When most people think of polling, their minds go straight to politics, especially during election season. But here’s the thing – polling can be used for so much more than just political campaigns.
Polling can give businesses or organizations real insight into whether they’re on the right track with a rebrand or changes to their products or services. It’s also a powerful way for a coalition or organization to validate its mission – and that will be crucial as we head into Texas’ 2025 Legislative Session.
At the end of the day, people are more likely to listen when 1) you show them the impact and 2) you back it up with data. For example, simply announcing “the need to reform tax policies for businesses” probably won’t inspire or motivate the general public. However, if you can quantify how certain tax policies affect the economy, jobs or small businesses – that might pique people’s interest. When you’re talking to stakeholders or lawmakers, having polling data to say, “This percentage of job creators are struggling, and here’s why,” can make all the difference.
Public polling is also not as randomized as some may think. When organizations deploy a poll, they have the opportunity to narrow the focus to key regions, age groups, genders – and yes, even political preferences. So, for instance, if you know which House or Senate committee might take up your proposed tax policy bill, you could focus on polling certain voting districts or regions to help elevate that this is an issue for constituents.
There are countless ways to tailor a poll for your specific cause. And if budget’s a concern, you can adjust the sample size or cut down on questions to save money while still getting solid data.
No matter your industry, initiative or budget, polling is a valuable tool. The best time to secure the data is in advance of launching your new business decision – or coalition. For those in the public policy realm, the time to act is now. Quality data can take several weeks to procure, and you’ll want time to not only digest the results but to strategize how to communicate that data to lawmakers.
