Culture and Engagement Why intranet polls boost employee engagement and how to create one One of the great things about using our own intranet solution at ThoughtFarmer is that we get to witness in real-time what works best for increasing intranet adoption and engagement. Case in point: Polls. 6 minute read Table of contents You might also like… Intranet use cases Learn about effective intranet use cases ThoughtFarmer examples See our LookBook intranet examples Navigate intranet vendors See how G2 ranks industry competitors Intranet polls are interactive engagement tools that create meaningful two-way communication between employees and management. These simple features help organizations gather feedback, build community, and make data-driven decisions while encouraging regular intranet usage. Key takeaways High engagement potential: Well-designed polls typically generate more interaction than static content Community building: Polls create shared experiences and reveal common interests across teams Actionable insights: Regular polling provides real-time feedback for better decision-making Easy implementation: Polls require minimal setup but can deliver significant engagement benefits Sustained participation: Employees often return to see results, creating repeat intranet visits One of the great things about using our own product at ThoughtFarmer is that we get to witness in real-time what works best for increasing intranet adoption and engagement. Case in point: Polls. I am always amazed by how much interaction and engagement our polls get, whether they are to gather feedback on events or office topics, or fun polls such as these questions recently posted on our intranet: If you were handed the following summer drink menu, which would be your first drink of choice? Which of these would bring you the most joy to have on or near your desk? Which skill or talent would you be interested in learning from a friendly coworker? The answer options had a creative spin that made the questions extra engaging and fun to think about. These definitely get people onto our intranet! People always want to know how others responded which they can view right after submitting their answer. Here’s everything you need to know about intranet polls, and how you can use them to your advantage. Why intranet polls work so well Intranet adoption and engagement are crucial for any organization. However, it’s not always easy to get employees to use the intranet regularly. That’s where intranet polls come in. Intranet polls are a quick and easy way to collect feedback and opinions from employees. They can be used to gather information on a variety of topics such as new product ideas, employee satisfaction, or company events. When employees participate in polls, they experience what psychologists call “the commitment effect”—people are more invested in outcomes they helped create. This explains why employees often return to check poll results and participate in future surveys. Want more ideas to boost engagement? Learn how companies have boosted employee engagement with their intranets Read case studies How intranet polls increase engagement By creating quick and easy polls on your intranet, you can gather feedback from employees, get a better understanding of their needs and preferences, and make informed decisions that improve their overall workplace experience. In this section, we’ll explore the benefits of using intranet polls to increase employee engagement and provide some tips on how to create effective polls that will get your employees excited and engaged. Employees feel heard When employees are asked to participate in polls, they feel valued and heard. It shows that their opinions matter, and the company is interested in their feedback. This can lead to increased engagement with their intranet because employees are more likely to return to see the results of the poll or to participate in future polls. Polls create a sense of community Polls can also create a sense of community among employees. When employees see the results of the polls, they can see how their opinions compare to others in the organization. This can create a sense of belonging and encourage employees to engage with the intranet more frequently. Polls provide insight into employee preferences Intranet polls can provide valuable insight into employee preferences and opinions. This information can be used to make informed decisions about company policies, products, and events. When employees see that their opinions are being considered, they are more likely to engage with the intranet platform. Polls encourage two-way communication Intranet polls encourage two-way communication between employees and management. When employees participate in polls, they can see that their feedback is being considered by management. This can lead to more open communication and collaboration, which can further increase engagement with the intranet platform. Best practices for effective polls Timing matters: Release polls consistently (like weekly pulse checks) to build participation habits. Mix content types: Balance business topics with fun, personality-driven questions to keep it interesting. Share results quickly: Post results either in real-time or within 24-48 hours to maintain momentum and show responsiveness. Take action: When possible, follow up poll results with visible changes to demonstrate that feedback matters. Keep it visual: Use images or emojis in poll options to increase visual appeal and engagement. How to create effective intranet polls Creating engaging polls doesn’t require complex strategy, just thoughtful planning and execution: 1. Choose your topic and timing Start with low-stakes, fun topics to build participation habits Schedule polls consistently (like “Friday Pulse” or “Monday Check-in”) Tie polls to current events, seasons, or company happenings for relevance 2. Craft clear, engaging questions Keep questions short and easy to understand Limit answer choices to 5 to 7 options to avoid overwhelming users Add personality with creative answer options or emojis Include an “Other” option when appropriate to capture unexpected responses 3. Set up and promote Use your intranet’s polling feature or integrate third-party tools Announce the poll through multiple channels (email, Slack/Teams, or townhall meetings) Set a clear deadline to create urgency Make it mobile-friendly for remote and on-the-go employees 4. Share results and take action Publish results in real-time or within 24-48 hours while interest is high Add commentary or insights about what the results mean When possible, use poll feedback to make visible improvements Reference poll results in future communications to show their value As you can see, intranet polls are an effective way to increase intranet adoption and engagement. They provide employees with a voice, create a sense of community, provide valuable insight into employee preferences, and encourage two-way communication. If you’re struggling to get employees to engage with your intranet platform, consider implementing intranet polls as a way to encourage participation and feedback. For inspiration on what to include in your next poll, check out this post from Indeed on 100 Fun Polls and Entertaining Questions for Work Events. Polls are just one of the many intranet features ThoughtFarmer offers. Check out our full feature list to discover how integrated polling can work alongside other engagement tools to create a thriving digital workplace.