How to Make a Google Form Shareable
Getting Started with Google Forms
Before we dive into how to make a Google Form shareable, let’s cover the basics of creating a Google Form. A Google Form is a simple online survey or question-asking tool that allows you to collect data from a large number of users. To create a Google Form, follow these steps:
- Go to the Google Forms website and click on "Create a form"
- Choose the type of form you want to create (e.g. survey, question, quiz)
- Set up your form’s settings, including the form’s title, description, and permissions
Configuring Permissions
Permissions are an essential part of setting up a shareable Google Form. Here’s how to configure permissions:
- Go to the form’s settings and click on "Permissions"
- Note: Permissions can be configured for the form owner, as well as any collaborators or users who have been added to the form
| Permission | Description | Important Note: |
|---|---|---|
| Editor | Can edit the form | Essential for creating and editing forms |
| Collector | Can collect data | Can collect data, but cannot edit forms |
| Share | Can share the form | Can share the form, but cannot edit or collect data |
Adding a Sharing Link
To share a Google Form, you’ll need to add a sharing link. Here’s how:
- Go to the form’s settings and click on "Sharing options"
- Note: The sharing link will be generated by Google, and will be in the format
https://forms.google.com/form/v1/save
| Option | Description | Important Note: |
|---|---|---|
| Embed | Embeds the form directly in a webpage | Recommended for most use cases |
| Download | Downloads the form in a spreadsheet format | Suitable for users who need to share the form in a specific format |
Adding a Sharing Link to Your Website
To share a Google Form with a specific audience, you’ll need to add a sharing link to your website. Here’s how:
- Go to the form’s settings and click on "Sharing options"
- Scroll down to the "Embed" section
- Click on the "Embed" link and paste the sharing link
- Select the audience for which you want to share the form
How to Add a Sharing Link to a Website
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add a sharing link to a website:
- Go to the form’s settings and click on "Sharing options"
- Scroll down to the "Embed" section
- Click on the "Embed" link and paste the sharing link
- Select the audience for which you want to share the form
- Click on the "Save" button
Sharing a Google Form with Specific Audience
To share a Google Form with a specific audience, you’ll need to add a sharing link to their email addresses or Google Groups. Here’s how:
- Go to the form’s settings and click on "Sharing options"
- Scroll down to the "Email addresses" section
- Add the recipient’s email address
- Note: You can also add the recipient’s name or Google Group to share the form
| Option | Description | Important Note: |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient’s email address | Adds the recipient’s email address | Recommended for sharing forms with multiple recipients |
| Recipient’s name | Adds the recipient’s name | Recommended for sharing forms with multiple recipients |
| Google Group | Adds the recipient’s name to a Google Group | Recommended for sharing forms with multiple recipients |
Best Practices for Sharing a Google Form
Here are some best practices for sharing a Google Form:
- Use a clear and descriptive title for your form
- Use a descriptive description of the form and its purpose
- Make sure the form is visually appealing and easy to use
- Test the form before sharing it to ensure it’s working as expected
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Sharing a Google Form
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when sharing a Google Form:
- Don’t share the form with unauthorized parties or those who don’t need to use it
- Don’t share the form in a public or vulnerable way (e.g. on a public website or in a shared folder)
- Don’t share the form with an audience that doesn’t have a need for the data (e.g. don’t share a survey with a large audience who doesn’t need to use the data)
By following these tips and best practices, you can create and share Google Forms that are easy to use, secure, and effective in collecting data from your audience.