You finally did it. You created a private group for your student community on LinkedIn or Facebook. Even better, people have requested to join! Great work.
But, as your space grows, maybe you’ve noticed that your community members aren’t interacting and engaging in this space as much as you initially hoped. Your members do not react to many posts. They’re rarely commenting. And no one seems to be starting new conversations.
What gives? Pause for a moment and ask yourself these questions:
Does your community offer a space for individuals with shared interests?
Are you posting content that is relevant to your community members’ needs?
Are your community guidelines clear?
Are you facilitating dialogue by encouraging members to speak up or introduce themselves as soon as they join the group?
If you answered yes to all these questions and still do not see the engagement you desire, have you also tried creating weekly polls?
Biteable explains that polls are excellent for engagement because “they demand minimal effort from your audience which makes the chance of a reaction higher. It barely takes a second to answer a poll with a single click. This makes polls both attractive and effective.”
Polls give communities the chance to voice their opinions on almost any topic. They also provide community builders direction for future content. We can observe the topics that generate the most participation and base our plans on those responses. We can even ask our community what they would like to see more of in our groups. After all, we all want to know what our community members are thinking and feeling, and how we can best serve them.
Implementing weekly polls in the private LinkedIn group that I manage for new graduate students has been an easy way to encourage engagement and help new students feel more involved with our online community. And it’s just plain fun.
Maybe you are a digital community builder or social media manager and you want to try polling your community to boost engagement in your group. There are several best practices that you should consider as you get started.
Or, maybe you’re ready just to dive in and create your first poll, but you don’t know what exactly to ask.
I get that. Good news. I have compiled all of the polls that I’ve used in the LinkedIn group that I manage for new graduate students.
Keep reading to find the 18 best poll questions that you can use in your private social media group, too.
Do you like to study…
- On-campus
- At the library
- At home
- In a coffee shop
What are you hoping to accomplish over the next few days?
- Get through the workweek
- Spend lots of time outdoors
- Read a new book
- Watch Supermarket Sweep
Let’s talk back-to-school tech. What device will you rely on most this semester? My favorite device is…
- Laptop
- Phone
- Tablet
- Just give me a pen and a pad!
We are having a debate in our office. Help us settle it. Which season is the best? My favorite season is…
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
What kind of content would be most helpful and interesting to see in this group? Be honest. Share your thoughts by voting and commenting below. What would you like to see more of in this group?
- Current university news & research
- Faculty/student/alumni stories
- Ways to connect with students
- Info about living in Buffalo
We’ve all probably sat through at least a few virtual meetings or hangouts by now. How would you define your Zoom personality? Vote in this week’s poll to let us know.
- The one who just woke up
- The one walking around
- The one with a funny backdrop
- The one without the camera on
Everyone has different reasons for going to graduate school. Vote in this week’s poll to share your reason. Don’t see yours? Comment and tell us more.
In your opinion, what’s the most important part of graduate school?
- Participating in research
- Expanding my network
- Gaining hands-on experience
- Deepening my knowledge
Fall foliage. Cider and donuts. Apple orchards. Scenic hikes. There is so much to see, taste, and experience during the fall in Buffalo.
We have a perfect autumn weekend ahead. How are you going to spend it?
- Homework and studying
- Finding tasty fall foods
- Exploring the great outdoors
- Two words: GO BILLS!
Telecommuting. Working remotely. Flexible work options. There are so many different descriptions for the same arrangement: Working from home. In today’s poll, tell us your true feelings about #WFHlife.
Do you like working from home?
- I love WFH!
- No, WFH is horrible.
- A hybrid option would be best.
- Not sure. I never have!
#WorldChocolateDay just passed, and we have sugar on our minds. What do you think about sponge candy? For those of you who don’t know, sponge candy is a light and crunchy chocolate-covered toffee candy. It is made from sugar, corn syrup, and baking soda. And many believe that sponge candy originated in Buffalo in the early 1900s. Some of Buffalo’s best sponge candy can be found at Fowler’s Chocolates, Alethea’s Chocolates, and Parkside Candy: https://lnkd.in/d2rX3JY.
Have you ever tried Buffalo’s famous sponge candy?
- Yes! I can’t get enough.
- No desire. It’s not for me.
- I have never even heard of it!
Let’s talk interviews! The interview, without a doubt, is the most crucial part of getting the job you want. What is the worst part for you? Let us know in the comments if you have anything additional to share.
What is the worst part of an interview?
- Picking out the perfect outfit
- Feeling anxious
- Remembering my talking points
- What? I love interviewing!
Getting enough sleep can be the key to your success in graduate school. Concentration, productivity, and overall well-being are all improved through sound sleep. How many hours do you need to feel ready to conquer reading, writing, and internships?
- 4-5
- 5-6
- 7-8
- 8+
Imagine it’s the first day of classes, and your professor hands you the syllabus. Are you happy you’re being asked to watch a lot of videos? Excited you have tons of reading in your future? Wishing for more audiobooks or conversations with content experts? Let us know how you prefer to learn in this week’s poll.
What’s your favorite way to learn about something new?
- Watch videos/webinars
- Read books/articles
- Listen to podcasts/audiobooks
- Talk to someone who knows more
Sweatsuits. Pajama sets. Pressed shirts and pants. We’re talking about what you like to wear when you’re working and learning from home. What’s your philosophy on working/learning from home attire?
- Business on top, comfy below
- I don’t change out of my PJs
- I get fully dressed every day
Snack breaks are a necessity when you’re studying hard. What do you reach for when you need a break during a long study or paper-writing session?
- Crackers or chips. Yum, salt.
- Give me the sugar, please.
- I snack on fruits & veggies.
- Snack? No. I need coffee.
Have you visited UB’s campus before?
- Yes! I’ve taken classes at UB before.
- Yes, I’ve visited once or twice.
- No. Covid made it impossible.
- No need. I’m an online student!
How would you describe yourself? I’m an…
- Introvert
- Extrovert
- Ambivert
The best part of living in Buffalo is…
- The food
- The sports
- The history and art
- I don’t know yet!
Your polls can be as simple as asking whether your community members enjoy coffee or tea, or prefer getting up early rather than staying up late. You can also use these questions to learn more about your group’s preferences and opinions on topics that are unique only to your community members. As GetGist points out, “polls allow you to tap into the minds of others… they are a great way to see what your consumers want from you.”
Once you start experimenting, you might find that your polls receive the most engagement when you bake in content that specifically relates to your community, such as your group’s relevant location, organization, or goals.
That said, my most popular poll asked for group members to vote for their favorite season. Sometimes the most straightforward questions are the most entertaining and allow members to find commonalities in your community.
Are polls part of your social media strategy?