This article explains how to create an interactive poll on Facebook using the "Poll" app. Although a questionnaire can be accessed and completed through the site's mobile application, surveys can only be created within a browser.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Setting up the Poll
Step 1. Open the survey page
Type https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/ in the browser URL bar.
If you are not logged in to Facebook, you will be prompted to enter your email address and password at the top right to continue
Step 2. Click Get Started Now
It's a green button in the center of the page.
Step 3. Write the title of the survey
It should concisely state the purpose of the survey.
For example, if you want to ask survey recipients what their favorite animal is, head it: "Choose your favorite animal" (or just: "Favorite animal?")
Step 4. Click Continue
This button is located below the title field.
Step 5. Click Continue as [your name] when prompted
This way the "Poll" application will have access to your Facebook page.
Part 2 of 3: Creating the Questions
Step 1. Click on + Add Question
It is located towards the center of the page, to the left of the blue "Next: Preview" button.
Step 2. Type a question in the "Question" field, located at the top of the window
Using the previous example, you could write: "What is your favorite animal?"
Step 3. Determine the type of question
To do this, click on the bar under the "Question Type" title, then click on one of the following options:
- Text box: survey participants will manually type in a response.
- Multiple choice - one answer: participants will select one answer from a list.
- Multiple choice - multiple answers: participants will select one or more answers from a list.
- Drop-down list: attendees will click on a box and select an answer from a list.
- Ranking: Participants will select each option in order of preference.
- Scale of 1 to 5: participants will choose a number from 1 to 5 (by default from "poor" to "excellent").
- In the case of animals it is preferable to choose a drop-down list, a list with multiple answers or a box in which to write your answer.
Step 4. Determine the characteristics of the response
The format will depend on the question type chosen.
- Text box: Click on the box titled Data type to select the type of reply you will accept, for example a single line of text, an e-mail address or a telephone number.
- Multiple choice / drop-down list / ranking: under the Options title you will find boxes where you can write your answers. Click on Add Option to add another option or on Add Other to add a text field.
- Scale of 1 to 5: Select a rating order by clicking the box next to 1 and 5, then type a label.
- You can also click on the red circle to the right of some answers to delete them.
Step 5. Customize the advanced question options
To do this, click on the box of one of the following options (or both) if necessary:
- This is a mandatory question: Participants will not be able to continue with the survey until they have answered this question, which is mandatory.
- Randomize answers order: This changes the order of the questions each time the survey is done. It cannot be applied to certain types of questions (such as the 1 to 5 scale).
Step 6. Click Save
It is a green button located at the bottom right of the "New question" window. This will add the question to the survey.
Step 7. Complete the survey settings
You can add more questions by clicking on the "+ Add question" button and creating another questionnaire, or you can edit existing questions using the buttons above each question.
- Click on the pencil icon to edit an existing question.
- Click on the icon with two sheets of paper to copy the question.
- Click on the up or down arrows to move the question in the order of the survey.
- Click on the red circle to delete the question.
Part 3 of 3: Publish the Survey
Step 1. Click Next:
Preview. It is located to the right of the "+ Add question" button.
Step 2. Correct the survey
If you are satisfied, then go ahead and publish.
If you want to correct something, click on the "Back: Edit Questions" button at the top left
Step 3. Click Next:
Publish. This blue button is located at the top right of the poll box.
Step 4. Click on Post on Timeline
It can be found in the list entitled "Sharing Tools". This will open a window to publish the post on Facebook. Within it it is possible to add a text in order to clarify the survey.
In some browsers this option is titled: "Add to your page"
Step 5. Click Post to Facebook
This button is located at the bottom right of the publication window. The survey will be published immediately on your Facebook page.
- If you want to attach a message to the publication, first click on the text field at the top of the window and type it.
- The text box is useful to remind users that they will have to close the advertisement that will appear when they click on the survey link in order to see the questionnaire itself.
