Are you looking for a way to save Contact Form 7 forms to the database? You’ve reached the right place. This tutorial will walk you through how to save your form database with the help of a free plugin. Let’s dig in…
In this article, I’m using the free plugin Database for Contact Form 7. This plugin automates the process of saving submitted info to your database.
On top of that, it offers a great DEMO in both the front-end and back-end to give you a quick taste of the plugin before downloading it.
Before we get started, please make sure you already activated Contact Form 7 plugin on your website. Here are how to set up the Database add-on and make the best out of it.
1. Install Database for Contact Form 7 Plugin
Navigate to WordPress dashboard > Plugins > Add new.
Search for the term: Database for Contact Form 7
Then you just click Install Now and Activate it for free. You won’t be required to fill license key or anything.
Quick note: This is a plug-and-play setup, meaning you don’t have to configure anything to get it up and running. Upon activation, it’s ready to use!
2. View Database for Contact Form 7 Forms
This plugin adds a new sub-menu called Database, where you can easily access all the information.
The free version of this plugin allows you to choose only one form to keep database. If you are a premium user, you can save unlimited database for multiple forms.
So right now just choose a specific form from the dropdown to view its database.
Depending on how many fields there are in the contact form, you will have that number of columns in your database. Some popular fields including:
- ID: a unique number assigned to each message
- IP: where the form has been submitted
- Time and date
- Email address
- Name
- Message
You are free to edit those details to manually keep the database updated based on next replies in that email conversation.
Not receiving email notifications from WordPress? Check out how to fix contact forms not sending email here.
3. Organize and edit data
When your site grows, the database can be clustered. Here are some best practices to tame your database. These tips help keep your database well-aligned and always ready to use:
Export data
Exporting a contact list is easy with just a single click. With the data export, you can sort out, evaluate the leads, gain more insights for the next campaigns. Pivot tables enable you to analyze figures to spot the trends.
Delete spammy emails
If you are collecting phone numbers, and the received value hardly looks like a functional one, well then, just bulk select and deleted them.
Hide columns
Display options allow you to hide particular fields when you think it is not helpful in current view. This help lessen distraction and boost your focus.
Over to You
Contact forms have been the most efficient way to collect leads. Auto-saving them to your database would save you tons of time. No customers can be missed out.
Compared to other solutions which cost you annual charges, Contact Form 7 (always free) and its Save to Database addon can be your best partner on the first days starting with WordPress.
