Forms in the online shop are an important tool for collecting customer information and processing transactions. It is therefore important that these forms are designed in a user-friendly way to make it easier for customers to interact with the shop and to contribute to a positive user experience. In this blog post, we would like to show how forms in the online shop can be structured in a user-friendly way.
A clear structure and navigation are crucial to creating user-friendly forms. This means that the user can quickly find their way around and navigate through the form without any problems. A good way to achieve this is to use clear headings and subheadings to structure the layout of the form. Using plain text links and buttons that clearly say what they do can also help to simplify navigation. For example, instead of "Click here", you could use a button that says "Buy now".
Understandable form elements
Another important aspect of user-friendly forms is that the form elements are understandable to the user. This means that they are clearly and unambiguously worded and do not contain any unnecessary or confusing elements. The use of symbols or abbreviations should also be avoided unless they are commonly known. A good way to ensure that form elements are understandable is to conduct user tests where volunteers fill out the form and provide feedback.
Optimal loading times
Another important factor for user-friendly forms is loading time. Users are impatient and don't want to wait long for a page or form to load. To ensure that forms load quickly, they should be designed to be as simple and streamlined as possible and avoid unnecessary elements. It is also important that the server on which the shop is hosted has sufficient power to ensure fast loading times.
Mobile optimisation
In this day and age, more and more purchases are being made via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It is therefore important that the forms in the online shop are also optimised for mobile devices. This means that they automatically adapt to the screen size and are easy to use. Using responsive design that adapts to the screen size is also important to ensure a good user experience on mobile devices.
Understandable form validation
Form validation is used to ensure that the user enters correct and complete information. It establishes certain rules that must be followed in order for the form to be submitted. Comprehensible form validation is important to avoid confusing or discouraging the user.
One way to make form validation understandable is to use clear error messages that tell the user exactly what has been done wrong and how it can be corrected. For example, an error message could be "Please enter a valid email address" or "The password must be at least 8 characters long". The use of symbols such as red exclamation marks or input fields outlined in red can also help to make the error messages quick and easy to spot.
Another way to make form validation understandable is to use placeholders. Placeholders are text displayed in the input field that informs the user of the expected input. For example, the placeholder "First name and last name" could be displayed in the input field for the first and last name. This gives the user a clear idea of what is expected of them and avoids confusion.
To ensure that the form validation is understandable, care should also be taken to check the input the user makes directly. Immediate verification ensures that the user quickly learns if they have done something wrong and how it can be corrected. This avoids the user submitting the form only to receive an error message later.
Conclusion
To create user-friendly forms in the online shop, it is important that they have a clear structure and navigation, contain understandable form elements and have fast loading times. Optimisation for mobile devices is also important to ensure a good user experience on all devices. In addition to form presentation, validation that is understandable to the user is also crucial. By paying attention to these factors, forms can be successfully used in online shops to collect customer information and process transactions.