Introduced in EverWeb version 4.0, you now have all new customization features in the Contact Forms widget: Columns and Dividers. These features are designed to provide more flexibility in your Contact Forms' design and make it easier for your visitors to fill and submit their details to you.

What's New with EverWeb's Contact Forms?

Columns: Put Fields Side by Side

Ever noticed how forms usually stack fields one on top of the other? Well, with the new Columns feature, you can place fields side by side. This is great for long forms with lots of fields to make it easier for your visitors to fill out.

Here's an idea: If you're making a sign-up form for a class or a newsletter, you can use columns to make your form shorter and faster to fill out. Put 'First Name' next to 'Last Name' and maybe even 'Email' next to 'Phone Number'. This way, your visitors won't have to scroll as much, making it more likely they'll complete your form.

The columns feature extends to checkbox option too, so if you have many options your visitors can choose from, you can place them in up to 3 columns. This is a great way to streamline your contact forms and make it easier for your visitors to choose the options 

they are interested in.

Dividers: Separate Different Parts of Your Form

With the new Dividers feature, you can draw lines between different sections of your form. This helps you organize your form and makes it easier for people to understand which parts they're filling out.

For example: If your contact form has multiple steps to fill out, you can put a divider between these sections. This clear separation can help visitors fill out your form correctly, improving the chances they'll send you the information you need.

Why It Matters

These new features aren't just about making your forms look nice; they're about making your website more user-friendly. By organizing your contact forms better, you're helping your visitors provide you with the information you need. Whether it's customer feedback, registrations for an event, or just someone reaching out to say hi, a well-designed form can make all the difference.

Using Columns and Dividers

To use these features, just add a new control to your form and choose whether it's a Column or a Divider. For Columns, you can decide how many fields you want side by side. For Dividers, you can pick the color and where to place it. It's that easy!

Just like adding any form control to your Contact Forms, select the appropriate control from the list of available ones as shown in the screenshot. 

If you add a Column you can enter 2 or 3 to specify how many columns to use. Any controls you add after the Columns control will be aligned into the specified columns.

To add a First and Last name field that are side by side, you would add the Columns control and and leave the 'Columns' setting to to 2. Then add two TextBox controls. Label the first control First Name, and the second TextBox last name. That's all there is to it. EverWeb will take care of the form layout.

If you want to adjust the spacing between the columns you can do that from the Inspector as well as shown in the screenshot on the above.

Below you can see the example of the columns control added to the Inspector followed by the First and Last name fields. This creates a simple contact form with the following layout.

In addition to the columns control, a divider is added as well. The divider can have a few style settings and color customizations to match your website design.

Collecting Customer Data With EverWeb Forms

With these improved contact forms, you can collect important data from your visitors. Whether you're gathering feedback, signing people up for a service, or just keeping in touch, a well-organized form can encourage more people to fill it out. Plus, with the right questions, you can learn a lot about your customers' needs and how to serve them better.

Examples to Get You Started

• Event Registration: Use columns for basic information (like ename and contact details) and dividers to separate different sections of the form, such as event preferences or dietary restrictions.
• Feedback Form: Keep it simple with a section for contact info (using columns for efficiency) and another section for feedback, separated by a divider.
• Newsletter Sign-Up: Use a single row for email sign-up to keep it super simple and straightforward.

Remember, the goal of your contact form is to make it as easy as possible for your visitors to give you the information you need. With EverWeb's new Columns and Dividers, you're well on your way to creating forms that look great and work even better. Give it a try and see the difference it makes on your website.

Don't Forget The Contact Forms Enhanced

If you need even more powerful features with your Contact Forms including;

1. File uploads to recieve PDF or other documents right from your website

2. Form controls including date and time selection 

3. Form management so you can easily search, filter and export your form submissions from your client area

4. Send personalized mass email's to your visitors

5. Automatic confirmation emails sent to your visitors after filling out your forms

The Contact Forms Enhanced Add-on will provide this for you. Learn more about the Contact Forms Enhanced here.