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The power of polling
Posted on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 17:42 by Amy Black
If you listen to the news on your radio or TV, one statement you hear consistently is “the polls show.” Polls play an extremely important role in the execution of a political campaign. Strategies are developed and decisions are often made based on poll numbers. But this valuable tool isn’t just for politicians; businesses and other organizations can also benefit from the insights polls provide.
Here’s what polls can do for your business:
1) Provide the knowledge you need to make quick decisions. Poll questions such as “Which of the following products are you most likely to purchase in the next three months” and “Which date do you prefer for this year’s school trip?” will give you answers that you can take action on.
2) Tell you what your customers and prospective customers are thinking. Polls provide an easy and anonymous way for your audience to share their opinions or ideas. For example, one of our customers, a custom home builder, recently put a poll on each page of their website that asked a question specific to the content on that page. They were able to gather valuable feedback about pricing, product features, and more.
3) Build confidence in your organization’s brand. I’ve spoken to several of our customers who are using polling in this way. They put polls on their website (and link to them from their email newsletters) that ask questions that are timely and relevant to their audience. By doing this, they show that they know what is going on in the world around them and that they understand the pains their customers are experiencing.
4) Establish your company as an industry expert. People love to hear poll results. That’s why the media is constantly reporting on them. If you poll your customer base on a topic that is important to your industry and get a great response, your results could be newsworthy. You may even want to share them with local media in your area via a press release. Also, you can host them on your website for Internet searchers to find. And of course, put them in your newsletter and send them to your peers.
What other uses do you have for polling? We’d love to hear!
Best,
Amy
Here’s what polls can do for your business:
1) Provide the knowledge you need to make quick decisions. Poll questions such as “Which of the following products are you most likely to purchase in the next three months” and “Which date do you prefer for this year’s school trip?” will give you answers that you can take action on.
2) Tell you what your customers and prospective customers are thinking. Polls provide an easy and anonymous way for your audience to share their opinions or ideas. For example, one of our customers, a custom home builder, recently put a poll on each page of their website that asked a question specific to the content on that page. They were able to gather valuable feedback about pricing, product features, and more.
3) Build confidence in your organization’s brand. I’ve spoken to several of our customers who are using polling in this way. They put polls on their website (and link to them from their email newsletters) that ask questions that are timely and relevant to their audience. By doing this, they show that they know what is going on in the world around them and that they understand the pains their customers are experiencing.
4) Establish your company as an industry expert. People love to hear poll results. That’s why the media is constantly reporting on them. If you poll your customer base on a topic that is important to your industry and get a great response, your results could be newsworthy. You may even want to share them with local media in your area via a press release. Also, you can host them on your website for Internet searchers to find. And of course, put them in your newsletter and send them to your peers.
What other uses do you have for polling? We’d love to hear!
Best,
Amy
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The experts at Constant Contact share practical ideas, inspiring success stories, and breaking industry news. Stay ahead of the latest trends and best practices — and boost the effectiveness of your email marketing and online survey communications.
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