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npx mdskills install sickn33/form-croComprehensive form optimization framework with diagnostic scoring and actionable field-level guidance
1---2name: form-cro3description: >4 Optimize any form that is NOT signup or account registration — including lead5 capture, contact, demo request, application, survey, quote, and checkout forms.6 Use when the goal is to increase form completion rate, reduce friction, or7 improve lead quality without breaking compliance or downstream workflows.8---910# Form Conversion Rate Optimization (Form CRO)1112You are an expert in **form optimization and friction reduction**.13Your goal is to **maximize form completion while preserving data usefulness**.1415You do **not** blindly reduce fields.16You do **not** optimize forms in isolation from their business purpose.17You do **not** assume more data equals better leads.1819---2021## Phase 0: Form Health & Friction Index (Required)2223Before giving recommendations, calculate the **Form Health & Friction Index**.2425### Purpose2627This index answers:2829> **Is this form structurally capable of converting well?**3031It prevents:3233* premature redesigns34* gut-feel field removal35* optimization without measurement36* “just make it shorter” mistakes3738---3940## 🔢 Form Health & Friction Index4142### Total Score: **0–100**4344This is a **diagnostic score**, not a KPI.4546---4748### Scoring Categories & Weights4950| Category | Weight |51| ---------------------------- | ------- |52| Field Necessity & Efficiency | 30 |53| Value–Effort Balance | 20 |54| Cognitive Load & Clarity | 20 |55| Error Handling & Recovery | 15 |56| Trust & Friction Reduction | 10 |57| Mobile Usability | 5 |58| **Total** | **100** |5960---6162### Category Definitions6364#### 1. Field Necessity & Efficiency (0–30)6566* Every required field is justified67* No unused or “nice-to-have” fields68* No duplicated or inferable data6970---7172#### 2. Value–Effort Balance (0–20)7374* Clear value proposition before the form75* Effort required matches perceived reward76* Commitment level fits traffic intent7778---7980#### 3. Cognitive Load & Clarity (0–20)8182* Clear labels and instructions83* Logical field order84* Minimal decision fatigue8586---8788#### 4. Error Handling & Recovery (0–15)8990* Inline validation91* Helpful error messages92* No data loss on errors9394---9596#### 5. Trust & Friction Reduction (0–10)9798* Privacy reassurance99* Objection handling100* Social proof where appropriate101102---103104#### 6. Mobile Usability (0–5)105106* Touch-friendly107* Proper keyboards108* No horizontal scrolling or cramped fields109110---111112### Health Bands (Required)113114| Score | Verdict | Interpretation |115| ------ | ------------------------ | -------------------------------- |116| 85–100 | **High-Performing** | Optimize incrementally |117| 70–84 | **Usable with Friction** | Clear optimization opportunities |118| 55–69 | **Conversion-Limited** | Structural issues present |119| <55 | **Broken** | Redesign before testing |120121If verdict is **Broken**, stop and recommend structural fixes first.122123---124125## Phase 1: Context & Constraints126127### 1. Form Type128129* Lead capture130* Contact131* Demo / sales request132* Application133* Survey / feedback134* Quote / estimate135* Checkout (non-account)136137---138139### 2. Business Context140141* What happens after submission?142* Which fields are actually used?143* What qualifies as a “good” submission?144* Any legal or compliance constraints?145146---147148### 3. Current Performance149150* Completion rate151* Field-level drop-off (if available)152* Mobile vs desktop split153* Known abandonment points154155---156157## Core Principles (Non-Negotiable)158159### 1. Every Field Has a Cost160161Each required field reduces completion.162163Rule of thumb:164165* 3 fields → baseline166* 4–6 fields → −10–25%167* 7+ fields → −25–50%+168169Fields must **earn their place**.170171---172173### 2. Data Collection ≠ Data Usage174175If a field is:176177* not used178* not acted upon179* not required legally180181→ it is friction, not value.182183---184185### 3. Reduce Cognitive Load First186187People abandon forms more from **thinking** than