Sometimes, you just need a little inspiration to create something beautiful. And these 5 lead capture form examples will inspire you to create something great!
Needing some inspiration for your lead capture form on your website?
Sometimes you just need a little bump to get started. And the lead form examples on this list are the perfect kick.
We’ve scoured the internet to find the best examples and compiled them in a convenient list (along with some helpful lead form tips).
So, let’s get started.
What is a lead form?
So, what is a lead collection form? And what does it mean to “capture leads”?
Put simply, a lead form is a form to capture emails on your website. And you “capture” leads by having people fill out your form with their email.
For example, if you visit Business Insider, you see a lead form on their main page:
With lead forms, you have many opportunities. After all, email is still king when it comes to marketing outreach.
So, creating a lead capture form is the first step, whether you have a weekly newsletter, sell products, or just want to spread the word about BigFoot sightings.
But it’s only the first step.
There’s also creating your landing pages (capture pages) where you’ll display your form. And how do you design your form so visitors find it easily?
But, others have set the path for us with examples to follow.
So, let’s look at how you capture leads with a fantastic form ?.
What is the best way to capture leads with a form?
Getting quality leads is something businesses pay big money for.
So, they dedicate a lot of time and research to finding what makes people fill out their forms. They do research, A/B testing, and more to find what works.
So, by following a few examples, we learn how to improve our own forms.
Lead form best practices
So, here are a few common best practices:
- Include as few form fields as you can
- Contrast colors
- Make it readable
- Make it responsive
- It has to be actionable
1. Include as few form fields as you can
Have you ever filled out a form and just got tired of filling out the fields?
So have your website visitors.
You want to get the information you need without exhausting the visitor with field after field. Long forms are a lead form’s kryptonite.
So, limit it to the essentials.
2. Contrast colors
The greater the contrast, the greater the potential.
Carl Jung may not have talked about lead capture forms, but the idea still applies.
Make your form or call-to-action (CTA) button stand out. If you have a blue background, use yellow.
Of course, make it fit your site’s theme, but make it POP.
3. Make it readable
You come to the internet for internet writing, not novel writing.
Large bunches of text make it less likely your visitor will read it. And that’s bad for lead generation.
So, keep your text simple, limited, and easy to read.
4. Make it responsive
It’s ha
rd to read t
ext when it’s no
t fit to the page.
You get the point. It’s hard to read the text if it doesn’t fit the page correctly.
Make sure your form is responsive and adjusts perfectly to the page (unlike the sentence above).
5. It has to be actionable
When visitors land on your landing form, they should know what to do next.
Immediately.
The best lead forms don’t use basic “submit” or “click here” messages. They use actionable words, so the visitor knows what they’re doing.
So, swap out “submit” with a big “Get your AMAZING stuff here!”
5 Best lead capture form examples to help your lead gen today
1. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign set their lead form front and center.
You’re greeted with two lead forms on their homepage — one in the header and one in the main page content. So, no matter where a visitor's eyes go on the page, they’re sure to find a lead form.
But why is it so effective?
Why ActiveCampaign’s lead form example works
If we look at our best practices, we see ActiveCampaign checks every box:
- ActiveCampaign has one simple form field, and it’s for the visitor’s email address.
- Next to that form field is a clear CTA with a bright green color. The visitor can’t miss it.
- ActiveCampaign uses a large heading highlighting how it can help the customer, then leads the visitor to the form field with a quick subheading. Simple and leads the reader down the correct path.
2. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is a tool from Neil Patel that helps websites improve their website's Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
And Neil Patel knows a thing or two about digital marketing. So, he’s crafted a fantastic lead form that pops up when you go to exit his website.
Ubersuggest doesn’t ask for a user’s email, however. It asks for the URL to the visitor’s website. This works so well because Ubersuggest knows its visitors are website owners, and all website owners want to increase traffic through SEO.
So, why get their email when you can go further?
The form asks further questions about the visitor’s website before presenting them with multiple options at the end. Set it up yourself (where Ubersuggest captures your email and phone number), or have Ubersuggest’s team set up your website with a better SEO plan (a perfect sales opportunity).
Either way, Ubersuggest gets potential customers or email subscribers.
Why Ubersuggest’s lead form example works
Besides the above reasons, the form also follows the best practices mentioned above:
- Ubersuggest uses a multi-page form to limit how many fields show on each page. So, each part only has 1-2 form fields to simplify things.
- The CTA button is bright orange and contains actionable text. The reader always knows what to do next.
- Each page only has a heading and subheading. And each contains a small amount of text so the visitor doesn’t get overwhelmed.
