How to Make a Poll on Instagram Story

Using an Instagram Story Poll is one of the fastest ways to get your audience to tap, interact, and engage with your brand. They're simple to create, fun for your followers, and packed with benefits that go far beyond a simple vote. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create a poll, share creative ideas for using them, and explain how to leverage the results to build a stronger community.

How to Make a Poll on Your Instagram Story: The Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a poll takes less than a minute. Let's break down the exact steps to get your first poll live.

1. Open Instagram and go to the Story creator. You can do this by swiping right from your main feed or by tapping the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen and selecting "Story."
2. Create the background for your poll. You can either take a new photo, record a video, or upload an existing one from your camera roll. You can also tap "Create" (the "Aa" icon) to make a simple colored background.
3. Tap the Sticker icon. This is the square smiley-face icon at the top of your screen. Tapping it will open a menu of all available Instagram Story stickers.
4. Select the "POLL" sticker. Find it in the sticker tray and tap it. A poll template will appear over your photo or video.
5. Write your question. The sticker will prompt you to "Ask a question..." Tap this text and type in your poll question.
6. Customize the poll options. By default, the answers are "YES" and "NO." You can tap on each box to customize these options. Keep them short and sweet for the best results, as there is a character limit.
7. Position and resize the sticker. You can drag the poll sticker anywhere on the screen. Use two fingers to pinch and zoom to make it bigger or smaller.
8. Share Your Story. Once you're happy with how it looks, tap "Your Story" in the bottom left corner to publish it. That's it! Your followers can now vote.

Why Instagram Polls Are So Effective

They might seem simple, but polls are a marketing powerhouse packed into a tiny sticker. They work because they require minimal effort from your audience - just a single tap - making it an easy way for them to interact. Here's why you should be using them regularly.

They Skyrocket Your Engagement

The Instagram algorithm pays close attention to how users interact with your content. This increased engagement can lead to your Stories being shown to more of your followers, improving your overall reach.

You Get Instant Feedback and Market Research

Wondering what your audience really thinks? Ask them! Polls are a fantastic way to do quick and informal market research. You can get instant feedback on product ideas, content topics, brand colors, and more. This isn't just engagement for engagement's sake - it's valuable data you can use to make smarter business decisions.

They Help Humanize Your Brand

Asking for your audience's opinion shows that you value what they have to say. It turns your social media presence from a one-way broadcast into a two-way conversation. This simple act of listening makes your brand feel more approachable, relatable, and authentic - all things that build brand loyalty.

They Start Meaningful Conversations

A poll is a great conversation starter. It gives followers a simple way to initiate an interaction, and from there, you can take it to the DMs. Responding to voters or following up on their poll answers can lead to deeper connections and turn passive followers into active community members.

10 Creative Instagram Poll Ideas to Spark Engagement

Moving beyond the classic "Yes/No," here are some fun and strategic poll ideas you can adapt for your brand.

1. "This or That"

This is a classic for a reason - it's low-effort and always gets clicks. Keep it relevant to your industry, but feel free to have fun with it.

• A coffee shop: "Morning fuel: Hot Coffee vs. Iced Coffee"
• A fitness creator: "Workout style: Heavy Lifting vs. Yoga Flow"
• A bookstore: "Reading vibe: Physical Book vs. Audiobook"

2. Ask for Content Direction

Let your audience guide your content strategy. This not only gives you ideas but also makes your followers feel invested in what you create.

• A food blogger: "What recipe do you want to see next? 30-Min Pasta vs. Healthy Salad"
• A business coach: "Next week's topic: Productivity Hacks vs. Client Acquisition"
• A travel vlogger: "Next destination guide: Bali vs. Rome"

3. Light Market Research

Use polls to gather quick insights about preferences related to your products or services, without making it feel like a formal survey.

• A skincare brand: "New product scent: Floral vs. Citrus"
• An e-commerce clothing store: "Which color for the new tee? Classic Black vs. Crisp White"
• A web designer: "Website preference: Minimalist Design vs. BOLD Design"

4. Quiz Your Audience

Test their knowledge about your niche, your brand, or a fun fact related to your industry. This is a great way to be both entertaining and educational.

• A history podcast: "True or False: A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time." (It's true!)
• A tech company testing knowledge of their product: "Did we launch Feature X in 2022 or 2023?"

5. Behind-the-Scenes Decisions

Bring your community into your day-to-day process by letting them weigh in on small, behind-the-scenes decisions. It builds a sense of inclusion.

• An artist: "Help me pick a background color for this painting: Blue vs. Green"
• A podcaster: "Which guest should I interview next? Host of Podcast A vs. Host of Podcast B"

6. Drive Traffic to a Link

Tease a new blog post, video, or product and use a poll to build interest before you share the link.

• Show a snippet of a blog post with a poll that says: "Want to read the 5 tips? Yes, please! / I like mysteries." Then, on the next Story, add the link sticker.
• Show a new product with the poll: "Ready for the drop? SO ready / Can't wait!" followed by a link to the product page.

7. Gauging Interest in an Offer

Thinking about a new offer, online course, or webinar? Use a poll to see if there's an audience for it before you invest your time and energy.

• "Thinking of hosting a free 'Caption Writing' workshop. Who's in? Me! / Maybe next time."

8. Reveal-Based Polls

Build anticipation. Post a photo with the key detail covered and ask your followers to guess what's hiding underneath.

• Cover up a new laptop model: "New office gadget... is it a MacBook or Surface?" Then reveal it in the next Story.

9. Let Followers Build a Product/Package

If you have a customizable B2C service or product, run a series of polls to let your audience "build" something with you. It's an interactive journey.

• A gift box company: "Step 1: The box color - Pink or Kraft?" followed by, "Step 2: The snack - Chocolate or Cookies?"

10. Simply Add Some Fun

Sometimes, the best polls have nothing to do with business. They're just about connecting on a human level.

• "Big debate: Pineapple on pizza? A true delight / Absolutely not"
• "Is it Friday yet? Yes (finally!) / Nope, still grinding"

After the Poll: Check and Share Your Results

Creating the poll is only the first half of the process. For your strategy to be effective, you need to follow through.

To view the results, simply open your Story and swipe up. You'll see a list of who voted and a breakdown of the percentages for each option. This is your raw data, and it's gold for understanding what your audience wants.

Always share the results! Closing the loop is a must. It shows your followers that you're paying attention and that their vote mattered. After your poll has been live for a while (or has expired after 24 hours), take a screenshot of the results, post it to a new Story, and add your reaction or next steps. For example, if you asked which blog topic they wanted, share the winning result and say, "You voted, and we listened! Get ready for a post on Instagram SEO coming this week." This builds trust and makes people far more likely to vote in your next poll.

Final Thoughts

Instagram Story Polls are so much more than a simple feature, they are direct lines of communication to your audience. Consistent use helps you gather valuable feedback, boost your engagement, and build a community that feels seen and heard, all with just a few taps.

We know how much work goes into planning engaging social content, especially when it comes to visual-first formats like Reels, TikToks, and Stories. That's why we designed Postbase with a visual-first content calendar that lets you see your entire strategy at a glance. You can easily plan your Posts, Reels, and even those story prompts in one place, so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your audience.