WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users globally. One of the key features that makes WhatsApp so popular is its wide range of functionality beyond just messaging, including voice and video calls, document sharing, statuses, and more. One function that users often ask about is whether WhatsApp has a built-in polling feature that allows you to easily create polls and surveys and share them with groups or contacts. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at whether WhatsApp does indeed have built-in polling, how it works, the pros and cons, and some potential alternatives if you need more advanced or customizable polls.
Does WhatsApp Have a Native Poll Feature?
The short answer is yes, WhatsApp does have a built-in polling feature that allows users to easily create polls and share them with groups and contacts right within the app. This native poll option has been available on WhatsApp since at least early 2020.
To access the WhatsApp poll feature, you simply open any chat or group chat, tap the attach button (paperclip icon), and select the “Poll” option. This will allow you to enter your poll question and add up to 12 answer options for people to choose from. You can then tap send and the poll will be shared in the chat for participants to answer.
Some key things to know about WhatsApp’s native polling feature:
– It’s very quick and easy to set up polls this way directly within a chat. No need for any third party apps or tools.
– You can add up to 12 pre-set answer options people can choose from. There is no option for open-ended text responses or comments.
– The poll includes an indicator of how many total votes have been submitted so far, but does not show live results or a breakdown of which options got how many votes. Only the poll creator can see how many votes per option.
– There are no advanced settings for anonymous vs. non-anonymous voting, limiting how many options someone can choose, etc. It’s very basic functionality.
So in summary, yes WhatsApp does have a built-in polling option, but it is relatively simple and basic compared to more advanced third party polling apps and tools.
Pros and Cons of WhatsApp’s Native Polling
What are some of the key benefits and limitations of using WhatsApp’s built-in polling feature?
**Pros:**
– Very quick and easy to set up – no extra tools or apps needed. Just create poll options and send.
– Integrated directly into WhatsApp chats – great for quick polls and surveys in existing conversations.
– Can add up to 12 pre-set options people can choose from.
– See total number of votes submitted in real time.
**Cons:**
– No open-ended text responses allowed – only can choose from pre-set options.
– No advanced poll settings like anonymous vs. public voting, limiting vote options, closing polls, etc.
– Poll creator can see vote breakdown, but participants can only see total votes.
– Limited to 12 options. No branching logic or follow up questions.
– No ability to analyze results or export poll data.
So while the WhatsApp built-in polls are great for super quick and basic surveys, if you need more advanced features like open-ended responses, result analysis, or anonymous voting, you may need to use a third party polling app instead. But for simple polls, the WhatsApp option gets the job done.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Poll on WhatsApp
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to create and send a poll using WhatsApp’s built-in polling feature:
1. Open the WhatsApp chat where you want to create the poll. This can be an individual or a group chat.
2. Tap the attach button (paperclip icon) at the bottom of the chat window.
3. From the attach menu, select the “Poll” option.
4. Type your poll question into the field at the top of the screen.
5. Enter your first poll answer option in the first field below the question.
6. Tap the + icon to add additional answer options. You can add up to 12 options.
7. Once you’ve entered all the poll options you want, tap the check mark icon to proceed.
8. Double check the preview of your poll and make any edits needed.
9. When ready, tap the send button (right arrow icon) to send the poll.
10. The poll will now be visible in the chat for recipients to view and vote on.
11. To view the total number of votes and see which option you individually voted for, tap on the poll in the chat to expand it.
12. When the poll has achieved the number of responses you need, you can announce the results in the chat.
And that’s all there is to it! With just a few taps, you can create and send polls directly within WhatsApp chats to collect quick feedback and opinions from groups or contacts.
Tips for Effective Polling on WhatsApp
Here are some tips to create effective, engaging polls on WhatsApp:
– Keep poll questions concise and clear. Avoid lengthy or confusing questions.
– Limit the number of poll options to 4-6 choices. Too many options can overwhelm respondents.
– Single-select poll options work best. Avoid multi-select for simpler analysis.
– Use neutral and unbiased answer options – don’t skew the available choices.
– Test your poll with a few people first before sending to a large group.
– Let recipients know the poll is coming and give a deadline to respond.
– Close the poll once you’ve received sufficient responses – this lets people know it’s ended.
– Analyze and share results once the poll is closed. Visual charts can summarize key data.
– Follow up a poll with open-ended questions to get more qualitative feedback.
Using polls strategically on WhatsApp can generate useful data to inform decisions and drive engagement. Just keep your polls focused and straightforward for maximum results.
WhatsApp Group Poll Usage Example
Here is an example of how you could use WhatsApp’s built-in polls for a group chat:
Let’s say you have a WhatsApp group chat for your team at work. You want to decide on a date for an upcoming team bonding event. Rather than sending a long message or trying to find a time that works for everyone, you can leverage WhatsApp’s poll feature.
To do this, you would:
1. Open your team WhatsApp group chat
2. Tap the attach button and select “Poll”
3. Enter the poll question: “Which date works best for our team event?”
4. Add the answer options with the date options you are considering, such as:
– Friday, October 12
– Saturday, October 13
– Friday, October 19
– Saturday, October 20
5. Tap send to share the poll in the group chat
6. Give team members a deadline to respond, such as “Please vote in this poll by tomorrow at 5pm!”
7. Once the deadline passes, check back on the poll results to see which date received the most votes.
8. Announce the winning date in the chat and proceed with planning the details.
This provides a quick and easy way to make decisions as a group via WhatsApp polls rather than a convoluted messaging thread or an external survey. The built-in polling is great for simple use cases like this.
WhatsApp Poll Alternatives
While WhatsApp’s native polling feature is handy for basic polls, there are some limitations, like no open-ended responses or advanced settings. If you need more robust surveys and polls, here are some potential alternatives:
**Third-Party Poll Apps**
Dedicated poll and survey apps like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Poll Everywhere, etc can be used to create polls that go beyond WhatsApp’s functionality. You can then share the poll links in your WhatsApp chats.
**Facebook Polls**
Since WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, you can also leverage Facebook’s native poll option to create more advanced polls and then share the link on WhatsApp.
**Google Forms**
Google Forms is a free tool to create surveys and polls with extensive options. You can share the polls via links on WhatsApp.
**Dedicated Voting Apps**
Apps like ElectionRunner and Vota let you build polls and then share voting links via WhatsApp so recipients can vote anonymously.
**PollBot Services**
There are third-party “pollbot” services like Polly and others that you interact with via WhatsApp to set up polls. They provide automated poll creation and sharing.
The major downside to external polls is that recipients have to leave WhatsApp and open a separate link which can discourage participation. But for more advanced needs, third-party polling tools are likely required.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s built-in polling feature provides a quick and convenient way to create basic polls with multiple choice questions and share them directly in WhatsApp chats. While limited in advanced features, it’s a simple option for gathering basic feedback from groups or contacts when you don’t need robust survey capabilities. For more complex polling needs, third-party polling apps and survey tools integrated with WhatsApp provide further options. But for lightweight usage, the native WhatsApp polls get the job done. Just keep polls concise, focused, and actionable. With smart and strategic usage, WhatsApp’s polling feature can help engage audiences and make collaborative decision-making easier.