# Make User Friendly Forms

Forms are a great way to gather information from your users and/or a great way for them to get in touch with you without having to disclose your email to bots. You have multiple options to create forms.&#x20;

## **Embedding Forms**

If you are looking to embed a form. Use Gravity Forms. You can utilize Gravity Forms by accessing the RED CMS. You can create one form and embed it on multiple pages throughout the website.&#x20;

## **Linking to External Forms**

### Qualtrics

Build forms using Qualtrics if you are collecting personal information and/or want to make a form that is only available to UIC personnel.

Visit the [UIC help site](https://help.uillinois.edu/TDClient/37/uic/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=421) for more info on Qualtrics or to make a request.&#x20;

### Google Forms

If your form is not collecting personal or sensitive information, you can use Google Forms.&#x20;

Visit the [UIC help site](https://help.uillinois.edu/TDClient/37/uic/Requests/ServiceOfferingDet?ID=104) for more information about how to do this

## Follow Form Best Practices&#x20;

### Set expectations

At the beginning of the form, give an overview of what type of information you will be asking the user for.  You can even give an estimate of the time it will take to complete the form.&#x20;

At the end of the form, either right above the submission button or in a confirmation message after submission, you should let the user know what will happen next. Tell them if they should expect a follow-up via email or phone and how long they can expect to wait. Whenever possible, setup a confirmation email that lets them know their submission worked.&#x20;

### Group fields together

You want to group your form questions together in a way that will make sense to the user.

#### An example of bad grouping

1. What is your name?
2. What is your phone number?
3. Provide feedback for the organization
4. What is your email address?

#### An example of good grouping

1. What is your contact info?
   1. Name
   2. Phone number
   3. Email
2. Provide feedback for the organization

### Use logic to hide unnecessary fields

It is best practice to show only what is necessary on a form. It is confusing to include questions that aren't relevant to the user. Depending on how a user answers a question, they may have to answer more questions. The additional questions should stay hidden until they trigger the need for it. This can be done using logic in Gravity Forms.

### Write clear labels

Even if the process of filling out the form seems obvious to you, don't assume it will be clear to everyone. Make sure you have clear labels for each field.&#x20;

* A good label is "First name"
* A bad label is "name"

## Provide clear errors

If you want to get consistent information from your form submissions, you will likely need to make some fields required and/or employ requirements for formatting of responses. When you do include these requirements, you should make sure to add custom error messaging. Error messages should tell the user exactly what they did wrong.











