Overview
The Form Container Widget, in combination with Field Widgets, is used to display a form in your campaign. Visitors can use the form to submit entries. If you want to submit entries yourself, you can do so inside the Campaign Builder and use visibility settings to hide the form from the live campaign.
Adding the Form Container Widget
To add the Form Container Widget to your campaign:
- Click the Form Container icon in the Add Widgets Panel, or
- Drag the icon into your preview area.
Widget Settings
The widget settings pop-up allows you to customize the Form Container Widget.
Renaming the Widget
- Click the pencil icon in the top-left corner (next to the widget name).
- Type the new name and press Enter.
CSS ID
The CSS ID (starting with a #
) is displayed in the top-right corner of the pop-up.
Customization
Navigate through the menu on the left side to adjust settings. Use the Back and Next buttons to move between sections.
When finished, click the Save and Exit button.
List
The List section allows you to select or create the list where the form’s entries will be stored.
Selecting an Existing List
- Click Choose existing list...
- In the pop-up, scroll through the lists or use the search bar to find the desired list.
- Click the list name to select it.
- To de-link a selected list, click the X icon next to the list name.
Creating a New List
- Click Create new list.
- In the pop-up, fill in the following:
- Name
- Number of test entries
- Tags (optional)
- Click Create to finalize.
Entry Restrictions
Control how often individuals can submit entries using the Entry Restrictions section.
Limit Repeat Entries
- Choose a restriction method (Email Address or Login) and configure the settings:
- Set the restriction type (e.g., one entry per email).
- Add a custom error message for entrants exceeding the limit.
- To allow multiple entries:
- Select ...entry every... and specify the time interval (hours or days).
- OR choose A maximum of... and set a total entry limit per person.
Maximum Number of Form Entries
- Enable the Maximum Entries Limit checkbox.
- Specify the Maximum number of entries (e.g., 20 for a giveaway).
- Add a message in the Entry limit has been reached message field.
Note: This limit applies to the total number of entries across all Form Container Widgets linked to the same list.
CAPTCHA
Enable Google reCAPTCHA to reduce spam and illegitimate entries:
- Check the Enable Google reCAPTCHA box.
- Adjust the Sensitivity Level slider to control CAPTCHA strictness.
Instant Win
Activate Instant Win for your campaign by enabling it in the Instant Win section. Configure Instant Win settings in the pop-up window. For detailed guidance, refer to the Instant Win Help Doc.
Fraud Filter
Use the Fraud Filter to block suspicious entries:
- Submit patterns or filters to detect fraudulent behavior.
- Configure actions for entries meeting these criteria.
Note: This feature is available for Elite and Enterprise users. Refer to the Fraud Filter Help Doc for details.
After Submit
Customize what happens after a visitor submits the form:
Use Pop-Up
Show a confirmation message by selecting Use pop-up to show confirmation...
Optional: Enable share buttons in the pop-up.
Use Other Widgets
Select Use other widgets for advanced control. Use Action Widgets to trigger post-submission events.
Redirect to Another URL
Select Redirect to another URL and enter the URL to forward users after submission.
Refer-A-Friend
Enable Refer-A-Friend to let entrants earn points for referrals:
- Check the Enable Refer-A-Friend box.
- Set Points per referral.
- Optional: Limit points by enabling Max points per entry.
Entrants can share referral links via autoresponder emails or by enabling sharing in the form widget.
Share
Customize your share settings if sharing is enabled in the After Submit section:
- Toggle between using entry-based or custom settings.
- Drag icons to reorder sharing methods.
- Adjust settings for each social media platform.
Approvals/Alerts
Approval Settings
Check Automatically approve entries to approve submissions upon receipt.
Email Alerts
Available on any paid plan.- Add recipient emails in the Email alerts to field.
- Configure the Email from address and Email subject line.
- (Optional) Include an approval link in alert emails.
Note: Due to DMARC restrictions, certain email addresses (e.g., @yahoo.com) cannot be used for the From Email Address.
Advanced
Configure advanced features in this section:
- Form Integrations: Add or manage integrations.
- Image Editor: Enable image editing for submitted images.
- Advanced Points for Actions: Prevent duplicate actions across multiple entries (available by request).
- Submit Button: Show or hide the default Submit button.
Text
Customize form text in the Text section. Modify the provided text fields to suit your campaign.
Visibility
Control when and where the widget appears using the Visibility section.
Options include:
- Setting specific dates and times for visibility.
- Displaying the widget only in the Builder.
- Limiting visibility to certain countries.
Learn more about Widget Visibility.
Extras
Learn about the Main Tag, CSS Classes, and Smart Labels settings here.
Form Container Styling Options
When the Widget is selected, you can customize the styling of the specific widget. Some of the options include changing the background color, the maximum width of the widget, and submit button color. You will see the following areas of styling available in the Style Panel:
- Submit Button
- Submit Messages
- Confirmation Pop-Up
- Widget
Nesting Form Containers
Although you can add other widgets inside a Form Container for organizational purposes, you should not use another Form Container to do so. Instead, use the Container, Two-Column, or Three-Column Widgets to structure your campaign layout.
Nesting a Form Container inside another Form Container can cause unexpected behavior and may prevent form entries from submitting correctly.
If you accidentally nest Form Containers, an error message will appear to alert you to the issue.
FAQs
Can I be notified every time someone submits an entry?
Yes! You can enable Email Alerts in the Form Container settings. See Approval/Alerts above.
Can I create a form with conditional logic (if/then)?
Yes, you can create a form with conditional logic. Check out our user flow on How to Add an Age Gate to see how you can use conditional logic with your form. If you have specific questions, reach out to us in support: support@shortstack.com.