A web form is the best method for gathering information from your visitors. The following are
some great tips for web form design.

1. Design with a purpose

It is true that most people want to spend as little time as possible filling out a form. Therefore, you need to keep your form simple and brief, eliminating every unnecessary element. Make sure every aspect of your form serves a purpose. When designing your form, remember that most people read from left to right and  top to bottom.Your design should take account of this in the placement and labeling of elements. Make sure everything is neatly arranged and evenly spaced.

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2. Customize the form

Every web form should be customized according to the specific circumstances. When planning your form’s design, you need to consider the following questions:
•What questions are you asking?
•Why are you asking these questions?
•Why would your visitors want to fill out the form?
•How will your final web design appear with the form?

The content and layout of your form will be determined by the answers to these questions.

3. Use brief, clean descriptions

You might need to make clear your intentions for collecting information. This reduces user confusion and increases the chances of getting data that is correct and accurate. Make sure your comments and descriptions are concise and clean. You could consider highlighting them with different sizes, styles and colors. However, make sure your descriptions don’t overshadow other parts of your form.

4. Split the form into small sections

Though you might require substantial information from users, you don’t have to ask for it in one huge chunk. Use colored bars, horizontal rules, headings or meaningful images to divide information into small, manageable chunks. Alternatively, you could have your form spread out in several pages. This enables users to fill one page at a time.

5. Include helpful error messages

Make sure your error messages are clear and helpful. Your message should specify and highlight the field or label that caused the error.

6. Release the user

Immediately the user submits the information, your form should be programmed to generate a standard page which says something like, ‘We will get back to you soon. Thank you’. Make sure the page has a link back to your site. When building your next web form, keep these tips in mind. You might be surprised at the level of response you will receive.

Author Bio :ZK is the co-founder of Internet Marketing Blog where accomplished writers and bloggers share their tips, strategies and stories. Follow him on Twitter at @webtrafficroi.