How To Create Custom CMS Forms

How To Create Custom CMS Forms Step-By-Step | Automate Your Workflow

In the ever-evolving landscape of website development, having the ability to create custom forms that integrate seamlessly with your Content Management System (CMS) can significantly enhance your workflow and improve user experience.

Wix Studio offers robust tools to design and implement custom CMS forms, enabling you to automate various processes and streamline your operations. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating custom CMS forms in Wix Studio.

Understanding the Importance of Custom CMS Forms

Custom CMS forms allow you to collect, manage, and utilize data efficiently. Whether you need to gather information from your website visitors, manage product inventories, or handle content submissions, custom forms provide a flexible solution tailored to your specific needs. By integrating these forms into your CMS, you can automate data entry, reduce manual tasks, and ensure consistency across your website.

Getting Started with Wix Studio

Step 1: Setting Up Your Wix Account

Before you can start creating custom CMS forms, you need to have a Wix account. If you haven't already, sign up for a Wix account and choose a plan that suits your needs. Wix offers a variety of plans, from basic to advanced, each with different features and capabilities.

Step 2: Creating a New Website or Accessing an Existing One

Once you have your Wix account, you can either create a new website or access an existing one. To create a new website, click on "Create New Site" and follow the prompts to choose a template and customize your site. If you are working on an existing site, select it from your dashboard.

Designing Your Custom CMS Form

Step 3: Adding a New Collection

1. Navigate to the CMS: In your Wix Editor, click on the "Content Manager" (also known as "CMS") on the left-hand menu.

2. Create a New Collection: Click on "Add New Collection" and name it appropriately based on the data you intend to collect (e.g., "Contact Form Submissions," "Product Orders").

3. Set Up Fields: Define the fields for your collection. These fields will correspond to the form inputs you plan to create. Common fields include name, email, phone number, message, etc.

Step 4: Designing the Form Layout

1. Add a Form: Go to the "Add" menu, select "Contact & Forms," and then choose "Form."

2. Customize the Form: Drag and drop the form elements onto your page. Customize each element (text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes) to match the fields in your CMS collection. For example, if you have a "Name" field in your collection, ensure you add a text input for the name on your form.

3. Connect Form to Collection: Click on each form element, select "Connect to Data," and link it to the corresponding field in your CMS collection. This step ensures that the data entered into the form will be automatically saved in your collection.

Integrating Advanced Features

Step 5: Adding Conditional Logic

Conditional logic allows you to create dynamic forms that change based on user input. For instance, you can show or hide fields based on previous answers.

1. Enable Developer Mode: To add conditional logic, you need to enable Developer Mode in Wix. Go to the top menu, click on "Dev Mode," and then "Turn on Dev Mode."

2. Add Code for Conditional Logic: Use the Wix Code (Velo) editor to add custom JavaScript code that defines the conditions. For example, you can write a script that shows a specific field only if a certain checkbox is checked.

Step 6: Automating Workflows with Wix Automation

Wix Automation allows you to create automated workflows triggered by form submissions. This can include sending emails, updating data in your CMS, or integrating with third-party services.

1. Create an Automation: In your Wix dashboard, go to "Automation" and click on "Create New Automation."

2. Define the trigger. Choose "Form Submission" as the trigger.

3. Set Up Actions: Specify the actions that should follow the form submission. For example, you can send a thank-you email to the user, notify your team of a new submission, or update a CRM system.

Testing and Publishing Your Form

Step 7: Testing Your Form

Before publishing your form, thoroughly test it to ensure all fields are correctly connected to your CMS collection and that any conditional logic or automation works as expected. Submit test entries and verify that the data is accurately recorded in your collection.

Step 8: Publishing Your Site

Once you are satisfied with your form, publish your website to make it live. Click on the "Publish" button in the Wix Editor, and your custom CMS form will be available to users.

Enhancing User Experience

Step 9: Optimizing for Mobile

Ensure that your form is mobile-friendly. Wix provides tools to preview and edit your site in mobile view. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the form is easy to use on smaller screens.

Step 10: Analyzing Form Performance

Monitor the performance of your form using Wix Analytics. Track submission rates, identify any issues, and gather insights to improve the user experience. Regularly updating and optimizing your forms can lead to higher engagement and better data quality.

Conclusion

Creating custom CMS forms in Wix Studio is a powerful way to streamline data collection and automate workflows on your website. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can design forms that are both functional and user-friendly, tailored to meet the specific needs of your business. Whether you are collecting contact information, processing orders, or managing content submissions, custom forms integrated with your CMS can enhance efficiency and improve user engagement.

Update:

In this video, I show you how to build custom CMS forms step-by-step to help you automate your workflow. Custom CMS forms are great if you plan on displaying the content on your site dynamically. They can used for real estate listings, job postings, events, team members, etc. I also show you how to set up email automation every time a new form submission is generated. You do need a premium plan in order for the automation to work.