Contact forms are a standard part of web design, and many of them will be based around free templates found with an internet search or provided in the form of a plug-in from various content management systems. For the most part they come with standard-issue questions: First Name, Last Name, Telephone Number, Email Address, Message. While these questions may be perfectly appropriate, they may also be too vague and unlikely to give you the kind of information that you really need.
If your website is offering a service, such as web design, then you will likely need to know a little bit more than this so that you are better equipped to provide a detailed response which gives your potential customer a realistic level of expectation.
As well as the standard questions, think carefully about what would really help you form a detailed, worthwhile response. For instance if you simply cannot provide your service for less than a certain amount of money, would the inclusion of a field asking for a budget range help narrow down potential customers from people who are simply wasting your time?
In the example of a web designer's contact form, would it be helpful to be given a list of some other sites which the visitor likes the look of? That way you can tell if what they envisage and what you are actually able to deliver for their budget actually tie up.
Will timescale affect cost? If a client potentially needs a service within a week, but you have a month-long waiting list, would this information allow you to dismiss a client straight away, or offer your services at a premium?
Also don't be afraid to expand your questions. "Message" attached to a text area may give a vague indication of what is required, but if you were to be more specific - perhaps suggesting the visitor list key features, what they class as most important, what they definitely do not want - then you will again be better equipped to provide a response which is detailed and, ultimately, more satisfying to the client.
Finally, why not use your contact form to do a bit of work for you? Adding a field which asks where the visitor heard about your services could potentially tell you whether or not any advertising or SEO campaigns you have running are actually working, and give you leads into other avenues to try when it comes to promoting your business.
The contact form is often overlooked simply because we are so used to filling them in we forget that they have any real purpose. Don't let your contact form slide into obscurity - consider it as a valuable ally in your business and tailor it accordingly.
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