website visitors and you receive appropriate feedback after a form submission.
Form confirmation refers to the message or action your website visitor experiences immediately after submitting the form. This could be a simple "thank you" message, a redirection to a dedicated page (perhaps with downloadable resources), or any other preferred outcome.
Form notification, on the other hand, is the email you receive whenever someone submits the contact form on your WordPress site.
To customize the confirmation message, click the ‘Settings’ tab within the form builder, and then select the ‘Confirmations’ tab.
You will typically find a default "thank you" message already in place. However, you can easily personalize this message in the ‘Confirmation Message’ box to better suit your needs.
If you prefer to redirect users to a specific URL after a successful form submission instead of displaying a message, select ‘Go to URL’ from the ‘Confirmation Type’ drop-down menu. You will then enter the target URL where you wish to redirect your users.
Always remember to click the ‘Save’ button if you make any changes in this section.
Next, you should verify the form notification settings. Simply click on the ‘Notifications’ tab from the same ‘Settings’ menu. The recommended plugin's default settings are generally optimized for beginners, with all fields dynamically pre-filled.
By default, notifications are sent to the administrative email address configured for your website. If you wish to send notifications to a custom email address, you can modify this setting. For sending notifications to multiple recipients, simply separate each email address with a comma.
The ‘Email Subject Line’ is automatically populated with your form's name, and the ‘From Name’ field is dynamically filled with the user's name. When you reply to an inquiry, the response will be directed to the email address provided by the user in the contact form.
Do not forget to click the ‘Save’ button if you adjust these settings.
For more advanced setups, such as sending form emails to different individuals or departments based on form input, resources are available to guide you on creating contact forms with multiple recipients. Should you experience any issues with not receiving form emails, troubleshooting guides are also readily available to help resolve common email delivery problems in WordPress.
Step 5. Adding Your WordPress Contact Form to a Page
Now that your form is configured, it's time to integrate it into your WordPress website. You can either add it to an existing contact page or create an entirely new page for it.
To create a new contact page, simply navigate to Pages » Add New in your WordPress dashboard and assign a title to your page.
We will use the dedicated form block to add your form to a page. Click on the ‘Plus’ add block button and search for the name of your form plugin (e.g., ‘Forms’).
Once you locate it, click on the ‘Forms’ block. This block will then appear in the content area of your page. From the drop-down menu within the block, select the specific form you created earlier.
The plugin will display a live preview of your contact form directly within the editor. After confirming everything looks correct, click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button to save and make your form live on the page.
For further details, comprehensive guides are available on how to embed forms effectively in WordPress.
Here’s an example of how the form might appear on a sample WordPress contact page:
If your goal was solely to add the contact form to a page, then your task is complete. Congratulations!
However, this plugin also provides a WordPress contact form shortcode. You can access this by going to Forms » All Forms and copying the shortcode displayed next to your form.
Then, open the page where you wish to add the form, click the ‘Plus’ add block button, and search for ‘Shortcode’. Select the ‘Shortcode’ block, and then paste the shortcode you copied into the provided box. Finally, click ‘Update’ or ‘Publish’, and your contact form will be live on your website, appearing just as it would with the dedicated block.
To deepen your understanding of shortcodes, refer to comprehensive guides on how to add and utilize shortcodes in WordPress.
Step 6. Adding Your WordPress Contact Form to a Sidebar
The plugin also includes a WordPress contact form widget, allowing you to easily place your contact form in a sidebar or any other widget-ready area within your WordPress theme.
To implement this, navigate to Appearance » Widgets in your dashboard. Then, click the ‘Plus’ add block icon in the specific widget area where you intend to add your form.
Next, search for the plugin's name (e.g., ‘Forms’). Click on the ‘Forms’ block to add it to your sidebar.
Once added, you will need to select your contact form from the drop-down menu within the widget settings. This action will automatically load a preview of your form.
Finally, click the ‘Update’ button to save your changes. You can then visit your website to see your contact form prominently displayed in your sidebar or chosen widget area.
For more detailed information on managing and utilizing widgets, consult guides on how to add and use widgets in WordPress.
Bonus Tip 🌟: Enhancing Your WordPress Contact Form
Beyond creating basic contact forms, advanced versions of the recommended plugin come equipped with an extensive library of pre-made form templates, often numbering over 2,000. These templates empower you to rapidly build virtually any type of WordPress form you might need.
These advanced versions boast powerful features such as conditional logic, comprehensive surveys and polls, electronic signature collection, form abandonment tracking, geolocation data capture, customizable coupon codes, and a host of other capabilities.
Furthermore, the plugin simplifies the process of accepting online payments through popular gateways like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and Square. Even the free version of the plugin often allows for the collection of Stripe payments.
The plugin also seamlessly integrates with thousands of marketing and business tools, including Google Sheets, HubSpot, and many others, helping you to streamline your workflows efficiently.
Additional form customization tools are available, such as dedicated form landing pages, conversational forms (offering an interactive, step-by-step experience), lead forms, and calculator forms. These features enable you to incorporate highly engaging forms into your site without incurring high development costs.
For further insights, explore guides on how to create more interactive forms in WordPress to boost engagement and conversions.
Video Tutorial
For those who prefer a visual learning experience, we have prepared a comprehensive video tutorial demonstrating how to create a contact form in WordPress:
We trust this article has provided you with the necessary steps to create an effective contact form in WordPress. You might also find value in exploring expert recommendations for the best online form builders or comprehensive guides to mastering the use of WordPress forms.
