How to create polls on Instagram and engage followers

Engaging followers on Instagram is essential to strengthening your digital presence and increasing interaction with the public. In this scenario, knowing how to create polls on Instagram becomes a powerful strategy to encourage participation from followers, understand their preferences and create a closer connection with them.

With a simple and intuitive feature, Instagram allows you to create polls in three main formats: in Stories, for quick and visual interactions; in direct messages, ideal for group discussions; and in feed posts, perfect for generating lasting engagement in the comments.

This tutorial details all the steps so that you can make the most of this functionality. Keep reading and find out how to create polls on Instagram easily and efficiently.

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How to create polls on Instagram Stories

To engage the public with polls in Stories, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Instagram app and start a new Story Start by opening the app on your cell phone (Android or iPhone) and click on the “+” icon next to “Your story”.
2. Select or create media Choose an image or video from the gallery to illustrate your story, or capture something new using the Instagram camera.
3. Add the poll sticker Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen and select “Poll”. This is the main option for creating instant interactions. Examples of questions that work well include: “Would you prefer promo codes or free shipping?”, “What’s your next travel goal?” or “Should I launch new products this week?”
4. Formulate the question and personalize the answers Enter a creative question and add answer options. If necessary, you can create more than two alternatives. You can also change the color of the sticker to match the story design.
5. Public o Story Click the arrow icon in the bottom right corner and share your story with the poll. Follow the responses by accessing the “Activity” option within the story itself. You can use the results to plan future posts or understand what resonates most with your audience.
6. Encourage participation Use call-to-action phrases such as “Help me decide!” or “Your opinion matters!” These simple details increase response rates and make the experience more fun for followers.

How to add polls in the caption of Instagram posts

Polls can also be used in feed posts. Here’s how:

1. Create a new post In the Instagram app, click the “+” icon and select or capture media for your post. Make sure the image or video complements the poll theme to maximize visual impact.
2. Add the poll to the caption While editing, click on the caption field and insert the poll with a question and up to four answer options. Consider varying the topics of your polls to keep your audience interested.
3. Share the post Finish by clicking “Share”. The poll will appear pinned in the comments of the post, making it easier for followers to access. The results of polls pinned in the caption are only visible to the post creator, ensuring greater privacy for participants.
4. Interact with the results Respond to participant comments or share poll results in your Stories to keep the engagement cycle going.

How to create polls in groups via chat (DM)

Another way to use polls is through direct messaging in groups. Follow this guide:

1. Access a group chat Slip into Instagram DMs and select an existing group or create a new one.
2. Click on the “+” symbol and choose “Survey” In the bottom right corner, tap the “+” icon and select the “Poll” option.
3. Enter the question and answers Fill in the fields with the question and answer options. Finally, click “Create poll” to send it to the group. Remember that group poll results are visible to all participants, which makes the resource useful for discussion and decision-making together.
4. Use polls strategically Use them to organize events, plan activities, or get immediate feedback on ideas shared in the group.

Best practices for increasing engagement with polls

To maximize the impact of your polls, consider the following tips:

• Create relevant questions: For example, cover topics like “What’s your favorite snack?” for gastronomy profiles or “What song do you want to hear in the next video?” for music content creators.
• Maintain an adequate frequency: You can create weekly polls, like “What type of content would you like to see next week?”
• Offer incentives: Questions like “Vote and get an exclusive discount” or “Enter to win giveaways” increase participation.
• Be creative: Use questions like “What is your dream destination?” and include colorful or themed designs to make your poll stand out.
• Track the results: Analyze the responses and adjust your strategies according to the preferences shown by your audience.

Differences between polls, questions and quizzes on Instagram

Although similar, each feature has its own particularities: polls they are best suited for collecting quick opinions from followers, especially in Stories or feed posts; questions they are useful for deepening discussions or getting to know the public better, as they allow open responses; already the quizzes They are ideal for educating or entertaining, challenging followers with questions that have a single correct answer.

• Polls: They have predefined response options and allow a quick view of followers’ preferences. Use them to discover popular opinions about products or ideas.
• Questions: Give followers the freedom to send open responses, promoting deeper discussions. Ideal for topics that require creativity or detailed feedback.
• Quizzes: Ideal for testing knowledge, with a single correct answer defined by the creator. Excellent for challenging followers and offering educational information.

Conclusion

Polls are versatile and effective tools for increasing engagement on Instagram. This tutorial showed how to create polls on Instagram in different formats, such as Stories, feed posts and direct messages.

Plus, you learned best practices to ensure your polls achieve a high level of participation. Take advantage of these tips to create interactive content, increase your connection with your followers and explore the infinite possibilities that Instagram offers. Try it now and see the results!