The Ninja Forms Save Progress add-on is a powerful extension for the Ninja Forms plugin, designed to improve user experience by allowing users to save their progress on long or multi-step forms. This is particularly useful for forms that require a lot of information, such as registration forms, surveys, or application forms. With this feature, users can save their form progress, come back later, and continue filling out the form without losing any previously entered data.
Key Features of the Ninja Forms Save Progress Add-On:
- Form Progress Saving:
- Allows users to save their progress at any point while filling out a form and return to complete it later. This is ideal for long forms where users may need time to gather information or may be interrupted while filling out the form.
- Customizable Save and Resume Buttons:
- You can customize the appearance and text of the Save Progress and Resume Form buttons, providing flexibility to match your website’s design and user experience.
- Secure Progress Storage:
- The data entered in the form is stored securely in the browser’s local storage or on the server, ensuring the information is protected until the user returns to complete the form. The progress is tied to the user's session, so it’s available only to the user who saved it.
- Email Notifications:
- Optionally, you can send email notifications to the user once they save their form progress. This email contains a unique link that allows them to resume the form from where they left off.
- Resume Form with Unique Link:
- After saving the form progress, users receive a unique link (usually via email) to resume their form submission. This link takes them back to the exact point where they left off, making it easy for them to pick up right where they stopped.
- Auto-Save:
- Some versions of the add-on support auto-save, meaning the form will automatically save the user’s progress at regular intervals. This minimizes the risk of losing entered data due to browser crashes or accidental page refreshes.
- Multi-Step Form Support:
- The Save Progress feature works seamlessly with multi-step forms. It ensures that users can save their progress on any step of a multi-page form and return to continue filling it out without losing data.
- Time-Sensitive Forms:
- For forms with deadlines, you can configure the add-on to have time limits, ensuring that users can only save progress for a certain period. This feature can be useful for applications or event registrations that have specific time frames.
- Enhanced User Experience:
- This add-on greatly improves user satisfaction, especially for lengthy forms, by allowing users to take breaks, review information, or gather missing details before finalizing their submission.
- Seamless Integration with Ninja Forms:
- The Save Progress add-on integrates directly into the Ninja Forms workflow, so no complex setup or third-party tools are required. Once activated, it works automatically with your existing forms.
How to Use the Ninja Forms Save Progress Add-On:
- Install and Activate the Add-On:
- First, ensure that Ninja Forms is installed and activated on your WordPress site. Then, purchase and install the Save Progress add-on from the Ninja Forms website. Once installed, activate the add-on from the Ninja Forms > Extensions page in your WordPress dashboard.
- Create or Edit a Form:
- Go to Ninja Forms > All Forms and either create a new form or edit an existing one. You can use the Save Progress feature on any form, including simple forms, complex forms, and multi-step forms.
- Enable Save Progress:
- Within the form builder, you'll find an option to enable Save Progress for the form. Once enabled, you can customize the settings related to how users can save and resume their progress.
- Customize Save Progress Button:
- You can edit the text and appearance of the Save Progress button in the form settings. Customize it to make it stand out or align it with your site’s design.
- Configure Email Notifications (Optional):
- If you want to send an email notification to users who save their progress, configure the email settings. The email can include a unique resume link, allowing the user to pick up where they left off.
- Set Auto-Save (Optional):
- If desired, enable the auto-save feature to automatically save the form data at regular intervals. This ensures that users don’t lose data if they leave the page or their session expires.
- Publish the Form:
- Once the form is configured, save it and add it to your website. You can use the standard Ninja Forms embed options to place the form on your pages or posts.
- Test the Form:
- Before going live, test the Save Progress feature to ensure everything is functioning as expected. Save progress at different stages of filling out the form and verify that you can resume the form using the provided link.
Benefits of the Ninja Forms Save Progress Add-On:
- Improved User Experience: Users can take their time filling out forms without the fear of losing data, leading to higher form completion rates.
- Increased Conversion Rates: By reducing form abandonment, the add-on helps improve conversion rates for forms like contact forms, surveys, applications, and more.
- Better for Long Forms: Forms that require detailed information or multiple steps are more manageable for users, making them more likely to complete and submit the form.
- Flexible and Customizable: The feature can be customized to match your website's design and needs, with options for email notifications, auto-save, and more.
- Convenient for Multi-Step Forms: Users can save their progress on any page of a multi-step form and resume from where they left off, enhancing the experience for longer, more complex forms.
- Security and Privacy: Form progress is saved securely, and only the user who saved it can resume their submission, protecting their data.