Are you looking to take your WordPress forms to the next level? Want to make them more engaging, intuitive and fun for your visitors?
Adding image choices is a game-changer that can significantly boost your form‘s appeal and conversion rates. And the best part? It‘s super easy to set up with the right tools.
In this expert guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to effectively implement image choices in your WordPress forms and start reaping the benefits for your website or business.
Why Use Image Choices in Your WordPress Forms?
First, let‘s talk about why image choices are such a powerful addition to any online form.
Studies have shown that the human brain processes visuals a whopping 60,000 times faster than plain text. That means by adding images to your form‘s selection fields, you can help users comprehend the options more quickly and make choices more easily.
Images also convey much more information and context compared to text labels alone. They‘re more memorable, evocative and can even trigger emotional responses that influence decision making.
In practical terms, this translates to better form completion rates, higher quality responses and more conversions. One case study found that an ecommerce site increased their product sales by 25% after adding images to the options on their order form.
And in a survey by ConversionXL, nearly 50% of respondents said they would be more likely to complete a form if it included images.
So not only do image choices enhance the user experience, but they can also directly impact your form‘s success metrics and bottom line.
How to Add Image Choices in WPForms
Convinced of the benefits? Great! Let‘s dive into how you can easily add image choices to your WordPress forms using WPForms.
WPForms is the most popular form builder plugin for WordPress, with over 5 million active installations. It allows you to create professional-looking, fully-customizable forms with its intuitive drag-and-drop builder – no coding needed.
One of WPForms‘ standout features is its seamless integration of image choices into various form fields, including Multiple Choice, Checkboxes and Dropdown fields.
Here‘s how to set it up:
Install and activate the WPForms plugin on your WordPress site. If you need help, refer to this guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Create a new form by going to WPForms » Add New. Give your form a name and select the template you want to start with (Blank Form is fine too).
In the form builder, look for the field type you want to add image choices to under the Fancy Fields section. Drag and drop it onto your form.
Click on the field in the preview to open its settings. Enter a label and at least two text choices.
Now here‘s the magic – toggle on the "Use image choices" option. Upload buttons will appear below each choice.
Click the Upload Image button to select an existing image from your WordPress Media Library, or upload a new one from your computer. Aim for images that are high-quality, clear and consistent in size.
If you need more choices, click the (+) button to add another row. To remove a choice, click the (-) button.
Under Advanced Options, select your preferred layout for the image choices: Inline, 2, 3 or 4 columns. This determines how the images are arranged visually.
Customize any other field settings you desire, such as Required, Choice Limit, etc.
Repeat steps 4-10 for any other fields you want to add image choices to.
When your form is ready, click the Publish button and copy the shortcode. Paste it on the page or post where you want the form to appear.
That‘s it! Your image choices are now live for your site visitors to enjoy. Here‘s an example of what they might look like:
Tips for Using Image Choices Effectively
Now that you know how to set up image choices, let‘s cover some best practices to ensure they have the maximum impact on your form‘s engagement and usability:
1. Use high-quality, relevant images
The most important factor in an effective image choice is the image itself. Make sure to use professional, high-resolution photos that are clear and well-lit. The images should be relevant to the options and not include any distracting or unnecessary elements.
2. Keep image sizes consistent
Using images that are uniform in size and aspect ratio will create a clean, organized look for your form. Avoid mixing square and rectangular images, or small and large images. WPForms does not resize images for you, so you‘ll need to crop them before uploading.
3. Optimize image file sizes
While you want high quality images, you also need to keep your form loading quickly. Large image files can significantly slow down your page speed, leading to form abandonment. Compress your images to reduce their file size without losing too much quality. Aim to keep each image under 200KB.
4. Include descriptive alt text
For accessibility purposes, make sure to include alt text for each image choice. This allows visually-impaired users to understand the options via screen readers. It‘s also good for SEO. Keep the alt text concise but descriptive.
5. Limit the number of choices
Too many options can overwhelm users and lead to indecision. As a general rule, aim to keep your image choices to a maximum of 6 per question. If you have more, consider splitting them into multiple questions or grouping similar options together.
6. Use images to simplify complex options
Image choices are particularly useful when you have options that are hard to convey with text alone. For example, if you‘re asking users to choose between different product variations or customizations, images can clarify the differences and make the selection process much easier.
