I’ve seen plenty of people using the more powerful Zoho content creator to make a ‘contact me’ page (and it does have plenty of powerful features including captcha and file upload).
I had heard of people using Google forms for data collection (e.g. Tom Barrett, Tim Dolan and D Goodwin) and I knew that Google spreadsheets can be configured to send email when updated. Put the two together and you have a ‘contact me’ form.
Steps
1. Log on to Google Apps and create a form
2. Add the fields you wish your contact form to have
3. You can embed the code (click here to get it) in a blog post or a Google Sites page
4. Copy the link at the bottom of the page and make a note of it – this is the URL you’ll need to link to if you want people to click on a link and fill in your form.
5. Change the notification rules so you are notified of any submissions.
Job done! I’m running both the Google Forms ‘contact me’ page and the Zoho one here if you want to see what they look like.
This is a great idea Rob. It’s good to see people coming up with ideas to use popular tools differently.
I hope to write more about the use of Google tools in the near future too.
I have subscribed to your feed and look forward to keeping up with your blog.
Tim Dolan
Classroomtech.org.uk
This is a great idea Rob. It’s good to see people coming up with ideas to use popular tools differently.I hope to write more about the use of Google tools in the near future too.I have subscribed to your feed and look forward to keeping up with your blog.Tim DolanClassroomtech.org.uk
Thanks heaps for the tip. I’ve followed the instructions and it’s worked a treat (I think one of the buttons is in a different place now, but anyway!) Much appreciated.
Good tip.
But now a bit more … is it possible for the email to contain the form data?
Instead of just telling that the spreadsheet was updated?
Thx
Good tip.But now a bit more … is it possible for the email to contain the form data?Instead of just telling that the spreadsheet was updated?Thx
I haven’t found a way of including the contents in the email, although I think from memory that the Zoho apps creator can. It hasn’t been a problem since another click brings up the document – and it’s a handy archive of all your feedback (although you have to delete all the test posts that some muppet has done!)
I haven’t found a way of including the contents in the email, although I think from memory that the Zoho apps creator can. It hasn’t been a problem since another click brings up the document – and it’s a handy archive of all your feedback (although you have to delete all the test posts that some muppet has done!)
Another solution (which doesn’t use any Google tools) is here:
http://emailformbuilder.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/publishing-an-email-form/
Another solution (which doesn’t use any Google tools) is here:http://emailformbuilder.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/publishing-an-email-form/
Thanks heaps for the tip. I've followed the instructions and it's worked a treat (I think one of the buttons is in a different place now, but anyway!) Much appreciated.
Pingback: Fiendishlyclever » A new theme – and some old Blogger tweaks