The Ultimate Guide to Creating an HTML Email Form

Looking for a way to streamline form submissions through email on your website? A simple solution is to create an HTML email form. This comprehensive guide will show you how to set up a form that sends a copy to both the customer and yourself. Let's get started!

What is an HTML Form?

An HTML form is a crucial tool for collecting information from website visitors. If you want to receive notifications when someone submits their information, you can easily set up an email process within the HTML form.

Why can't I directly send emails from the form?

While it may be convenient, most browsers do not allow this as it can expose the visitor's email address and make them vulnerable to malicious activities like phishing. Additionally, HTML does not provide an option to automatically send an email after form submission. However, you can use the form action element to set a mailto-address (in this case, your own), which will open the submitter's mail client.

However, the mailto-option has its drawbacks:

• It is not fully compatible with all browsers.
• The process is not user-friendly.
• You have limited control over the formatting of the data sent by the browser.
• A warning message will appear, notifying the user that their information will not be encrypted for privacy.

So, what other options do you have for sending emails from a form? Let's explore them below.

Method 1: Create an HTML Form with Email Sending Functionality

Method 2: Create an HTML Form with PHP

If you want your form to seamlessly work with your email server and send submissions directly to your mailbox, PHP is the way to go. Here's how it works:

Creating a PHP Form from Scratch (Advanced)

PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a powerful language that works hand-in-hand with HTML to process forms. Before we dive into the process, here's some basic form knowledge:

PHP Forms: What You Need to Know

A web form has two parts - the front end that is seen by visitors on the browser, and the back end script that runs on the server. While there are other scripting languages that can be used for the backend, such as Ruby, Perl, and ASP for Windows, PHP is the most popular and is supported by most web hosting service providers.

Step 1: Create the PHP File

When creating your web page, save it as a ".php" file instead of ".html". This is similar to saving an image as ".jpg" or ".png". By doing this, the server will know to host the PHP code you write.

Step 2: Designing the Form

After saving your page, you can now design your form. Use the following code as a template:

• Form Method: post
• Form Action: subscriberform.php

Note: Remember to change the form action to the name of the PHP file you created in Step 1.

Step 3: Adding Email Functionality

Next, add email functionality to your form using these steps:

1. Add the necessary code to your form, depending on your design preferences.
2. Use one of the following tools to easily build a form that automatically sends emails without any coding:some text
   • HubSpot- Best Email Form Builder Overall: Use HubSpot's free form builder with any of its products. As they already have your email, they can automatically send you a notification when someone submits a form.
   • Typeform- Best for User-Friendly Forms: Typeform offers various templates and customization options without any coding knowledge.
   • EmailOctopus- Best for Automated Email Responses: EmailOctopus has a user-friendly drag-and-drop form builder, perfect for sending automated responses to form submissions.
3. Once your form is ready, simply embed it onto your website using the provided code.

Limitations of the Mailto Option

While the mailto option may seem convenient, it has several limitations. As mentioned earlier, it is not fully compatible with all browsers and is not user-friendly.

How to Easily Create an Email Form for Your Website

If you're not comfortable with creating a PHP form from scratch, there are alternative options available. Incidentally, the above mentioned tools are straightforward alternatives, but there are many other form builder tools online that offer email sending functionality without requiring any coding knowledge. With the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly create an HTML email form that will not only simplify your work, but also improve the user experience on your website.

Create an Email Form Using a Form Builder

If you're not using WordPress or lack coding skills, creating a form for your website can be challenging. This is especially true if your content management system does not provide a drag-and-drop page editor. Luckily, there are form builder tools available that eliminate the need for coding and enable you to embed forms on your website by using the provided code.

• HubSpot - With HubSpot's Form Builder, you can easily create and embed a form on your website. It also sends you an email notification when someone fills out the form.
• Forms.io - This user-friendly tool offers a quick drag-and-drop interface for creating and embedding forms on your site. It also has an alert system and a backend for managing responses. Forms.io has a free version for up to 10 users, with a $14.99 monthly fee for additional seats.
• Jotform - For those in need of creating multiple forms, Jotform offers customizable and mobile-responsive templates. It also provides various options for embedding forms on your website. Jotform has a free version with branding, while a watermark-free version starts at $24 per month.

Pro tip: Consider using a drag-and-drop editor for a simpler form creation process. Check out CMS Hub, which offers a free Form Builder tool.

Create an Email Form Using a Plugin

For WordPress users, there is an abundance of form builder plugins available, most of which are free and have email notification features for form submissions. Here are a few popular ones:

• HubSpot Form Plugin - This plugin is perfect for lead generation as it connects directly to your HubSpot account. You can also use it with other HubSpot tools, such as CRM, Marketing Hub, and Sales Hub.
• WPForms - With its drag-and-drop interface, WPForms allows you to embed forms anywhere on your site and receive email notifications for each submission. You can even customize confirmation messages and redirect users to a thank-you page.
• ARForms - This plugin offers flexibility by allowing you to set conditions for receiving email notifications or receive them for all submissions. It also integrates with other tools like HubSpot, PayPal, and Google Sheets.

Now that you know how to create an email form for your website, you can gather information and communicate with your audience easily. Choose the method that works best for you and start creating your form today!

Enhance Your HTML Forms with Personalization and Integrated Pop-Up Forms

Are you looking to take your website to the next level? Look no further than HTML forms. While templates are an excellent starting point, adding multiple fields allows you to personalize your forms according to your specific needs. And with tools like ARForms, you can take it even further with integrated pop-up forms and a variety of triggers.

The Power of HTML Forms that Send Emails

In today's digital age, having a successful inbound strategy is crucial. Whether you want to capture leads, gather information for your sales team, or create loyal brand advocates, forms play a significant role in achieving these objectives. With the ability to personalize and integrate various features, HTML forms are a powerful tool for improving your website's functionality and user experience. So why wait? Start using HTML forms that send emails today and see the positive impact on your online presence.

In today's world, online forms play a crucial role in converting visitors into leads and boosting customer engagement. However, if your forms lack the ability to send emails, you could be missing out on valuable opportunities. It's time to take your forms to the next level and unlock their full potential.

Maximize Your Forms' Potential

Now that we understand the significance of forms, it's time to upgrade them. With customizable templates and the option to add multiple fields, you can tailor your forms to meet your unique requirements. But why settle for basic form features?With ARForms, you can take form customization to the next level. This powerful tool offers integrated pop-up form capabilities and a variety of triggers, allowing you to capture leads at the perfect moment. Imagine the impact of a pop-up form triggered by specific actions on your website. This is just one of the many advanced features ARForms offers to help you enhance your forms and achieve greater success.Don't let your forms hold you back. Incorporate these advanced form features today and witness a significant increase in leads, conversions, and customer engagement. The journey towards improved forms begins now.