Guide
How to add a contact form to your website
The simplest way to add a contact form is a WordPress form plugin that emails each submission to you, with spam protection switched on and a clear thank-you message. Set up the fields, send the messages through your hosting mail, test it from outside, and check your spam folder. A form that quietly fails is worse than no form at all.
Where a message goes
From visitor to your inbox
- Visitor fills in the formName, email, message
- Spam checkHidden field or challenge
- Site sends an emailThrough your hosting mail
- Your inboxYou receive the enquiry
- You replyThe visitor hears back quickly
Why a form
Why a form beats a bare email address
Publishing an email address in plain text invites spam, because automated programs scrape websites for addresses. A form keeps your address hidden, and it lets you ask for exactly the information you need to reply properly, such as the type of job and the postcode, so you avoid a week of back and forth.
A form also suits visitors who are not ready to open an email app. Many people browse on a phone, and filling in a short form is quicker than writing a message from scratch. Offer both where you can: a form for convenience, a phone number for urgent or older customers and a visible email address in the footer if you are happy to receive some spam.
The catch is reliability. A form is a small piece of software, and it can fail without anyone noticing. That is why testing matters as much as building.
Choices
Ways to add a contact form
| Method | Effort | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress form plugin | Low | Most small business sites | Keep the plugin updated and set up spam protection |
| Form built into a page builder | Low | Sites already using that builder | Tied to that builder |
| Hand-coded form with a script | High | Static sites with a developer | Needs careful, secure code |
| Third-party form service | Low | Static sites without a database | Data held by another company |
| Plain mailto link | Very low | Almost no one | Depends on the visitor having a mail app |
Business email that arrives reliably
Unlimited email accounts, spam protection and an external mail relay on every plan.
WordPress
Adding a form with a plugin
Choose a well-supported plugin
Look for recent updates, many active installations and good reviews. Install only one form plugin.
Create a new form
Start with a simple template: name, email address, message and a submit button.
Set the notification email
Enter the address that should receive enquiries. Use a mailbox on your own domain.
Set the "from" address
Use an address on your domain, such as website@yourbusiness.co.uk, not the visitor's address.
Add the visitor as reply-to
That way you press reply and the answer goes to them.
Write a confirmation message
Say what happens next and when they can expect a reply.
Place the form on a page
Add it to your Contact page using the plugin's block or shortcode.
Deliverability
Why form emails go missing, and how to prevent it
Form emails are the commonest victim of mail filters. If your form sends a message from the visitor's address, such as someone@gmail.com, but the message actually comes from your server, receiving mail systems see a mismatch and may treat it as forged. This is the main reason that a form which worked last month starts landing in spam.
The fix is to send the notification from an address on your own domain, to put the visitor's address in the reply-to field only, and to make sure your domain has proper SPF, DKIM and DMARC records. Our guide on SPF, DKIM and DMARC explains them, and how to stop email going to spam goes further.
Our hosting includes spam protection and an external mail relay, which help outgoing mail reach inboxes. Many form plugins can also send through SMTP using a real mailbox, which is more dependable than the server's basic mail function. Use that option if you have the choice.
Fields
How many questions should the form ask?
Keep it short when
- You want as many enquiries as possible
- People can easily describe their need in a message
- The first conversation will happen by phone anyway
- Visitors are on mobile
- Name, email and message is enough
Ask more when
- Quotes depend on details such as size or dates
- You need to qualify enquiries
- You want to route them to the right person
- You can accept fewer but better enquiries
- Dropdowns make choosing easy
Spam
Stopping spam without annoying real people
Any public form attracts bots. Start with the lightest protection: a hidden "honeypot" field that only bots fill in, and a limit on how many submissions one address can send in a minute. Many plugins include both. If spam still gets through, add a privacy-friendly challenge or a simple invisible check.
Avoid hard-to-read picture puzzles, which frustrate real visitors and are accessibility problems. Also avoid forms that require an account to send a message. A few spam messages are a smaller cost than a lost customer.
Law and data
Handling people's information properly
- Tell people what you do with their details. Link to your privacy information style notice from the form.
- Ask only for what you need. Every extra field is more data to protect.
- Do not tick consent boxes for people. Marketing emails need clear, separate agreement.
- Delete old enquiries. Do not keep personal data for longer than you have a reason to.
- Secure the stored entries. If the plugin saves submissions in the database, keep the site updated and use strong passwords.
Testing
What to check before relying on the form
Send a real test
Submit from a different device and a different email address, then check inbox and spam.
Check how fast it arrives
Delays suggest a mail problem worth fixing now.
Test on a phone
Fields should be easy to tap, and the keyboard should suit each one.
Check HTTPS
The form page must load securely. Free SSL is included.
Test the error messages
Leave a required field blank and see whether the message is helpful.
Retest after updates
Plugin or theme updates can break forms. Test monthly.
Follow-up
Replying quickly makes the form worth having
The best-built form is wasted if enquiries sit unanswered. Decide who watches the inbox, and aim to reply within a working day. Setting an automatic reply that says you have received the message and gives your usual response time reassures visitors, particularly outside office hours.
Keep a record of where enquiries come from and which turn into work. After a few months you will know which pages produce results and which forms or fields to simplify. For ideas on what the Contact page itself should say, see our guide to writing the pages every small business needs.
Accessibility
Making the form easy for everyone
Label every field with visible text, not only placeholder text that vanishes as people type. Screen reader users and anyone returning to a half-filled form depend on labels. Mark required fields clearly, keep the layout in a single column and make sure the button says what it does, such as "Send message", rather than just "Submit".
Check that the form works with a keyboard alone, using the tab key to move between fields. Error messages should say which field needs attention and how to fix it. Good accessibility is also good conversion: a form that is easy for everyone is easy for a customer in a hurry on a bumpy train, and a few minutes of care here costs nothing.
Costs
What a form should cost you
A contact form should not need a monthly fee. Good free form plugins cover the common needs, and paid versions add extras such as payments or file uploads that many sites never use. Start simple and upgrade only if you hit a real limit. Remember the cost of your time too: a plugin that is easy to maintain is worth more than one with features you will never touch.
FAQ
Common questions
Why is my contact form not sending emails?
Commonly the message is being filtered as spam because of a sender mismatch, or the notification address is wrong. Send from your own domain and check SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
Do I need a plugin?
On WordPress, a plugin is the easiest and safest route. On a static site you need a script or a form service.
Can I send form messages to several people?
Yes. Most plugins let you add several recipients or route by a dropdown choice.
Is a contact form subject to UK data protection rules?
Yes, if it collects personal data. This is general guidance, not legal advice. See the ICO for current rules.
How do I stop spam from my form?
Use a honeypot field, rate limits and a light challenge if needed. Our hosting also includes spam protection for mail.
Keep reading
Related pages
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