Ninja Forms is a popular and powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to create and manage forms without needing to write custom code.
It’s a versatile tool that can be used to create simple contact forms complex surveys and everything in between.
Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress developer or a beginner just starting out Ninja Forms has features to help you streamline your website’s form creation process.
🔥 Tired of clunky forms that make your visitors want to throw their laptops out the window? 😠 Ninja Forms is here to save the day! 🦸♀️
Build forms like a pro with Ninja Forms
Installing and Setting up Ninja Forms
🔥 Tired of clunky forms that make your visitors want to throw their laptops out the window? 😠 Ninja Forms is here to save the day! 🦸♀️
Build forms like a pro with Ninja Forms
Once you’ve decided to use Ninja Forms the first step is to install and activate the plugin.
This is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes.
Installation
- Access your WordPress dashboard: Log in to your WordPress site and navigate to the “Plugins” section.
- Search for “Ninja Forms”: Use the search bar to find the Ninja Forms plugin.
- Install and Activate: Click “Install Now” and then “Activate” once the plugin is installed.
Getting Started with the Dashboard
After activating Ninja Forms you’ll find a new menu item called “Ninja Forms” in your WordPress dashboard.
Clicking on this will take you to the Ninja Forms dashboard where you can manage all aspects of your forms.
Creating Your First Form
The Ninja Forms dashboard is your central hub for managing all your forms.
It provides an intuitive interface to create edit and view your forms.
Choosing a Template
When you’re ready to create your first form the dashboard offers several templates to get you started quickly.
These templates provide a basic structure and pre-defined fields saving you time and effort.
The “Contact Us” Template
A popular choice is the “Contact Us” template which is perfect for creating a simple form for visitors to get in touch with you.
This template includes fields for name email and a message providing a basic framework for collecting contact information.
Customizing Your Form
You can easily customize the “Contact Us” template to suit your needs by adding or removing fields changing their order and modifying their labels.
For example you might want to add a field for a user’s phone number or a drop-down menu for them to select their reason for contacting you.
Adding Fields
To add fields to your form click the blue circle with a white plus sign in the bottom right corner of the form builder.
This opens a menu of available field types including text fields checkboxes radio buttons dropdown menus and more.
Editing Fields
You can also easily edit existing fields by clicking the small blue gear icon next to them.
This allows you to change the label field type required status and other properties of the field.
Removing Fields
To remove a field simply hover over the gear icon and a trash icon will appear.
Click the trash icon to delete the field from your form.
Using the Drag-and-Drop Interface
Ninja Forms has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface allowing you to easily reorder fields and change the layout of your form without writing code.
Simply drag and drop fields to the desired location within your form.
Going Beyond the Basics
While the “Contact Us” template is a great starting point Ninja Forms offers many advanced features to help you build sophisticated forms tailored to your specific needs.
Conditional Logic
Conditional logic allows you to control which form fields appear based on user input.
For example if you’re creating a survey you might want to show specific questions based on the user’s answer to a previous question.
Integrations
Ninja Forms integrates seamlessly with other popular plugins and services.
This allows you to extend the functionality of your forms and automate workflows.
Mailchimp Integration
One of the most useful integrations is with Mailchimp a leading email marketing service.
By integrating Ninja Forms with Mailchimp you can automatically add new subscribers to your email list when they submit a form on your website.
This can be a powerful way to grow your email list and engage with your audience.
Payment Processing
Another useful integration is with popular payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal.
This allows you to accept payments directly through your forms making it easy to sell products services or collect donations.
File Uploads
Ninja Forms also allows users to upload files directly through your forms.
This can be helpful if you need to collect documents images or other files from your website visitors.
Multi-Page Forms
For more complex forms you can use the multi-page form feature.
This allows you to create forms that span multiple pages making it easier to collect detailed information from users.
Customizable Forms
You can fully customize the look and feel of your Ninja Forms to match the design of your website.
You can use the built-in styling options or use custom CSS to create a unique look for your forms.
Ninja Forms with Gutenberg
If you’re using the Gutenberg editor Ninja Forms offers a dedicated Gutenberg block for easily adding forms to your posts and pages.
Using Shortcodes
You can also add your Ninja Forms to your pages or posts using shortcodes.
Shortcode Basics
A shortcode is a simple way to add dynamic content to your pages and posts.
Ninja Forms automatically generates a unique shortcode for each form.
To add a form using a shortcode copy the shortcode from the Ninja Forms dashboard and paste it into the shortcode block in your editor.
The shortcode will then automatically embed the form in your page or post.
Shortcodes for Forms
Each form you create in Ninja Forms will have its own unique shortcode.
This makes it easy to add the same form to multiple locations on your website.
Shortcodes and Customization
You can also use shortcodes to customize the way your forms are displayed on your website.
For example you can use a shortcode to change the form’s width or hide certain fields.
Advanced Options
For users who want more control over their forms Ninja Forms offers a wide range of advanced options that allow you to customize the behavior and functionality of your forms.
Email Notifications
Email notifications allow you to automatically send emails to yourself or other users when a form is submitted.
You can use the email notification feature to receive form submissions track responses or send automated confirmation messages to users.
Setting Up Email Notifications
You can configure email notifications for each form you create.
When you create a new form or edit an existing one go to the “Emails & Actions” tab in the settings.
This is where you can set up the email notifications for the form.
Customizing Email Notifications
You can customize the email notifications to include specific information like the user’s name email address and form submission data.
You can also customize the subject line and body of the email.
Form Submissions
You can view and manage form submissions directly from your Ninja Forms dashboard.
This allows you to track the data collected by your forms export submissions to a CSV file and manage responses efficiently.
Advanced Features
Ninja Forms offers several advanced features that give you greater control over your forms.
These include:
- Advanced Field Types: Ninja Forms includes a variety of advanced field types such as file uploads calculated fields and conditional fields.
- Custom CSS: Customize the appearance of your forms by using custom CSS.
- API Access: Use the Ninja Forms API to integrate with other applications or create custom integrations.
Conclusion
Ninja Forms is a powerful and versatile plugin for creating forms in WordPress.
Its user-friendly interface drag-and-drop form builder and extensive customization options make it an excellent choice for websites of all sizes.
Whether you need to collect contact information conduct surveys or process payments Ninja Forms can help you streamline your forms process and achieve your goals.
🔥 Tired of clunky forms that make your visitors want to throw their laptops out the window? 😠 Ninja Forms is here to save the day! 🦸♀️