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Create and Configure a Sign-Up Form

This SOP explains how to create a new sign-up form, customize its fields and appearance, publish it, and use the resulting audience for messaging. It is designed to help a team member set up a form quickly and correctly from start to finish.

Written by Chelsey Roney

Objective

This SOP explains how to create a new sign-up form, customize its fields and appearance, publish it, and use the resulting audience for messaging. It is designed to help a team member set up a form quickly and correctly from start to finish.

Key Steps

1. Navigate to the Sign-Up Forms area 0:00

  • In the main menu, go to Messaging.

  • Select Sign-up Forms.

  • Click New Sign-up Form to begin creating a new form.

2. Choose the sign-up method 0:15

  • Select the type of form you want to create:

    • Email

    • SMS

  • Choose the option that matches the contact information you want to collect.

3. Enter the form content and button text 0:24

  • Add a clear headline for the form.

  • Write a short description explaining why the visitor should sign up.

  • Enter the button label for the submit button.

  • Set the text that appears after submission on the confirmation button or message, if applicable.

  • Review the text for clarity and consistency before moving on.

4. Select the form layout and branding 0:39

  • Choose one of the available form styles:

    • Banner

    • Side-by-side

    • Simple form

  • Set the primary color to match your brand.

  • Make sure the layout is easy to read and visually aligned with your site.

5. Configure the fields you want to collect 0:52

  • Confirm the primary contact field selected in Step 2:

    • Email or SMS

  • Decide whether to also collect:

    • First name

    • Last name

  • Mark any additional fields as required if they are necessary for your workflow.

  • Keep the form as short as possible while still collecting needed information.

6. Set the welcome message 1:06

  • Create the welcome message that new subscribers will receive after submitting the form.

  • Ensure the message is appropriate for the channel:

    • Inbox for email

    • Text message for SMS

  • Use the welcome message to confirm the signup and set expectations for future communication.

7. Customize the web address and sharing options 1:16

  • Edit the form’s web address to make it easy to share and recognize.

  • Choose how the form will be distributed:

    • Link

    • QR code

    • Embed code

    • Button on your site

  • Use the sharing method that best fits where your audience will encounter the form.

8. Rename the form for internal tracking 1:29

  • Update the form name so your team can identify it easily later.

  • Use a naming convention that clearly indicates the campaign, audience, or purpose.

  • Save the name in a way that will make reporting and management easier.

9. Review where new sign-ups are stored and how to use them 1:34

  • After people submit the form, they will be added to an audience.

  • Confirm the audience appears under the name of the form.

  • Use that audience to send messages and continue follow-up communication.

  • Verify the audience is being populated correctly after the form goes live.

Cautionary Notes

  • Make sure you choose the correct collection type (email vs. SMS) before publishing.

  • Required fields can reduce sign-ups if too many are added; only require what is truly necessary.

  • Double-check the welcome message so it matches the channel and does not confuse new subscribers.

  • Confirm the web address, embed code, or button placement before sharing publicly.

  • Use a clear internal form name to avoid confusion when managing multiple forms.

Tips for Efficiency

  • Keep the headline and description short and direct to improve conversion.

  • Use a consistent naming convention for forms and audiences.

  • Match the form’s primary color to your brand for a more polished look.

  • If you need to launch quickly, start with the simplest layout and add fields only as needed.

  • Test the form after setup by submitting a sample entry to confirm the audience and welcome message work correctly.

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