Swarm

POLL CREATION

Q: How do I create a poll?
A: To create your own poll, click the "Create Poll" option at the top of any Swarm page. From there, simply follow the instructions.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of polls I can create?
A: Definitely not. There is no limit and we actively encourage you to create and vote upon as many polls as you want.

Q: Can I add an image to a poll?
A: Yes. When you create a poll, you can add an image to the poll question and you can add an image to each of the poll answers. To add an image, just click on the camera icon to the right of the question or answer entry field. You can either upload an image from your computer or easily select an image from Google images using our built-in image selection tool.

Q: Can I add video or music to a poll?
A: Not at this time. We plan to add support for video and music files in a future release of the Swarm service.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of answers for each poll?
A: Yes. A poll can have up to 8 standard answers, plus one additional "last answer" like "None of the Above". So, the most answers a poll can have is 9.

Q: Can users select more than one answer to a poll question?
A: Not at this time. We plan to add support for multiple selection polls in a future release of the Swarm service.

Q: How long will a poll collect votes?
A: Polls remain active and open for voting for a period of 90 days from the date they are created. After this 90-day period, the poll automatically closes and no new votes can be cast on that poll. However, a closed poll remains in the Swarm system, and it can still be accessed by all users, so they can review the results of the poll long after it has closed.

Q: Can I change how long a poll collects votes?
A: Not at this time. We plan to enable poll creators to configure poll durations in a future release of the Swarm service. However, using our poll management tools, you can close or delete a poll prior to the expiration of the standard 90-day period if you wish to do so.

Q: What kind of content is allowed on Swarm?
A: Swarm welcomes users to create polls, express their opinion and share their thoughts about any topic in the world that interests them. We ask users to be responsible for their actions and the content they place on the site. And we require content posted on the Swarm Network to adhere to our basic Terms of Use. Also, please remember that this is a community site, and other Swarm users will be providing feedback on the polls you create, including potentially identifying polls as inappropriate or offensive. When a poll is flagged as offensive by other users, it will be subject to deletion by the site moderators.

Q: Will poll answers appear in random order?
A: Yes. By default, poll answers appear in random order, to ensure that voters will not be biased towards a particular response. However, if you'd like to have your poll answers appear in the order that you have entered them, you can select this option on the poll creation page.

Q: What is the "Last Answer" field for?
A: Sometimes, you might want to add a final answer to your poll, like "All of the Above", "None of the Above", or "Other". The Last Answer field is there to allow you to add one of these types of answers to your poll. When you add a Last Answer, it will always appear below all other responses, whether or not the other poll responses are in random order.

Q: Do I have to choose a Category for my poll?
A: No. Selecting a Category for your poll is an optional part of the poll creation process. However, we strongly encourage you to choose a Category for your poll, because that will make it easier for other users to find your poll and vote on it.

POLL DISPLAY

Q: Some polls only display results and cannot be voted on, why?
A: If you are unable to vote upon a poll, it may be because you have already voted on it. Or it may be because that poll has closed. Polls remain open for 90 days from the date they are created. Once a poll has closed, you will still be able to see the results of that poll, but no new votes can be cast on that poll.

Q: There is a link next to the Vote button that says "I Can't Respond" - what is that for?
A: The "I Can't Respond" link is an important part of the Swarm service. It is designed to allow the Swarm community to provide feedback on polls. When you see a poll that you can't answer, click on "I Can't Respond" and tell us why. Sometimes, a poll will be confusing, sometimes it will be about a topic you're not familiar with, and unfortunately, sometimes you might find a poll inappropriate. Under any of these circumstances, let the Swarm system know by clicking on the "I Can't Respond" link. This feedback mechanism will then be used to help rank polls and distribute polls appropriately throughout the network.

Q: Can I view demographic poll results, such as by Age or Gender?
A: Yes. After you have voted on a poll, you will see icons for Age, Gender and Map. Clicking on any of these icons will bring you to a page where you can see detailed demographic results for that poll, including seeing poll results by gender, age and geographic location.

Q: The demographic displays are really cool. But why is the vote total on some of the demographic displays smaller than the vote total for the whole poll?
A: The Swarm system can only display demographic results to the extent we have demographic information on the people who voted. Swarm aggregates demographic information for many voters within the Swarm network, but doesn't have demographic information on everyone. Therefore, the vote totals on these demographic displays will sometimes be smaller than the vote totals for the poll overall.

