How to Post Polls on LinkedIn

If you're looking for a simple, quick way to spark conversations and gather immediate feedback on LinkedIn, creating a poll is one of the most effective tools in your content arsenal. These interactive posts break through the noise of standard updates and invite your network to participate with a single click. This guide provides a complete walkthrough, covering not only how to post a poll but also the strategies and ideas you need to make them a powerful part of your LinkedIn presence.

Why Should You Use LinkedIn Polls?

Before getting into the step-by-step process, it's worth understanding why LinkedIn Polls are so effective. They're more than just a novelty, when used correctly, they can directly support your professional or business goals in several ways.

• Boosts Engagement Instantly: At its core, the LinkedIn algorithm favors content that generates interaction. Polls are designed for interaction. They offer a low-friction way for your audience to engage - a simple click is easier than formulating a thoughtful comment, dramatically increasing the chances of participation. This initial burst of engagement signals to LinkedIn that your post is valuable, often leading to greater visibility in the feed.
• Acts as a Simple Market Research Tool: Need to get a quick pulse on what your customers, clients, or industry peers are thinking? Polls are an incredible tool for lightweight market research. You can validate ideas, ask about pain points, test preferences between two options, or uncover trends without having to run a formal, time-consuming survey. The results give you direct insight from the exact audience you're trying to understand.
• Highlights Your Brand’s Human Side: Running a poll shows that you're interested in hearing from your community - that your page isn't just a place for broadcasting announcements. By asking questions and inviting opinions, you foster a two-way conversation that makes your personal brand or company feel more approachable, human, and genuinely invested in its network.
• Drives Authentic Conversation in the Comments: A well-crafted poll doesn't just stop at the vote. Many users will see the poll options as a starting point and head to the comments to explain their choice, offer a third option, or debate the premise. A question like, "What's the most overlooked leadership skill today?" will not only gather votes but also inspire rich, insightful discussions below the post.

How to Create a Poll on LinkedIn (Step-by-Step Guide)

Creating a poll on LinkedIn is a straightforward process available on both desktop and the mobile app. The interface is nearly identical across platforms, so you’ll feel right at home with either one.

On Desktop:

1. Navigate to your LinkedIn homepage and find the post creation box at the top of the feed that says "Start a post."
2. In the post creation window, look at the bottom icons. Click the three dots "More" icon to reveal additional options.
3. Select "Create a poll" from the menu. This will open the poll creation interface.
4. Ask your question. In the "Your question" field, type the question you want your audience to answer. You have up to 140 characters, so keep it direct and easy to understand.
5. Add the options. You must provide at least two response options and are allowed a maximum of four. Each option can be up to 30 characters long. Strong polls often use all four options to provide more nuance.
6. Set the poll duration. Click the "Poll duration" dropdown menu at the bottom. You can choose from "1 day," "3 days," "1 week," or "2 weeks." Generally, one week is a great sweet spot that gives people enough time to see and vote in the poll without it dragging on for too long.
7. Click "Done." You'll now be taken back to the main post creation window, where you can see a preview of your poll.
8. Write your introductory text. This is critical. Don't just launch the poll by itself. Use the text area above the poll to set the context. Explain why you're asking the question, what you're hoping to learn, or what the conversation is about. This is where you can add hashtags and tag relevant people or companies.
9. When you’re ready, click the "Post" button. Your poll is now live!

On the Mobile App (iOS and Android):

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap the blue "Post" button at the bottom center of the screen.
2. In the post creation view, swipe up or look for the "Add to your post" row of icons.
3. Tap the "Create a poll" option (it has a small bar chart icon).
4. The interface is the same as the desktop version from here: enter your question (max 140 characters), fill in your 2-4 options (max 30 characters each), and select a duration (1 day, 3 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks).
5. Tap "Done" to finalize the poll setup.
6. Just like on desktop, you will be brought back to the main post view, so you must add your introductory text, hashtags, and any @mentions to give your poll context.
7. Tap "Post" in the top-right corner to share it with your network.

Best Practices for Creating Polls People Actually Respond To

Just knowing how to create a poll isn’t enough. The quality of your poll will determine its success. Follow these strategic tips to make sure your polls are engaging and deliver valuable insights.

1. Always Add Context to Your Poll

Never post a poll without an introduction. A poll with a question like "Which is more important?" with options like "Brand" or "Sales" lacks context and feels low-effort. Instead, prime the conversation in the text above the poll:

"Had a great debate with our marketing team today. Some argued that building an unforgettable brand is the top priority for long-term growth, while others said driving immediate sales should always come first. Both sides had great points, but I'm curious where you all land on this. For a B2B SaaS startup, which is more important *right now*?"

