I’ve been following a trend pertaining to Web forms and completely agree that labeling certain fields as “required” or “optional” is an antiquated practice. The majority of users, me included, do not like completing long and intrusive online forms, especially if the information being requested isn’t really relevant to my inquiry.

I’m now creating Web forms that are simple and require only information that is absolutely necessary and I use a validation script to ensure that any field that has not been completed will generate an error message.

The reasoning behind this effort is simple; capturing key information such as name and contact information allows the provider to follow-up with the prospect and engage them on a more personal level. This provides an opportunity for the service provider to establish a rapport with the prospect, ascertain additional information, and demonstrate that their interest, no matter the scale, is taken seriously and important.

Of course, some forms may need to be far more comprehensive depending on the subject matter, but the point being whenever possible to adhere to the old philosophy, “keep it simple stupid,” which benefits everyone.