WhatsApp polls allow users to easily create polls with up to 12 options to send to groups or individuals. This can be a great way to make decisions or get opinions from friends or colleagues. But with so many options available, how do you decide how many to use for your poll? Here are some things to consider when creating a WhatsApp poll.
Keep it simple
The more options you give, the more complicated the poll becomes. Try to keep your poll as simple and straightforward as possible. Polls with just two or three options tend to get the best response rates. If you have more than four or five options, it becomes difficult for people to make a quick decision.
Match the number of options to your purpose
Think about what you’re trying to accomplish with the poll. If you want a general consensus, two to four options is best. If you need more nuanced feedback, you may need more options. Just don’t go overboard. Polls work best when the choices are distinct and limited.
Consider using multiple polls
For decisions with lots of options, consider breaking it into multiple smaller polls. You can use the first poll to narrow down the choices, then do a second round with the top contenders. This prevents your poll from having too many confusing options.
Randomize the order
If your poll has many options, randomizing the order helps prevent bias from the position of the options. The first option often gets selected more frequently simply due to placement. Randomizing helps give each option an equal chance.
Test it out first
Before sending your poll to a large group, test it with a few people first. See if the options and wording make sense and there’s no confusion. You can tweak the poll based on feedback before the official launch.
The Pros and Cons of Using All 12 Options
While WhatsApp allows up to 12 options on a poll, using the maximum is not always ideal. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros
- Gives you lots of flexibility and choices for gathering feedback
- Allows ranking of up to 12 choices from best to worst
- Enables very nuanced decision-making with lots of options
Cons
- Can be overwhelming and confusing for voters with so many choices
- People may lose interest and not vote if the poll is too complex
- Hard to analyze results and achieve consensus with so many options
- Text heavy polls may not be readable on small screens
Ideal Number of Options for Common Poll Types
The ideal number of options often depends on the type of poll you are creating. Here are some recommendations:
Simple Yes/No poll
Best with just 2 options:
- Yes
- No
This gives you a simple binary choice for quick decisions and consensus.
Gathering basic feedback
3-5 options covers most scenarios:
- Like
- Dislike
- Neutral
Or
- Love it
- It’s okay
- Hate it
- Need more information
- Doesn’t apply to me
Choosing between items
4-6 options allows ranking or selection from key choices:
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
- Item 4
- Item 5
- Item 6
More complex decisions
Up to 8-10 options covers more nuanced choices:
- Option 1
- Option 2
- Option 3
- Option 4
- Option 5
- Option 6
- Option 7
- Option 8
- Option 9
- Option 10
But try not to go above 10 if possible.
Tips for Effective WhatsApp Polling
To create effective WhatsApp polls, keep these tips in mind:
Keep poll questions short and simple
Don’t make people read a long question. Be clear and concise.
Avoid open-ended questions
Open-ended questions don’t work well in polls. Keep answer options definitive.
Limit options to 2-4 choices
As mentioned earlier, too many options creates confusion. Limit to key choices only.
Randomize options
This prevents bias from the order of options. Randomize for most accurate results.
Set a defined voting window
Leaving a poll open indefinitely leads to poor response. Define a set window for voting.
Follow up with results
Let voters know what option won and how you are moving forward based on the poll.
When to Use Max Options vs Limiting Options
There are certain scenarios where using the full 12 options makes more sense:
- Ranking many choices (favorite ice cream flavors, movie titles, etc)
- Brainstorming open-ended ideas where you want lots of options
- Crowdsourcing a wide range of creative ideas
- Polling a large group with diverse opinions
However, in many cases, you should limit the number of options:
- When you need clear direction and consensus
- For time-sensitive decisions that require quick input
- If targeting a smaller group or committee
- When polling people casually or spontaneously
Overwhelming people with too many options can lead to poor participation and ambiguous results. Stick to key choices that align with your end goal.
Ideal Poll Length on WhatsApp
With WhatsApp’s 512 character limit for messages, you don’t have much space for long, detailed polls. Here are some ideal poll and option lengths:
Question text length
* 1-2 sentences or 20-30 words max.
Option text length
* Up to 20 characters per option
* 1-3 words ideal
Total options
* 2-10 options
* 5 or less recommended
Total character count
* Under 500 characters
* This allows space for question + 5 options
Keep your poll simple and scannable. Long blocks of text are hard to read on mobiles and people will just skip past them.
