Summary
The best time to post on social media is from Tuesdays through Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Facebook is the most used platform for marketers, with peak engagement times during mid-morning on weekdays.
Instagram comes second with peak engagement times on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with Tuesdays and Wednesdays extending to 4 p.m.
LinkedIn, a professional-focused platform, sees high engagement midday on weekdays, especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and noon.
TikTok, the youngest platform, shows peak engagement on weekdays, particularly on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and mid-mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
When is the best time to post on social media?
When it comes to social media, timing is everything. The moment you choose to share your content can significantly impact its reach and engagement.
If you are getting less engagement and fewer conversions than you’d like from your social media posts, it might be as simple as posting at the wrong time for your followers.
With various social media platforms bustling with activity at different times, understanding when your target audience is most active becomes crucial. This insight improves visibility and boosts interaction, ensuring your message resonates with its intended audience.
In this article, you’ll learn the best time to post on social media based on research from Sprout Social and Hootsuite.
By the end, you’ll have a great starting point to find out what posting schedule works for you and your followers to get more likes, comments, and shares.
- Best Time To Post on Social Media – Overall
- Best Times To Post on Facebook
- Best Times To Post on Instagram
- Best Times To Post on LinkedIn
- Best Times To Post on Pinterest
- Best Times To Post on X (formerly Twitter)
- How To Find the Best Time To Post on Social Media
- Use Social Media to Grow Your Email List
Best Time To Post on Social Media – Overall
Best time to post on social media:
- Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon
- Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.
Best day of the week to post on social media: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Worst days to post on social media: Sundays
When determining the best time to post on social media, consider each social platform’s unique characteristics, your goals, content type, target audience, demographic, and location.
Data suggests midweek mornings, mainly Tuesdays to Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon, are generally the best time to post on social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Pinterest and TikTok, for instance, show higher engagement in the afternoons.
Remember, these trends can vary significantly by industry and other variables, so it’s crucial to tailor your strategy and review your social media KPIs for the best results.
Best Times To Post on Facebook
Best time to post on Facebook:
- Mondays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon
Best day of the week to post on Facebook: Mondays through Thursdays
Worst days to post on Facebook: Sundays
Facebook remains a crucial platform for digital marketers, with peak engagement times aligning with general business hours.
The best times to do a Facebook post are from Monday to Thursday, beginning at 8 a.m. and extending to early afternoon around 1 p.m. Avoid posting during the early morning hours, especially from Friday to Monday.
A successful Facebook strategy involves timing, frequency, and type of content posted. Tailoring content specifically for Facebook can significantly impact engagement rates.
Best Times To Post on Instagram
Best times to post on Instagram:
- Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.
Best day of the week to post on Instagram: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Worst days to post on Instagram: Sundays
Instagram, a close second to Facebook in marketer usage, excels in customer service and short-form video content, with Reels being top-rated.
Best posting times for Instagram are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s advisable to avoid early morning hours for posting.
Success on Instagram, with its diverse content options and nearly 2 billion monthly users, hinges on balancing high-quality, engaging content with the unpredictability of the Instagram algorithm. This strategy is vital for effective Instagram marketing.
Best Times To Post on LinkedIn
Best times to post on LinkedIn Company Pages: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon
Best day of the week to post on LinkedIn Company Pages: Tuesdays through Thursdays
Worst days to post on LinkedIn Company Pages: Weekends
LinkedIn, known for its professional focus, sees highest engagement during typical workday hours, especially around midday. Posting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and noon is most effective.
The platform is more than just a job board; it’s a space for professional storytelling and advocacy, attracting over 900 million members globally. Businesses leverage LinkedIn for lead generation, co-marketing, and talent attraction, aligning their engagement strategies with standard business hours.
Best Times To Post on Pinterest
Best times to post on Pinterest:
- Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.
- Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Best day of the week to post on Pinterest: Wednesdays through Fridays
Worst days to post on Pinterest: Sundays and Mondays
A visual search engine, Pinterest is optimal for brands focused on products, trends, and designs.
