Have you ever wondered if your YouTube subscribers would prefer recipes over DIY projects? Or Marvel vs. Star Wars?
As creators, understanding our audience‘s interests and opinions is key to growth. But getting quality feedback can be difficult.
That‘s why I‘m so excited to show you how YouTube‘s polling feature can transform audience insights and engagement.
In this 2,500+ word ultimate guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know, from creating your first poll to analyzing performance.
Let‘s get started!
What Are YouTube Polls and Why Do They Matter?
Simply put, YouTube polls allow creators to ask subscribers multiple choice questions and see results in real-time.
But why go through the trouble of making polls? What‘s in it for you?
The #1 reason is better audience understanding. The instant feedback gives you a window into subscribers‘ preferences to inform content.
Polls also drive 3x more comments than regular posts, sparking deeper engagement.
And they generate tons of video ideas so you always know what content to make next.
So in summary, well-executed polls = faster subscriber and view growth. That‘s why they should be a core part of your strategy.
Now that we know why we want to use polls, let‘s get into the step-by-step process of making them.
How to Create a Poll on YouTube Studio Desktop
While polls are mobile-friendly, I actually prefer building them on desktop. The larger workspace and keyboard streamlines creation.
Let‘s go through each step:
Step 1: Login to YouTube Studio
First, navigate over to the YouTube Studio dashboard at studio.youtube.com and login with your Google account.
This is the official Creator hub and home base for all channel management activities:
YouTube Studio is arranged into clear sections, making it easy to find key features. We‘ll be accessing polls under the "Create" dropdown menu.
Step 2: Select "Create Post"
In the top right corner, click the "Create" button then choose "Create Post" from the menu:
This will open up the post builder window:
Don‘t worry about the blank screen – we‘ll customize everything in the coming steps.
"The post builder is like a blank canvas. You choose the post format and content from scratch based on your goals." – Nina U., CreatorFund Graduate
Step 3: Choose the "Community" Post Type
In the left sidebar, you‘ll see a list of post types to select from. Click on the one called "Community":
We want Community because that‘s where polls live. This shifts the page to a text update style post:
Now we‘re getting somewhere! Next let‘s add the actual poll.
Step 4: Select the Poll Icon
In the formatting toolbar at bottom left, click the icon that looks like a bar graph.
This activates the poll creator:
Time to make our poll!
Step 5: Craft Your Poll Question and Responses
Start by typing your question in the main text field, like "Favorite sport to play?"
Below that, enter up to 5 responses subscribers can vote on:
A few quick poll writing tips:
- Front-load the question with the most important keywords
- Keep responses concise yet descriptive
- Randomize choice order
- Make sure options are mutually exclusive
In general, polls with two to four responses tend to perform best.
Step 6: Post Immediately or Schedule for Later
Once satisfied with your question and choices, hit the blue "Post" button to publish it live to your Community Tab.
If you‘d rather have your poll go up later, use the calendar dropdown to pick a future date/time:
And that‘s it – you just created your first YouTube poll in Studio! 🎉
Now let‘s cover how to do it on mobile…
How to Make a Poll on YouTube Mobile App
Prefer managing your channel on the go? Here‘s how to create polls on the YouTube mobile app:
Step 1: Login to YouTube App
If you don‘t already have the app, download it from the App Store or Google Play. Open and login with your creator account:
Tap the profile icon in the top right to access your account menu.
Step 2: Go to Your Channel
Select the "Your Channel" option:
This will bring you to your creator dashboard.
"The mobile channel dashboard takes some getting used to, but gives you full control without needing a computer."
Step 3: Choose the Community Tab
Swipe left through the menu tabs until you reach "Community":
| Tab | Icon |
|---|---|
| Home | House |
| Videos | Video Camera |
| Playlists | Stacked Rectangles |
| Community | Groups of People |
Tap into Community and you‘ll see the post composer:
Almost there!
Step 4: Select the Poll Icon
In the text field toolbar, tap the icon with the vertical bar graph to activate poll creation:
A screen like this means you‘re ready to make a poll:
Let‘s do it!
Step 5: Type Your Poll Question and Responses
First, ask your burning subscriber question in the main field.
