Polls - on site or on FB?

[olly]

We were investigating polls (e.g. topics of contention, user feedback) on our facebook fanpage a short while ago and there are a few apps which accomplish this task. However, I think a better idea would be to develop a polling platform on our actual website. This way, you market the poll on facebook and direct fans to the poll on your website. The poll then generates traffic directly onto your site, generating organic link backs and creating content for future organic searches. This has a lot of very positive implications from ranking well organically. Is this plan rooted in reality? Does it sound feasible?

Another aspect to consider is the annoyance of having to install a facebook app to vote for a poll, that would deter from voting in the first place..

[TheMadScientist]

You're really thinking about trying to get people to leave FaceBook without causing a power outage? Hmmm... Risky... LOL

Honestly, I think this calls for a good-old-fashioned test. Maybe by putting an initial poll on FB while you develop one for your site, polling the first 'issue' on FB itself, then promoting the site poll and seeing which one is more used.

I understand your 'linking thinking', but I also think word-of-mouth is still a powerful tool and if you can get more 'go take this poll' talk out of FB than by sending people to the site you 'drive home' your brand so when people are in the market for whatever it is you offer your name is in the front of their mind.

IOW: I would maybe think not as much about direct link and SE / SEO benefits on this one, but rather longer-term name and brand recognition benefits then go with the type of poll that seems to generate the best results in that area.

Just my .05... I used to only give .02, but with the inflation these days... LOL