Poll Examples
Here are some example poll formats and options lengths that work well on WhatsApp:
Simple poll with 4 options
Where should we go for dinner tonight?
– Mexican
– Italian
– Sushi
– American
Total characters: 81
Yes/no poll
Should we reschedule the meeting to Monday at 10am?
– Yes
– No
Total characters: 44
Ranking poll with 5 options
Rank our new logo options from best to worst:
– Logo 1
– Logo 2
– Logo 3
– Logo 4
– Logo 5
Total characters: 73
Brainstorming poll with 12 options
Suggestions for new team names:
– Team A
– Team B
– Team C
– Team D
– Team E
– Team F
– Team G
– Team H
– Team I
– Team J
– Team K
– Team L
Total characters: 157
Tools for Creating WhatsApp Polls
Manually formatting polls within WhatsApp’s text box can be tedious. Here are some useful tools for creating polls more easily:
Poll Maker Apps
Apps like Poll Maker, Easy Polls, and Poll Maker+ make it simple to create polls with multiple options and preview how it will look on WhatsApp.
Google Forms
Create polls in Google Forms, then copy and paste the poll text into WhatsApp when ready to send.
SurveyMonkey
Use SurveyMonkey’s customizable surveys and templates, then copy into WhatsApp to share.
Doodle
Doodle lets you build polls and schedules with multiple options that you can screenshot and send through WhatsApp.
Microsoft Forms
Build polls easily with Microsoft Forms and reuse them in WhatsApp groups or chats when needed.
WhatsApp Poll Ideas
Not sure what to poll your friends, family, or coworkers on? Here are some fun WhatsApp poll ideas to try:
“Would You Rather” Questions
Pose silly or thought-provoking “would you rather” scenarios to spark interesting debate.
Examples:
– Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?
– Would you rather give up coffee or give up alcohol?
– Would you rather have telepathy or flight?
“Which Do You Prefer” Choices
Have people weigh in on daily preferences and habits.
Examples:
– Baths or showers?
– Marvel or DC movies?
– iOS or Android?
– Coffee or tea?
– Dogs or cats?
Pop Culture Polls
Poll on music, movies, and other pop culture.
Examples:
– Best album of 2020?
– Favorite Avenger?
– iOS or Android?
– Who should direct the next Star Wars movie?
“This or That” Decisions
Simple polls for quick decisions.
Examples:
– Takeout or cook dinner?
– Movie night or game night?
– Meet Friday or Saturday?
– Morning or evening workout?
Silly & Random Polls
Lighthearted questions just for fun.
Examples:
– Regular M&Ms or peanut M&Ms?
– Team Edward or Team Jacob?
– Coke or Pepsi?
– Favorite Spice Girl?
– Pancakes or waffles?
WhatsApp Poll Limits and Restrictions
WhatsApp does impose some limits when creating polls:
– Maximum of 12 options allowed
– 512 character limit per message
– Polls only work in group chats, not 1-on-1 chats
– Only the original poll creator can close or edit the poll
– Polls automatically close after a vague “short period of time” per WhatsApp
Polls also have some formatting restrictions:
– Can’t use bold, italics, underline, or strikethrough text
– Can’t use different font sizes, colors, or fonts
– Can’t add emoji or images
Work within these limits to create effective polls that get good engagement from your WhatsApp groups and contacts.
Tips for Driving Engagement with WhatsApp Polls
Here are some tips to get higher response rates and engagement for your WhatsApp polls:
Keep it short and focused
Long blocks of text get ignored. Keep it under 500 characters.
Pose an interesting question
Pique interest with fun, thoughtful, or provocative poll questions.
Use it for time-sensitive decisions
Polls work great for coordinating events, meetings, etc.
Limit voting time
1-3 days max voting window. Remind people to vote.
Share results
Let people know what option won and any action you’ll take.
Thank participants
Show appreciation for people taking time to vote in your poll.
Use emojis
Emojis help polls stand out in chat feeds.
Occasional use
Don’t overdo it. Use sparingly to maintain interest.
| Poll Type | Ideal # of Options |
|---|---|
| Yes/No | 2 |
| Feedback | 3-5 |
| Choices | 4-6 |
| Complex decisions | 8-10 |
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s polling feature is a great way to gather opinions and make decisions as a group. While you have the option for up to 12 choices per poll, in many cases you’ll get the best results by limiting options to the most essential 2-5 choices. Craft your poll with your end goal in mind, be strategic with options and wording, and you’ll enjoy higher engagement and better insights from your WhatsApp polls.