How to Make a Poll on Bluesky

Making a poll on Bluesky is one of the easiest ways to start a conversation and boost your engagement. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create your first poll, and more importantly, how to use them to grow your audience and build a loyal community.

Why Should You Use Polls on Bluesky?

Before we get into the step-by-step process, let's touch on why polls are so effective. On a rapidly growing platform like Bluesky, standing out requires more than just posting updates. It requires interaction. Polls are a low-effort, high-reward tool for generating that interaction for a few simple reasons:

• They are incredibly easy to engage with. It only takes a single tap for a follower to participate. This removes the friction of having to think of a clever reply or a detailed comment. Your followers can give their opinion instantly, which makes them feel included and heard.
• They provide direct feedback. Wondering what kind of content your audience wants to see? Trying to decide on a new logo, product feature, or video topic? Just ask. Polls transform your feed into an instant focus group, giving you valuable insights straight from the people who matter most.
• They spark conversation. A well-crafted poll doesn’t just end when someone votes. It gets people talking in the replies. Someone who voted for "Option A" might want to explain why it's the best choice, leading to friendly debates and deeper connections.
• They signal to the algorithm that your content is interesting. While Bluesky's algorithm is still evolving, on any social platform, engagement is a clear signal. The more taps, replies, and time spent on your post, the more visible your content becomes.

In short, polls are an essential part of a smart social media strategy. They're fun, functional, and foster a sense of community around your profile or brand.

A Simple Guide to Creating a Poll on Bluesky

Ready to create your first poll? The process is refreshingly straightforward. Follow these simple steps to get your poll live in minutes.

Step 1: Open the Post Composer

To begin, tap the blue button with the feather icon at the bottom-right corner of your screen (on mobile) or click the blue "New Post" button in the left-hand sidebar (on desktop). This will open the post composer window, where you create your content.

Step 2: Find and Select the Poll Icon

Look at the bottom of the composer window. You'll see several icons for adding different types of media, such as images or alt text. Find the icon that looks like a small bar chart - this is the poll option. Tap or click on it.

Step 3: Add Your Question

Once you select the poll icon, a poll interface will appear directly below your main text area. The first thing you'll see is your main post text area. This is where you should write the question for your poll. For example: "What's the best type of weekend?" or "Which topic should our next deep-dive cover?"

Step 4: Fill in Your Poll Options

Below your main question, you'll see fields labeled "Choice 1," "Choice 2," and an option to "Add a Choice." You can have between two and four choices for your poll.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Character Limit: Each poll option is limited to 25 characters. This encourages you to be clear and concise.
• Add More Choices: To add a third or fourth option, simply tap the "+ Add a Choice" button. You can’t have more than four options.

Step 5: Set the Poll Duration

Next, you’ll need to decide how long you want your poll to run. Bluesky gives you a few preset options to choose from, like 24 hours, 3 days, or 1 week. The default duration is 24 hours, which is usually a perfect starting point. It creates a sense of urgency without being too short.

Step 6: Post It!

Once your question is written, your options are set, and you've selected a duration, you're ready to go. You can add images or alt text to the post just like any other skeet. When you're happy with it, hit the blue "Post" button. Your poll is now live for your followers to see and participate in!

Best Practices: How to Make Polls People Want to Answer

Creating a poll is easy. Creating a poll that actually gets people excited to vote is the real goal. Here are some pro tips for crafting high-engagement polls that will help you build your brand and connect with your audience organically.

1. Ask Compelling Questions

The quality of your poll starts with the question. Avoid generic, low-effort prompts that people have seen a thousand times. Instead of "Do you like coffee?", which invites a simple yes/no, try a more engaging "This vs. That" format:

• Generic: "Do you enjoy working from home?"
• Engaging: "What’s your work-from-home vibe?"
  • ✨ Organized Desk
  • 🛋️ Sofa Professional
  • ☕ Coffee Shop Nomad
  • 🛌 From My Bed

The second option is more fun, relatable, and invites personality. Inject some of your brand's voice into the questions.

