If you’re trying to collect leads, get feedback, or make it easy for people to say hey, adding a contact form to your site is a must.
And guess what? It’s way easier than you think (even if you don’t know code). Today, I’m spilling the tea on 3 easy ways to add a contact form to your WordPress website, no stress, no mess.
Quick Overview: Why You Need a Contact Form
Having a contact form isn’t just about looking professional, it’s about making it ridiculously easy for people to connect with you. Sure, you could slap your email address somewhere, but do you really want spam bots to have a party in your inbox? Forms = less spam, more control, and an all-around smoother experience.
But before we dive into the methods, here’s a must-follow checklist to make sure you’re set up for success:
Checklist for Setting Up Your Form
- Decide how to handle submissions: Automated replies or manual follow-ups?
- Fight off spam: Tools like Wordfence and built-in spam protection are your BFFs.
- Set up SMTP for reliable email delivery: Here’s a great SMTP setup guide.
- Add the form to your contact page: Using one of the 3 methods we’ll talk about in a sec.
- Link your contact page everywhere: Make it super easy to find: header, footer, buttons on other pages.
1️⃣ Use Your Theme’s Built-In Form
If you’re using a theme like Avada, Bricks Builder, or WP Bakery, there’s a good chance it already comes with a built-in contact form. This is the easiest option if you don’t want to mess with extra plugins. If you’re fine with maintaining the builder yourself (or have a developer you trust), this can be a super smooth option. Here’s a peek at some popular themes with built-in forms:
Why it’s great:
- It integrates perfectly with your theme’s design. No weird mismatched vibes.
- You don’t need to learn a whole new tool, just use what’s already there.
What to watch out for:
- SMTP is required. Without it, your emails might vanish into the void.
- If you’re using an older or custom-built theme, this might not be an option.
Be careful with outdated website builder versions. If your developer didn’t give you a license, you could get stuck with a broken form down the road.
2️⃣ Use a Form Plugin
Feeling fancy? Plugins like WPForms or Contact Form 7 (with Flamingo for submissions) offer way more features and flexibility than theme-based forms.
Why plugins are great:
- They’re built specifically for forms, so you get more customization options.
- Great for adding advanced features like conditional logic, multi-step forms, or file uploads.
The not-so-fun stuff:
- They’re harder to style, so making them match your site’s branding might take extra work.
- You’ll need to set up SMTP for email reliability.
- Plugins need regular updates and maintenance to avoid breaking.
Check out the “WordPress Resources” section on my website for a list of plugins and tools I and love using as a WordPress Developer and Designer. You’re welcome.
3️⃣ Embed a Form from Another Tool
If you’re all about reliability and don’t want to mess with WordPress settings, embedding a form from an external service is the way to go.
Seriously, this is my go-to for clients because it’s:
- Super intuitive.
- Works with existing systems (like CRMs).
- Spam-resistant without needing SMTP.
Top Embedding Tools:
- Tally.so: Free, simple, but with some branding.
- Dubsado: Perfect if you already use it for client management.
- JotForm: For detailed customizations.
- Typeform: Gorgeous, but it comes with higher costs.
Final Thoughts
Adding a contact form to your WordPress site doesn’t have to feel like rocket science. Just remember to prioritize reliability, keep your page easy to find, and protect yourself from spam.
And hey, don’t overthink it, your website is a work in progress. You can always tweak things as you go!
Need a hand setting up your contact form or optimizing your WordPress site? I’ve got you covered! Reach out today and let’s get your site working smarter, not harder.