How to encourage a user to fill in long application forms?

Question

What I can think of is pre-populating certain form input elements based on the user's geographical information.

What are other ways can you think of to speed up user input on long application forms?

Or at least keep them focus on completing the application form?

Answer 1

If you have a long form, try to prune it down. Don't ask them to fill in fields that you don't really need.

If the form spans several pages, give the user some feedback as to how many more pages there are. We users hate clicking on the continue button wondering if this will be the last page.

Never lose a field that they filled in, no matter what they do. This could have security implications if passwords are involved.

Use dropdowns to provide the user with options unless there are a lot of options that the user would have to scroll through or if the terms in the dropdown aren't widely accepted (e.g. dropdown filled with Systems Engineer, Solution Developer, IT Application... I just want Programmer.).

Provide help for fields that might be hard to fill in (or provide examples).

Answer 2

If it is possible in your case, just collect the bare minimum up front and then allow the user to use the basic features of your service.

For the user to upgrade to a better level of service, they will need to fill in the 2nd form with more detail.

How important it is to you to collect ALL that information up front ? It is worth losing customers by demanding too much from them ? Why not demand it later at a time more convenient to the user.