Contact Form Solutions?

NiallR · 09-26-2009, 07:53 AM

Hi folks,

I'm looking for recommendations for contact form solutions for handling incoming visitor e-mail. I already use Aweber so I don't need an autoresponder - just to eliminate any confusion :-)

I'm looking for a form script or similar that can defeat spam bots but still be user friendly enough for visitors to use.

Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance!

SusanneUK · 09-26-2009, 08:07 AM

What kind of site are you looking to use it on, is it Wordpress?

If so, there are a ton, I like Contact7, you can search for them in your "add plugin" area of WP.

Cheers
Sue

tipsakti · 09-26-2009, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiallR

I'm looking for a form script or similar that can defeat spam bots but still be user friendly enough for visitors to use.

Any ideas please?

Is it something like help desk?
I am using HESK

Or just a contact form like this freecontactform I am also using

zapseo · 09-26-2009, 10:02 AM

Yah, contact 7 is good. It has some shortcomings (forget what they were, it's been a while since I installed it.)

If it's not for wp -- google for "form creator" or something like that.

They really aren't that hard to create (okay, if you know a little html & a little php) -- so there should be lots of free examples you can get your hands on.

With hosting companies adding more and more security -- be careful.

One hosting company shut down using phpmail, required using smtp, on me. Without warning. And then had the nerve to tell me the reason I wasn't receiving email from a piece of software on my domain was because of the software. I have not yet forgiven them -- they cost me.

Live JoyFully!

Judy

Fernando Veloso · 09-26-2009, 10:10 AM

I had a php contact form witch was nice and not spammy.

I guess the name is just that: php contact form.

Marty S · 09-26-2009, 10:30 AM

Save yourself some programming aggravation and just sign up at Wufoo.com. Check the contact form at my site PokerCalculatorReport.com | Poker Odds Calculators and Software Reviews for an example.

NiallR · 09-26-2009, 10:40 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for getting back to me.

It's a static html site so WP plugins won't fly for this one - thanks for the tip on Contact 7 though. It's bound to come in handy sooner or later Susanne :-)

Wufoo looks good but it's pricey if you have any kinda volume of traffic. It's an option now though so thanks Marty.

The form is just for customers to send a form mail with the usual

Name

Email Address

Message

I've already set a few of these up but the problem is that I'm getting automated spam into most of them and it's a bloody nightmare clearing it all out.

Thanks for all the suggestion so far - keep them coming please!

I'm willing to pay for a solution btw - but not with that "cost per domain" nonsense lol

Marty S · 09-26-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiallR

Wufoo looks good but it's pricey if you have any kinda volume of traffic. It's an option now though so thanks Marty.

YW, but it is free for 3 forms on up to 3 different sites.

mannex · 09-26-2009, 11:25 AM

What you want is to add a CAPTCHA or RECAPTCHA validation to your web form. This validation generates a blurry image that only a human (supposedly) can understand and type in.

Easier said than done of course. A basic cgiemail or tfmail form is a fairly easy server-side script to set up. The CAPTCHA or RECAPTCHA requires inserting some PHP code.

You might look at simfatic. It's cheap, no per-domain cost, and might do what you want. I have not used it myself.

Perhaps other posters can recommend something similar that they have used?

PS, some web hosts will not support all web forms. One popular web host that I know will not let you use cgiemail for web forms.

radhika · 09-26-2009, 11:28 AM

Use Hesk helpdesk.

It is free, feature rich and easy to install.

.

cmaclean · 09-26-2009, 12:35 PM

Machform is great. It's basically a self-hosted ripoff of Wufoo.

zapseo · 09-26-2009, 01:30 PM

Hmmm...some people might find using helpdesk software more intimidating or inappropriate.

For instance, I can't imagine people sending me responses to a copywriting questionnaire (a form I used to have on my copywriting site before kiosk drove me nuts with some of their UNannounced changes last spring.)

Live JoyFully!

Judy Kettenhofen

Copywriter -- Killin' it in WSO copy (15 sales/60 minutes)
Webmaster -- script installation'n'stuff from a Silicon Valley software pro

09-26-2009, 07:53 AM	#1
NiallR HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Waterford, Ireland. Posts: 173 Thanks: 24 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Contact Form Solutions? Hi folks, I'm looking for recommendations for contact form solutions for handling incoming visitor e-mail. I already use Aweber so I don't need an autoresponder - just to eliminate any confusion :-) I'm looking for a form script or similar that can defeat spam bots but still be user friendly enough for visitors to use. Any ideas please? Thanks in advance!

