In this post, we’ll walk you through how to add a clickable email link (known as a mailto link) to your website’s forms. This feature lets visitors open their default email app — like Gmail or Outlook — with your email address and even pre-filled details such as a subject line or message body. It saves users time and helps you receive better-organized messages.
What Is a Mailto Link?
A mailto link is a type of hyperlink that automatically opens a new email draft in a visitor’s preferred email client. It pre-fills the “To” field with your email address and can also include optional details such as:
- CC (carbon copy) – to include other recipients
- BCC (blind carbon copy) – to include hidden recipients
- Subject – to set the email subject line
- Body – to include a message or instructions
This not only improves the user experience but also helps you guide users to provide specific information when they contact you.
How to Create a Mailto Link in HTML
You can create a basic mailto link with a simple snippet of HTML code:
<a href="mailto:your-name@yourdomain.com">Email Us</a>
When a visitor clicks this link, their default email program opens with your address pre-filled in the “To” field.
Adding Custom Fields (Subject, CC, BCC, and Body)
You can customize your mailto link further by adding additional parameters to automatically fill in details like the subject line or body text.
Here’s how it works:
Basic Syntax
mailto:your-name@yourdomain.com
Now, add the following parameters as needed:
- CC (Carbon Copy):
?cc=name@domain.com - BCC (Blind Carbon Copy):
?bcc=name@domain.com - Subject Line:
?subject=This%20is%20a%20subject💡 Use%20to represent spaces between words. - Body Message:
?body=This%20is%20body%20text💡 Use%0Ato add line breaks within the email body.
Combining Multiple Parameters
To include more than one parameter, connect them using an ampersand (&) instead of a question mark (?) for all additional fields.
Example:
mailto:your-name@yourdomain.com?subject=Music%20Lessons&body=I'm%20interested%20in%20learning%20to%20play
This link will automatically open a new email addressed to your-name@yourdomain.com with the subject “Music Lessons” and a pre-filled message body.
Testing Your Mailto Link
Before publishing, always test your mailto link to ensure it opens correctly and the formatting looks right. Simply paste it into your website or form, click the link, and verify that it behaves as expected in your default email app.
Why Use Mailto Links?
- ✅ Improves user experience by saving visitors time
- ✅ Makes your website feel more interactive and professional
- ✅ Encourages more people to contact you directly
- ✅ Lets you guide users with pre-filled subject or body text
By using mailto links effectively, you make your site’s contact options simple, efficient, and user-friendly — increasing the likelihood of meaningful connections with your visitors.
Reference:
Constant Contact Knowledge Base: Add a Mailto Link
Post Tags:
#MailtoLink #ClickableEmail #AutofillEmailFields #HTMLTutorial #WebsiteContactForm