Your Website Needs a Way to Capture Leads
Getting traffic is half the battle. The other half is capturing that traffic before it leaves.
Most visitors to your site won't come back. If you don't give them a way to connect with you or join your email list before they go, you've likely lost them forever.
Contact forms and lead capture tools fix that. Here's how to set them up properly.
Types of Forms You Should Have
Contact Form
This belongs on your Contact page. It lets visitors send you a message directly without exposing your email address publicly (which invites spam).
Keep it short. Name, email, and message is all you need for most websites. Every additional field reduces completion rates.
Email Opt-In Form
An email list is one of your most valuable assets. Unlike social media followers, your email subscribers are a direct connection that no platform can take away from you.
Place an email signup form prominently on your site. Common spots: the homepage above the fold, the end of blog posts, the sidebar, and a slide-in or pop-up.
Lead Magnet Form
A lead magnet is something you offer in exchange for an email address. A free checklist, a template, a mini guide, or a free chapter. Something specific and valuable.
Pair the lead magnet with a dedicated form. “Get My Free Website Launch Checklist” converts far better than “Subscribe to my newsletter.”
Tools for Contact Forms on WordPress
On WordPress, there are several solid free options for contact forms. WPForms Lite and Contact Form 7 are both popular choices for basic contact forms.
For more advanced lead capture, Leadpages is worth considering. It's built specifically for high-converting opt-in forms, landing pages, and lead capture. You can embed forms from Leadpages directly into your WordPress site and connect them to your email marketing platform automatically.
Connecting Forms to an Email Marketing Tool
A contact form that just sends you an email is fine. But if you're building an email list, you need your opt-in forms connected to an email marketing platform.
Beehiiv is a popular choice for creators and bloggers who want to grow a newsletter. It has a clean interface, good deliverability, and a free plan for beginners. You can embed Beehiiv signup forms directly on your website in minutes.
Once connected, every signup automatically goes to your email list and you can start sending newsletters without any manual work.
Starting at $43/month
Key Features
User-friendly interface for project management
Collaborative workspace for team members
Time tracking and invoicing capabilities
Why We Recommend It
Streamlines project management processes up to 10,000 subscribers
Facilitates effective collaboration among team members
Helps track project progress and billable hours accurately
Pros & Cons
- Intuitive interface
- Great for small to medium-sized teams
- Offers invoicing features
- It may need more advanced project management functionalities
- Not suitable for large enterprises with complex project needs
Form Placement Tips
Where you put your form matters as much as the form itself. Here's what works:
- Above the fold on your homepage: Visitors see it immediately. High visibility means more signups.
- End of blog posts: Readers who finish a post are engaged. Strike while their interest is high.
- Exit-intent pop-up: Shows when a visitor is about to leave. A last chance to capture them before they go.
- Dedicated landing page: A standalone page focused entirely on one opt-in offer converts extremely well when paired with paid traffic or a specific campaign.
What to Put on Your Thank You Page
After someone fills in a form, don't just show a blank confirmation. Use your thank you page strategically.
Thank them. Set expectations (when you'll reply, when they'll get their freebie). Then give them something to do next: read your most popular post, follow you on social media, or check out a specific page.
A good thank you page keeps the conversation going instead of ending it.
