When creating a poll on LinkedIn, one of the first things you’ll need to decide is how long the poll should be open for responses. LinkedIn gives poll creators several options for setting the poll length, ranging from 1 day up to 2 weeks. The duration you choose for your LinkedIn poll can impact the number and quality of responses you receive. In this article, we’ll look at how long LinkedIn polls typically last and the factors to consider when setting your poll’s lifespan.
The Poll Length Options on LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides poll creators with the following options for setting the poll duration:
- 1 day
- 3 days
- 1 week
- 2 weeks
So the shortest poll option is just 1 day, while the longest length is 2 weeks. When creating a poll, these duration options will appear as dropdown selections, making it easy to choose the timeframe you want.
The default poll length if you don’t actively select a duration is 3 days. So if you just create your poll without changing the settings, it will automatically be open for a 3 day period before closing.
Average LinkedIn Poll Length
While LinkedIn allows polls to run anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks, most polls tend to be on the shorter side. Some common poll lengths on LinkedIn include:
- 3 days – This default poll length allows a couple of days for responses while still being a relatively brief timeframe.
- 1 week – This is enough time to get meaningful responses while keeping the poll’s momentum going.
- 2-3 days – For time sensitive issues or questions, a shorter 2-3 day poll may make sense to get quick feedback.
Polls running the full 2 week duration are less common, as extended polls have a higher chance of losing momentum or having their results become outdated. So in most cases, you’ll want to keep your polls on the shorter side – anywhere from 2 days to 1 week is a good target length.
Considerations When Setting Poll Length
Some things to think about when choosing your ideal poll length on LinkedIn include:
Your Goals
What do you hope to accomplish with the poll? If you want quick feedback, such as gauging initial interest in an idea, a 1-3 day poll may suffice. But if you want more thoughtful, in-depth responses, leave the poll open for at least a week.
Topic Timeliness
Is this a timely topic where opinions may shift quickly? If so, a shorter 1-3 day poll allows you to take a “snapshot” of current thoughts. For evergreen topics, longer polls up to 1-2 weeks are fine.
Audience Size & Activity
How large is your target audience, and how active are they on LinkedIn? Smaller, highly engaged audiences may respond quickly in just a couple of days. Larger groups may need up to a week for a representative sample to respond.
LinkedIn’s Algorithm
LinkedIn’s algorithm often shows newer polls more prominently. So keeping your poll shorter means it’s more likely to be surfaced high up in feeds.
Best Practices for Poll Length
Based on the factors above, here are some best practices to consider when setting the duration for LinkedIn polls:
- For time-sensitive topics, keep polls 1-3 days to capture current opinions.
- For general feedback, 3 days is ideal for allowing enough responses while maintaining momentum.
- Give complex or thought-provoking polls at least 5-7 days for quality responses.
- Know your audience – adjust poll length based on their size and typical activity levels.
- When in doubt, start with the 3-day default and adjust from there as needed.
- Monitor polls as they run and extend if needed to boost response rates.
How to Extend a LinkedIn Poll
If you notice your poll isn’t getting the response volume or level of engagement you want, you can extend the poll while it’s still running. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your original poll post on your LinkedIn feed.
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Select “Extend Poll” from the dropdown menu
- Choose your new end date/time for the poll.
- Click “Extend” to save your changes.
This will instantly update your poll’s duration. Keep in mind you can only extend a poll up to the maximum 2 week length. And repeated extensions may frustrate your audience. So only extend if needed to drive additional engagement.
When LinkedIn Polls Close Automatically
In addition to closing when the set duration ends, LinkedIn polls will automatically close in these cases:
- The poll creator deletes the original poll post.
- The poll post exceeds LinkedIn’s 60-day limit for posts.
- The poll creator’s LinkedIn account is closed or deleted.
So unless the poll creator proactively keeps both the post and their account active, polls will automatically expire after 60 days even if the original duration was longer.
Viewing Closed Poll Results
After a LinkedIn poll officially closes, the original poll post is updated to show the final results and totals. This lets you continue seeing the poll results even though respondents can no longer vote. As the poll creator, you can also download a CSV of your closed poll’s results from LinkedIn to analyze the data further.
