Did you know that YouTubers who are also members of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) have the ability to post polls to the Community tab on their channel?
Both the Community tab and the poll post are exclusive to monetized creators. So, if you’re a part of that select group, you definitely want to make the most of it!
Polls may not seem like much to get excited about. But in reality, they are a useful tool in your YouTube creator toolkit. When deployed correctly, they can help you increase views for your content, which will help you grow your channel.
In this article, we’ll explain how a simple poll can help you get more views on YouTube. Plus, we’ll teach you how to make a poll for your YouTube channel, as well as for your live streams.
How Do Polls Help You Get More Views on YouTube?
A poll is quite simple and straightforward. You ask your audience a question and give them a select number of options to choose from. Whichever option gets the most selections is the most popular answer.
Despite or perhaps because of its simplicity, polls are popular, no matter what online platform they appear on. People love any chance to express their opinion, and a poll allows them to do that without any negative consequences.
Another way that polls can increase views is they can get users to click on your channel. After they answer the poll, they may decide to take a look around at your content, an action which could lead them to watch a video or start one of your playlists.
Polls can also generate excitement and anticipation for your upcoming content, thus putting more eyeballs on it when it finally drops.
For example, you can use a poll to ask your viewers what they want to see in future videos. By answering, your viewers will feel that they participated in your creative process, and they will be excited thinking about how their selection will manifest on their computer or phone screen.
Overall, you can never go wrong with a poll – providing you ask the right question.
What To Ask in a YouTube Poll
At this point, you may be wondering: What kind of questions should you ask in a YouTube poll to bring in more views?
Typically, when a YouTube creator posts a poll, the question they ask is related to their channel, their videos, or their content niche. It should never be meaningless and should always have a purpose (although you can also add a touch of humor or wit in it to fit the tone of your channel).
Here are some poll questions that a creator might ask their audience and get a lot of feedback on.
The above are basic examples, but they’re also translatable to almost any content niche and any type of video.
How To Make a Poll on Your YouTube Channel
Once your channel meets the minimum requirements for monetization, you gain access to the ability to make a poll on your YouTube channel.
Here’s how to create a poll on YouTube in a few simple steps.
Step #1: Log into your YouTube account on your computer or mobile app and select Plus Create button.
Step #2: Click Create a post.
Step #3: Select Text or Image.
Step #4: Select Poll.
Step #5: Type the question you want to ask, and then fill out each option with text or an image, depending on what type of poll you chose in Step 4.
Text poll options can be up to 65 characters long, and image poll options can be up to 35 characters long.
Step #6: Select Post.
How To Make a Poll During a YouTube Live Stream
If you plan to hold a live stream on your YouTube channel and want to poll your audience in the live chat, follow these instructions.
Step #1: Start the YouTube live stream or schedule it.
Step #2: Click Create a Poll at the bottom of the live chat window.
Step #3: Fill out the poll question and options (you can only select 2-4 options).
Step #4: Click Ask your community.
Step #5: Click End poll at any time to see the results at the top of the live chat.
Note: Your audience can only participate in the poll during the live stream. They can’t participate in it during the replay. Furthermore, the poll will only last for 24 hours unless you end it sooner.
How Many Subscribers Do You Need to Make a Poll on YouTube?
You need to meet YouTube’s minimum monetization requirements, which are 500 subscribers, 3 public videos posted in the last 90 days, and 3000 public watch hours or 3 million public Shorts views, to make a poll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Anyone Make a Poll on YouTube?
No. Only creators that meet YouTube’s minimum monetization requirements and get accepted in the YouTube Partner Program can make a poll.
How Long Do YouTube Polls Last?
Regular YouTube Community polls can stay up indefinitely. Live stream polls last only 24 hours.
Can You Do a Poll During a Live Stream?
Yes. Follow our instructions above for posting a poll to your live chat during a live stream on YouTube.
Conclusion
Posting a poll to your YouTube channel or live chat can get your subscribers to watch more of your content. It can also get them excited about future videos. All this will only benefit your channel and your reputation on the platform.
If your channel is already monetized, then you can follow our tutorials above and start using this simple but effective tool to your advantage right away.
