How to Easily Embed Google Forms in WordPress (2024 Guide)
Are you looking for an easy way to collect information from your website visitors? Embedding a Google Form in WordPress is a great option that‘s simple to set up and provides a ton of flexibility.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Google Forms with WordPress. From key benefits to step-by-step instructions, you‘ll learn how to create engaging forms that help you gather valuable insights from your audience.
What Are Google Forms?
Google Forms is a free tool that allows you to build custom forms and surveys. It‘s part of Google‘s web-based office suite, along with other handy tools like Google Docs and Google Sheets.
With Google Forms, you can create unlimited forms with various question types, including multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdowns, linear scales, and more. Responses are automatically collected in a spreadsheet, making it easy to analyze data.
Why Use Google Forms in WordPress?
So what are the advantages of embedding Google Forms in your WordPress site instead of using a form plugin? Here are a few key benefits:
No cost – Google Forms is completely free to use, while many WordPress form plugins charge a fee for advanced features or a high volume of form submissions.
Ease of sharing – Google Forms can be easily embedded across multiple websites or shared via a direct link. This makes it convenient to collect responses from different audiences in one centralized spreadsheet.
Real-time collaboration – Google Forms allow you to collaborate with others in real-time. Multiple users can work together to build a form, analyze response data, and more.
Automatic charts and insights – Google Forms provides automatic charts and insights based on response data, which can be hugely valuable for visualizing trends and patterns.
Integration with other Google tools – Since it‘s part of the Google ecosystem, Google Forms integrate seamlessly with tools like Google Sheets and Data Studio for more advanced data analysis and reporting.
Of course, Google Forms may not be the ideal solution for every use case. More complex WordPress sites may require advanced form building features or integrations that only a dedicated plugin can provide.
However, for a quick and easy way to embed a functional form on your WordPress site, Google Forms is an excellent choice. With that in mind, let‘s dive into how to make it happen!
How to Create a Google Form
Before you can embed a Google Form in WordPress, you‘ll need to create one. Here‘s how to build a form from scratch in a few simple steps:
Go to docs.google.com/forms and click the plus sign (+) to start a new blank form. Or, click "Template gallery" to browse a variety of pre-made templates for different use cases.
Give your new form a name and description in the fields at the top of the page. This is what respondents will see before filling out the form.
Start building your form by adding questions. Click the plus sign (+) on the right to add a new question. Google Forms supports a variety of question types:
- Short answer – Respondents provide a brief text answer
- Paragraph – Respondents provide a long-form text response
- Multiple choice – Respondents select one option from several choices
- Checkboxes – Respondents select multiple options
- Dropdown – Respondents select one option from a dropdown menu
- File upload – Respondents upload a file
- Linear scale – Respondents rank something along a numeric scale (e.g. 1-5)
- Multiple choice grid – Respondents select one option per row in a grid
- Checkbox grid – Respondents select multiple options per row in a grid
- Date – Respondents select a date from a calendar
- Time – Respondents select a time
Customize each question‘s settings by clicking the three dots to the right of the question. Here you can make the question required, add a description, define input type, and more.
Adjust your form‘s appearance by clicking the palette icon at the top. Here you can choose a new color scheme and font style, or upload your own image for the form header.
Configure your form‘s settings by clicking the gear icon at the top. Options include:
- Collect email addresses
- Restrict to one response per person
- Allow respondents to edit their answers
- Show a progress bar
- Shuffle question order
- Preview your form by clicking the eye icon at the top. Make sure everything looks and functions as intended.
And that‘s it! Your Google Form is now ready to embed in WordPress. But first, you‘ll need to access the embed code.
How to Find Your Google Form‘s Embed Code
Once your Google Form is built, you‘ll need to generate an embed code in order to display it on your WordPress site. Follow these steps:
From your form editing page, click the "Send" button at the top of the screen.
In the popup window, click the embed tab (looks like <>) to access embedding options.
Customize your embed settings:
- Choose from a compact or full-sized embed
- Specify a custom width and height in pixels
- Toggle whether to show the form title and description
- When you‘re finished, click the "Copy" button to copy your form‘s embed code to your clipboard.
Now you‘re ready to paste the embed code into WordPress!
