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Free Twitter Polling ApplicationsA review of seven online apps09.11.10

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If you’re using Twitter for your business, at some point you’re probably going to want to understand how your followers feel about your brand, service or product. Polling is an excellent way to get a quick understanding of how people feel. It’s also a great way to run a contest, get demographic information on your followers, or get a rating on an idea. There are several sites that do just this. Their features range from only one service to a wide variety of services, some charging a slight service fee.

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OverviewCriteria

I sat down with my co-workers and created a wish-list of qualities that we as marketing people want in a Twitter polling service. Of course, all the apps have to be free and require no downloadable client. Beyond that, we wanted to be able to:

have an easy-to-use interface

get the hang of it quickly

have a unique url

use analytics

use multiple types of polls

insert images

brand polls

make them visually interesting

tag keywords

categorize topics

leave a message

embed on our site

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FREE TWITTER POLLING APPS

Have an easy-to-use interface

Get the hang of it quickly

Have a unique url

Use analytics

Use multiple types of polls

Insert images

Brand polls

Make them visually interestingTag keywords

Categorize topics

Leave a comment

Embed on our siteNo

Yes

Straw

Poll

Twttr

strm

Poll Y

our Fo

llowers

Polls.

twTw

tpoll

Poll E

veryw

here

Socia

lToo

$

Not for free$

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Polls.twPros

Easy to use Creates a poll that can be easily used by and shared with others

ConsIt only creates one type of poll: multiple choice. All the other sites do the same thing but offer a lot more features.

Rating

Application Interface:

5

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Poll Your FollowersPros

Easy to use for short multiple choice polls

ConsOutside of posting a poll, it has no other functions You can’t leave any feedback or find out who voted in your poll. This is another site that needs a few more features to make it worth your while.

Rating

Application Interface:

6

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TwttrstrmPros

Easy to set up Lense aspect is unique to Squidoo Creates an incredible resource around your questions

ConsIt’s a mess Looking at examples from other more established polls, it’s a hodgepodge of information that can be very difficult to sort through

Rating

Application Interface:

7

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StrawPollPros

Of the single feature sites, I like this one the best. It’s very simple to use.Visually appealing and allows you to see the tweets surrounding your poll.

ConsIt’s usefulness is limited since there is just the one type of question that only allows for two answer options.The site feels like more of a gimmick than something that a business would seriously use.

Rating

Application Interface:

8

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SocialTooPros

Simple interface Lots of nice add-on features

ConsYou have to pay for the add-ons It’s not the most attractive layout

Rating

Application Interface:

9

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TwtpollPros

Lots of question typesHas a clean and simple lookEasy to spread your poll around

ConsBranding must be paid for and lacks keyword tags

Rating

Application Interface:

10

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Poll EverywherePros

Instant stats gathered from phones make it an ideal audience polling tool It also generates professional reports

ConsPrice tag not worth paying if you just want to send your poll out through Twitter or other social media channels

Rating

Application Interface:

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CONCLUSIONWhile there are some sites that are easy to use, one trick ponies, it’s worth putting a little extra effort into your polls with the sites that offer more functionality. Twtpoll edges out Twttrstrm as it provides nearly all the features we wanted while still being simple to use and visually appealing.

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Read the entire review on our blog

blog.theduffyagency.com/

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The Duffy Agency website

www.theduffyagency.com

Links

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