Your words · Forms
Your forms don't explain what they need or why
A short hint stops people getting stuck, and saying why you need their details helps them trust you.
- Applies to
- every page
- Typical severity
- low
- Effect on conversions
- medium
- Effort to fix
- Quick to fix
What to look for
Fields needing non-obvious input (VAT number, order reference, budget) with no hint, or personal details requested with no reason or privacy note.
What good looks like
Unusual fields have hints and personal data requests are explained.
How to fix it
Add a one-line hint under any confusing box, and a line on how you'll use their details next to the send button.
Based on
- Form design research
Related checks
Easy to useYour form asks for more than it needsEvery extra question puts some people off finishing. Fewer finished forms means fewer enquiries.Easy to usePeople forget what each form box is forThe grey hint text vanishes as people type, so they lose track and can't check their answers. Some give up.Easy to useYour form is hard to followA muddled form takes longer and causes mistakes, so fewer people finish it.
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