subject: Why Polls Should Be A Part Of Your Blog [print this page] Do you like me? Tick yes or noDo you like me? Tick yes or no. We discover the significance of polling early in life as children. As grown-ups, we learn the value of polling in virtually everything. After all, it is through polls that some world leaders are selected. But polls arent just for politics. In fact, youll see a number of them online.
Polls can be found at the bottom of articles, as complements to blog posts, and in online message boards. Some websites even feature polls as their main content. Online polls are all over the internet because they work! Ill tell you why, as well as why you should be using them on your blog, too.
Internet polls have become a staple in the online world and can be found on websites of all genres. Youll find polls and poll results in practically any type of content, from the glibbest stories to the most serious ones. Online polls have become one of the most ubiquitous features on the internet. As Ive mentioned before, theyre so popular simply because they work.
Here are some of the advantages of online polls:
Increase interactivity. Did you know that polls usually generate 10 to 100 times more participation than comment boxes?
Create a sense of community. Polls allow people to express and evaluate themselves.
Learn about your visitors. Ask about their age, gender, location, profession, or whatever is relevant.
Learn from your visitors. Ask them what, who, when, where, why, how, and if.
Engage your visitors. Polls and poll results are great for discussions.
One common question about internet polls is whether widgets can help solicit visitor/community feedback, increase interactivity, and encourage discussions, or not. Can poll widgets help you listen better, or are they useless?
I think they can be of great help if used strategically. You will have to do the following:
The topic of your poll should be relevant to your website content.
Write a post that gives it context and encourages your visitors to vote and comment.
Place the widget on a hot spot such as the sidebar and promote your poll through email or other ways.
After the poll is over, share the results in a practical context.