2. Keep Choices Clear and Distinct

With a 25-character limit, you're already forced to be brief, but it’s still important to avoid ambiguous or overlapping answers. Your followers should be able to clearly identify with one of the choices. If the options are confusing, people will just scroll past.

Example of weak choices:

• Learning new stuff
• Getting Educated

These two are too similar. Make sure each option presents a genuinely different perspective or choice.

3. Tap Into Timely Events and Trends

Great content is often relevant to what's happening right now. Link your polls to industry news, holidays, popular culture moments, or even memes circulating on Bluesky. Are people talking about a new movie? A major industry announcement? A seasonal trend? Use that as inspiration.

For example, a graphic designer could ask: "Which recent rebrand hit the mark?" and list a few popular companies. This shows you're current and turns your feed into a place for timely industry discussion.

4. Use Polls for Real Feedback (and Show You're Listening)

Don't let polls just be for fun. They are a powerful tool for customer research and content strategy. Involve your audience in your decision-making processes. People love to feel like they are co-creating with you:

• "What content do you want to see more of?" (e.g., Tutorials, Behind-the-Scenes, Q&As)
• "Help us pick the name for our new feature!"
• "Which t-shirt design should we print first?"

The most important part? Follow up on the results. If your audience votes for tutorials, make sure your next post announces that you're working on one. This closes the feedback loop and proves that their opinion actually matters, strengthening their loyalty to your brand.

5. Don't Just Post It and Forget It

The most successful social media managers know that a post is a conversation starter, not a final statement. Once your poll closes, the engagement shouldn't stop there.

• Share the Results: Create a follow-up post or reply directly to the poll sharing the final results. Add your own thoughts, a surprising insight, or a thank-you message.
• Engage in the Replies: As people are voting and commenting, jump into the replies. Ask follow-up questions. Thank people for their votes. Encourage healthy debate between different camps.

6. Combine Your Poll With Strong Visuals

While the poll feature is text-based, the post itself doesn't have to be. To make your poll stand out even more in a crowded feed, attach a relevant image, GIF, or custom graphic. For example, if your poll is asking "Which logo concept is better?", attach an image that shows both logos side-by-side. Visuals grab attention first and draw people in to read your question and vote.

Creative Poll Ideas to Get You Started

Stuck for ideas? Here are some thought-starters for different types of accounts:

For Brands and Businesses:

• This or That: Pit two of your products, features, or services against each other in a friendly battle.
• Customer Research: "What's your biggest pain point with [your industry]?"
• Product Development: "Which colorway should we launch for our fall collection?"
• Website Feedback: "What’s most important on a homepage?" (e.g., Pricing, Testimonials, About Us).

For Content Creators and Influencers:

• Content Planning: "What topic should I cover in my next YouTube video?"
• Thumbnail Testing: "Which thumbnail catches your eye more?"
• Gear Questions: "What's your daily driver?" (e.g., Camera vs. Phone, Mac vs. PC).
• Community Trivia: Ask trivia questions related to your niche and reveal the answer after 24 hours.

For Community and Personal Accounts:

• Icebreakers: "What’s the undisputed best pizza topping?"
• Local Recommendations: "Best spot for weekend brunch in [Your City]?"
• Hypotheticals: "You can only listen to one music genre for life. What is it?"
• Routine Check-ins: "How’s your Monday mood?" (e.g., 🚀 Productive, 🤔 Caffeinating, 😴 Send help).

Final Thoughts

Bluesky polls are a fantastic, native feature for driving real-time engagement and building a stronger connection with your followers. By moving beyond simple questions and adopting a thoughtful strategy, you can turn this simple tool into a cornerstone of your social content plan, gathering valuable feedback and sparking lively conversations along the way.

Consistently creating engaging content like polls, especially across multiple platforms, is so much easier when you can plan and schedule it ahead of time. At Postbase, we built our visual content calendar specifically to help you see your entire strategy at a glance. You can drag and drop posts, spot gaps in your schedule, and ensure you're publishing a healthy mix of content - like valuable polls - that keeps your audience excited and engaged.