Web Forms and Sign-Up Boxes: Placement and pop-ups
Web form placement is perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make. This article will go over web form placement and the pros and cons of using pop-up forms.
Placement of Web Forms
The most important point to remember when creating web forms is this: people really don’t like to work. If you make the form hard to find or require a lot of fields to fill-in, it may discourage the potential client from signing up.
Display the web form “above the fold” - put it somewhere near the top of the screen so that the person does not have to scroll down to find it. You can also put another sign-up box near the bottom, nothing says you cannot have more than one form on any page, it all depends on the content.
Use the web form to complement the page, not detract from it. One example is if you have a web page that contains an article. You probably do not want your sign up form front and center as the purpose of the particular page is to get the reader to read your article. In this case, it may be a good idea to add the sign-up box only to the bottom of the page. Reason being that the person is so impressed with what you have to say, they will sign up on the spot. Ok, maybe in my world that is how I’d like it to work : )
The goal here is to bridge the gap, appeal to your visitors’ interests, and provide a way for them to sign up for your list without being pushy or obnoxious.
Should You Use Pop-Ups?
When you hear “pop-ups,” you may think of pop-up ads or pop-up banners, both considered to be annoying and intrusive marketing tactics. But you have to admit that pop-ups work in that they grab the reader’s attention, if only for a short time.