7. Consider mobile responsiveness
With more and more users accessing forms on mobile devices, it‘s crucial that your image choices are optimized for small screens. Make sure the images are large enough to be easily tapped and still visible on a phone. WPForms‘ responsive layouts adapt well to mobile, but it‘s always a good idea to preview your form on multiple devices.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your image choices are an effective and valuable addition to your WordPress forms.
Advanced Image Choices with Conditional Logic
Want to take your image choices to the next level? WPForms‘ powerful conditional logic feature allows you to show or hide image choices based on the user‘s answers to previous form questions.
For example, let‘s say you have a car rental booking form. You could set up conditional logic so that if the user selects "Luxury" as their vehicle class, they are shown image choices of different luxury car models. But if they select "Economy", they are shown images of economy cars instead.
This dynamic adaptability makes your forms feel more personalized and relevant, leading to higher completion rates and customer satisfaction.
To set up conditional logic with image choices in WPForms:
- In the form builder, click on the field with image choices you want to conditionally show/hide.
- Go to the Advanced Options section and look for the "Conditionals" option.
- Click on the Conditionals option to open up the conditional logic settings.
- Configure your rules by selecting the criteria that will trigger the image choices to appear or disappear (e.g. "Show this field if Vehicle Class is Luxury").
- Save your conditional logic rules and test out the form to make sure the image choices are showing up as intended.
With a bit of creativity, you can use conditional logic to build highly interactive and engaging forms that guide users through personalized paths based on their input.
Real Examples of Effective Image Choices in Action
Need some inspiration for how to use image choices in your own forms? Here are a few real examples of businesses and websites that have implemented them successfully:
1. Airbnb‘s Accommodation Type Selection
Airbnb‘s search form uses image choices to help users quickly select the type of accommodation they‘re looking for, such as an entire apartment, private room or hotel room. The images provide an instant visual representation of each option, making the selection process intuitive and efficient.
2. Donation Amount Options for Charity: Water
This donation form from Charity:Water uses image choices to illustrate the impact of different giving amounts. By showing the tangible outcomes associated with each dollar amount, the images tug on donors‘ emotions and encourage higher contributions compared to a generic list of numbers.
3. Style Quiz by Stitch Fix
Personal styling service Stitch Fix uses image choices throughout their onboarding style quiz to gather information about customers‘ fashion preferences. The images allow users to express their taste visually, resulting in more accurate style profiles and tailored product recommendations.
Accessibility Considerations for Image Choices
As with any aspect of your website, it‘s important to ensure your forms are accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments or disabilities. When implementing image choices, keep these accessibility best practices in mind:
- Always include descriptive alt text for each image. This allows users with screen readers to understand the options.
- Provide text labels in addition to the images. Don‘t rely solely on the images to convey meaning.
- Ensure sufficient color contrast between the images/labels and the form background.
- Allow users to select options using keyboard navigation, not just mouse clicks.
- If an image fails to load, the alt text should still clearly describe the option.
WPForms is built with accessibility in mind and follows WCAG 2.0 standards. But it‘s still important to be mindful of these factors when customizing your forms.
How WPForms Stacks Up to Other Form Builders for Image Choices
While WPForms is my top recommendation for easily adding image choices to your WordPress forms, you may be wondering how it compares to other popular form builder plugins. Here‘s a quick rundown:
- Gravity Forms offers basic support for radio button image choices, but the setup is less intuitive compared to WPForms. It lacks the ability to use images for checkbox fields.
- Contact Form 7 does not have built-in functionality for image choices. You would need to manually code the image options using HTML, which requires technical knowledge.
- Ninja Forms and FormidableForms both offer image choices, but with more limited customization options and potentially steeper learning curves compared to WPForms.
Ultimately, WPForms stands out for its user-friendly, no-code implementation of image choices, along with its wide range of customization options and integrations. But the best form plugin for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Ready to Upgrade Your WordPress Forms with Image Choices?
By now, you should have a solid understanding of the benefits of image choices and how to effectively implement them using WPForms.
You‘ve seen real examples, best practices and tips for optimizing image choices for engagement and accessibility.
So what‘s stopping you from taking your WordPress forms to the next level?
Whether you want to boost ecommerce sales, get more leads, or gather valuable insights from your audience, image choices can help you achieve your goals while providing a more delightful user experience.
WPForms makes it incredibly easy to get started with image choices in minutes, no coding required. And with its variety of form templates, fields and integrations, you can create forms perfectly tailored to your needs.
So why not give image choices a try and see the results for yourself? Your website visitors (and your conversion rates) will thank you.
