How to Run Polls, Quizzes, and Contests to Boost Social Media Engagement
If you want to turn passive followers into active participants, interactive content is the way to go. Polls, quizzes, and contests are fun, engaging, and great for sparking conversations and increasing reach.
Here’s how to use each one effectively to connect with your audience and grow your brand.
1. Polls: Get Quick Feedback and Drive Engagement
Polls are perfect for sparking low-effort engagement. Whether you’re gathering opinions or just having fun, they’re great for Instagram Stories, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even Facebook.
How to Use Polls:
Ask for preferences: “Which new product should we launch first?”
Play games: “Guess the correct answer!”
Gather insights: “What’s your biggest challenge with [topic]?”
Just for fun: “Coffee or tea?”
Pro Tips:
Keep questions short and clear
Use visuals to grab attention
Follow up with results and commentary
2. Quizzes: Educate and Entertain
Quizzes are a fun way to educate your audience while encouraging interaction. They’re especially great for lead generation when paired with an opt-in.
Quiz Ideas:
“Which [product type] is right for you?”
“How much do you know about [industry topic]?”
“What’s your [brand personality/fit]?”
Tools to Use:
Typeform
Interact
Google Forms
Instagram Stories quiz sticker
Pro Tips:
Add a shareable results screen
Include a CTA at the end (e.g., check out a product or blog post)
3. Contests: Reward Participation and Grow Your Reach
Contests are powerful engagement boosters that can also increase brand awareness and followers.
Contest Types:
Photo/video challenge: Share a pic using your product
Comment to win: Answer a question or tag a friend
User-generated content: Best post wins a prize
Trivia or mini quiz: Get all questions right to enter
How to Run a Great Contest:
Pick a clear, simple entry method
Offer a prize your audience wants
Set a start/end date
Promote it in multiple places
Follow platform rules (especially on Instagram and Facebook)
Bonus: Combine All Three for Maximum Engagement
Run a quiz with a contest at the end. Use a poll to kick off a conversation that leads to a user-generated content contest. Mix and match for creative campaigns that keep your audience hooked.
Final Thoughts
Interactive content isn’t just fun—it’s smart marketing. Polls, quizzes, and contests create conversations, strengthen community, and make your followers feel part of your brand.
