Social media is one big social gathering, and like any get-together or event, timing is everything. Show up late to a surprise party, and you may ruin the surprise. Show up too early for a happy hour, and you won’t get the deals. Timing changes based on the event; the same goes for social media. You must find the sweet spot for each platform to get your content in front of the right people. Bowe Digital will help you get started. In this blog, we’re sharing the best times to post on social media using data from Hootsuite and Sprout Social.
Tip: It’s not just about when you post but also what you post. Our team can create custom content that’s on trend, aligns with your goals and resonates with your customers. Visit www.bowedigital.com/services to learn more about our services.
Facebook is one of the oldest and most widely used social media platforms. In 2022, it saw a slight decline among younger users, but just like high-waisted jeans, it came back in style. The largest age group using the app today is 25-34-year-old males and females. However, it is also popular among older generations. Peak engagement times on Facebook tend to be mid-morning on weekdays, with the most popular days being Tuesday and Wednesday between 9 AM and 3 PM.
“When it comes to getting seen on the Facebook algorithm, past performance and follower activity are both important. You also want to consider what time your target audience tends to scroll, paying attention to differences in time zones,” according to Hootsuite. This can vary based on your customer base and what they do for work. A teacher may be on before and after the school day, whereas an accountant may be more active during lunch breaks. Luckily, users check their feeds multiple times a day, so you have room to experiment. Keep in mind that posts containing images get the best engagement.
Instagram is a visual platform where timing can significantly impact your visibility. “Recency is a key ranking signal in Instagram’s algorithm. This means that audience behavior is an important factor in posting times,” says this article. Studies suggest that the best times to post on Instagram are typically between 10 AM and 2 PM during weekdays, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays extending to 4 PM. On weekends, the engagement tends to be higher from 11 AM to 1 PM. However, it’s not an exact science. While many brand accounts tend to do well posting early in the morning, certain industries may have more success in the evening. If you’re posting about merchandise, housing, entertainment or related products or services, you may be dealing with some late-night scrollers. Note that carousel posts perform the best for business accounts.
Are you in the business of marketing to other businesses? Then LinkedIn is the social gathering place for you. The platform is a hub for professionals to connect, and 82% of B2B marketers see success. “While it used to be primarily professionals scrolling at 5 a.m., LinkedIn now has a lot of young professionals who are browsing in their leisurely time, too,” says this article. However, they may be clocking out of LinkedIn when they clock out of work. Studies show the highest engagement occurs midday on weekdays, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 AM and noon. When it comes to LinkedIn, posting different types of content throughout the day can be beneficial. If you have written content, try posting in the morning and save your images and videos for the afternoon.
TikTok
The kids are using it, and you should, too! Gen Z, or the “TikTok generation,” is quickly aging into the market, and your business needs to meet them where they’re at when they’re there. If you’re looking for video ideas, check out our Trends Blog. After all, TikTok is the fastest-growing channel for product discovery.
“TikTok doesn’t always publish videos the second you hit “post,” …so you should post a bit earlier than the time you want your video to start showing up on peoples’ feeds,” according to Hootsuite. The best times to post often align with when people have free time, typically in the evenings and on weekends. Pushing your content out between 4 PM and 6 PM on Tuesdays and Fridays and 9 AM to 11 AM on Wednesdays and Thursdays can increase your engagement. Adding well-researched hashtags can make your posts searchable for longer.
X (formerly known as Twitter)
In our opinion, X is no longer the place for businesses to mix and mingle with customers due to its fast-paced nature, where tweets can quickly get buried in the feed. It’s better suited for news and trending topics, but we understand if you’re having trouble letting go. To maximize your reach, try posting on weekdays between 12 PM and 3 PM, as well as from 5 PM to 6 PM. Additionally, consider posting on weekends between 1 PM and 3 PM.
Remember, these times are based on general trends and averages. The most effective timing for your social media strategy will differ based on your target audience's demographics, location and industry. Experimenting with different times and analyzing the results on each platform will help you refine your posting schedule. If your followers span multiple regions or countries, you may need to schedule posts to cater to their local time zones. Social media management tools can be a valuable resource for automating posts at specific times and effectively targeting a global audience.
If you need help posting the right content at the right times, Contact Bradley Erb on our team at bradley@bowedigital.com. Learn more about our custom marketing services at bowedigital.com.