5 Tips for Creating The Perfect Online Registration Form
Follow along as we discuss 5 tips to help you create the perfect online registration form.
You've finally done it! You have decided to create your registration form template, and you're ready to share it with the world!
While the thought of completing this project may be both exhilarating and exhausting, the reality is that specific steps can make the entire process go much more smoothly than you might think.
Follow along as we discuss 5 tips to help you create the perfect online registration form.
In this article, you'll learn five tips to create the ideal online registration form template that will encourage your visitors to give you the information you need while still making it easy to do so.
Use Only Required Fields
A good registration form template will have no more than five input fields, and all of them should be required.
When there's less information for users to fill out, it makes it easier for them to give you what you need quickly. Some form builders and designers may feel tempted to include a lot of extra optional fields in a form; don't add fields unless it's essential.
Limit your questions to only those things necessary for processing payment or initiating a new user account—and keep it short! The fewer questions they have to answer, and therefore fewer clicks on submit, means they're more likely to stay on your site longer.
Place Fields in Optimal Locations
You want your registration form to be simple, easy, and quick for people to fill out. Many people will start with a basic structure and then change it as they go.
It would help if you started with fields in optimal locations first. If you put checkboxes on top, people tend to check off all their boxes before submitting – even if they are not done filling that particular field yet!
If you put them at the bottom of the form, they will usually care for one field before moving on down.
It is better to have fields in groups (like name and address, then payment) or sequence (like name first). You can always move them around based on user testing and analysis data later.
Label Fields Clearly
It's easy for users to fill out a form incorrectly if fields aren't labeled clearly. For example, differentiating between a text field and a drop-down menu isn't apparent.
If you don't use clear labels, your users could waste time inputting information that doesn't belong in specific fields, or worse yet—they could lose their place and start over.
To prevent errors on your registration form template, include descriptive labels for each field, so your users know exactly what goes where.
Provide Good Copy Before Field
People want to know why they're filling out a form, so take a moment to explain what information is being collected, why you need it, and how you plan on using it.
Most people would rather have just enough information than too much or too little—so be sure that your copy hits that sweet spot. You can even consider including some copy tips, or copy prompts directly in your registration form.
Don't Include Charts or Complex Images in Registration Forms.
Please don't put any charts or complex images when designing your registration form. These can slow down your site and decrease conversions.
If you need a placeholder for images or charts, try including something like Image Coming Soon! in plain English.
It is always better not to have anything at all than to have something that will cause confusion and hurt your conversion rates.
Conclusion
The perfect registration form template best captures a user's information, allows them to verify information quickly, and sends a clear message of what they should expect after they press Submit.
Designing a template that meets these goals requires careful planning from start to finish; we hope you found these tips helpful. Good luck!
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