How to Do a Poll on a Facebook Business Page

Creating a poll on your Facebook Business Page is one of the fastest ways to stop the scroll and get your audience to interact with your brand. Far from being a simple gimmick, a well-crafted poll can spark conversation, give you direct customer feedback, and give your engagement metrics a healthy boost. This guide breaks down exactly how to create a poll using Facebook's current features and shares actionable strategies for making them a powerful part of your content plan.

Why Facebook Polls Are a Game-Changer for Your Business Page

If you're not using polls, you're missing out on a low-effort, high-reward content format. They feel less like marketing and more like a conversation, inviting your followers to share their opinion with a single tap. Here’s why they’re so effective.

They Instantly Boost Engagement

In the world of social media, the easiest actions get the most traction. A poll is incredibly low-friction, it doesn't require composing a thoughtful comment or searching for the perfect emoji. Users simply tap an option. This simple interaction signals to Facebook's algorithm that your content is valuable, which can increase your post's overall reach and visibility. It’s a small action that can have a big impact on getting more eyes on your content.

They Provide Valuable Audience Insights

Stop guessing what your customers want and just ask them. Polls are a fantastic tool for lightweight market research. You can validate product ideas, decide on future content, or simply understand your audience's preferences on a deeper level. Imagine a coffee shop asking, "Which new seasonal flavor should we introduce?" or a marketing agency polling followers on, "What's your biggest challenge with social media in 2024?" The answers give you direct, actionable data to make smarter business decisions.

They Humanize Your Brand

Polls are your chance to show some personality. They don't always have to be about business strategy or product feedback. Fun, topical, or humorous polls can make your brand feel more relatable and human. A simple "Team Coffee or Team Tea for Monday motivation?" poll can spark friendly debate and show that there are real people behind your brand, creating a stronger sense of community with your followers.

They Build Buzz and Drive Traffic

You can cleverly use polls to build anticipation for a launch or announcement. For instance, before revealing a new product design, you could run a poll asking your audience to vote on the final color scheme: "Our new product drops next week! Should we launch in ‘Midnight Blue’ or ‘Forest Green’?" This not only provides feedback but also makes your audience feel involved in the process, building excitement and investment in the final outcome. When you finally post the result or the product, they’ll be more likely to pay attention.

Creating Your First Facebook Poll: Step-by-Step Instructions

Facebook's interface is always evolving, and the once-prominent "Poll" button on a Business Page's main feed has become less consistent. Don't worry, there are still several effective ways to get your questions in front of your audience. Here are the most reliable methods available right now.

Method 1: Creating a Poll in Your Facebook Page's Story

Facebook Stories are designed for quick, in-the-moment content, and their built-in poll sticker is perfect for fast feedback and playful engagement. Since Stories are so prominent at the top of the app, this is often the best way to get eyeballs on your poll.

• Step 1: Open Stories. From your business Page, tap on your profile picture where it says "Create story."
• Step 2: Choose Your Background. You can take a new photo or video, or select one from your camera roll. A visually engaging background is key to stopping people from swiping past.
• Step 3: Add the Poll Sticker. Tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face) at the top of the screen. From the menu that appears, select the "POLL" sticker.
• Step 4: Write Your Question. A text box will appear. Type your question in the "Ask a question..." field. Keep it short and to the point.
• Step 5: Set Your Options. The poll defaults to "YES" and "NO" options, but you can tap each one to customize them with your own answers. Stories are limited to two options, so this is prime territory for classic "This vs. That" questions.
• Step 6: Position and Publish. You can drag your poll sticker around the screen and pinch to resize it. Once you're happy with its placement, tap the "Share" button.

The takeaway: Story polls are fantastic for quick, visual questions, but remember they disappear after 24 hours.

Method 2: Using Polls in a Facebook Group

If you run a Facebook Group connected to your Business Page, you have access to a much more robust polling feature. This is the gold standard for gathering in-depth feedback from your most dedicated brand advocates.