How to Embed a Google Form in WordPress
There are two main methods for embedding a Google Form in WordPress: via a Custom HTML block or directly in your theme‘s HTML. We‘ll cover both below.
Method 1: Embed Google Form via Custom HTML Block (Easiest)
Open up a post or page in the WordPress editor where you‘d like to embed your form.
Click the plus (+) icon to add a new block, then search for and select the "Custom HTML" block.
Paste your form‘s embed code into the HTML block.
Preview your embedded form by clicking the "Preview" button in the Custom HTML block. If everything looks good, click "Publish" or "Update" to make the form live on your site.
Method 2: Embed Google Form Directly in Theme HTML
From your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
Open the template file where you‘d like to embed the form (e.g. page.php for a static page).
Paste your form‘s embed code where you‘d like it to appear.
Click "Update File" to save your changes.
Visit the page on your website to make sure the form appears as intended.
Tips for Using Google Forms in WordPress
To make the most of Google Forms on your WordPress site, keep these best practices and considerations in mind:
Keep forms as short and focused as possible – Aim to collect only necessary information to increase response rates.
Use clear, descriptive labels for each form field – Make sure respondents know exactly what kind of information to provide.
Take advantage of different question types – The right question type (e.g. multiple choice vs open-ended) can have a big impact on insightfulness and ease of analysis.
Customize your form‘s appearance to align with your WordPress site‘s branding – Consistent colors, fonts, and imagery create a more professional, integrated look.
Set up email notifications for new form responses – Ensure you‘re alerted immediately when a response comes in so you can take timely action.
Enable response validation where appropriate – Requiring answers or defining acceptable inputs helps maintain data integrity.
Be clear about your data privacy policy – Let respondents know how their information will be used and protected to build trust.
Periodically review and update your form – Keep questions relevant, fix typos, and make adjustments based on initial response data.
Examples of Google Forms in WordPress
To spark some inspiration, here are just a few examples of how you might use Google Forms as an embedded form in WordPress:
- A contact form to collect questions, feedback, or inquiries from visitors
- An event registration or RSVP form
- An application form for job postings, scholarships, or programs
- A survey to conduct market research or gather reader insights
- A questionnaire to qualify leads or provide personalized recommendations
- An intake form to onboard new clients or patients
- A request form for appointments, demos, or free consultations
- An order form for simple products or services
- A feedback form to collect testimonials or reviews
The possibilities are endless! With Google Forms, you can easily gather all sorts of valuable information from your WordPress site visitors.
Google Forms vs. WordPress Form Plugins
If you have more advanced form building needs, you might consider a dedicated WordPress form plugin instead of Google Forms. Popular options include:
- WPForms – A beginner-friendly drag-and-drop form builder with 100+ templates
- Gravity Forms – A powerful form solution with advanced features like conditional logic and payment collection
- Ninja Forms – Another user-friendly form builder with a wide range of customization options
- Formidable Forms – A form builder focused on creating advanced form-based solutions without code
Compared to Google Forms, WordPress form plugins typically offer:
- More field types and customization options
- Built-in SPAM protection and security features
- Integrations with popular marketing and CRM tools
- Ability to collect payments and create order forms
- Detailed entry management and reporting
However, these advanced features often come at a cost, with many form plugins using a freemium pricing model. You‘ll need to weigh the benefits and decide if a form plugin makes sense for your specific needs.
For a simple embedded form that gets the job done, Google Forms may be all you need!
In Conclusion
Embedding a Google Form in WordPress is a quick and easy way to start collecting valuable information from your website visitors. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and wide range of question types, just about anyone can build a professional form in minutes.
In this guide, we covered:
- What Google Forms are and why you might want to use them with WordPress
- How to create a Google Form from scratch
- Two methods for embedding a Google Form in WordPress
- Tips and best practices for effective Google Forms
- Real-world examples and use cases
- How Google Forms compare to WordPress form builder plugins
Ready to build your first Google Form and embed it in WordPress? Just follow the steps outlined above and start gathering insights from your audience!
For more helpful WordPress guides and tutorials, be sure to check out the rest of our blog. And if you have any lingering questions about Google Forms, feel free to leave a comment below.
