WordPress Contact Form Plugin

How to Create a Contact Form in WordPress

As a rule of thumb, you should always make it as easy as possible for your WordPress subscribers and blog visitors to get in touch with you. Instead of simply displaying an email address, which can often be picked up by spam bots, you can install a simple yet effective contact form on your WordPress blog.

Install the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress

1. Access WordPress dashboard
2. Find Search box
3. Type in “Contact Form”
4. Find the Contact Form 7 by Takayuki Miyoshi
5. Upload the plugin to WordPress
6. Activate the plugin

Let’s get started with installing your new contact form in WordPress. First, you must login and access the WordPress dashboard. Next, find the search box and enter “Contact Form.” The correct plugin, which garners a great deal of positive feedback, is the Contact Form 7 by Takayuki Miyoshi. Go ahead and install the Contact Form 7 to your WordPress blog either automatically, or manually, depending on your preferences.

Once you have uploaded the Contact Form 7 plugin to your WordPress site, you can now activate it. Afterward, a left-hand column will open up on your WordPress dashboard, storing the contact form.

Set up the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress

1. Click on Edit
2. Enter email address
3. Copy the contact form code
4. Return to WordPress dashboard
5. Access a blog post
6. Paste the code in content area
7. Save the page

Let’s get started on setting up the plugin for your WordPress. Click on Edit to continue.

First, you need to enter your actual email address. This is the email address to where all inquires will be forwarded. The remaining entry fields on the contact form can be left in place, since this is the default entry form. Once you have updated the contact form settings, copy the code and return to WordPress dashboard. Access a blog post now to insert the code. In the content area of the post, go ahead and paste the copied code. Now, save the page.

Refresh the page after you have saved it. Your new contact box should appear. This is the basic, default contact form that comes with the plugin, and you are not required to configure it at all. Your subscribers only need to enter their name, email address, subject, and message, and then click send. The inquiry gets delivered to the email address you specified earlier.

Of course  you may elect to leave the contact form as is, or you can customize the form. By customizing the form, you can personalize the entry fields, the categories, the text, and more. Doing so helps ensure your WordPress site has a meaningful, custom feel, helping to brand your blog by adding a new dimension of personality.

Customize the Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress

1. Return to the plugin
2. Access settings page
3. Click on Generate Tag
4. Choose the optional fields
5. Copy the code
6. Paste the code in the corresponding entry box
7. Click on Save
8. Verify changes by refreshing the page

You can elect to customize your contact form. Return to the plugin and access the settings page again. Next, click on Generate Tag. Then, choose the field you want to insert into the contact form. For instance, if you want your subscribers to be able to upload any attachment to their email, you can choose the File Upload option. There are a variety of extra options you can add to your contact form. Browse through the selections now.

Now, once you have selected your contact form options, copy the corresponding code and paste the code in the appropriate entry box. Then, click on Save. Take a look at the changes by refreshing the page. You should see your new contact form including added fields.

You can continue to add custom field entries by simply repeating the steps above for the entry you wish to add. You can choose file size, file type, and more.

Change the Submit button text

1. Click on Settings page
2. Find text brackets
3. Change the text
4. Click on Save
5. Refresh the page

Next, let’s take a look at other ways you can design your contact form. By default, the Submit button reads “Send.” If you want to change the text, then access the Settings page. Then, find the brackets and change the text. Click on Save. Refresh the page and now your new Send button should be customized.

Create new subject categories

1. Click on Generate tag
2. Click on drop-down menu
3. Enter categories
4. Copy the code
5. Return to plugin
6. Paste the code in appropriate entry box
7. Click on Save

Now, instead of leaving the subject field as an open-ended entry, many users choose to create categories. By choosing categories, you can sort through your received inquires in your email box with ease. Click on Generate Tag. Next, click on the drop-down menu. Enter your categories now. You may wish to make the subject a required field. Then, copy the code. Return to your plugin and paste the code in the entry box. Click on Save.

Add custom messages

1. Return to plugin page
2. Click on Messages
3. Click on Show
4. Find message
5. Click on brackets to change text
6. Click on Save

Let’s take a look at the custom messages you can add into the contact form. Return to the plugin page. Click on Messages. Then, click on Show. You will see a complete list of messages, some of which are seen by only the subscriber, and other messages only seen by you. For instance, if a subscriber submits a message on the contact form, they will receive a confirmation page afterward. You can customize this confirmation page. Click on the brackets to change the text and enter your custom message. Then, click on Save.

Using the contact form plugin for WordPress, you can create as many forms as you wish. As you create more forms, you may want to rename your forms accordingly. The easiest way to do this is by clicking on the form name and entering the title of your choice. Then, click on Save.

Congratulations. You have now developed the skill of adding custom contact tables to your WordPress blog.