Instagram polls 101: how to use them to boost engagement in 2025

Boost engagement with Instagram polls, gather insights and automate follow-ups with Chatfuel to grow your brand.

A screenshot of an Instagram poll

If50% of users engage with brands on Instagram, how do you make sure they engage with yours?

One of the easiest ways is Instagram polls.

Whether you’re a creator, marketer or small business, polls give your followers something to tap on right inside Instagram Reels, Stories, feed post captions or group chats. That quick interaction boosts your visibility in the algorithm and opens the door to real feedback.

You can test product ideas, learn your audience’s preferences or just keep them involved in the content you’re already creating.

In this article, you’ll learn how to add a poll to increase engagement and how to follow up automatically with Chatfuel, the no-code tool that helps you turn poll votes into DMs, leads and conversions.

What are Instagram polls? [+ Examples]

An Instagram poll is an interactive feature you can add to your Story, posts,Reelsor even group chats. It lets you ask your audience a question, such as what product they want next, how they feel about a new feature or which design they prefer and gives them up to four answer options to choose from.

An image of an Instagram poll sticker with a question and “Yes” and “No” response options

Image source: Captions

But the real value starts when they vote. You’re not just collecting numbers; you’re getting audience insights. Real-time feedback helps you understand what your audience actually wants, so you can create content they’ll care about, not just scroll past. And when people feel involved, they’re more likely to come back, interact and build a connection with your brand.

Instagram gives you a few different ways to run a poll. Some are made for quick reactions, others for collecting the audience’s opinions or running quizzes. Here’s a look at the main types and when to use each one.

Types of Instagram polls

Each of these poll types can help you engage your audience, but only if you use them the right way. The difference isn’t just in how they look, but in what kind of response they encourage. Use this explanation to choose the format that fits your goal, your question and your audience’s attention span.

Classic survey polls (poll sticker)

A screenshot of the Instagram two-option poll

Image source:Bulk.ly

This is the original Instagram poll format. You type in a simple question and offer up to four answers. Followers vote with one quick tap, which makes it easy for them to engage. You see poll results instantly and can share them when the poll ends.

It’s the easiest way to create an Instagram poll and one of the best for increasing engagement in your Stories. You can use it to test interest in new product ideas (“What should we drop next?”), kick off an educational content series (“What do you want to learn about next week?”) or even stir up a fun competition, e.g., #TeamCappuccino vs. #TeamEspresso, to spark replies and drive sales.

Quiz sticker polls

Instagram polls: A screenshot of a quiz with the correct answer marked

Image source:Status Social

A quiz poll looks like a poll sticker similar to a regular Instagram poll, but with one key difference: you set a correct answer. When someone taps their choice, Instagram instantly tells them whether they got it right or wrong, so the interaction feels more fun, rewarding and competitive.

This is what sets quiz polls apart from survey polls, which don’t have right or wrong answers. Survey polls are designed to collect opinions, preferences and quick reactions, not test knowledge.

Use quiz polls for contests (“Guess the launch date to win”), product education (“Which of these is vegan?”), or just to share fun facts in a more interactive way.

Question sticker polls

Instagram Story asking “What do you invest in?” with answer tags like retreats, courses and coaching.

Image source:Elise Darma

Unlike regular polls, the question sticker lets your audience type their own answer instead of choosing from different options. That means more effort on their side, but also more value for you.

Use this format when you want deeper input, personal stories or creative ideas you wouldn’t get from a simple tap. It’s especially useful for gathering questions before a live Q&A, letting followers suggest content topics or opening up a conversation when DMs are off.

Keep in mind: because it takes more time to respond, you’ll usually get fewer replies than with a standard Instagram poll, but the responses you do get will be richer and more useful.

Emoji slider polls

Instagram polls: A screenshot of an emoji slider and how people voted

Image source:Pop Sugar

Emoji sliders aren’t technically a poll, but they still measure audience sentiment.

You ask a quick question (“How excited are you?” or “Rate this look”), and your followers drag an emoji along a slider to show how much they agree, like or relate. It’s fast, anonymous and fun, so people are more likely to interact.

Sliders work best for quick reactions, mood checks or gauging how strongly your audience feels about something.

Benefits of using Instagram polls

Now that you’ve seen the different poll formats, the real question is: why use them?

