Image via Twitter Blog
October 21, 2015: With the many updates and new features that have rolled out this summer, it’s not surprising that we barely heard about the new Twitter Polls. Polls will allow Twitter uses to address questions to their followers; today, Twitter announced that Polls will officially roll out all users in the next few days.
What we know about Polls so far:
- Each poll can only have 2 answer choices (so far).
- Polls will be anonymous, allowing users to vote without fear of their responses being judged.
- Once the poll is posted, it remains live for 24 hours. Once the polling is complete, participants will get a push notification with the results.
- You will be able to create a poll on mobile or desktop.
- A Poll icon will soon appear in the compose box.
While this isn’t the most thrilling or “high tech” update, it could definitely be a fun new way for brands to interact with their fans and encourage conversation. Twitter Polls is launching at a very smart time: the World Series is on its way, and Election Day is just over the horizon. Twitter has seen a lot of growth since the return of Jack Dorsey, including the introduction of Moments and the expansion of their ads program. Polls could provide a great addition to the “live” aspect of Twitter, adding another layer of interaction (with a deadline) that users have been relying on platforms like Snapchat for.
Think about it this way:
You could take a side in your favorite “Celebrity Beef.”
GIF via giphy.com
Votes can be cast during live shows like American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.
GIF via giphy.com
“Dressgate” could have been solved with a simple Twitter Poll.
via abcnews
Polls could help celebrities choose between two (probably sponsored) items. (Ex. What gown should I wear to the Grammy’s? Vote Now!)
GIF via giphy.com
Polls can be used as “cheerleading” mechanisms to encouraging team spirit against rival sports teams.
GIF via giphy.com
Brands rolling out new products (like the infamous Lays Potato Chip Flavor contest) could utilize Polls.
GIF via giphy.com
The possibilities are definitely there. This is also a tool that we could see getting a little misused, so tread lightly when using it for your brand. After all, users can get heated over “friendly” poll-driven competitions.
We’re excited to see other tools that Twitter cooks up in the next few months!
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