The best times to post are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays around 1 p.m., with an additional peak time at 6 a.m. on Wednesdays. This timing could be influenced by user activity and the platform’s algorithm.
Brands should consider these optimal times when planning their social media content calendars to gain the most engagement on Pinterest.
Best Times To Post on TikTok
Best times to post on TikTok:
- Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.
Best day of the week to post on TikTok: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Worst days to post on TikTok: Sundays
TikTok, a rapidly growing platform with over 1 billion active users, finds its peak engagement during weekday afternoons, especially Tuesdays to Thursdays.
The best times to post are generally between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on these days. This timing aligns with users seeking entertainment in the afternoon.
Understanding and proactively engaging with TikTok trends is crucial for effective social marketing strategies on this dynamic platform.
Best Times To Post on X (formerly Twitter)
Best times to post on Twitter:
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Fridays 9 a.m. to noon
Best days to post on Twitter: Tuesdays through Thursdays
Worst days to post on Twitter: Sundays
Twitter, vital for real-time conversations (known as tweets) and news, has seen its highest engagement times shift to late mornings and midday during weekdays. The best time to post on Twitter is starting at 9 a.m. and tapering off around noon, from Tuesday to Friday.
This reflects the social platform’s role in sharing developing news, trends via hashtags and entertainment. Brands also use Twitter for customer service, enhancing trust and customer experience through proactive social listening and engagement.
How To Find the Best Time To Post on Social Media
Finding the perfect timing for your social media posts can be tricky, but each platform offers built-in analytics to help you crack the code. Here’s a breakdown for some major platforms:
1. Facebook
Analytics Tool: Facebook Insights
How to Find Best Times:
- Navigate to Insights > Posts.
- Select a specific post or a date range to view performance data.
- Look for the “When Your Fans Are Online” section. This graph shows the days and times when your followers are most active on Facebook.
- Based on this data, identify recurring patterns for peak activity.
2. Instagram
Analytics Tool: Instagram Insights (accessible through your business or creator profile)
How to Find Best Times:
- Go to your profile and tap “Insights.”
- Select “Audience.”
- Scroll down to “Most Active Times.” This section shows the days and times when your followers are most active on Instagram.
- Look for patterns and identify the days with the highest peaks.
3. Pinterest
Analytics Tool: Tailwind offers advanced analytics specifically for Pinterest (free trial available)
How to Find Best Times:
- While Pinterest doesn’t have built-in analytics for best posting times, Tailwind provides valuable insights.
- Look for data on pin reach and engagement throughout the week.
4. Twitter
Analytics Tool: Twitter Analytics
How to Find Best Times:
- Go to Analytics and navigate to the “Tweets” tab.
- Select the time frame you want to analyze.
- Look for the “Top Tweets” section, which shows your tweets with the most impressions.
- Note the days and times these tweets were posted. This can give you clues about when your audience is most receptive.
5. LinkedIn
Analytics Tool: LinkedIn Analytics (built into your company or personal profile)
How to Find Best Times:
- Go to your profile and click “Analytics.”
- Select “Posts.”
- Here, you’ll see engagement metrics for your posts. Look for patterns in terms of the days with the highest impressions or clicks.
6. TikTok
Analytics Tool: TikTok Analytics (requires a TikTok account) is accessible through your Pro account settings within the app
How to Find Best Times:
- With TikTok Analytics, you can see follower activity throughout the week.
- Look for the section on “Follower Activity.” This will show you the days and times when your followers are most active.
Use Social Media to Grow Your Email List
My most important tip, though, is to use social media to grow your email list.
Why? Glad you asked.
On social media, you don’t own your followers. If at any pocint the social network decides to delete or suspend your account, your audience will be gone.
However, if you’ve converted your followers to your email list, you’ll still have your leads. You own your email list which means no one can delete or suspend it at any time without warning.