Instagram polls aren’t just a fun add-on; they’re a fast, low-effort way to turn passive viewers into active participants. Whether you're testing ideas, gathering insights or just staying visible in the algorithm, polls give you direct access to what your audience thinks and cares about.

Here’s what you can do with them:

Understand your audience: Create polls to learn what your followers actually want, whether that’s the type of content they prefer, what problems they’re dealing with or how they make decisions. These insights help you tailor your content, shift your positioning or even update your offers to match what your audience is asking for in real time. Creators and brands do this every day, and it’s something traditional marketing could never deliver as quickly or directly.
Drive interaction: Polls give you more than a tap; they give you attention. Each vote boosts your Story’s reach through Instagram’s algorithm, helping you stay visible in a sea of content. But the real value? Once someone interacts, they’re more likely to watch the next Story, check out your profile or even DM you. And if you want to automatically follow up with voters in the DMs, we’ll show you an easy way to do that below with Chatfuel.
Gather feedback in real time: Need to decide between two offers? Not sure what topic to post about next? Get your audience involved in the process. And when people help shape your decisions, even in small ways, they’re more invested in the outcome. Polls help you build alignment, loyalty and smarter content at the same time.
Create content your audience actually cares about: Content strategies built on guesswork won’t get you anywhere. When you use Instagram polls, you work on what your audience wants. Instead of assuming, you let them tell you. You can gather video topics, test content hooks or even co-create a product roadmap all inside your Stories.

How to make a poll on Instagram (step-by-step)

You’ve seen what Instagram polls can do. Now, let’s walk you through how to actually create one. The process takes less than a minute, and you don’t need any extra tools.

Polls in Stories

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add polls to Instagram Stories.

Step 1: Open Instagram and start a story

Instagram polls: A screenshot of the Instagram home page showing the Story icon highlighted

Image source: marketing4ecps

Go to your Instagram home screen and tap on “Your Story” at the top left corner (or swipe right anywhere on the feed). This opens the Story camera. From here, you can either:

Snap a photo or video
Upload something from your camera roll

This will be the background for your poll sticker. You will also see options for adding filters, text or GIFs to make your poll more eye-catching.

Step 2: Tap the sticker icon and select ‘Poll’

Two phone screens showing how to add a poll in Instagram Stories

Image source: Captions

Once your background is ready, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen. This opens the sticker tray.

Locate and add polls. You’ll now see a basic poll layout on your screen with a sample question and answer options.

Step 3: Write your question and answers

Type your question and up to four answers. Keep your text short, as each answer is limited to 22 characters.

Tips:

Use simple questions that are easy to answer
Add emojis to make it more visual
Keep the tone casual to encourage taps

Step 4: Share to your story (or close friends list)

A screenshot of an Instagram poll

Image source: idownloadblog.com

Once your Instagram poll is ready, tap “Your Story” to share it with all your followers or “Close Friends” if you only want a selected group to see and vote. Only the people you share it with will be able to see the poll and interact with it.

Note:Once someone votes, they’ll see the percentage breakdown for each option, but not how many people voted or who chose what. Only you, as the creator, can view the full results: total votes, vote counts, and individual voter choices.

Polls in chats

You can also create polls in group chats that include three or more accounts. If the poll is still open, you can click on View Poll to change your vote or add new options.

How to create a poll in a group chat

Tap the messenger icon at the top of Feed.
Tap a group name to open the conversation.
Tap the Stickers icon → Poll.
Enter a poll question and answers, then tap Create Poll.

While the poll is still active, you can tap View Poll to change your vote or add options to the poll.

Poll stickers on a photo or video in a chat

You can also add polls on videos and photos you share in DMs or in group chats.

Open the group or DMs where you want to send the poll.
Take or choose the video or image from your gallery.
Tap the Sticker icon → Poll.
Enter a poll question and answers to your poll → click Done.
Adjust the sticker size of the poll and click Send.

Instagram poll creation steps shown on phones

Image source: idownloadblog.com

How to view, analyze and share poll results

Once your Instagram poll is live, you can track its performance directly from your stories. To see how people voted, open your story and swipe up on the screen. You’ll get detailed insights, including total votes, vote percentages and a list of users who participated and what they chose.

