Definition
A conversational form is a web form that asks one question at a time, like a chat. The visitor answers in their own words, and the form can ask again when an answer is vague. A service business then gets inquiries with the details it needs to decide what to do next.
How is a conversational form different from a traditional form?
A traditional contact form shows every box at once. It takes whatever the visitor types. A conversational form shows one question and reads the answer. Then it decides what to ask next.
It is not the same as a multi-step form. A multi-step form spreads a fixed list of boxes across several screens. Every visitor still gets the same questions in the same order.
| Traditional contact form | Conversational form | |
|---|---|---|
| How questions appear | All boxes on one page | One at a time, as messages |
| How a visitor answers | Boxes, menus, and checkboxes | In their own words |
| A vague answer | Saved as typed | Can be asked about again |
| Where it fits | Inquiries that all get the same reply | Inquiries where the reply depends on the answers |
What does a conversational form look like for a service business?
Here is an example for a plumbing business. The questions only show the idea. They are not a template.
- Form: What can we help with today?
- Visitor: Water under the kitchen sink.
- Form: Sorry to hear that. What town or ZIP code is the job in?
- Visitor: Riverside.
- Form: How soon do you need someone?
- Visitor: Soon.
- Form: Is that today, this week, or sometime this month?
- Visitor: Today if possible.
A traditional form would have saved "soon." The extra question turns it into an answer the business can act on.
How does Qualiform use a conversational form?
In Qualiform, the AI has the conversation and writes down the answers. The score and what happens next come from your own rules, not the AI. So the same answers always get the same score.
The guide to qualifying leads from your contact form shows how answers like these become a score and a next step. Lead scoring explains the score itself.
Common questions
Is a conversational form the same as a chatbot?
Not quite. A chatbot is often there to answer any question a visitor has about a site. A conversational form has a set list of things it needs to learn. It keeps asking until it has the answers or the conversation ends.
Does a small business need a conversational form?
Only if what you do next depends on the answers. If every inquiry gets the same reply, a plain form with a name, an email address, and a message does the job.