Creating Registration Forms on WordPress: Best Practices & Tips

Want to attract potential customers to your website and build a loyal following? Well, that’s where a registration form comes in. This digital gateway will help you collect valuable information from your visitors, using which you can build a contact list and drive personalized sales.

Creating a registration form in WordPress can be done through plugins or custom development. So let’s take a look at how the WordPress development experts go about this key functionality. We’ll start with the easiest option: the built-in feature offered by WordPress.

How to Turn On WordPress Built-in User Registration Functionality?

WordPress is quite a well-thought-out, user-friendly platform. That’s why it’s often regarded as the best content management system. This notion stands true when it comes to registration forms for the website.

Here’s how you can turn on the built-in user registration form on WordPress.

Step 1: Log into the WordPress admin dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings > General and scroll down to the “Membership” section.

Step 3: Check the box next to “Anyone can register”.

Step 4: Choose the default user role for new registrants. Common options include “Subscriber,” “Contributor,” or “Author.” The role determines the level of access and permissions granted to new users.

Step 5: Click the “Save Changes” button to apply the settings.

Once enabled, a registration link will appear on your login page. Users can click this link to create a new account.

While you may be able to add a basic registration form pretty easily, there’s no room for customization through this approach. So you have to go with either plugins or get help from a professional WordPress agency for custom development.

How to Create a Registration Form Using WordPress Plugins?

WordPress offers a wide range of plugins to simplify the process of creating custom registration forms. One of the most popular WordPress plugin for this functionality is User Registration & Membership. Here’s how you go about it.

Step 1: Log into the WordPress admin dashboard.

Step 2: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “User Registration & Membership”, and install the plugin and activate it following the due process.

After activating the plugin, complete the basic setup process.

Step 3: Now, navigate to “User Registration” in the menu and open the “Registration Forms” screen. That will start the setup process.

Step 4: Configure basic settings like:

• Enable User Registration: Check this box to enable registration.
• Default User Role: Choose the default role for new users (e.g., Subscriber, Contributor, Author).

Rest of the settings can be left alone for now as the aim is to create a basic registration form.

Step 5: After the configuration, you will be taken to the page where you can create the registration form.

Step 6: Select and edit the “Default Form” option.

Step 7: Customize the form fields:

• Add Fields: Add new fields like first name, last name, phone number, etc.
• Reorder Fields: Drag and drop fields to change their order.
• Required Fields: Mark fields as required.
• Field Labels and Placeholders: Customize the labels and placeholder text.
• Validation Rules: Set validation rules for email, password, and other fields.

Step 8: At this point, you can click preview on the top right corner to see how it will look.

Step 9: Configure the forms settings to take care of things like:

• User Approval and Login Option
• Default User Role
• Submit Button Class
• Submit Button Text
• Success Message Display
• Enable Captcha Support
• Form Template
• Form Class
• Redirect After Registration
• Activate Spam Protection by Akismet.

Step 10: After you are done with the configurations, click on “Update form” to save the settings.

Step 11: Then, click on “Embed” and “Create New Page”.

Step 12: Name what you would like to call the new page and click “Lets Go!”.

Now, the users will see a registration form on your website which they can use to gain access.

Whether you go for the built-in functionality or the plugin, there are going to be some limitations. So how do you go about the custom way? Well, you can follow along the next section or hire our dedicated WordPress developers.

How to Create a Custom Registration Form in WordPress?

While plugins offer a convenient way to create registration forms, you can also build custom forms using WordPress’s core functionality and PHP. This approach gives you complete control over the form’s design, fields, and functionality.

Here’s how you go about this process.

Step 1: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Pages > Add New. This page will display your custom registration form.

Step 2: Use the WordPress block editor or switch to the Text editor to add the HTML code for your form:

<form id="registration-form" method="post" action="">
    <label for="username">Username:</label>
    <input type="text" id="username" name="username" required>
    <label for="email">Email:</label>
    <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>
    <label for="password">Password:</label>   
    <input type="password" id="password" name="password" required>
    <input type="submit" value="Register">   
</form>

Step 3: Create a custom function to handle the form submission and user registration using PHP:

<?php
add_action('wp_ajax_custom_registration', 'custom_registration_callback');
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_custom_registration', 'custom_registration_callback');
function custom_registration_callback() {
    // Check for necessary fields
    if (isset($_POST['username']) && isset($_POST['email']) && isset($_POST['password'])) {
        $username = sanitize_text_field($_POST['username']);
        $email = sanitize_email($_POST['email']);
        $password = $_POST['password'];
        // Create a new user
        $user_id = wp_create_user($username, $password, $email);
        if (!is_wp_error($user_id)) {
            // User created successfully
            wp_new_user_notification($user_id);
            wp_redirect(home_url());
            exit;
        } else {
            // Handle error
            wp_die($user_id->get_error_message());
        }
    } else {
        // Handle missing fields
        wp_die('Please fill in all required fields.');
    }
}

Step 4: If you want to add JavaScript for validation or other features, enqueue scripts in your functions.php file.

Make sure you use WordPress’s built-in functions like sanitize_text_field, sanitize_email, and wp_validate_password to ensure security.

Test your custom registration form on different browsers and devices to ensure it works correctly.

If you need help with this process, opt for our professional WordPress development agency. But what kind of benefits will it offer?

Best Practices for Registration Form in WordPress

For the best results, you need to create a user-friendly and secure registration form. Follow these best practices:

Keep it Simple and Concise

• Minimal Fields: Only ask for essential information like name, email, and password.
• Clear Labels: Use clear and concise labels for each field.
• Logical Form Flow: Present fields in a logical order to guide users through the process.

Prioritize User Experience

• Intuitive Design: Use a clean and visually appealing design.
• Progress Indicators: Show users how far along they are in the registration process.
• Error Handling: Provide clear and helpful error messages.
• Responsive Design: Ensure the form is mobile-friendly.

Enhance Security

• Strong Password Requirements: Enforce strong password policies.
• Data Encryption: Protect user data with encryption.
• Regular Security Updates: Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes up-to-date.
• CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA: Add a CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA on WordPress to prevent spam.

Optimize for Conversion

• Clear Call-to-Action: Use a strong and clear call-to-action button.
• A/B Testing: Experiment with different form layouts and copy with A/B testing to optimize conversions.
• Incentivize Registration: Offer incentives like discounts, exclusive content, or early access.

Do you want help with these practices? Then hire our expert WordPress developers.

FAQs on Registration Form on WordPress

Let’s Summarize

A well-designed registration form is all about building a strong user base, collecting valuable user data, and enhancing the overall user experience.

Whether you choose to use a user-friendly plugin like User Registration & Membership or opt for a more customized approach with custom code, prioritize the security and UX. Try to keep your forms simple and concise.

If you need help with creating the best registration forms and other functionalities, get help from our WordPress professionals today!