LinkedIn polls have become an increasingly popular way for users to engage their networks and gather feedback quickly. But are they actually a useful tool on the platform? There are pros and cons to consider.
The Pros of LinkedIn Polls
Here are some of the potential benefits of using polls on LinkedIn:
- They can help generate engagement – Polls are interactive and visual, which makes them stand out in the LinkedIn feed. This can entice connections to stop scrolling and participate.
- Quick feedback – You can use polls to take a pulse check on your network’s opinions, ideas, interests, etc. You can gather feedback that would take much longer through surveys or one-on-one outreach.
- Increase reach – People are more inclined to like, comment on, and share poll posts, which can expand your audience.
- Promote content – Polls can be used to promote your upcoming webinars, events, content offers, etc. and gauge interest.
- Spark discussion – The poll results can kick-start a conversation within your niche and build a sense of community.
- Segment audiences – You can analyze poll response patterns to uncover insights about different audience segments.
- Co-create content – Poll responses can fuel future content ideas and help validate content topics.
- Fun way to connect – Polls allow you to have a little fun with your audience!
The Cons of LinkedIn Polls
On the other hand, there are some potential drawbacks to think about as well:
- Limited options – You only get 4 choices, which doesn’t allow for nuance.
- Potential annoyance – Some people find polls disruptive or a waste of time in their feed.
- Not statistically significant – The small sample size of poll participants makes results ungeneralizable.
- Skewed responses – Results could be biased by the limited options or wording.
- Less meaningful – There’s a risk polls are seen as frivolous instead of substantial.
- Poor conversion – Polls alone don’t necessarily convert participants into leads or buyers.
- Ephemeral – Poll posts tend to have a short shelf life and can get buried quickly in the feed.
- Time suck – Creating quality polls, promoting participation, and analyzing results takes time.
Best Practices for LinkedIn Polls
If you do want to experiment with LinkedIn polls, here are some tips to make them most effective:
- Consider goals – Know what you want to achieve – generate leads, promote an event, get feedback, etc.
- Craft choices carefully – Limit to 2-4 options and make them simple, clear, and comprehensive.
- Rotate platforms – Use polls sparingly and mix them with other types of content.
- Target posts – Tailor polls to relevant audiences instead of broadcasting to your whole network.
- Follow up – Leverage poll results by featuring them in a subsequent post, video, or article.
- Prompt participation – Ask connections to weigh in and actively remind them to vote.
- Say thanks – Show appreciation to those who participate with a follow-up message.
- Monitor responses – Keep an eye on comments and adjust approach accordingly.
- Analyze results – Look at who’s responding and how different segments voted.
Types of LinkedIn Poll Questions
The most effective LinkedIn polls feature questions that align with your goals and resonate with your target audience. Here are some types of poll questions you can consider:
- Engagement boosters – Lighthearted, fun questions to grab attention like “What’s your favorite part about [niche]?”
- Open-ended feedback – Broad questions to spark discussion like “What types of content do you find most helpful in [niche]?”
- Product/Service feedback – Get input on your offerings like “What pricing options make the most sense for [product]?”
- Content topic validation – Gauge interest with “Would you like to see more content about [topic]?”
- Event promotion – Generate buzz with “Will you attend our upcoming [event]?”
- Audience preferences – Learn about your audience’s interests, challenges, goals, etc.
- Industry trends/topics – Take the pulse on what’s happening in your niche.
Poll Frequency and Timing
When experimenting with polls, be thoughtful about how often you post them and when.
- Limit polls to 1-2 per week at most so you don’t seem spammy.
- Track responses on your past polls and throttle as needed if you see declining interaction.
- Post your polls when your target audiences are most active on LinkedIn to increase votes.
- Allow polls to run for 3-7 days to collect an adequate sample size.
- Avoid posting polls on weekends or holidays when engagement is lower.
Poll Tools
While LinkedIn has a built-in native poll option, there are also third-party tools you can use to create polls to share on LinkedIn and other social platforms. Here are some top options:
Tool | Key Features |
---|---|
Pollmaker | Custom designs, mobile optimization, analytics, gif/video polls |
Typeform | Interactive poll designs, logic jumps, image choices |
SurveyMonkey | In-depth analytics, survey options, Real-Time Results |
Polltab | Mobile-ready polls, custom branding, auto inactive/reactive polls, integrations |
Social Polls | Mobile-friendly, auto-expire feature, share to multiple platforms |
These tools offer more customization, design, logic options, and analytics compared to LinkedIn’s default polls. However, native polls have the benefit of appearing directly in the LinkedIn feed.
Poll Examples
To inspire you, here are examples of creative, effective polls from real LinkedIn users:
- Management consulting firm asked “Which emerging technology will have the BIGGEST IMPACT on business in 2-3 years?”
- HR software company asked “What’s the main thing preventing you from making work 100% flexible?”
- Business coach asked “What’s your BIGGEST challenge when it comes to self-promotion?”
- Marketing agency asked “What’s the top skill you’d like to learn in 2023?”
- Staffing firm asked “Which would help you be most productive working from home?”
- Cybersecurity company asked “Where are you MOST likely to access sensitive work files?”
These polls are relevant to the audience, promote engagement, and provide valuable insights to the poster.
Poll Metrics to Track
To determine the success of your LinkedIn polls, keep an eye on these key metrics:
- Impressions – How many people your poll reached in their feed
- Engagement rate – Percentage of impressions that liked, commented, shared or clicked
- Total votes – Raw number of votes cast
- Votes by audience – How different personas/segments voted
- Comments – What additional feedback do comments provide?
- Shares – How widely was your poll distributed by connections?
- Traffic – How many people clicked from your poll post to your site/bio?
- Leads – How many new emails/contacts did you generate from the poll?
Benchmark your results over time and aim to gradually increase engagement and traffic. The more compelling your poll question and helpful your response, the better the results.
Conclusion
LinkedIn polls can be an impactful tactic but should be used selectively and strategically. The most successful polls contribute value, generate genuine engagement, provide useful insights, and align with broader business goals.
With thoughtful implementation, LinkedIn polls allow you to tap into the wisdom of your professional network and strengthen connections in a fun, interactive way.
What do you think? Are LinkedIn polls a good use of time and energy for brands and business professionals? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!