In 1599 the phrase “timing is everything” was coined by William Shakespeare. While the world and time has marched on, timing still really is everything, especially in business. For instance, starting to advertise the newest top-on-the-line Shark vacuum a month after your competitor is going to be just a little too late. Start advertising before the competition, though, and are you are first in the race. Timing is key.
Timing is also a crucial key to social media marketing. The most engaging infographic or ad you’ve ever created is only really as good as the audience that sees it. Knowing the best times to post on social media will help you maximize your audience, increase engagement with your customers, and build your brand’s online reputation.
So, what are the best times to post on social media? Each platform is different in usage by both day and times. The following chart lays out when the top optimal times for audience interaction are. Since 70% of the U.S. population resides in the Eastern and Central Standard Time zones, it is best to base these times of one of those two time zones. Posting around these times will help you reach a larger market of potential and current customers.
The Best Times to Post on Social Media
The king of social media is definitely Facebook. That being said, the types of posts you create do matter. Video posts are the most popular, with images being second, and text falling into third. When creating video content for Facebook, keep in mind that a fair amount of people will also watch your video without the sound being turned on. Those with subtitles and eye-catching imagery and graphics are the most popular.
The best days for posting on Facebook are Sunday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. For second best, posting anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. is safe. If you aren’t available to post during those times, Facebook has also added a “scheduling” feature that lets you plan out when you want a post to be published. You can also create multiple posts at once and schedule them to appear on your timeline throughout the week or month.
To schedule a Facebook post:
- Start creating your post at the top of your Page’s Timeline.
- Click
next to Publish and select Schedule. - Below Publication, select the date and time you want the post to publish to your Timeline.
- Click Schedule.
They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words. That definitely holds true with Instagram. Share eye-catching images that peak customer interest and are visually appealing. Statistics have shown Brands that have a consistent color scheme and theme have a higher following rate than those that don’t.
The most popular day for posting on Instagram is Monday with 2 a.m., 8-9 a.m., and 5 p.m. being the optimal times. However, Monday at 3 p.m. has shown to be the worst time to post. For second best, any time except 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday is good to post as well.
While Facebook has a post scheduler built in, Instagram isn’t there yet. You will need a separate website to help you schedule Instagram posts. The most popular Instagram scheduler is Later. You can sign up for a free account that includes one profile per platform or choose from one of their three business packages for a more robust service.
Think quality over quantity here. You’ve only got 140 characters and one image to make your mark. Make every one of them count with meaningful wording and hashtags. Wednesday is the most popular day with 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5-6 p.m. being high user times. Other good times to post are between noon and 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.
This photo sharing platform has a marketing advantage over Instagram as it allows users to click-through to your website. The social media platform organizes your posts into categories called “boards” that you create. You decide how it is organized and what benefits your customers the most.
Unlike the other social media platforms listed, the most popular day for Pinterest falls on Saturday. The best times to post to Pinterest are 2 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m. Other relatively safe posting times are after 7 p.m. until midnight. The second best posting days are Friday through Sunday evenings.
Market to Your Audience
While online marketing to customers is key in this day and age, so is knowing your audience. Regardless of the social media platform you are posting to, target your content to meet the needs and wants of your audience. If you have a question that is commonly asked at your business, create a content post that answers it online. Share tips that will help them utilize the full potential of products purchased at your store. Interact online and build relationships by providing the answers and services they need and you’ll achieve social media marketing success