by We’re all too familiar with posting on social media. But have you noticed that some posts perform better at different times of the day? That’s not a coincidence. The time you post your content is critical to your platform’s success. To optimize your potential reach for posts, you should post in those Goldilocks times to allow your post to hit ‘just right’.
Think about when you are on your phone. What hours of the day do you spend more time on it than others? More likely than not, you’re not the only one with those habits. I know that based on my personal observations, I especially spend more time on my phone around lunch time – you may have seen the jokes recently about women watching Cody Ko videos while they eat. That’s very true, at least for me and my friends. But relating that to social media and Instagram in particular, those are the times people are consuming content. More people take their phones everywhere with them – just think about how often people are on their phones in the bathroom.
What you want to do is align the times of the content you’re posting, with the times people are most likely to check their phones. Cracking this algorithm, is the key to reaching as many eyeballs as possible. Those times also differ depending on the day.
It’s better to post before and after work hours, from 6 a.m to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. As well as during lunch hours from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. It’s advised you avoid posting on weekends because that’s when audiences are taking time for their personal lives, but if you do, post before 2 p.m.
For specific days and times, on Monday the best times to post, in PST, are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. For Tuesday, the best times to post are from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. On Wednesday, the best times are 5 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For Thursdays, 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. are the best. Friday has more open windows, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday’s best times are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Lastly, Sunday’s best times are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you can incorporate these times into your social media strategy and content calendars, you’ll find that ‘goldilocks’ time and maximize your reach for your Instagram posts.
Hello Elizabeth,
I think you wrote a very well-written and informative article on an important topic for PR practitioners. The time in which you choose to post is crucial and will be a key factor in engagement. Posting at the right time is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your social media strategy, increasing reach and engagement, and ultimately achieving your marketing objectives. Knowing this information is necessary for those making social media content and working in media relations
Elizabeth, I loved your post! I think this is a very relevant topic for this class. I enjoyed reading the article you linked and learning more about your insights. The optimal posting times create a unique challenge for social media coordinators, as they tend to fall outside of normal working hours.
Hi Elizabeth, I loved reading this post. The time of day does matter for posting. I found it interesting that most of the best times to post end before 7 PM. I usually post my content at the end of the day when my work day is done, and I’ve had my dinner, but I am going to try and post during one of the times you recommended and see how it works!
Hi Elizabeth! I loved this post and will definitely be remembering about the importance of time when posting things for higher engagement. This is great information for all people looking to be better at social media, and king slight adjustments to account for when people are “on their phones” is so important to getting higher engagement, or just even more likes for personal use!
Hi Elizabeth!
This was a great post! I’ve heard a bit about the time of day mattering, but you really helped break it down. I find I usually post towards the end of the day, but I’ll try to keep your times in mind. I also didn’t know each day had a different “best” time to post— I found that very interesting. I think this is super helpful for brands or influencers who want to get more engagement!