9 Mistake to Avoid When Using Google Forms For Your Business

Well-designed forms are crucial for efficient business processes and Google Forms offers a versatile tool for creating them. However, common mistakes can hinder their effectiveness. This article highlights nine mistakes to avoid and provides solutions to enhance your Google Forms usage.

1. Releasing Answers Immediately

Releasing quiz answers immediately can give some respondents an unfair advantage. To prevent this, adjust the settings to release answers only after manual review. This ensures a fair evaluation process and maintains the integrity of your assessments.

2. Forgetting to Assign Point Values

Not assigning point values to quiz questions can lead to manual scoring adjustments, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. Set a default point value in your preferences to streamline the grading process and ensure consistency.

3. Not Collecting Student/Respondent Names and Emails

Missing essential identifiers like names and emails can lead to confusion and mismanagement of responses. Without these identifiers, it’s difficult to track who submitted what information, which can complicate data analysis and follow-up actions. To avoid this issue, manually add questions to collect names and enable email collection in the form settings. This ensures that you have all the necessary information to identify and communicate with respondents effectively. Additionally, knowing how to transfer ownership of forms can help in managing respondent information more effectively, especially if the person responsible for the form changes.

4. Lack of Guidance for Mistakes

Users need real-time feedback to correct entries and avoid frustration. Without proper guidance, respondents may submit incorrect information or abandon the form altogether. To provide clear guidance, include in-context, actionable feedback near the form fields. For example, use validation rules to alert users when they enter incorrect data and provide hints or examples to guide them. Additionally, consider adding custom error messages that explain what went wrong and how to fix it. This approach helps users complete the form accurately and enhances their overall experience, leading to more reliable data collection.

5. Ambiguous Spacing

Poor spacing in your forms can make them difficult to read and fill out, leading to user frustration and potential errors in responses. When questions and options are too close together, respondents may misinterpret the information or overlook important sections. To improve readability, use Gestalt’s principle of proximity, which suggests that elements close to each other are perceived as related. Add ample white space between questions and group related items together to create clear chunks of information. This not only makes the form visually appealing but also enhances the user’s ability to navigate and complete the form accurately.

6. Lack of Sequencing

An illogical sequence of questions can confuse users and disrupt the flow of completing the form. If questions appear out of order or unrelated sections are mixed, respondents may struggle to understand the context, leading to incorrect or incomplete answers. To avoid this, apply a logical sequence to your questions, starting with basic information and gradually moving to more detailed queries. Break up longer forms into sections with clear headings and use progress indicators to show users how far they have come and what remains. This structured approach guides respondents smoothly through the form, improving their experience and the accuracy of the data collected.

7. Using Multiple Columns

Using multiple columns in your forms can disrupt the user’s reading flow, making it harder for them to follow and complete the form. When questions and options are spread across columns, users may miss or misread information, leading to errors or incomplete responses. To avoid this issue, stick to a single-column layout unless the entries are logically related and clearly grouped. This approach ensures a smooth and intuitive user experience, helping respondents to focus on one question at a time and providing more accurate answers.

8. Disappearing Labels

In-field labels that disappear when users start typing can cause confusion, as respondents may forget what information is required. This issue is particularly problematic in longer forms where users might need to refer back to the label for clarification. To ensure clarity, keep labels visible at all times. Use placeholder text that remains above the input field or implement floating labels that move to the top of the field when users click on it. Keeping labels visible helps respondents remember the context of each question, reducing errors and improving the overall completion rate.

9. Overcomplicating the Form

Long, complex forms can overwhelm users, leading to frustration and drop-off before completion. When forms are too detailed or require excessive manual input, respondents may abandon them midway. To avoid this, ask for only the most crucial details necessary for your purpose. Simplify questions and reduce the amount of manual input required by using drop-down menus, checkboxes, and other easy-to-use input types. Additionally, design your forms to be touch-friendly, ensuring they are easy to navigate and complete on mobile devices. Streamlining your forms not only enhances user experience but also increases the likelihood of receiving complete and accurate responses.

Bonus Tips

Adding Fun Bonus Questions: Engage users with optional, whimsical questions that add a touch of personality and do not affect their score. This can make the form-filling experience more enjoyable and memorable.

Designing a Comprehensive and Simple Form: Use clear titles, descriptions, and appropriate question types to improve response rates. A well-structured form with concise instructions helps users understand what is required and complete the form efficiently.

Additional Features: Utilize features like email collection, question shuffling, progress bars, custom confirmation messages, and collaboration tools to enhance form management. These features help in collecting essential data, keeping respondents informed, and making the form completion process more interactive and user-friendly.

 

Conclusion

Avoiding common mistakes when using Google Forms can significantly improve user experience and data quality. By implementing the solutions provided, you can create efficient, user-friendly forms that meet your business needs. Focus on clarity, simplicity, and thoughtful design to enhance your forms’ effectiveness. For further learning and improvement, explore resources like Richard Byrne’s tutorials and continue refining your form-building skills.