As you know, we are mere days away from having our first monthly vote for Would You Read It to see which of our intrepid participants will win a pitch read from editor Erin Molta!!! So exciting I can barely articulate... and you are probably having trouble reading... and maybe even breathing...!
I thought it would behoove me (by which I mean I thought it would be a good idea, not that I'm planning on sprouting hooves) to figure out how to do a poll.
I found a rather circuitous but ultimately (hopefully) useful set of instructions by googling "how do you add a poll to a blog post" (isn't it wonderful what you can find at the touch of a button?) Of course, the instructions weren't exactly right, so I would never have figured it out without my tech savvy children... but all's well that ends well, right?
So. In the spirit of getting things in working order (and making me practice how to do this!) before the crucial moment, let's try out some polls!
Are you game?
Okay! Here we go! There is nothing even remotely biased about these questions either.
Who is your favorite chldren's author?
What is your favorite picture book?
Who is your favorite children's book character?
What is your favorite color?
Please vote, everyone, so I can figure out if it works! I may still want to try poll daddy. Then we'll be ready for the big Would You Read It vote sometime after this week's post, coming Wednesday from Laynie, our second MG entrant!
Also, on another note - for those of you who have been asking about following by email/getting post notification by email, my awesome wonderfully talented works-even-on-Sunday designer, Donna Farrell, has created a place for you to enter your email address and do that. It's right there in the right hand column near the followers area. Thank you, Donna, and thanks to you interested folks who want to know the minute a new post is up :)
P.S. I think I can already tell I don't like this polling method. Is it just me, or once there's a vote up is everyone seeing the vote status? Do you consider that a good thing or would it be better if you didn't know how the vote was going?
I think its best not to be able to see how the total votes are shaping up.
ReplyDeleteYes. I was able to see the voting status. I'm looking forward to the Would You Read It segments. I'm not ready to do that yet, but look forward to the posts. Thanks for the email subscription option. I need to better organize my google reader. I check email daily, so I know I'll see it when you post.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to know how everyone else voted, Susanna. It seems to sway the vote somehow. Glad you aren't planning on growing hooves. That had me worried. *wink*
ReplyDeleteStacy - I'm glad the email thingy is helpful. I've discovered I really like that feature on other people's blogs. Like you, my google reader could be more organized, but I'm on email all the time and like getting notification that my favorite blogs have new posts!
ReplyDeleteEric and Robyn - I don't like seeing the votes. I agree, it kind of sways your opinion. I'm going to see what other options I might come up with.
So fun. I am digging the polling method. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea to try this out! I think being able to see the voting responses before voting might influence the real vote. I am looking forward to your big event!
ReplyDeleteI agree about not being able to see the results. This is so exciting, Susanna!
ReplyDeleteI can see the polling stats after I vote, too. It's okay, except that it lets you change your vote, which doesn't seem "fair" AFTER you've already voted AND SEEN the results.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like seeing the results and it seems fair to see them AFTER I've already voted. But being able to change the vote?? That doesn't seem like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat inluvwithwords said. I don't mind seeing the results, it's kind of interesting after I've voted, but being able to change my vote, possibly based on that, is maybe less than good.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to vote for pink in the favorite color one! Sigh. ;)
(Thanks for commenting on my blog, Susannah. It's going to be fun getting to know you, I can tell!)
Yes, I agree with the others that you shouldn't be able to change your vote. I'm pretty sure that Poll Daddy has an option for that. Poll Daddy also has an option that hides the votes from you and doesn't allow you to vote again.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think that hiding the results is better for the contestants. If mine was an option and absolutely nobody voted for it, I wouldn't want everyone seeing that.
Oh, and thanks for adding the email subscription option. :-D
Hi Susannah, glad you're a campaigner too cuz it gave me the chance to meet you and discover your website ( which i've joined too!) besides i believe the irish needs to be represented in your blog ! ;-) your first poll question kind of made me laugh. It's like saying " Aren't I great? Or aren't I great?" bye for now.
ReplyDeleteAbby - glad you like it :)
ReplyDeleteKimberly, Megan, Christie, Inluvwithwords - I think we're all in agreement!
Cally - that is an EXCELLENT point that I did not think of!
Speedwing - yes, I confess, the polling was a bit weighted in my favor :) Just an experiment to see how the system works and I'm glad I did it because it doesn't! Poll Daddy, here I come...
Elizabethanne - sorry I skipped you by accident! Next time I'll put pink :)
ReplyDelete