How to Customize a Google Forms (Edit Appearance)

In this guide, we’ll show you how to customize Google Forms to make your forms not only functional, but also visually appealing and professional.

Why Customize Google Forms?

Customization goes beyond aesthetics—it improves form engagement and reinforces your brand identity.

Here’s why you should consider it:

• Brand Consistency: Align your forms with your organization’s visual identity to look professional.
• Improved Engagement: User-friendly designs encourage more responses for surveys, registrations or payment forms.
• Personalized Experience: Adapt your forms for difference audiences to increase the likelihood of form completion and better data collection.

How to Customize Google Forms

1. Change the Theme Color and Background

• Access Theme Options: Open your Google Form, click the “Palette” icon in the upper-right corner.
• Pick Colors: Choose from preset themes or customize with your brand’s colors
• Add Background Image: Select “Choose image” to upload a custom background or pick from Google’s library.

2. Add Your Logo

Including your organization’s logo is a simple way to make your form look professional.

• Go to the form’s header section, click “Choose image” and upload your logo.
• Adjust the dimensions of the image so that it fits properly into the space without overwhelming the design.

3. Customize Fonts

• Navigate to the “Palette” icon, select “Customize theme,” and change the font style to align with your brand. While limited, the available fonts can help you add a touch of your brand’s personality.

4. Use Sections to Organize Your Form

If your form has multiple topics or a lot of questions, break it into sections:

• Click the “Add section” icon (two rectangles) in the form editor.
• Label each section for clarity and a more user-friendly experience.

5. Embed Images and Videos

Adding media can make your forms more engaging:

• Use the “Insert image” button to add visuals to questions or answers.
• Incorporate instructional videos by clicking the “Insert video” icon and pasting a YouTube link.

6. Utilize Conditional Logic

Make your form smarter by showing specific questions based on previous answers:

• Click the three dots in the bottom-right corner of a question, then select “Go to section based on answer.”
• Use this feature to create a more dynamic form leading to a better user experience.

7. Customize Confirmation Messages

Once respondents submit their answers, they’ll see a default confirmation message. You can personalize it:

• Go to “Settings,” then “Presentation,” and edit the “Confirmation message” field.
• Use this space to thank users, provide next steps, or link to further resources.

8. Enable Response Validation

Ensure you’re collecting accurate data by setting validation rules:

• Open a question, click the three dots at the bottom, and select “Response validation.”
• For example, you can require email addresses or specific numerical ranges.

9. Use Add-ons for Extra Features

Google Forms offers a variety of add-ons to expand its functionality:

• Go to the three dots in the upper-right corner and select “Add-ons.”
• Explore options like form timers, advanced analytics, or integration with other tools.

Limitations of Google Forms Customization

While Google Forms offers several ways to personalize your forms, it has some limitations:

• Font and Color Options: The choices are limited compared to dedicated form builders like Jotform or Activity Messenger.
• Design Flexibility: You can’t adjust the layout or arrange questions freely.
• Brand Integration: Advanced branding options, such as adding custom CSS, are not available.

Alternatives to Google Forms

If you need advanced customization, consider these alternatives:

• Jotform: Known for its drag-and-drop editor, extensive templates, and branding flexibility.
• Activity Messenger: Perfect for creating forms with integrated email marketing and SMS reminders.
• Typeform: Offers sleek, conversational forms for a modern user experience.

 

Conclusion

By customizing Google Forms, you can create professional forms that match your companies branding.

Whether it’s changing colors, adding your logo, or using conditional logic, these small tweaks can greatly enhance your forms. However, if you need more advanced features, exploring alternatives like Jotform or Activity Messenger may be the next step for your organization.

If you’re looking to take your form building to another level, book a demo with an Activity Messenger expert.