However, after 60 days the poll post and results will no longer be visible. So if you want to preserve the results long-term, make sure to download the CSV file once the poll has ended.
Best Practices for Poll Results
To get the most value from your LinkedIn polls, keep these tips in mind:
- Close the poll manually once you have sufficient responses – don’t wait for automatic closure.
- Download and save the results CSV file immediately when closing the poll.
- Review the final results and summarize key takeaways when sharing with your audience.
- Consider following up with another poll building on insights from the original.
- Delete old polls periodically so your feed doesn’t become cluttered.
Key Takeaways
To recap, the main points to keep in mind when setting the duration for LinkedIn polls include:
- LinkedIn allows poll lengths from 1 day up to 2 weeks.
- Most polls are 1 week or less due to engagement and algorithm factors.
- Adjust poll length based on goals, audience, timeliness, and engagement.
- Extend short polls if needed, but don’t overdo it.
- Results remain visible after poll closing but expire after 60 days.
- Analyze and share results promptly, then delete old polls to keep feed tidy.
Using the right poll length and managing results effectively takes your LinkedIn polls from a fun sidebar to an integral part of your content strategy. Paying attention to poll duration and following best practices will lead to higher quality responses and more impactful insights for your business.
From short 1-3 day polls for quick feedback to extended 1-2 week surveys on complex topics, you can leverage LinkedIn’s polling options to better understand your audience and boost engagement. Just be thoughtful in how long you allow voting and proactive in sharing results, and your LinkedIn polls will provide real value.
Now that you know how long LinkedIn polls typically last and how to make the most of the poll lifecycle, it’s time to start surveying your audience and gathering feedback. The right poll can spark great conversations and reveal insights you never would have discovered otherwise. So tap into the wisdom and opinions of your network with well-managed LinkedIn polls that deliver results.
The duration you set for your LinkedIn polls can directly impact their success. While the platform gives you several options ranging from 1 day to 2 weeks, you’ll generally want to keep polls on the shorter side—typically 3 days to 1 week. This helps maintain momentum and interest while gathering enough timely responses. Consider factors like your goals, audience, and topic when deciding on poll length. Monitor as the poll runs and extend cautiously if needed. Once closed, promptly analyze and share results before they disappear. With smart poll management from creation to completion, you can gain valuable insights from your LinkedIn network to inform your content and business strategy.
When creating a poll on LinkedIn, one of the key decisions is choosing the poll’s duration. LinkedIn provides several options for poll lengths, from 1 day up to 2 weeks. The duration you select can impact the number and quality of responses. In this post, we explored how long LinkedIn polls typically last and factors to consider when choosing poll length. Key takeaways include:
- Most polls are 1 week or less to maintain engagement and visibility.
- Tailor poll length to your goals, audience size, topic timeliness.
- 3 days is often ideal for decent responses with good momentum.
- Extend short polls cautiously if needed to boost response rates.
- Analyze and share results promptly before they disappear after 60 days.
Carefully setting and managing your poll length will ensure sufficient quality responses for impactful insights. Leverage LinkedIn’s flexible polling options to best suit your objectives and audience.
Determining the ideal poll length on LinkedIn involves balancing response volume with momentum. While LinkedIn supports polls from 1 day to 2 weeks, most polls last 1 week or less. Shorter polls capitalize on urgency and stay higher in feeds. But longer polls allow more thoughtful responses. Consider your goals, audience, and topic timeliness when choosing duration. 3 days hits a nice sweet spot for many situations. Monitor engagement and cautiously extend short polls if needed. Remember to promptly download results before they disappear. With smart poll length decisions, you can gain valuable insights from your LinkedIn network.
LinkedIn’s polling options let you survey your professional network and get feedback on topics relevant to your business. While polls can run from 1 day to 2 weeks, shorter durations of 3 days to 1 week tend to work best. This provides enough time for quality responses while maintaining momentum and visibility in feeds. Match poll length to your goals, audience, and topic timeliness. Monitor engagement as the poll runs, and extend briefly if needed. Be sure to download results before they expire after 60 days. With thoughtful poll length choices, you can gain actionable insights to inform your LinkedIn content and broader business strategy.