As a reporter, I will contact a company through any means necessary. I greatly prefer a phone number or an email address for a specific person -- but sometimes I’m stuck filling out a website contact form.
I’ve filled out more contact forms than I’d like to admit. I really dislike them. About a quarter of them do not work, and I’m never sure if my messages reach my intended audience: the marketing department.
Some common problems I’ve seen:
o Errors after clicking ‘submit’
o Tiny message length limits (such as 200 characters)
o Bounced emails in response
o Claims of ‘improper formatting’