[FAQ]

I’ve been working hard on my commentary channel here in Auckland, trying to make the content as good as possible. The only thing is, while people are watching, the community feeling isn’t quite there yet. The comment sections are pretty quiet.

I see lots of big creators using polls on their videos and social media, and I’m on the fence about them. It sometimes feels a bit like a gimmick. Does it actually help build a proper community, or is it just a way to get a quick interaction?

I’m keen to hear your thoughts on this. What’s the secret sauce to using polls effectively to get people more engaged with the content?

[Jeff Bullas]

A great question. Understanding the ‘why’ behind a tool is far more important than just knowing how to use it.

Brief Answer: Polls are highly effective at engaging an audience because they dramatically lower the barrier to interaction. They turn passive viewers of your video or audio content into active participants by giving them an easy, low-stakes way to share their opinion and feel involved.

A well-crafted poll is not a gimmick; it’s a strategic bridge that coaxes your audience out of silence and into a two-way conversation.

The primary reason polls work is psychological. Typing out a thoughtful, text-based comment requires significant effort and a degree of confidence. In contrast, clicking a button on a poll is a near-effortless action. Polls allow the vast majority of your audience, who might otherwise remain silent, to participate and have their voice heard. This simple act of participation makes them feel more connected to you and your content.

Strategically, polls give your audience a sense of agency and influence. When you ask for their opinion on what you should do next, you’re making them a part of the creative process. A simple poll like, “Which of these three topics should be my next deep-dive video?” transforms your viewers from a passive audience into active collaborators. They become invested in your future content because they helped steer the ship.

Furthermore, a good poll can be a catalyst for deeper conversation. You can use a poll to pose a simple but debatable question related to your video’s topic. The results of that poll then become a new piece of content in themselves. You can discuss the outcome in your next audio or video segment, or use an image of the results as a starting point for a more detailed discussion in your comments section, asking people why they voted the way they did. This turns a simple interaction into a multi-layered engagement loop.

Cheers,
Jeff

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