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How to Publish a Google Form A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Google Forms provides a powerful way to create and distribute surveys, quizzes, and questionnaires. Publishing a Google Form allows you to share it widely and collect responses from a broad audience. To publish a Google Form, simply open the form, click the “Send” button, and choose from options to share via email, link, or embed code.

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A computer screen showing the Google Forms interface with a cursor clicking on the "Send" button. The screen displays options for sharing the form via email, link, or social media

Making a Google Form public offers several advantages. It removes the need for respondents to sign in, increasing accessibility and potentially boosting response rates. Public forms can be easily shared on websites, social media platforms, or through direct messages.

Publishing options give form creators flexibility in how they distribute their surveys. Embedding a form on a website integrates it seamlessly with existing content, while sharing a direct link allows for quick dissemination through various channels. These features make Google Forms a versatile tool for gathering information in academic, professional, and personal contexts.

Creating and Setting Up Your Google Form

A computer screen with the Google Form creation page open, a mouse cursor clicking on the "Publish" button, and a notification confirming the form has been published

Google Forms offers a user-friendly platform for creating customizable surveys, tests, and feedback forms. The process involves designing your form and configuring its settings to suit your specific needs.

Designing Your Google Form

Start by accessing Google Forms through your Google account. Select a blank form or choose from pre-made templates for events, surveys, or feedback forms. Add questions by clicking the “+” icon, choosing from various question types like multiple choice, short answer, or checkboxes.

Customize your form’s appearance by clicking the palette icon to change colors and themes. Use the image upload feature to add logos or relevant visuals. Arrange questions in a logical order by dragging and dropping them into place.

Consider using section breaks for longer forms to improve navigation. Add descriptions to clarify complex questions. For quizzes, enable the “Make this a quiz” option in settings to assign point values and correct answers.

Configuring Form Settings

Click the settings gear icon to access form configuration options. Under the “General” tab, decide whether to collect email addresses and limit responses to one per person. Choose if respondents can edit their answers after submission.

In the “Presentation” tab, customize confirmation messages and determine if respondents can see a progress bar. The “Quizzes” tab allows you to set release grades and configure feedback options for quiz-style forms.

Adjust privacy settings by deciding whether to make the form public or restrict access to specific users. Consider enabling the sign-in requirement for sensitive information collection. Use the “Responses” tab to choose how and where to store form submissions.

Sharing and Publishing Options

A computer screen shows a Google Form being filled out. The user clicks on the "Publish" button and selects various sharing options

Google Forms offers versatile options for sharing and publishing your forms. These features allow you to collaborate with others, make your form accessible to a wider audience, and integrate it seamlessly into websites.

Sharing With Collaborators

Google Forms enables collaborative work on form creation and management. To share a form with collaborators, click the “Share” button in the top-right corner. Enter the email addresses of your collaborators and set their permission levels – Edit, Comment, or View. Edit allows full access, Comment permits suggestions, and View restricts to viewing only. Collaborators with Google accounts can access the form directly, while others receive an email invitation.

You can also generate a shareable link for collaborators. This link provides quick access to the form without requiring individual email invitations. Remember to adjust the link’s permissions to control who can access it.

Making Your Form Public

To reach a broader audience, consider making your Google Form public. Navigate to the “Settings” tab and uncheck the “Requires sign-in” option. This allows anyone with the form’s URL to access and submit responses without needing a Google account.

Generate a public link by clicking the “Send” button and selecting the “Link” tab. You can customize this URL using the “Shorten URL” option for easier sharing. Share this link via email, social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, or messaging apps to distribute your form widely.

Consider your target audience when deciding whether to make your form public. Public forms are ideal for surveys, event registrations, or feedback collection from a large group.

Embedding the Form on Your Website

Embedding your Google Form directly on a website increases visibility and accessibility. To embed, click the “Send” button and select the “Embed” tab. Copy the provided HTML code and paste it into your website’s HTML editor.

Customize the embedded form’s appearance by adjusting its width and height in the embed code. This ensures it fits seamlessly with your website’s design. Embedded forms work well on various platforms, including blogs and corporate websites.

Remember to test the embedded form on different devices to ensure proper display and functionality across desktop and mobile platforms. Regularly check that the embedded form remains up-to-date with any changes made to the original Google Form.