A screenshot of an Instagram Story poll showing a coffee photo with poll results and viewer count

Image source: Business Insider

Poll results stop updating after 24 hours, but they don’t disappear. You can still view them in your Story archiveas long as you have archiving turned on.

Want to save the results? You’ve got a few options:

Take a screenshotwhile the Story is live
Save the Story to Highlightsso it stays visible on your profile
Check the Professional Dashboard(for business accounts) to track poll performance later

And if you want to show everyone how the poll turned out, tap Share Resultsafter it ends. This lets you repost the final vote percentages in a new Story: perfect for anyone who missed it the first time.

Want to take it a step further? You can even automate personalized follow-ups with Chatfuel based on how people voted. Keep reading for how to set this up.

A screenshot of Instagram poll results

Image source: Business Insider

Instagram poll ideas that actually get engagement

Once you’ve seen how your poll performs, the next question is: what should you ask next? To help you with that, here are some high-performing Instagram poll ideas you can use to boost engagement, learn about your audience or just keep things fun and interactive.

General interactions

Not every poll needs to gather insights or drive decisions. Sometimes, the purpose is simply to connect. Use polls to show off your brand personality, whether that’s playful, inspiring or educational.

For example, a language coach might ask, “Do you know what mañanameans?” with multiple-choice answers. A travel brand could post, “Where are you escaping to next?” with dreamy destination options. These quick moments of interaction help your audience see you not just as a brand, but as a part of their daily scroll routine.

A screenshot of an Instagram Story poll comparing two gold eyeshadow looks

Image source: Influencer Marketing Hub

Quizzes & guessing games

Turn your polls into bite-sized games. For example, show two product ingredients and ask which one is in your best-seller. Post a zoomed-in travel photo and let followers guess the destination. Or test how well your audience knows your brand story.

These micro-challenges grab attention, build a habit and keep people coming back to your Stories for the answer. They're also a great way to reinforce product knowledge without it feeling like marketing.

Instagram polls: An Instagram Story poll comparing two dishes with visible votes

Image source: Hootsuite

This or that

This classic format is simple but powerful: put two options side by side and let your audience pick their favorite. It's quick, visual and encourages participation with almost no effort on their part.

Use “This or That” polls to showcase your products (e.g., “Matte or Glossy?” for a lipstick launch), test marketing ideas (“Bold color or neutral tones for the next launch?”) or just build brand personality (“Work from café or home office?”).

A screenshot of the "This or That" game on Instagram

Image source: Hootsuite

Would you rather?

These polls go beyond entertainment. They’re a subtle form of market research. By giving your audience two specific choices, you’re narrowing the feedback loop and making it easy for them to weigh in. It’s insight you can actually act on.

For example:

A fitness coach might ask: “Would you rather see a 10-minute ab workout or a grocery haul?”
A fashion brand could test: “Would you rather buy this in black or sand?”
A course creator might post: “Would you rather learn SEO or email marketing next?”

This format makes your audience feel seen, while giving you data that’s faster (and often more honest) than any formal survey.

A screenshot of an Instagram poll asking followers to choose from puff or crop tops

Image source: Hootsuite

Fun research

One of the best ways to understand your customers (for free!) is to directly ask them about their preferences. You can ask them anything from their lifestyle choices, food preferences and habits to their favorite vacation activities.

This format helps you spot patterns. It can reveal unexpected trends in your audience’s behavior, which you can turn into better product features, smarter ad targeting or even creative content ideas.

A screenshot of a question on Instagram Story

Image source: Hootsuite

Light check-ins

Quick check-ins like “How’s your Monday going?” or “Early bird or night owl?” can help you stay visible without plugging a product.

But even casual polls should reflect your brand voice. A skincare brand might ask, “Did you remember to put SPF today?” A coffee shop could post, “Hot brew or iced today?” These small, on-topic moments remind your audience you're there and make your content feel more like a conversation than a campaign.

An Instagram Story poll asking “Would you get up early to catch this sunrise?” with Yes and No options over a scenic sunrise background.

Image source: Pinterest

Promote your social media presence

Use Instagram polls to cross-promote your other platforms. Ask questions like “Are you following us on TikTok?” or “Want exclusive tips on YouTube?”

