Understanding LinkedIn Polls
LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform that offers a wide range of features to make networking more interactive and effective. One such feature is the LinkedIn Polls. Introduced to enhance user engagement, LinkedIn Polls allow users to gain insights, gather feedback, generate discussions and build community engagement.
A LinkedIn Poll is a type of post where users ask a question and provide up to four options as the potential answers. Other LinkedIn users can then choose their preferred response from the options provided. The aim is to generate responses from your connections and followers or anyone else who may come across your poll, depending on your chosen privacy settings.
How to Use LinkedIn Polls
Using LinkedIn Polls is easy and quick. First, you need to decide what you want to ask your network. Then, follow the steps below:
1. Click on “Start a post” at the home page.
2. Choose the “Create a Poll” option.
3. Enter your question in the “Ask a question” section (up to 140 characters).
4. Provide options for answers (between 2 to 4 options, up to 30 characters each).
5. Decide on the poll’s duration (from 24 hours to up to two weeks).
6. Choose who can see and respond to your poll (Anyone or your LinkedIn connections only).
7. You may optionally add a post to accompany your poll, providing more information, context or views on the question you’re asking.
8. Click “Post” to publish your poll.
Once published, your connections and followers will see your poll in their feeds and will be able to vote and comment just like any other post. The poll creator will receive notifications about votes and comments, and at the end of the polling period, the final results are shared with the creator and anyone who voted.
When to Use LinkedIn Polls
LinkedIn Polls can be leveraged in various ways depending on your networking goals. Here are some considerations:
– Surveying Opinions: If you want to get a sense of popular opinion on a topic, a LinkedIn poll can be a fast and effective way. It can be used to gauge sentiment around industry issues, market trends, tools and resources, or almost any issue where a snapshot of peer opinion could be valuable.
– Engaging with your network: LinkedIn polls can be a great conversation starter. By asking relevant and thought-provoking questions, you’re inviting your network to engage with you, which can lead to valuable discussions and deeper connections.
– Market Research: If you’re trying to know more about your audience’s preferences, LinkedIn polls can be used as a market research tool. For B2B organizations, or professionals looking to understand their industry better, running polls on LinkedIn can yield actionable insights.
In conclusion, LinkedIn Polls is a simple yet powerful feature for boosting engagement, gaining insights and enhancing your networking on the platform. Make sure to ask thoughtful, relevant questions and respond to comments on your poll to maximise value from this feature.