A Five Minute Test for Your Enquiry Form

Forms break quietly. A plugin update, a changed email address or a spam filter set too tight can stop enquiries arriving. Nothing tells you.

Here is a test you can run in five minutes.

The test

1. Submit a real enquiry from your phone, on mobile data. Not on office wifi, and not on a desktop.
2. Check that the notification arrives. Check the spam folder as well.
3. Look at what the patient sees afterwards. Is there a clear confirmation message?
4. Try again with a different email provider. Ask a friend to submit one using an email address from a different provider.
5. Check who receives it, and how quickly someone replies. A working form is only useful if someone answers.

Make it a habit

Do it on the first Monday of every month. It takes five minutes and it is the cheapest insurance a website has. Also run it after any website update, plugin update or change of email provider.

Why forms fail

• A plugin or theme update changes how the form works
• The notification address is out of date
• Spam filters block genuine enquiries
• The form works on desktop but not on mobile
• The confirmation page is missing or confusing

Also worth checking

• Does the form ask for more than it needs? Fewer fields usually get more completions.
• Is there a short privacy notice that explains what you do with the details? Make sure your form and privacy notice meet UK GDPR requirements, and check this with your own advisor.
• Is there a phone number for anyone who prefers to call?