09-26-2009, 08:07 AM	#2
SusanneUK Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Swansea, South Wales, UK Posts: 981 Thanks: 512 Thanked 182 Times in 123 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Contact Form Solutions? What kind of site are you looking to use it on, is it Wordpress? If so, there are a ton, I like Contact7, you can search for them in your "add plugin" area of WP. Cheers Sue
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09-26-2009, 10:02 AM	#4
zapseo Judy K - WSOTD Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose (Silicon Valley), CA , USA. Posts: 4,617 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 151 Thanked 238 Times in 162 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Yah, contact 7 is good. It has some shortcomings (forget what they were, it's been a while since I installed it.) If it's not for wp -- google for "form creator" or something like that. They really aren't that hard to create (okay, if you know a little html & a little php) -- so there should be lots of free examples you can get your hands on. With hosting companies adding more and more security -- be careful. One hosting company shut down using phpmail, required using smtp, on me. Without warning. And then had the nerve to tell me the reason I wasn't receiving email from a piece of software on my domain was because of the software. I have not yet forgiven them -- they cost me. Live JoyFully! Judy
	WSOTD Copy ... check the last usernote... ==> Kick Your Sales Copy Into High Gear -- "like having your own copywriting course" -- April Coggins Get Free 33 Amazing Marketing Reports by $250K+ marketers @@ Tweet Me! @@

09-26-2009, 10:10 AM	#5
Fernando Veloso Portuguese Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Good Old Europe Posts: 3,487 Blog Entries: 6 Thanks: 1,310 Thanked 810 Times in 556 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Contact Form Solutions? I had a php contact form witch was nice and not spammy. I guess the name is just that: php contact form.
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09-26-2009, 10:30 AM	#6
Marty S Screencaster Yoda War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,455 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 241 Thanked 317 Times in 213 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Save yourself some programming aggravation and just sign up at Wufoo.com. Check the contact form at my site PokerCalculatorReport.com \| Poker Odds Calculators and Software Reviews for an example.
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09-26-2009, 10:40 AM	#7
NiallR HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Waterford, Ireland. Posts: 173 Thanks: 24 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Hi guys, Thanks for getting back to me. It's a static html site so WP plugins won't fly for this one - thanks for the tip on Contact 7 though. It's bound to come in handy sooner or later Susanne :-) Wufoo looks good but it's pricey if you have any kinda volume of traffic. It's an option now though so thanks Marty. The form is just for customers to send a form mail with the usual Name Email Address Message I've already set a few of these up but the problem is that I'm getting automated spam into most of them and it's a bloody nightmare clearing it all out. Thanks for all the suggestion so far - keep them coming please! I'm willing to pay for a solution btw - but not with that "cost per domain" nonsense lol

09-26-2009, 11:25 AM	#9
mannex Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 54 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Contact Form Solutions? What you want is to add a CAPTCHA or RECAPTCHA validation to your web form. This validation generates a blurry image that only a human (supposedly) can understand and type in. Easier said than done of course. A basic cgiemail or tfmail form is a fairly easy server-side script to set up. The CAPTCHA or RECAPTCHA requires inserting some PHP code. You might look at simfatic. It's cheap, no per-domain cost, and might do what you want. I have not used it myself. Perhaps other posters can recommend something similar that they have used? PS, some web hosts will not support all web forms. One popular web host that I know will not let you use cgiemail for web forms.
	FREE WSO with Giveaway Rights >> The Fast Start Guide to Becoming a Highly Paid Independent Consultant

09-26-2009, 11:28 AM	#10
radhika Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Jamaica. Posts: 2,405 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 71 Thanked 135 Times in 109 Posts	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Use Hesk helpdesk. It is free, feature rich and easy to install. .
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09-26-2009, 12:35 PM	#11
cmaclean Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 95 Thanks: 7 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts Social Networking	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Machform is great. It's basically a self-hosted ripoff of Wufoo.
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09-26-2009, 01:30 PM	#12
zapseo Judy K - WSOTD Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose (Silicon Valley), CA , USA. Posts: 4,617 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 151 Thanked 238 Times in 162 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Contact Form Solutions? Hmmm...some people might find using helpdesk software more intimidating or inappropriate. For instance, I can't imagine people sending me responses to a copywriting questionnaire (a form I used to have on my copywriting site before kiosk drove me nuts with some of their UNannounced changes last spring.) Live JoyFully! Judy Kettenhofen Copywriter -- Killin' it in WSO copy (15 sales/60 minutes) Webmaster -- script installation'n'stuff from a Silicon Valley software pro
	WSOTD Copy ... check the last usernote... ==> Kick Your Sales Copy Into High Gear -- "like having your own copywriting course" -- April Coggins Get Free 33 Amazing Marketing Reports by $250K+ marketers @@ Tweet Me! @@