How can I use polls on my Facebook page?

For anyone who is not sure what a poll on Facebook is, below is an example. Basically it is a survey question where you give people a choice of possible answers, and when they click on the answer they are then taken to the results and they can see what others thought.

My favourite poll application is called Poll, it is free (although there is also a paid version with no ads and a photo option) to add it to your Facebook Page as a tab and also publish it on your wall – which means that people are more likely to click on it. There are however, lots of different poll applications, so if you don’t like this one you can do a search on Facebook to find others.

How you could use a poll on your page:

• To ask questions about your product/service to improve it (as Poll have done in the example above).
• To ask people what their greatest concerns are on a topic, the answers could be used for a blog post or to improve your product range.
• To get feedback on when people shop for your product/service, what prompts them to buy, etc.
• To ask what they think good customer service is, or another topic that will help you in your business.
• Ask people to vote on which product you should put on special.
• Ask people to vote as to what they would like to see on your page.
• To vote on the location of your next store.
• To vote on their favourite product/design in your range.
• To vote on topical topics, like who should win The Ashes!
• To make people laugh, by making it silly (if it fits with your brand to do that).

A poll application can add a bit more variety to your page, by giving people a really easy way to engage with you – by just clicking instead of having to type an answer. Plus people can share the poll (if they think it’s funny/interesting/useful) with friends and therefore promote your page and business further.

A word of warning to all the pollsters out there, don’t put up a new poll each day – you will drive your page visitors insane! Mix in the use of polls with your other posts so that it keeps your content fresh and engaging.

Lara Solomon is the founder of Mocks, mobile phone socks www.MyMocks.com, founder of Social Rabbit – your guide in the world of social media www.Facebook.com/SocialRabbit and author of ‘Brand New Day – the Highs & Lows of Starting a Small Business’. Lara’s business LaRoo was the winner of the NSW Telstra Micro-Business Award in 2008.