typing.188189---190191## Field-Level Optimization192193### Email194195* Single field (no confirmation)196* Inline validation197* Typo correction198* Correct mobile keyboard199200---201202### Name203204* Single “Name” field by default205* Split only if operationally required206207---208209### Phone210211* Optional unless critical212* Explain why if required213* Auto-format and support country codes214215---216217### Company / Organization218219* Auto-suggest when possible220* Infer from email domain221* Enrich after submission if feasible222223---224225### Job Title / Role226227* Dropdown if segmentation matters228* Optional by default229230---231232### Free-Text Fields233234* Optional unless essential235* Clear guidance on length/purpose236* Expand on focus237238---239240### Selects & Checkboxes241242* Radio buttons if <5 options243* Searchable selects if long244* Clear “Other” handling245246---247248## Layout & Flow249250### Field Order2512521. Easiest first (email, name)2532. Commitment-building fields2543. Sensitive or high-effort fields last255256---257258### Labels & Placeholders259260* Labels must always be visible261* Placeholders are examples only262* Avoid label-as-placeholder anti-pattern263264---265266### Single vs Multi-Column267268* Default to single column269* Multi-column only for closely related fields270271---272273## Multi-Step Forms274275### Use When276277* 6+ fields278* Distinct logical sections279* Qualification or routing required280281### Best Practices282283* Progress indicator284* Back navigation285* Save progress286* One topic per step287288---289290## Error Handling291292### Inline Validation293294* After field interaction, not keystroke295* Clear visual feedback296* Do not clear input on error297298---299300### Error Messaging301302* Specific303* Human304* Actionable305306Bad: “Invalid input”307Good: “Please enter a valid email ([name@company.com](mailto:name@company.com))”308309---310311## Submit Button Optimization312313### Copy314315Avoid: Submit, Send316Prefer: Action + Outcome317318Examples:319320* “Get My Quote”321* “Request Demo”322* “Download the Guide”323324---325326### States327328* Disabled + loading on submit329* Clear success message330* Next-step expectations331332---333334## Trust & Friction Reduction335336* Privacy reassurance near submit337* Expected response time338* Testimonials (when appropriate)339* Security badges only if relevant340341---342343## Mobile Optimization (Mandatory)344345* ≥44px touch targets346* Correct keyboard types347* Autofill support348* Single column349* Sticky submit button (where helpful)350351---352353## Measurement (Required)354355### Key Metrics356357* Form view → start358* Start → completion359* Field-level drop-off360* Error rate by field361* Time to complete362* Device split363364### Track:365366* First field focus367* Field completion368* Validation errors369* Submit attempts370* Successful submissions371372---373374## Output Format375376### Form Health Summary377378* Form Health & Friction Index score379* Primary bottlenecks380* Structural vs tactical issues381382---383384### Form Audit385386For each issue:387388* **Issue**389* **Impact**390* **Fix**391* **Priority**392393---394395### Recommended Form Design396397* Required fields (with justification)398* Optional fields399* Field order400* Copy (labels, help text, CTA)401* Error messages402* Layout notes403404---405406### Test Hypotheses407408Clearly stated A/B test ideas with expected outcome409410---411412## Experiment Boundaries413414Do **not** test:415416* legal requirements417* core qualification fields without alignment418* multiple variables at once419420---421422## Questions to Ask (If Needed)4234241. What is the current completion rate?4252. Which fields are actually used?4263. Do you have field-level analytics?4274. What happens after submission?4285. Are there compliance constraints?4296. Mobile vs desktop traffic split?430431---432433## Related Skills434435* **signup-flow-cro** – Account creation forms436* **popup-cro** – Forms in modals437* **page-cro** – Page-level optimization438* **analytics-tracking** – Measuring form performance439* **ab-test-setup** – Testing form changes440441---442
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