I've been searching for a good polling widget for a long time and I think I finally found one.
PollDady.com is the best implementation of polling software I've seen for blogs. I've tested 6 or 7 others over the past few months, each time with some degree of dissatisfaction. Either they would not post easily to the sidebar or they forced you to go to their website to view the results. We all go to a lot of trouble to get people to visit our blog posts. The last thing we need is to install something that forces them to leave!
PollDaddy.com does not. You can view the results right here on this page, without being taken to their site. There are also 14 different templates for their polls and changing the template dynamically changes the look on your site. You don't need to copy a new version of the code to see the new look. That's a major plus.
So, after a quick test in private, I decided to do a public test here on ActiveRain... with a question I'm dying to know the answer to:
How much time do you spend per day on ActiveRain?
This is an anonymous poll, so don't be afraid to tell the truth. No one is going to point fingers and say, "Holy crap, how do you get any real work done?" If you're like me, you have a significant other who already asks that question.
So, take the poll over in my sidebar >>>
I have taken this poll down from my sidebar. Here is the link.
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=27460
And if you have been looking for a good polling widget, go check out PollDaddy.com.
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Technical note: The sidebar widget being used for this poll uses their "Javascript Method" for posting the poll. This is their preferred method. They also have a "Flash Method" that uses an embed code. As you can see, the Javascript version works great here on ActiveRain. However, neither of those methods are supported in the body of a blog on ActiveRain.
Jeff Turner aka respres

I am not sure it took my answer ans nothing seemed to change until I hit the comment - great idea - I too wonder - will come back to see the results.
so again, the techmaster brings a new tool to the techie dude. i'm the latter, btw :) later gator..
Debi... yeah. I'm sure the sample won't be large enough to be statistically significant, but it will be interesting none the less.
Thesa, vote again. If you've already voted and it counted, it won't count it again. I have it set to only allow one vote per computer.
Nick... I almost put a "too much time" option, but I thought that would attract too many replies. :)
Michelle... you may want to see if it actually took your vote. I was making changes immediately after I posted, so it may have had some impact. I didn't expect such a fast response! :)
you always find the coolest gadgets ever! Are you one of those gadget people that always have the latest phone, the latest laptop?..the latest baby monitor? or does this only apply to cool technical stuff that's not really physical?
Ines, if you saw my phone, or the tv in my house, you'd know the answer to that question. My phone is scary old and we refuse to replace our tv until it falls apart. I'm not joking, no remotes work with our tv and the front panel that controls the volume and changes channels is falling off. But I've got a brand new Mac Pro to type these posts with! :)
Jeff, will you be leading up the support groups for those of us that might go over 3 hours a day? Kinda like an ARA (Active Rain Anonymous)? Maybe a 12 step program.
Its hard knowing exactly how much time I really spend on it. I usually have at least a dozen windows open. Again, back the real reason... the polling widget... Jeff keeping us up on the latest buzz... thanks!
Laurie, put me down for one.
Jeff, so cool!! Looks like the vote is pretty evenly distributed right now.
You know I'll be sitting around thinking of what I can poll people about today ... OH! Never mind. That didn't take long ... :o) Thanks!
Bob... I'm a multi-tasker myself, so I'm almost always doing two or three things at a time clamoring for my attention. Unless I'm in full conceptual mode, I flutter around from one thing to another.
Laurie... don't book me a room yet. First, I'd have to admit I have a problem. That's the key to any 12-step program. :)
Bruce... I hope we get enough responses to make it worth writing about. Write now, 24 responses. Which really deserves a post all on it own. What is the true number of ActiveRain participant. We know how many members there are, but how many get past setting up their profile?
John... whatever you come up with as a nickname, please just be kind. :)
Kaushik... I'll spend more time today, than I would other days, since I've written a bunch of posts recently. I spend way more time replying to comments than actually writing the posts. But, this is where the meat is.
Jay... please let us know. I have blogs set up on Blogger, Typepad, and Wordpress (both hosted and self hosted), but often don't test each gadget in all places. Thanks!
Teresa... 15 minutes is less than 30 minutes. And I think you spend more than 15 minutes per day writing comments on my posts alone. :)
Sarah.... that was fast! Sarah's poll on Dog limit laws is here.
Chris... I think we all go in spurts. Personally, I spend the bulk of my time writing for four different blogs: here, on our RES Blog, my poetry site, and StopChildSlavery.com. Some days I spend more time than I probably should on any one of them! I'm also posting many times a day nw to this new site I just created based on Tumblr: JustDugUp.com. That one is fun to do because it's so simple and allows me to "talk" about things I run into as I'm cruising around the web. Of course, there's The JottBlog Experiment and the four test sites outside of the real estate industry and working with my Project Blogger. Now, if only there weren't a company to run as well... boy that's a scary thought.
I get to submit with Passion.. seems appropriate right now!
great poll... I likey!
Lizette.. you go girl!
Herb... thank you. We had a wonderful Easter here. Lots of friends and neighbors over!
Ines... yes, that is correct. Eventually it will all just be one big computer anyway. :)
David... nice.
Jeff
Thanks for the interesting info.
LOL! I've wondered this myself. For me....its tooo much time. I'll check back to see the results. Wow fun!
Have a great day!
Jay... thanks. I commented on your other blog, but wanted to say thanks for testing it!
Gary, thank you.
Luisa... yeah, too much time would be the popular choice if it were available. I guarantee that!
John... well it shows up on every blog post, so that's bound to happen. :)
Christina, Lloyd, Art and Irina... thanks. It's a cool little tool.
Gerhard, I find many are like you in that regard... the time is spent in spurts.
Michelle, this too shall pass. :)
Thanks for the poll. Interesting to know that I am not the only AR addict...
Rich... many times I've found myself saying, "I'll just read this post and then go to bed." Then something in the post requires that I go somewhere else to understand the context of their words and the next thing you know, another hour is gone. Dangerous.
Michelle... you're definitely not alone.
Rich... many times I've found myself saying, "I'll just read this post and then go to bed." Then something in the post requires that I go somewhere else to understand the context of their words and the next thing you know, another hour is gone. Dangerous.
Michelle... you're definitely not alone.
I always wondered... thank you for the info!
Gary... it's a very simple to use service as well. Very intuitive.
Diane... you are like most here, I think. We make the most of the opportunities that present themselves. There are days that researching here on AR can take me some amazing places. If I have the time, I let it.
Angie... as I said to Gary, it's also very simple.
Leigh... my pleasure!
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=27460