Instagram polls debuted in 2017 and have grown in popularity ever since. An Instagram poll is a sticker you can add to your Instagram Stories. There are a few ways brands and creators can use the Instagram polls feature to engage their followers, but before we get into that, let’s break down how to make one.
Setting Up and Sharing Your Instagram Poll Results
Step 1: Tap the “+” icon on the upper right of your Instagram news feed. Then tap “Story” on the bottom right of your screen.
Step 2: This will take you to where you usually add and upload your Instagram Stories. Once you’ve added your content, tap the “Sticker” icon on the upper right of your screen.
Step 3: Your library of Instagram Stickers will pop up, tap the sticker that reads “Poll.” This is where you can write your question and make your own answer choices you want your audience to choose from.
Step 4: Once you’ve created your Instagram poll, tap “Send to” and then “Share” to “Your Story.” After sharing your Stories, you can check the results by clicking on your Story and swiping up to view your stories and viewers.
Step 5: If you decide you want to share the results of your Instagram poll once you’ve closed the poll, then tap “Share Results” located in the swipe-up menu of your Story. Then follow the instructions in Step 4.
The Different Types of Polls
There are two different types of Instagram polls: the Instagram poll and the emoji slider. Both are effective but serve different purposes.
The Instagram Poll - This is the OG poll. Use a poll to ask your followers to pick between answers, product choices, etc. You can make the answer choices whatever you want. The Instagram Poll is going to give you more of a concrete reply than the emoji slider.
The Emoji Slider - The emoji slider is good for sharing content, a product, or anything without asking too much. All you have to do is choose which emoji you want to capture your audience’s feelings, and then your audience will slide the emoji between 0% and 100%.
Instagram Sticker: Not Polls But Still Effective
These are not Instagram polls but can still increase your Stories engagement. All of these features are stickers. To access Instagram Stories Stickers, follow Steps 1 and 2 and then look for the stickers that read “Questions,” “Countdown, “Quiz.”
Questions - The questions sticker is well suited for influencers and brands looking to answer any questions from your followers. The question sticker is perfect for sharing who you are or what your brand stands for and helps build trust between you and your followers because it shows authenticity and honesty.
Countdown - The countdown sticker is perfect for creating hype and reminding your audience about releasing a new product or service, a website launch, or a giveaway.
Quiz - The quiz sticker is purely interactive and very low stakes for your audience. You can make it a game and ask your followers to guess the right answer. If they guess the correct answer, it will highlight green, but it will highlight red if they get it wrong. You can make this a Stories series where you test your audience’s knowledge etc.