Then enter up to 5 potential responses they can vote on:
Refer to the tips in Step 5 of the desktop section for crafting effective questions and options.
Step 6: Hit Post to Publish!
Once satisfied, tap the "Post" button and share your poll with subscribers!
Similar to desktop, you can also schedule the post for a future date instead of publishing immediately.
And that‘s really all there is to it make polls directly from your phone. Nice work!
Let‘s now get into some pro tips and best practices.
Expert YouTube Poll Tips to Maximize Engagement
The key to polls is asking compelling questions that viewers genuinely want to answer.
Apply these strategies from top creators:
Talk About Trending Topics
Tie your poll question into a trending story, meme or event. This inherent intrigue will drive more votes.
For example, MrBeast leveraged the Johnny Depp trial‘s popularity with this timely poll:
Polling pop culture phenomenons is an easy win.
"I look at what‘s currently blowing up on Twitter and news sites, then figure out a related poll to run. They always perform above average for me." – Alicia D., 130k Subscribers
Test Video Titles and Ideas
Use polls to validate video topics and titles before filming tons of content.
Share 2-3 working titles or concepts and gauge interest levels:
Direct feedback confirms what subscribers actually want to see. This data-driven approach prevents wasted production time.
"I was torn between two 2022 recap video ideas. I posted both options in a poll which got 500 votes. The winner is now my top performing video ever!" – Jake T., 45k Subscribers
Ask This or That Questions
Pose "This or That" questions comparing two popular options to spark debate and discussion.
Subscribers love weighing in:
Not only do these polls get more votes, but comments increase as people argue their positions. More engagement is always a win.
Reply to Poll Comments
When subscribers comment their thoughts on poll results, reply back acknowledging them.
This shows you listen and care about their opinions beyond just voting. Plus it continues driving conversation.
"Replying to poll commenters has helped me better understand viewrs while building deeper relationships." – Kayla L., 95k Subscribers
Now let‘s switch gears to some potential downsides of polls.
The Pros and Cons of YouTube Polls
While extremely useful, polls do come with a few caveats to consider:
Pros
- Gain direct audience insights
- Spark deeper engagement
- Source new video ideas
- Fun for subscribers & community
Cons
- Can‘t edit after posting
- Close to new votes after 1 week
- Require manual review of votes/comments
- Additional time commitment for creators
Overall though, the benefits far outweigh the costs when used properly.
Just be smart by not over-relying on polls to the point where it becomes a chore. Use them to supplement your understanding of subscribers rather than as the single source of truth.
Next let‘s cover some mistakes to avoid…
YouTube Poll Mistakes That Damage Engagement
While polls provide tons of upside, you can also use them incorrectly in ways that actually hurt your channel.
Steer clear of these pitfalls:
Asking Boring Questions
Pose intriguing questions subscribers genuinely want to weigh in on.
Boring topics that fail to excite will flop with low participation:
Do your best to arouse curiosity, surprise or emotion using the trends and testing approaches above.
Forcing Frequency
Don‘t feel compelled to overuse polls just because it‘s a cool tool.
While consistent polling is good, forcing frequency when you lack quality questions breeds disengagement over time through survey fatigue.
Use polls only when you have something interesting to ask – not because you feel obligated to post them routinely.
Ignoring Poll Performance
Failing to analyze poll metrics in YouTube Studio Analytics is leaving helpful data on the table.
You can check votes, comments, click-through rates and more for each poll:
Don‘t ask questions without reviewing performance to gauge subscriber interest and sentiment.
Hopefully these warnings steer you clear of common pitfalls! Now let‘s wrap things up with some final thoughts.
Takeaways: Start Polling and Watch Engagement Soar!
As discussed throughout this guide, leveraging YouTube‘s native polls can transform channel growth and community building.
The additional context helps better understand subscribers for more viewer-focused content down the road.
We covered everything from poll creation to expert tips, but don‘t overthink things.
Just start polling consistently. Experiment with different question formats and topics to see what works. Track performance in Analytics. Then build on insights over time.
The more comfortable you get, the more creative your polls will become. Before you know it, your subs will be hooked and engagement will skyrocket!
So what are you waiting for? Go engage those subscribers!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other poll questions. And subscribe for more YouTube tips!