The best way to grow your email list is with OptinMonster. Here’s how to do it:
1. Create a New Campaign
Start by logging into OptinMonster and clicking Create New Campaign from the Campaign Dashboard.
Then, you’ll choose a campaign type. We’re going to use a Fullscreen campaign to create a landing page feel.
Next, choose a campaign template. We’re going to use Entrance for this tutorial.
Once you click Use Template you’ll name your campaign, choose the website you’ll use the campaign on, and click Start Building.
2. Edit Your Campaign
After you click Start Building, you’ll be taken into the campaign builder. You’ll see the default optin view design of the template you chose.
You can customize everything about your campaign.
To edit, just click on the element you want to edit on the live preview (right side of the builder). This will bring up the editing tools on the left side of the builder.
You can change fonts, colors, sizes, and so much more! If you want more guidance on editing, check out this tutorial to create a simple campaign.
Once you have your campaign edited to your liking, click Save in the upper right corner before moving on to the next step.
3. Set the Display Rules
Now we’ll set up the display rules to show the campaign when users click on the link. To do that, we’ll use MonsterLinks™.
Adding a MonsterLink™ to your campaign is as easy as choosing visitor clicked MonsterLink™ from the conditions dropdown.
Save your campaign.
4. Add Your Email Provider
To collect email addresses, you’re going to need to add an integration. Don’t worry if you haven’t chosen the right email service provider for you; you can still collect email addresses just using OptinMonster.
For this tutorial, we’re going to show you how to connect Constant Contact, our number one recommendation for email service providers.
From the Integrations tab, click + Add New Integration.
Choose Constant Contact from the Email Provider dropdown:
If this is your first time connecting Constant Contact to OptinMonster, you’ll click Register with Constant Contact and login to your Constant Contact account on the screen that pops up.
Once logged into Constant Contact, click Allow to give OptinMonster permission to connect to your Constant Contact account.
Add an account label to easily identify the account (internal use) and click the Connect to Constant Contact button.
Once connected, choose the email list you want to add new subscribers to:
Pro TipConnect Monster Leads to your campaign to create a backup of your leads.
Save your campaign.
5. Publish Your Campaign
Go to the Publish tab and toggle the Status to Live.
Save your campaign.
6. Add MonsterLink™ to Your Social Media Profiles
Now that you’ve created your campaign, you can copy and paste the MonsterLink™ wherever you want!
While you’re still on the Publish tab, scroll down to the Platform section and click on Shareable MonsterLink™. From there, copy the link provided and add it to your social media profiles.
Here’s what happens when someone clicks the link from your profile:
Ridiculously cool, right?
Also read How Social Media Examiner Added 250,000 Email Subscribers Using OptinMonster.
Boost your social media marketing ROI (and build an email list that you own) with OptinMonster. Join OptinMonster today!
Best Time To Post on Social Media – FAQ
1) When is the best time to post on social media?
The best time to post on social media is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during midweek, from Tuesday to Thursday.
2) What is the best time to put a post on Instagram?
The best time to put a post on Instagram is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
3) Do posting times matter on social media?
Yes, posting times do matter on social media. Posting when your audience is most active increases the likelihood of social media engagement, which is crucial for visibility due to the algorithms prioritizing popular posts.
However, it’s also important to consider the quality of content and consistency in posting.
4) What is the best time to post on Facebook for maximum exposure?
The best time to post on Facebook is 8 a.m, Monday to Thursday, extending to early afternoon around 1 p.m.
More on Social Media:
- 17 Best Social Media Management Tools To Win
- 8 Digital Marketing Best Practices
- How to Increase Sales With Social Media: 9 Expert Tips
- Social Selling Statistics (Includes Social Media Marketing!)
- How to Raise Awareness on Social Media: 5 Totally Unique Strategies
- Social Media and SEO: Do Social Shares Really Matter for Ranking?
- How to Use Social Media for Affiliate Marketing
- 11 Social Media Metrics You Need to Nail Your Marketing Goals
- 8 Best Social Media Feed Tools to Boost Followers
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