CRO
May 15, 2024

Conversion Rate Optimization 101: Best Practices for Optimizing Website Forms to Increase Sales

When it comes to Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), one often-overlooked aspect is the optimization of website forms.

Whether it's a contact form, a newsletter signup, or an ecommerce checkout page, forms play a crucial role in the conversion process.

By optimizing your website forms, you can increase conversions and boost sales for your business. In this article, we'll cover the key strategies for optimizing your website forms for CRO success.

"If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design." – Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover

Tip #1 - Keep it short and simple

When it comes to website forms, shorter is almost always better.

The more fields a form has, the more likely it is that visitors will abandon it before completing it. To maximize conversions, try to keep your forms as short as possible, only including the essential fields that you absolutely need.

Tip #2 - Use clear and descriptive form labels

Form labels are the text that appears next to each form field, indicating what information should be entered.

It's important to use clear and descriptive form labels, as this will help visitors understand what they need to do and reduce the risk of errors.

For example, instead of using a label like "Phone," use "Phone number" to make it clear exactly what information is being requested.

Tip #3 - Make the form prominent

The placement of your form on the page can have a big impact on conversions.

To maximize the chances that visitors will see and complete your form, make it prominent on the page.

This could mean placing it "above the fold," or in a location where it's immediately visible when the page loads.

Tip #4 - Use visual cues

Visual cues, such as arrows or highlighted fields, can help guide visitors through your form and increase conversions.

By using these cues, you can make it clear to visitors where they should focus their attention and what actions they should take.

Tip #5 - Test different form layouts

A/B testing is a crucial part of the CRO process, and it's no different when it comes to website forms.

By creating and testing different form layouts, you can see which one performs the best in terms of conversions. This could involve testing different form lengths, placements, or visual designs.

Tip #6 - Use error messages

Error messages can be annoying, but they serve an important purpose - they help visitors correct mistakes and complete your form.

By providing clear and helpful error messages, you can reduce the risk of abandonment and increase conversions.

Tip #7 - Optimize for mobile

With more and more people accessing the internet through their smartphones, it's important to optimize your forms for mobile.

This means making sure your forms are easy to use and complete on smaller screens and using mobile-friendly design elements such as larger buttons and font sizes.

In conclusion, optimizing your website forms is an important aspect of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO).

Improve the chances that visitors will complete your forms and increase sales for your business. Don't be afraid to test different approaches and see what works best for your specific audience - the key to CRO success is continuous iteration and optimization.

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Alex Courselle, CRO Director at KARL Mission.
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