This approach gives your audience context, makes the question more interesting, and prompts more thoughtful responses.

2. Ask a Clear, Single-Focus Question

Avoid trying to ask two things in a single poll. A question like, "Are you returning to the office and do you like it?" is confusing. Is the person answering the first part or the second? Instead, keep it simple and focused. You could run two separate polls on different days to gather both pieces of information.

3. Cover all the Likely Answers

Your options should cover the most probable responses. If you ask a question and leave out a common answer, you’ll see dozens of comments saying, "None of the above! My answer is X." Sometimes, that's a good way to spark conversation, but it can also skew your results. If you can’t cover all possibilities, consider adding an "Other (comment below!)" option.

4. Set the Right Duration

A duration of 1 day can create a sense of urgency, which works well for time-sensitive, fun questions. A 2-week duration is often too long, and buzz around the post can fade before it ends. For most business or professional questions, one week is the ideal length. It gives the post enough time to circulate through your network's feeds without getting stale.

5. Engage With the Comments Relentlessly

The magic of a great poll happens in the comments section. When someone takes the time to vote and explain their reasoning, acknowledge it. Respond to their comment, ask a follow-up question, or "like" it. This active engagement encourages more people to join the discussion and deepens your connection with your audience.

6. Announce and Discuss the Results

Don’t let your poll fade away after it closes. Your audience invested their time in giving you an answer - reward them by sharing the final results. You can do this in two ways:

• Comment on the original post: After the poll closes, add a comment summarizing the results and thanking everyone. You could say something like, "The poll has ended! It was a close race, but 'Brand' edged out 'Sales' with 58% of the vote. Thanks so much to the 500+ people who weighed in!"
• Create a new post: For polls that generate significant discussion, create a follow-up post. Share a screenshot of the results, offer your own analysis or key takeaway, and pose a new question related to the findings. This turns one piece of content into two and shows your audience that you value their input.

15 Creative LinkedIn Poll Ideas to Spark Engagement

Need some ideas? Here are 15 prompts you can steal or adapt for your own audience.

For Market & Audience Research:

1. What's your biggest challenge with [your industry/topic]? (A. X, B. Y, C. Z, D. Other)
2. Which of these topics would you like me to create content about next?
3. When considering a [your product/service type], what's your top priority? (A. Price, B. Features, C. Customer Support, D. Integration)
4. Which platform do you prefer for professional learning? (A. LinkedIn, B. YouTube, C. Podcasts, D. Blogs/Newsletters)
5. What's holding most B2B companies back from growing faster? (A. Marketing, B. Sales, C. Product, D. Operations)

For Community & General Engagement:

6. What's the best business book you've read in the last 6 months? (Provide 3-4 options and an "other – post in comments" option).
7. For remote workers: what's your go-to productivity hack? (A. Time blocking, B. Pomodoro Technique, C. Zero-inbox rule, D. Getting outside for walks)
8. Great leaders are… (A. Made, not born, B. Born, not made)
9. Monday mornings are for... (A. Deep focus work, B. Easing into the week, C. Team meetings, D. Clearing the inbox)
10. What's the most underrated soft skill in the workplace today? (A. Empathy, B. Adaptability, C. Active Listening, D. Resilience)

For Industry or Workplace Trends:

11. Which trend will have the biggest impact on [your industry] in 2024?
12. Is a 4-day work week a realistic future for most companies? (A. Yes, absolutely, B. Maybe, but with challenges, C. No, it’s not practical, D. Only for certain industries)
13. What's an office "perk" you actually value? (A. Free lunch/snacks, B. Wellness stipend, C. Flexible hours, D. Professional development budget)
14. The biggest AI-related challenge for businesses right now is... (A. Finding talent, B. Implementation cost, C. Data privacy/security, D. Proving ROI)
15. Is professional "hustle culture"... (A. Inspiring and necessary, B. On its way out, C. Toxic and unsustainable, D. Just branding)

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn Polls are a simple but incredibly potent feature for driving engagement, conversation, and insight. By moving beyond simple questions and incorporating a thoughtful strategy - priming the discussion, engaging with replies, and following up on the results - you can transform them from a gimmick into a cornerstone of your content plan.

Building a consistent content strategy that includes a mix of updates, articles, videos, and polls can feel overwhelming. Planning this content out in a visual calendar is often the key to staying on track. For our team at Postbase, we've found that mapping out our posts - including when to run our next poll - helps us spot gaps in our schedule and maintain a regular cadence of communication with our community without the last-minute scramble.