Today, I’m thrilled to introduce a powerful new feature being added to our myStratus cloud-based software in the 2016 version! This much requested feature is called “Web Forms.” A web form is a form or group of questions you can upload for your client to access on the web. Some common uses for web forms include:

• Questionnaires
• Online contracts
• Client information forms
• Event planning guides
• Shot sheets
• Surveys
• Feedback forms

With myStratus, you can design your own web form using text boxes, drop-downs, checkboxes, date fields, and more. You can design your own layout and then link fields on the form to actual fields in your Stratus database! Published web forms have a direct connection to your database. That means information from your database can be displayed in the fields on a client’s form. It also means your database will be immediately updated with any changes when a client submits a form. So, for example, if you link your Stratus first name and last name client fields to fields on your form, the current first and last name for the client will be shown in those fields on their web form. If you link a field with no information, it will be blank. This makes contact information forms really easy for your clients. All they need to do is fill in any missing information and make changes to outdated information. They won’t need to re-enter things they’ve filled out many times before. In addition, fields that shouldn’t be modified, such as a session date, can easily be locked.

Here are some key points to keep in mind regarding this first version of Web Forms:

• Web forms can be created for clients and sessions. Note: A client or session must already exist in your database in order to create a web form for them.
• Web forms are NOT designed to be a “Contact Us” form on your website.
• Once a web form is designed, it can be created for individual clients/sessions manually, automatically, or with triggers. In any case, you would then email the client with their login details and a link to the form.
• Web forms are accessed by the client through their InSpiredByYou portal. They will need to log in with their username and password to see their forms.
• You are not limited to the fields currently available in myStratus. You can create an infinite number of fields to track as much information as you want!

We’re very excited to bring you this new feature! It expands your ability to communicate with your clients and gather information that can really make a difference in how you meet and exceed your client’s expectations.