Does your contact form save submissions to a database? If not, you may be losing valuable marketing data!
Does your site save leads to a contact form database?
Contact forms are usually very basic. They take a message and send an email. This front end simplicity is essential for conversion rates. But it doesn't mean everything needs to be basic behind the scenes.
This point of first contact is super-important since your contact form represents an opportunity to build a relationship, gain a customer, and make a sale. The data that comes from contact forms is equally important. The list of names and email addresses that pass through it is probably your most valuable marketing asset. But many contact form plugins don't save this data in a contact form database!
If your theme came with a pre-configured contact form, make sure it saves entries. Many themes recommend Contact Form 7, or include it by default. But this plugin does not save your submissions to a database. All of that important data is discarded. While it may be tempting to keep it for the sake of simplicity, you're missing out if you do!
Why use a form plugin that saves submissions?
Having access to your raw form data is essential. Integrations with MailChimp or other services take partial snippets of the submitted data and add them to their database. But these integrations rarely save a full copy of the submission. There are multiple reasons to send your WordPress contact form to your database.
Backup your contact form leads
Not the sexiest of reasons, I know. In my years working with computers I've learned the hard way to never entrust valuable data to a single system. Even if you have a copy of your contact form data in MailChimp or your email account, a full backup of this valuable information in your own contact form database can give peace of mind.
Chances are good that your contact form is setup to only send an email. The truth is that emails can be unreliable. There are ways to increase the reliability of your WordPress emails, but be sure you are not losing leads. Save your contact form leads to a database where you can return and review.
Future contact form integrations
If your data is saved in your Formidable system, you can make use of this data in your forms, views, charts and graphs. Even if you may not initially need it, having the option to add it in the future opens up many possibilities. Especially when combined with the features of the User Registration add-on.
Make sure your contact form database contains the information you need. When a new integration or service becomes available, there is nothing to hold you back. No need to import data, or filter and format before it can be used. Just dive straight in and make the most of it!
Flexible entry management
When you save leads to your contact form database, you choose how you manage your data. Export, search, delete, and view your contact form submissions. Missed that email and want a copy there too? Resend all the email messages you'd like from your WordPress admin.
Save your WordPress contact forms to your database
Have you left the pre-configured contact forms that came with your theme in place? Ensure that you are not losing any data and missing leads. Take advantage of this important point of first contact.
If your contact form leads are not being saved, take a few moments to replace your contact forms. Don't lose another lead.
I'm a complete amateur when it comes to web development, but was asked to include an application form on our organizations website. I've used the "built-in" jetpack forms, but have been getting reports of applications not being received. When I look in the database, I also don't see any entries saved from those applicants. Would you have any suggestions for what might be causing the issues? I'm attempting to decrease the number of anti-spam measures now to see if those are causing the issue.
Hi Chris,
I've not much experience with Jetpack forms to be honest - but with most form builders, once you hit the submit button the data should be save to the database. Even if the email gets blocked by spam filters, you should still be able to view the form entry via the WordPress dashboard.
Thats the way Formidable works anyway!