How to Create a Poll in Slack for Coworker Surveys

Creating a poll in Slack is essential for scheduling meetings and collecting feedback on various initiatives. It’s also a fun way to learn more about your coworkers by asking engaging questions, such as their favorite foods. Based on my personal experience, I’ve put together this guide to demonstrate how to create a poll in Slack effectively.

Utilize Slack Apps for Poll Creation

Integrating an app is the most straightforward method to create your Slack poll. For this purpose, I recommend using Simple Poll, as it’s user-friendly and versatile.

Once you’ve integrated Simple Poll, I suggest using a keyboard shortcut for efficiency. Begin by typing “/poll” in the text box of the Slack channel where you wish to post the poll.

Select Create poll to initiate a new poll. If you prefer, you can opt for one of the available templates. You’ll be able to customize the questions and responses in the pop-up menu.

After customizing, select Preview to ensure everything looks correct, and then click Create Poll.

How to Create a Message Poll in Slack

Message polls are perfect for users on a free Slack plan who have reached their limit of 10 app integrations. You can also utilize this method if you prefer not to integrate a third-party application.

Begin by typing in your question, and create a blockquote for the emojis you’ll use for voting by typing “>” in the text box.

Once you’re ready, hit the Enter key to share the poll with your team. It’s advisable to set a deadline to maintain organization. Here’s an example of what my published poll looks like, with one person reacting with an emoji:

Top Survey Apps for Slack

If Simple Poll doesn’t fit your needs, consider using one of these alternative integrations. Each provides excellent functionality for creating polls in Slack.

1. Polly

I find the interface of Polly to be more intuitive than several other third-party poll integrations available for Slack. It offers various customization options without requiring a paid subscription. A standout feature is the real-time preview while you design your poll.

With Polly, you can decide if respondents can add their own answers. Additionally, you can schedule your poll and determine if users can vote multiple times.

Moreover, Polly allows you to schedule the poll for optimal engagement and save templates for polls you frequently use.

2. Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere enables you to create either Q&A or multiple-choice polls within Slack, making it easy to tailor your poll for its intended purpose.

You have the option to set a limit on the number of responses allowed in Poll Everywhere and can swiftly add or remove options. For this reason, I sometimes prefer it over Simple Poll.

Additionally, you don’t have to be in the channel to post the poll, as a drop-down menu will let you choose the location. To use Poll Everywhere, simply type /pollev in Slack.

3. Cyber

Kyber serves as a productivity tool with polling functionalities, and I appreciate its straightforward setup compared to many other options. While integrating multiple polling apps can often lead to complicated sign-up and trial processes, Kyber is a simple plug-and-go solution.

To create a poll in Kyber, type “/poll” and select the Kyber option to open a basic pop-up window. You can specify the number of options available and directly mention team members – a feature not commonly found in many other Slack poll integrations.

Furthermore, you can determine how long the poll will run and whether it will be anonymous. Kyber is also highly collaborative, enabling team members to contribute their own answers and schedule when the poll should go live.

Creating polls on Slack is an effective method for gathering opinions, which you can customize in various ways, similar to status suggestions. I recommend leveraging a polling app integration for ease of use, though a simple blockquote method also works well.

Image credit: DALL-E. All screenshots by Danny Maiorca.

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