Remove Obsolete SimpleForm Contact Form and Modernize Communication Channels

[chriskyfung]

Problem Statement
The current contact form (/contact.html) on our Jekyll site relies on SimpleForm, a third-party service undergoing indefinite reconstruction with no clear timeline for restoration ¹. This has rendered the form non-functional, creating a poor user experience. Additionally, a recent YouTube video titled 7 Things to Remove From Your Website Immediately (2025) emphasizes the need to replace outdated, vague forms with transparent, efficient tools ².

Rationale for Removal

1. Unreliable Third-Party Dependency: SimpleForm’s downtime disrupts user communication and harms our site’s professionalism.
2. Outdated User Experience: Legacy forms (e.g., CAPTCHA, slow backends) frustrate users. Modern tools prioritize real-time validation, simplicity, and clarity ³.
3. Static Site Limitations: Jekyll’s static architecture complicates dynamic form handling, as noted in prior discussions ⁴.

Proposed Solution

1. Replace SimpleForm with a Free, Static-Friendly Service

   • Formspree.io: Jekyll-compatible, free tier (50 submissions/month), minimal setup, and email notifications ⁵.
   • HeroTofu: Serverless submissions with CRM sync (free for basic use) ⁶.
   • FormKeep: Spam filtering + Slack/Email notifications (free tier available) ⁵.

2. Add Alternative Contact Methods
   Reduce reliance on a single form by introducing:

   • Facebook Messenger: Embed a "Message Us" button linking to our Messenger profile.
   • Email: Add a mailto: link for direct email access.
   • Social Media: Include links to Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or Instagram for quick outreach.

3. Implementation Steps

   • Audit existing form fields and data requirements.
   • Select a primary form service (e.g., Formspree for simplicity).
   • Update the form’s HTML action endpoint and test submissions.
   • Add a confirmation page/post-submission message for clarity ⁵.
   • Integrate social/contact links into the site’s header/footer.

References

Footnotes

1. SimpleForm service disruption ↩

2. YouTube video: 7 Things to Remove From Your Website Immediately in 2025 ↩

3. Modern form UX best practices ↩

4. Jekyll’s static backend limitations ↩

5. Formspree and FormKeep integration guides ↩ ↩² ↩³

6. HeroTofu serverless form handling ↩

[chriskyfung]

Here’s a comparison of free tiers for Formspree, Getform, HeroTofu, and FormKeep based on the provided sources:

Provider	Free Tier Submissions/Month	Key Features	Limitations/Notes	GDPR compliance
Formspree	50	Email notifications, Jekyll integration, GDPR compliance	50/month cap	✔
HeroTofu	25	Serverless submissions, CRM sync, spam protection	14-day free trial, then free plan (limits undisclosed)	✔
FormKeep	50	Spam filtering, Slack/Email notifications, integrations	Free tier details unavailable in sources	✔

Notes:

• HeroTofu: Free plan available after a 14-day trial, but 25 submissions/month after the trial.

Recommendations:

• For simplicity: Use Formspree (50 submissions).
• For flexibility: HeroTofu offers serverless handling but requires trial signup.
• FormKeep lacks free-tier clarity in the provided data.