This boosts your social media presence but also guides followers to the format that best serves them. Maybe your audience needs step-by-step tutorials that don’t fit into a short Story. Or they want product demos they can revisit anytime. Directing them to platforms like YouTube or TikTok helps you meet those needs while building stronger multi-channel relationships.

An Instagram Story poll asking “Are you the type to watch on...” with options YouTube and IGTV
Image source: Elise Darma

Pro tips to get more engagement from your Instagram polls

Posting a poll is easy, but getting people to actually interact with it? That takes a social media strategy. And the poll ideas we listed above should help with that. We’ve also prepared tips to get more votes, valuable responses and increased engagement from your Instagram polls:

Post when your audience is active: Check Instagram Insights to find your peak times and schedule polls then for better visibility.
Place polls early in your Story:Most viewers don’t tap through to the end, so keep the interaction up front.
Use a casual tone and emojis:Friendly language (“👀 What’s the vibe today?”) feels more like a chat and less like a survey.
Tease the results:Say “You’ll never guess which one won” in a follow-up Story to build curiosity and encourage your audience to return.
Always follow up:Share the final results and thank your audience for voting. If you asked for input on something like a product or video idea, show them what you did with it.
Turn poll responses into conversations:If someone votes “Yes” to a question like “Want early access?”, follow up with a DM using automation tools like Chatfuel to send links, collect info or offer next steps.

See also: How to run ads on Instagram

Automate poll follow-ups with Chatfuel

Automating Instagram interactions with Chatfuel

Someone just voted in your Instagram poll? Don’t let the conversation end there.

WithChatfuel for Instagram, you can automatically send DMs based on how people interact with your polls, Stories or posts. It helps you turn a quick vote into a real connection and move followers one step closer to becoming customers.

So, what is Chatfuel?

Chatfuel is an Instagram automation platform that helps you respond faster, capture leads and drive more sales without spending your day in the DMs. Whether you're handling FAQs or running polls, Chatfuel helps you keep the interaction going.

Here’s what you can do:

Send targeted follow-ups after a poll:If someone votes for Option A, you can DM them with early access, more info or a discount automatically.
Build conversation flows:Use Chatfuel’s drag-and-drop Flow Builder to guide users through next steps: claim an offer, get support or book a call.
Set up keyword-based replies:Respond instantly to common phrases or questions your audience types in Stories, comments or DMs.
Capture leads on autopilot:Ask for emails, phone numbers or other details right inside the chat, no forms needed. Then segment and export them for future campaigns.
Cover all channels:From story replies to DMs, Chatfuel lets you automate responses across all your Instagram touchpoints.
Add a human touch when needed:Use live chat inside the Chatfuel platform when a conversation needs personal attention.

Want to start turning Instagram poll voters into leads and customers? Try Chatfuel for Instagram!

Turn your Instagram polls into engagement and growth

Instagram polls are a way to understand what your audience wants and use that data to shape your content, products and strategy. When you ask the right questions, every tap becomes an insight. You find out what to post next, what offer to promote and what your followers actually care about.

That means fewer assumptions and more proof. Less generic campaigns and more personal interactions. And most importantly—more trust, engagement and conversions.

Whether you use Instagram polls in Stories, Reels or feed posts, they give you a low-effort, high-impact way to stay visible and stay relevant.

And with Chatfuel, you don’t just stop at the vote. You can automatically message voters, recommend the right products, collect contact info and keep the conversation going.

Ready to turn poll taps into real results?Get started with Chatfuel.

FAQs

How do you create a poll on Instagram?

Go to Stories, add a photo or video, tap the sticker icon and select the Poll sticker. Type your question, add up to four answers and post it to your story. After you post, your followers can vote instantly with a single tap.

Can you do more than two options in an Instagram poll?

Yes. Instagram now lets you add up to four answers per poll. This makes it easier to ask multiple-choice questions and get more detailed feedback from your followers than the two-answer options.

Can I edit a poll after I post it?

No. Once you post an Instagram poll, you can’t edit the question or the answers. If you made a mistake, you’ll need to delete the Story and create a new poll from scratch.

Can you see who voted in an Instagram poll?

Yes. While your poll is live, swipe up on the story to see the poll results. You’ll see how many people voted, what they picked and who voted for each option. After it expires, go to Story Archive to access data.