Single Page or Modal signup form

Question

We have a sign up form where we are trying to get those who sign up to our newsletter and hopefully continue to creating an account.

One of the requirements if for the users to add in their preferences.

I am of a mind to split it up into three seperate pages after signing them up for the newsletter.

1. add password to create your account (with benefits of signing up)
2. Profile (job title, business, business size, postcode
3. Then preferences (below)

However my boss argues that single page is always the way to go.

Would love any opinions you guys have? Is there a third option I am missing? People have talked about accordion style but i have never seen a accordion sign up in action.

The preferences screen:

Answer 1

I suggest to use a kind of progressive disclosure principle.

Progressive disclosure defers advanced or rarely used features to a secondary screen, making applications easier to learn and less error-prone.

Read more on http://www.nngroup.com/articles/progressive-disclosure/

In my opinion, it would be better, if profile and preferences would be optional. I mean, user could use system after creating an account, but system should suggest to complete profile and add some preferences, like Linkedin does.

Answer 2

Addressing the question of single page vs. multi-page forms: there's no evidence to suggest the page numbers in forms cause it to perform better or worse. A form's success has more to do with the content of the form than the layout.

Building on Igor's answer of progressive disclosure, I would suggest taking the approach with user account creation of asking for just enough information to create the account. Not what you would like to have, but what you need to have.

You already have the user's email address because they agreed to sign up for the email newsletter. What else is needed to complete an account creation? Could you create the account with just the following?

• A Password
• Agreement with account creation terms of use / policy?

After they've created their account, then present them with a profile and preferences. If it's required that in order for account to add any value to the user they must select their preferences, then make that the initial "Let's get your account set up" steps. But also inform them that's why you're taking through this extra step. Flipboard does this well when setting up a new account.