Before long, I added a dropdown for selecting a country code to a website I created for a client using Webflow and some basic JavaScript. This integration was successful and helped address their issue of users forgetting to include the country code in their phone numbers. Is there a way to optimize the dropdown for better user experience?
TL;DR
- Auto-detect the user's country via IP geolocation to pre-select the country code.
- Add a searchable dropdown with flag icons and preferred countries listed on top.
- Display formatting guidance and validate phone input in real-time.
- Optimize for mobile use, remember previous selections, and lazy-load assets to enhance performance.
You've already implemented a country code dropdown to streamline phone number input—smart move. To further improve the user experience (UX), there are several optimizations you can apply.
1. Auto-Detect User's Country
- Use IP geolocation to pre-select the user's country code automatically.
- Services like ipapi, ipinfo.io, or GeoJS can help detect the user's country based on IP.
- This reduces friction and makes the form feel more personalized.
2. Searchable Dropdown
- Integrate a searchable input box above the country list using a library like intl-tel-input or custom JavaScript filtering.
- Users can quickly find their country by typing, which is faster than scrolling.
3. Flag Icons for Visual Identification
- Include flags next to country names within the dropdown.
- Visual cues help users scan for and recognize their country faster.
4. Preferred Countries List
- Add a set of priority countries at the top based on your client's target audience (e.g., US, UK, Canada).
- This saves users in high-traffic regions from having to scroll through the full list.
5. Format Assistance & Validation
- Show the expected phone number format once a country is selected.
- Example: "+1 (_) _-____" after choosing the US.
- Add real-time validation and formatting using libraries like libphonenumber-js.
6. Mobile Optimization
- Ensure the dropdown is responsive and touch-friendly.
- Large tap targets and smooth scrolling are essential for mobile UX.
7. Save Previous Selection
- Use localStorage or sessionStorage to remember the user’s previous country code selection.
- Returning users won’t need to pick their country again.
8. Minimize Initial Load Impact
- If using flags or external libraries, lazy-load assets to avoid slowing down page load times.
Summary
To optimize your country code dropdown in Webflow, focus on auto-detection, searchability, flag visuals, validation, and contextual formatting. Enhancing interactivity and responsiveness significantly boosts usability and form completion rates.