• Step 1: Navigate to Your Group. Go to the Facebook Group that you manage.
• Step 2: Start a Post. Click on the post composer box as if you were writing a regular update.
• Step 3: Select "Poll." Below the text box, you'll see a menu of post types. Click "Poll" or find it under the "…" (Add to your post) menu.
• Step 4: Craft Your Poll. Write your question in the main text box. Then, start filling in the "Option 1," "Option 2," etc. fields. You can add more options by clicking "+ Add Option." Here, you can also add images or GIFs to each poll option, which is highly recommended for higher engagement!
• Step 5: Choose Poll Options. Before posting, click "Poll Options." Here you can decide whether to allow people to choose multiple answers or let them add original options. Unchecking "Allow people to add options" is usually best if you want clean data on specific choices you provide.
• Step 6: Post It. Once you're all set, click "Post." Your poll will now appear in the Group feed for members to vote on.

The takeaway: Group polls are more permanent and customizable, making them ideal for serious market research and community discussions.

Method 3: The Manual "Emoji Reaction" Poll

Sometimes the simplest method is the best. If you can't find another option or just want to run a quick poll on your main page feed, you can create one manually using emoji reactions.

• Step 1: Create a Normal Post. Start by creating a standard image or text post on your Business Page feed.
• Step 2: Frame the Question. Write your question clearly in the post's text.
• Step 3: Assign Reactions to Answers. Clearly instruct your audience how to vote. For example: "We're brainstorming new t-shirt designs! Which vibe do you like more? React with ❤️ for the vintage look, or 👍 for a modern minimalist design."
• Step 4: Use a Compelling Visual. Add an image that shows both options side-by-side. Make it easy for people to see what they are voting on.
• Step 5: Publish. Post it to your page. You can track the "results" by simply looking at the count for each emoji reaction on your post.

The takeaway: This method is universal and works on any platform feed. It's visually engaging and very simple for users to participate in.

7 Strategies for Crafting High-Engagement Polls

Knowing how to create a poll is one thing, knowing how to create one that people actually care about is another. Here are some pro tips.

1. Keep it Simple and Clear. Your question should be understood in seconds. Avoid jargon, ambiguity, or complex scenarios. Two clear, concise options almost always outperform four convoluted ones.
2. Make it Visual. People are wired to respond to images. Whether it's the background of a Story poll or a GIF attached to options in a Group poll, visuals make your content stand out. Always add a photo or video if you can.
3. Ask Questions They Actually Care About. Frame your polls around your audience's needs, not just your own. Instead of "Which of our blog posts from last month did you like best?" (which requires them to do work), try "What ecommerce tip would help you most right now: Increasing traffic or Boosting conversions?"
4. Tap into Timeliness. Connect your poll to a holiday, a current event, or a trending topic to make it feel relevant. A tax advisory firm could post in April, "What part of filing taxes gives you the biggest headache? Finding deductions or understanding the forms?"
5. Create "This vs. That" Showdowns. Pitting two popular items against each other is a classic recipe for interaction. It's simple, creates a friendly debate, and is incredibly easy for users to answer. Think "Laptop vs. Desktop," "Early bird vs. Night owl," or "Spicy vs. Mild."
6. Limit the Choices. Decision paralysis is real. Stick to 2-4 options for best results. When faced with a long list of choices, most people will just keep scrolling.
7. Always Follow Up. This is the step most people forget. After the poll ends, share the results! You can do this in a new post or story. Announce the "winner" and thank your followers for participating. It closes the loop and shows that your brand is listening, which encourages them to vote again in the future.

Final Thoughts

Facebook polls are an incredibly versatile tool for boosting engagement, gathering customer feedback, and humanizing your brand. By using Stories, Groups, and emoji reaction posts, you can easily ask your audience what they think and make them feel like a part of your brand's community.

We know that planning engaging content, scheduling posts across platforms, and managing comments is a full-time job. That's why we've designed Postbase with a beautiful, modern content calendar that allows you to see your entire strategy at a glance - making it simple to spot gaps in your schedule and find the perfect time for your next poll.