Enquiries
Is your contact form actually working?
A contact form can look fine while messages never arrive. Run these checks on your UK business website before you lose another enquiry.
Most lost enquiries never send an email — they fail quietly. A visitor submits a form, sees a thank-you message, and assumes you will reply. Meanwhile the message sits in spam, routes to an old inbox, or never leaves the server.
You do not need a new website to fix that. You need a short, repeatable test whenever you change contact details, platforms or staff.
Key takeaways
- Send a test enquiry and check the inbox you actually read.
- Tap the phone number on a real phone, not just on the laptop.
- Walk the booking path through to the confirmation.
- If nobody tests it, you will not know it is broken.
1. Submit a real test from outside your office
Use your phone on mobile data, not office Wi‑Fi. Fill in your main contact or quote form with a subject line you will recognise, such as “Test enquiry — please ignore.” Complete any captcha or consent tick boxes exactly as a customer would.
2. Tap every phone and email link
Many sites still show a clickable phone number that dials the wrong digits, or an email link that opens an address you no longer use. Mobile visitors rely on those one-tap links more than desktop users.
3. Walk the booking path without booking
If you take bookings online, run through date selection, extras and confirmation without completing a real appointment. Look for steps that stall, error messages that make no sense, or redirects to blank pages.
4. Match forms to your live listings
Google Business Profile, Instagram and printed flyers often use different phone numbers or hours than your site. Customers compare them.
5. Schedule a monthly re-test
One check after a redesign is not enough. Forms break when plugins update, inboxes change, or someone edits a thank-you page without testing delivery.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a test take?
Usually under ten minutes once you know what to click. The first run takes longer because you are documenting what you find.
Will test submissions annoy real customers?
Use clear labelling in the message body and send from your own details. Avoid peak trading hours if your team might mistake a test for a live lead.
What if my form works but deliverability is poor?
That is a technical deliverability issue — SPF, DKIM, spam reputation or the tool sending mail. It may need work beyond a content edit. The £50 fix route can cover a single broken form when scope is agreed up front.
Need a second pair of eyes?
If you would rather have these checks run for you each month, explore monthly website care or start with a one-off £50 fix for a single broken enquiry route.