Setting up a WordPress contact form without using code is actually very simple. WordPress provides a variety of plugins that help users complete form settings through a graphical interface. Here are the steps to create a contact form using a WordPress plugin:
1. Choose and install a form plugin
The most commonly used form plugins include Contact Form 7. WPForms, Ninja Forms, and Formidable Forms. These plugins are very suitable for users without coding knowledge and provide a graphical interface to create and manage forms. Taking WPForms as an example, here is how to use it to create a contact form.
Steps:
Log in to your WordPress backend, click Plugins > Install Plugins in the left menu, search for WPForms (or other form plugins you like), click Install, and then click Activate.
2. Create a contact form
Once the plugin is installed and activated, you can start creating your contact form. Taking WPForms as an example, go to WPForms settings, click WPForms in the WordPress backend menu, and then click Add New Form.
WPForms provides some preset form templates. You can choose Simple Contact Form, which includes common fields such as name, email, message content, etc. After selecting the template, click Use Template.
Customize the form. After entering the form builder page, you can add, delete, or modify the form fields by dragging and dropping. For example, you can add a phone number field, modify the field label, adjust the layout, etc. Each field has custom settings options, allowing you to set whether it is required, the description of the field, etc.
Set form notifications. Click Settings > Notifications. You can set which email address the form data will be sent to after the form is submitted. By default, form submissions will be sent to the website administrator's email address, but you can modify it as needed.
Set form confirmation messages. You can also set a confirmation message after submitting the form or redirect users to other pages. For example, you can display a thank you message or direct users to a specific page.
Save the form. After completing the settings, click Save to save your form.
3. Embed your form in a page or post
Once you’ve created your form, you’ll need to display it in a page or post on your website.
Create or edit a page or post. In the editor, click the Add Form button (the WPForms plugin will display this button in the editor).
Select the form you just created from the drop-down menu. Click Insert Form, then Publish or Update Page. You can also copy the shortcode provided by WPForms and paste it into the content of any page or post.
4. Style and appearance customization
Most form plugins (including WPForms) provide the option to customize your style. If necessary, you can adjust the appearance of your form to match your theme style:
Use the plugin’s built-in styles: Usually, the plugin’s forms are already compatible with common WordPress themes, so no additional style modifications are required.
Use the theme customizer: If you need more personalized appearance adjustments, you can use the theme’s CSS settings or use the plugin’s custom style options to adjust fonts, button colors, etc.
5. Form submission and management
When a user submits a form, the submitted data will be sent to the email address you set. Most plugins will also allow you to view submission records in the background:
In WPForms, you can click WPForms > All Forms and view the submission data of each form.
Some plugins also provide data export functions, allowing you to export form data to Excel or CSV format.
6. Other plugin recommendations:
Contact Form 7: This is the most common and free WordPress form plugin, suitable for creating simple contact forms. Its settings are slightly more complicated, but it can also be embedded through the short code provided by the plugin.
Ninja Forms: It is also a user-friendly form plugin with powerful functions and supports visual editing.
Formidable Forms: Suitable for users who need more customization options and complex form functions.
If you don’t want to use code, you can choose plugins such as WPForms, Contact Form 7 or Ninja Forms, which provide simple graphical interfaces and powerful customization functions to help you easily create and manage WordPress contact forms.
