Creating Your First Form in Google Forms

Creating Your First Form in Google Forms

Google Forms is a powerful and user-friendly tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and other online forms. Whether you’re a student, teacher, business owner, or simply someone who wants to gather information, Google Forms has something to offer.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your first form in Google Forms:

1. Access Google Forms:

  • Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device.
  • Go to docs.google.com/forms.
  • If you’re not already signed in to your Google account, you’ll need to do so now.

2. Choose a Template or Create a Blank Form:

  • On the main Google Forms page, you’ll see a variety of templates available for different purposes, such as collecting contact information, gathering feedback, or creating quizzes.
    Image of Google Forms templates page
  • If you find a template that meets your needs, click on it to start customizing it.
  • If you want to start from scratch, click on the “+” button in the bottom right corner and select “Blank Form”.

3. Add Questions:

  • Once you’ve chosen a template or created a blank form, you’ll be directed to the form editor.
  • Here, you can add different types of questions, including:
    • Multiple choice
    • Checkboxes
    • Short answer
    • Paragraph
    • Likert scale
    • Dropdown list
    • Date
    • Time
    • File upload
    • Linear scale
    • Multiple grids
  • To add a question, click on the “+” button in the right sidebar and select the desired question type.
  • Once you’ve added a question, you can customize its wording, answer choices, and other settings.

4. Customize Your Form:

  • In addition to adding questions, you can also customize your form in several ways:
    • Change the form title and description.
    • Add a header image or video.
    • Change the font and color scheme.
    • Shuffle the question order.
    • Add branching logic to show different questions based on previous answers.
    • Collect email addresses or other contact information.
    • Set a deadline for responses.

5. Preview and Test Your Form:

  • Before sharing your form with others, it’s important to preview it and test it out.
  • Click on the “Preview” button in the top right corner to see how your form will look to respondents.
  • Click on the “Send test form” button to send a test form to yourself or another email address.
  • Make sure all your questions are worded correctly and that the form is functioning as expected.

6. Share Your Form:

  • Once you’re happy with your form, you can share it with others in several ways:
    • Copy and paste the form link.
    • Share the form directly through email or social media.
    • Embed the form on your website or blog.
    • Use a QR code to allow people to access the form from their mobile devices.

7. Review Your Results:

  • As people submit responses to your form, you can view them in real-time in the “Responses” tab.
  • You can see individual responses, as well as summary data such as charts and graphs.
  • You can also export your responses to a spreadsheet for further analysis.

Additional Tips:

  • Use clear and concise language in your questions.
  • Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your respondents may not understand.
  • Keep your form concise and to the point.
  • Test your form on a variety of devices and screen sizes.
  • Thank your respondents for their time and participation.

By following these steps, you can create effective and engaging forms that will help you gather the information you need. Remember, Google Forms is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, so don’t be afraid to experiment and explore its features.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

I hope this guide helps you create your first Google Form!