As an online course creator using Thinkific, you already know that sign-up pages are critical in converting potential students into active learners. But adding custom fields can make your sign-up page even more powerful.
Custom fields are additional input fields you can add to your sign-up page to gather more information from your potential students beyond the standard name and email. With Thinkific’s custom fields feature, you can create a sign-up page tailored to your course and audience.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore the basics of custom fields in Thinkific and how they can help you make the most out of your sign-up page. So let’s start and take your sign-up page to the next level!
Creating Custom Fields for a Thinkific Sign-up Page
Custom fields are additional input fields that allow you to gather more information from your potential students beyond their basic contact details. In Thinkific, creating custom fields for your sign-up page is a straightforward process.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to create custom fields that will help you get the information you need from your potential students.
How to Add Custom Fields to a Thinkific Site
- Go to Settings on your Admin Dashboard menu > Orders & Accounts tab
Once logged in to your Thinkific account, navigate to the “Settings” tab on the left-hand side of the Admin Dashboard menu. Click on the “Orders & Accounts” tab.
- Click the Custom sign-up fields on the left.
Next, click the “Custom sign-up fields” tab on the left-hand side of the “Orders & Accounts” section.
- Click Add field
After clicking on “Custom sign-up fields,” click on the “Add field” button at the top of the page.
- Under Custom field name, input the name of your custom field
Enter the name of the custom field you wish to add. For example, if you want to ask for a student’s LinkedIn profile, you can name your custom field “LinkedIn Profile.”
- Under Field type, select Text or Country.
Select the field type that best fits your custom field. You can choose either “Text” or “Country.” For example, if you ask for a student’s location, you can choose “Country” as your field type.
- Click Save
Finally, click the “Save” button to save your custom field. Your custom field will now appear on your sign-up page.
By following these simple steps, you can create custom fields to help you gather the information you need from your potential students.
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Considerations When Creating Custom Fields
While custom fields can be a powerful tool for gathering more information from your potential students, there are a few things to remember when creating them.
- You can only add up to 4 custom fields.
Thinkific allows you to add up to a maximum of 4 custom fields. If you need more fields, contact Thinkific support and let them know your requirements.
- Too many custom fields can affect conversion rates
It’s important to remember that adding too many custom fields can be overwhelming for potential students and may negatively affect your sign-up conversion rates. To avoid this, limit the number of custom fields you add and keep sign-up and checkout pages as simple as possible.
- Export data before deleting a custom field
If you need to delete a custom field, export your data before doing so. This is because deleting a field will also delete any data collected using that field. So be careful when deleting custom fields, and ensure you have a data backup before proceeding.
Best Practices for Custom Field Creation
Custom fields can be a great way to gather valuable information from potential students during sign-up. To ensure that your custom fields are effective and serve their intended purpose, here are some best practices to keep in mind:
- Keep your custom fields relevant and useful.
When creating custom fields, ensure the requested information is relevant to your course or program. Don’t ask for information you don’t need; this can be off-putting to potential students.
- Keep your custom fields short and easy to understand
Ensure your custom fields are easy to understand and quick to fill out. Use clear and concise language, and consider using drop-down menus or checkboxes to make it easier for students to select their answers.
- Use custom fields strategically.
Think carefully about where you place your custom fields on your sign-up page. Place the most important fields at the top and make them required while placing less important fields further down the page and making them optional.
- Test and refine your custom fields
After creating your custom fields, test them to ensure they work properly. Also, consider analyzing the data you collect through your custom fields to refine your approach and improve your sign-up process over time.
By following these best practices, you can create effective custom fields and help you gather the information you need from your potential students. Custom fields can be a valuable tool in your sign-up process, but it’s important to use them wisely and strategically to maximize their effectiveness.
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Troubleshooting Common Issues with Custom Fields
While custom fields can be a valuable tool for collecting information from potential students, they can also cause issues if they’re not set up correctly. Here are some common issues you may encounter with custom fields:
- Custom fields not displaying on the sign-up page
- Custom fields displaying but not saving data
- Error messages when submitting the sign-up form
If you notice any of these issues, taking action is important to ensure your sign-up process runs smoothly.
Possible Solutions for Custom Field Issues
Here are some possible solutions for common issues with custom fields:
Custom Fields Not Displaying on the Sign-up Page
If your custom fields aren’t displaying on the sign-up page, check that they’re enabled in your Thinkific settings. Also, ensure that any custom code or styling doesn’t hide the custom fields.
Custom Fields Displaying but Not Saving Data
If your custom fields are displaying but not saving data, check that they’re set up correctly and that there are no conflicts with other plugins or themes. Also, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser to see if the issue persists.
Error Messages when Submitting the Sign-up Form
If you receive error messages when submitting the sign-up form, check that all required fields are filled out correctly. Also, check that there are no conflicts with other plugins or themes that could be causing the issue.
If none of these solutions work, contact Thinkific support for further assistance.
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Conclusion
Creating custom fields in Thinkific is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few simple steps. However, following best practices when creating custom fields is essential to avoid issues impacting your sign-up conversion rates.
Additionally, by identifying and troubleshooting common issues with custom fields, you can ensure that your sign-up process runs smoothly and that you can collect valuable information from potential students without hiccups.
In conclusion, custom fields can be a powerful tool for collecting data during the sign-up process in Thinkific. Following the step-by-step guide and best practices outlined in this article, you can create custom fields to help you better understand your students and optimize your course content. If you do encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to contact Thinkific support for assistance.