Q: Can I tell who has voted on a poll?
A: No. We do not currently provide the ability to determine which users have voted on a particular poll. We may add this functionality at a later date.

Q: Can I see how a particular person has voted on my poll?
A: No. Votes cast on Swarm polls are held in confidence by Swarm pursuant to our Privacy Policy. In particular, personally identifiable information about how a particular voter voted is not disclosed to other users, not even to the poll creator.

Q: What do I do if I feel a Swarm poll is offensive?
A: If you find any poll on the Swarm Network offensive, you can flag it as offensive, and it will be reviewed by our site moderators. If a sufficient number of Swarm users find that poll offensive, or if it violates our Terms of Use, it will be removed from the system.

POLL MANAGEMENT

Q: Can I view a list of the polls I have created?
A: Yes. To review the polls you have created, click on the "My Polls" option at the top of any Swarm page. From the My Polls page, you will be able to review all the polls you have created. You will also be able to review all the polls you have voted on.

Q: Can I delete a poll I have created?
A: Yes. To delete a poll, navigate to the My Polls page, and click upon the Delete icon to the right of the poll you wish to delete. Once you delete a poll, it will no longer be accessible to you or any other user of the Swarm Network.

Q: Can I close a poll early?
A: Yes. By default, a poll will be open for voting for 90 days from the day it is created. However, if you wish, you can close a poll early and stop further voting on it. To do so, navigate to the My Polls page, and click on the Close icon to the right of the poll you wish to close. When you close a poll, it remains in the Swarm system, and the results of the poll can still be viewed by users, but no further votes can be cast upon the poll. Once a poll has been closed, it cannot be reopened.

SHARING AND WIDGETS

Q: Can I share polls with my friends by email?
A: Yes. Simply click on any of the links on the site that say "Share". This will bring you to the Swarm sharing page. On the sharing page, enter the email addresses of the friends to whom you wish to send the poll. If you wish, you can enter multiple email addresses at once. The Swarm system will send an email from you to the friends you designate and even include an optional message from you if you'd like.

Q: Can I share links to polls via Digg or Del.icio.us?
A: Yes. If you are a registered user of Digg, Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or any other social bookmarking service, it is very easy to share links to Swarm polls. Simply click on any of the numerous links on the site that say "Share". This will bring you to the Swarm sharing page. On the sharing page, click on the designated button to share via a Bookmarking Service and then follow the instructions from there.

Q: Can I add a Swarm poll to my MySpace or Facebook page, or to my blog?
A. Yes. You can post a "widget" of a Swarm poll on any website that you control, including your MySpace page, Facebook profile, iGoogle or blog.

Q: What are widgets?
A: A widget is a small, portable version of a Swarm poll that you can place on another website, like your blog, personal homepage or social network page. A widget is fully interactive - it allows users to see polls, vote on polls, and see poll results, all without ever leaving your site. By using Swarm widgets, you can entertain your friends and other site visitors with interesting, fresh poll content.

Q: How do I get a poll widget?
A: Simply click on any of the numerous links on the site that say "Widget". This will bring you to the Swarm widget page. On the widget page, select how you’d like your widget to appear, and then select the destination for your widget, using the built-in widget distribution tool. With just a few simple clicks, you'll have a new widget on your site.

Q: Can I customize the size and layout of a Swarm widget?
A: Yes. You can choose between two different widget sizes (240x400 pixels or 300x250 pixels). You can also choose whether or not to have photos appear in your widget. Finally, you can choose various color themes for your widget, so it will fit in nicely with the site on which you are posting it.

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

Q: How do I change my email address and password?
A: While logged in, click on the "My Account" link on the upper right hand corner of any Swarm page. From there, simply follow the instructions.

Q: How can I edit my personal information?
A: While logged in, click on the "My Account" link on the upper right hand corner of any Swarm page. From there, simply follow the instructions.

Q: Can I control how frequently I receive emails from Swarm, The Polling Network?
A: Yes. By default, after you create a poll, the Swarm system will send you a daily email providing a status update on how your poll is performing. This is a great way to continually monitor the results of your poll as they come in. If you would like to change the frequency with which these emails are sent to you, you can do so by clicking on the "My Account" link on the upper right hand corner of any Swarm page, and changing the appropriate setting.

Q: How can I delete my account?
A: If you wish to close your account with Swarm, please send an email to customerservice@swarmpolls.com with a request to close your account. Please understand that, unless you manually delete them, any polls that you have previously created on the Swarm Network will remain in the system even after your account is closed.

CONTACT