- It directs the reader to the next step clearly, whether it’s the headings, subheadings, or CTA text.
3. YouTube TV
YouTube TV has a lot of financial firepower behind it.
But, with that come some of the best examples of marketing you can find.
And while this isn’t specifically a form example, it is fantastic. First, it starts with social proof, or a quote by a popular information source, to draw visitors in.
People trust when other people or sources say positive things about a product more than when it comes from the company itself. So, social proof is excellent for that.
Then, it quickly highlights the benefits of its service before giving the visitor a prominent CTA button with “Try It Free.”
People LOVE free, and it’s a great way to get people to click.
Why YouTube TV’s lead form example works
Besides being a part of Google, which gives it a lot of trust. There are a few things the YouTube TV lead form does well:
- They have zero form fields on their page. Just a CTA button as a lead magnet taking visitors to a form. Make it as simple and easy to get started.
- The CTA button is highlighted in blue, which stands out on the page. It’s clear.
- YouTube TV uses social proof perfectly here. People trust CNET and know what it is. Putting their quote makes it more likely visitors will sign up.
- It’s hard to pass up a free trial when you see “Try It Free” written clearly and plainly. Even if you read nothing else, that text catches your eye.
4. Jamesclear.com
Sometimes, you need to use creativity to get lead form subscribers.
For example, James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, offers a free chapter to his bestselling book, which sold over 9 million copies.
James’ lead form is also great because it includes excellent pictures. You see the book (along with the number of copies sold), example pages to give the reader a peek, then social proof below it to seal everything up.
Last, to sweeten the pot, James includes exactly how his book will help the customer.
Emphasis on the customer benefits and not your product is crucial for any lead form.
Why Jamesclear.com’s lead form works
James Clear’s primary goal is to get the first chapter in your hand, believing it’ll be enough for you to buy the entire book.
And that works for a few reasons:
- The reader can see what the book looks like and even the layout of the pages with the clear photos he uses.
- There’s only one form field, and it’s paired with a prominent CTA button that tells the visitor exactly what they’ll get: a free chapter.
- He limits the page's text so visitors can scan it. People don’t spend long on a webpage, and this form knows that.
5. Fender Play
Talk about a lead form example!
Not only are you signing up for lessons, but Fender will give you a FREE guitar with it? Now that’s what we’re talking about when it comes to lead generation.
Plus, Fender highlights the customer benefits.
Learn your favorite songs. That’s why most people learn guitar, so why not speak to that urge? Adding a guitar to get started gives customers the impression of a deal. We’d be lying if we didn’t click the “Get My Guitar” button.
When the lead form attracts even those writing the articles, you know it’s good.
Why Fender Play’s lead form example works
Fender wants to sell you a guitar.
And the best way to do that is by appealing to all the new guitar learners. Fender’s lead form speaks to that and does a few other things well:
- It puts a giant picture of a guitar right in your face with the first words you see, “Get a Free Guitar.” Nothing gets someone’s interest like getting a free guitar to start learning.
- The CTA button is obvious and has fantastic CTA text. “Get My Guitar” is better than “Click Here” and other generic text. It tells the visitor exactly how to get started.
- Fender highlights the savings you get. A “$250+ Savings” makes it seem like you’re getting a great deal (just ignore that you’re paying for a year’s worth of lessons).
- The subheading hits on a pain point for customers. The customer wants to learn their favorite song, and Fender has the tools to help them.
Want to get started with your lead form today? Try this out
We’re sure all this lead form talk has you excited and ready to start.
But, to do that, you need a form builder. And that’s where Formidable Forms comes in.
With plenty of lead capture form templates ready, most of the work is already done for you. All you have to do is display the lead form template on your site!
Then, sit back and watch as you generate leads and your email list grows.
But it’s not only lead capture templates that Formidable offers:
- Contact forms
- Multi-step forms
- Progress bars
- Email service integration
So, no matter your email service or lead generation form needs, Formidable has you covered.
We recommend trying out our free plugin so you can see everything it offers. And, if you’re interested in more, try one of our premium plans.
Wrapping up
Lead forms are a complicated business.
But, if you master your lead form, it can lead to enormous opportunities for your business.
Hopefully, this list of the best lead form examples gave you some inspiration you can use today. So, don’t wait any longer. Download Formidable Forms and get started building your lead web forms today!
Getting leads is just part of the process, though. You also have to focus on converting those leads. But learning is all a part of the fun.
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James says
Great tips! You will need to apply them, recently I was just making forms for my site on stepFORM. Added an article to my bookmarks.