Mindspring Design Announces How to Create Effective Online Forms Using Just-In-Time Website Design

Oct. 16, 2008 - PRLog -- Just-In-Time Website Design in Online Forms:

1. Handling Form Errors. Many forms on the web are extremely long with many required fields and special formatting requested. When these demands are not met, users get errors and become frustrated. If a field is required, let the user know at that point in the form, on the same line as the form field (not at the beginning or the end of the form). Don't use color coding or asterisks. Who has time to read the fine print to figure it all out? It's better to permit the user to enter less information (only what is actually necessary to process their request) and to allow for spaces, no spaces, and parentheses in account or phone numbers. But if that's not possible, tell the person right where it's relevant. For example: Enter your social security number (Like this: XXX-XX-XXX). Ask your web designer to do dynamic error checking. That way, if the person makes a simple error, the user will be alerted to their immediately at the appropriate location in the form before they go through the trouble of submitting it.

2. Offer your privacy policy when they need it. Do you read privacy policies for pleasure? No. It's usually when you need to establish trust and figure out what on earth a company wants your home phone number and middle name for. When you ask a person for any personal information, you need to prominently link to your privacy policy right there. Let the user know up front that you won't be selling their email address or sending them spam. Even if no one reads it, the link lets them know you care about their privacy and helps ease their mind during the form submission process.

3. Offer registration after you get users' info. You've visited a beautiful website, found an amazing product, and want to quickly buy it before you have to run off to an appointment. Time is tight, and BAM! You are asked to register. You may not plan on revisiting this site, so you don't actually want to register. This is another place where the Just-in-Time design principle comes into play. When a person wants to purchase a product, they should be able to enter their payment information and make the purchase seamlessly. After that is finished, then ask if they would like to register on your website. At that point, you already have their information, and it can automatically be applied to their registration. This is a much simpler, more natural and polite way to solicit registered users and your customers will appreciate you for it. They may even come back to visit your website.

These were just three common places where your online forms can be improved. There are dozens of places where this principle could be applied in online forms in order to improve the user experience and to drive sales. Jamila Vaughan of Mindspring Design is a web & graphic design consultant for small businesses making your brand work for you. Contact Mindspring Design today at info@mindspringdesign.com for a consultation or analysis of your website.

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Mindspring Design is a creative, web & graphic design boutique helping small businesses create and maintain a brand identity that works for them. Over 10 yrs experience in designing for corporations, non-profits, small businesses and entrepreneurs.