Using Polls on Substack: A Practical Guide
How to boost engagement, test ideas fast, and write what readers actually want.
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Polls might be the most underrated feature on Substack.
Not many writers use them maybe because they don’t think about it, don’t know how, or just haven’t realized how much they can actually do.
This guide will walk you through how to use polls effectively, using real examples. These can be easily adapted to your own niche or audience.
Why Use Polls?
Polls aren’t just for fun they’re strategic tools. Here’s what you can do with them:
✅ Get unstuck when you don’t know what to write next
✅ Crowdsource creative direction or post angles
✅ Validate ideas before investing time in them
✅ Boost engagement and make your content interactive
✅ Build trust by involving readers in decisions
✅ Understand your audience better—quietly and quickly
They’re also easy to use and break up long posts visually.
The Substack Poll Framework
A step-by-step method to make your polls more useful and actionable:
1. Know Your Purpose
Be clear on why you're asking. For example:
What should I write next?
Do readers care about this idea?
Who exactly is reading my posts?
Should I build this new resource or not?
If you're vague about the goal, the answers won’t help.
2. Ask One Focused, Specific Question
Make it natural and direct—like you're talking to a reader.
❌ Vague:
"Do you like my writing?"
✅ Better:
"Which type of post do you enjoy most from me?"
Tip: Add a quick sentence for context if needed.
Example: “Thinking of switching things up—curious where you’re at with this.”
3. Keep the Options Clean (3–5 max)
Make choices distinct, relevant, and easy to answer.
❌ Messy:
Long posts
Deep dives
Strategy stuff
Tutorials
Writing stuff
✅ Cleaner:
Substack feature breakdowns
Writing workflow tips
Personal reflections
Experiments with Notes
If testing interest in an offer, add “Not interested” or “Maybe” as a soft opt-out.
4. Place Polls Where They’ll Get Seen
Polls are low-effort for readers and can improve engagement across your publication.
Use them:
Mid-post – break up text, re-engage attention
End of post – guide next steps or future posts
5. Act on the Results (Even Small Ones Count)
Even 5–10 responses are useful. Use them to:
Decide your next post
Cancel an idea before wasting time
Refine your niche or offer
Follow up in Chat or Notes
Show your readers they influenced the direction
When people see their vote mattered, they’re more likely to engage again.
Quick Poll Use Case Table
Bottom line?
Polls help you create content people actually want while building trust, engagement, and creative momentum.
Let your audience shape the direction with you.
Let me know if you'd like this version turned into a PDF template, Notion format, or formatted Substack draft.
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Most Substack writers early in their journey, somewhere between 50 to 200 subscribers, struggle with a few common things:
Drowning in advice, but not sure where to start
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That’s all for today!. I appreciate you so much for reading up until here! 😊 If you think this article could help someone, feel free to share it or like it it really helps expand its reach to help others as well. 💌
Frey.
Up Next: Why Most Repurposing Struggles Come from This One Thing
Most of the questions I get from subscribers—especially new Substack writers—come down to one core problem:
Trying to do too much, too soon, on too many platforms.
In the next piece, we’ll break down what to actually focus on first so repurposing feels clear, not chaotic.
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This post came at just the right time! I’ve been pondering the poll feature the last couple of weeks. So thank you for the nudge! ❤️