Entrepreneurs worldwide know the significance of getting a strong social media advertising and marketing technique – and a key a part of that is discovering the perfect instances to put up on social media.
The previous adage ‘timing is all the things’ holds very true on the planet of social media, the place the distinction between a put up that fades into obscurity and one which goes viral can typically be only a matter of when it was shared.
With an always-growing array of social platforms internet hosting billions of customers worldwide, it has by no means been more difficult to face above the noise and make your voice heard on social.
To find out the perfect instances to put up on social media in 2024, we reviewed unique information from main social media management tools.
It’s essential to notice that the info from these sources current a wide range of findings and recommendations, which underscore the truth that social media is an ever-evolving panorama. Probably the most essential factor is knowing the habits of your personal target market.
Let’s dive in.
The Greatest Occasions To Publish On Social Media
| Supply | Day Of Week | Time To Publish |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Native |
| Hootsuite | Monday | 12 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Friday, Wednesday, and Monday (in that order) | 7 p.m. Native |
- Greatest instances to put up on social media: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Greatest days to put up on social media: Monday and Wednesday.
- Worst days to put up on social media: Saturday and Sunday.
Figuring out an excellent time for posting on social media normally is sophisticated, as every platform is completely different, with distinctive customers, options, and communities.
When deciding which social media platforms to concentrate on, you need to think twice about your model’s target market and overarching targets.
Should you’re seeking to attain a community of pros, LinkedIn is likely to be an excellent match; in case your model is hoping to speak to Gen Z consumers, you would possibly contemplate TikTok or Snapchat.
This explains why – when analyzing information from Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and CoSchedule on the perfect total instances to put up on social media – we are able to draw some similarities but in addition see a wide range of suggestions.
Weekdays emerge as a transparent winner. CoSchedule and Sprout Social each spotlight Wednesday as an excellent day, with Hootsuite and CoSchedule additionally highlighting Mondays as a robust day for engagement.
The commonest time vary among the many sources is within the morning to mid-afternoon, with CoSchedule offering some very particular recommendations for post-timing.
Each CoSchedule and Sprout Social agree on avoiding Saturdays and Sundays.
The Greatest Occasions To Publish On Fb
| Supply | Day Of Week | Time To Publish |
| Sprout Social | Monday to Thursday | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Native |
| Hootsuite | Monday and Tuesday | 1 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Friday, Wednesday, and Monday (in that order) | 9 a.m. Native |
- Greatest instances to put up on Fb: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Greatest days to put up on Fb: Weekdays.
- Worst day to put up on Fb: Sunday.
Facebook stays probably the most used social media platform on the planet, with the biggest promoting market share (16%).
Whereas it’s skilled a shift in consumer demographics over current years – now catering to older customers – its reputation continues to climb, and its potential as a brand marketing tool can’t be disputed.
Concerning the perfect instances to put up on Fb, all of our sources agree that weekdays are greatest. Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and CoSchdule all identify Monday as an important day to have interaction on Fb, together with calling out varied different days of the week.
There’s a common consensus that Sundays ought to be averted.
The sources fluctuate of their recommendations for optimum time slots, however usually talking, early to mid-morning appears to be the preferred choice.
The Greatest Occasions To Publish On YouTube
| Supply | Day Of Week | Time To Publish |
| SocialPilot | Sunday | 2-4 p.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Friday and Saturday | 6-9 p.m. Native |
- Greatest instances to put up on YouTube: 2-4 p.m. on weekdays and 9/11 a.m. on weekends.
- Greatest days to put up on YouTube: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Worst day to put up on YouTube: Tuesday.
Because the second most visited web site on the planet and the second most used social platform globally, YouTube provides an unparalleled alternative for manufacturers and people to attach with audiences by video.
And with its continued growth – by introducing options like YouTube Shorts, initiatives like increasing the methods creators can get paid on the platform, and its rising reputation as a search engine – the platform exhibits no indicators of slowing.
YouTube is now not only a video-sharing web site; it’s a sturdy advertising and marketing device that empowers companies to lift model consciousness and drive significant engagement.
Discovering current information on the perfect instances to put up on YouTube proved more durable than for another channels, so these suggestions ought to be taken with a grain of salt.
Whereas HubSpot suggests Friday and Saturday are the strongest days to publish on YouTube, SocialPilot particularly calls out Sunday as probably the most partaking day – so it’s value experimenting with all three.
SocialPilot doesn’t particularly identify the worst day, however in line with HubSpot, you’d be smart to avoid Tuesday.
Each sources counsel the afternoon as an efficient time for posting throughout the week. SocialPilot specifies that publishing within the mornings on weekends (9/11 a.m.) is efficient, so that is essential to remember.
The Greatest Occasions To Publish On Instagram
| Supply | Day Of Week | Time To Publish |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Native |
| Hootsuite | Wednesday | 2 p.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Saturday | 6-9 p.m. Native |
| CoSchedule | Wednesday, Friday, and Tuesday (in that order) |
9 a.m. Local |
| Later | Monday | 4 a.m. Local |
- Best times to post on Instagram: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Best day to post on Instagram: Wednesday.
- Worst day to post on Instagram: Sunday.
From its origins as a photo-sharing platform, Instagram has evolved into one of the most popular social media networks in the world – and an indispensable marketing tool.
With billions of users – 90% of whom are following at least one business – Instagram has become a powerful engine for ecommerce, brand awareness, and community-building.
As a leader in the social media space, Instagram constantly provides new formats and features for users to try out – from Reels to Stories, user quizzes and polls, and more.
We consulted a handful of sources to determine the top posting times for Instagram and came away with a mixed bag of answers.
Wednesday appears to take the cake as the most consistently recommended day, with CoSchedule, Sprout Social, and Hootsuite all suggesting it.
Generally, our sources seem to lean towards weekdays as being strongest for Instagram engagement – with the exception of HubSpot, which recommends Saturday.
In terms of timing, the morning to midday hours seem to be your best bet, especially around 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. HubSpot and Later provide times that significantly differ from other sources, which suggests that effectiveness can vary based on audience and content type.
The Best Times To Post On TikTok
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday and Wednesday | 2-6 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Thursday | 10 p.m. EST |
| SocialPilot | Tuesday and Thursday | 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. EST |
| HubSpot | Friday | 6-9 p.m. Local |
- Best time to post on TikTok: Inconclusive.
- Best day to post on TikTok: Tuesday.
- Worst day to post on TikTok: Inconclusive.
While it’s a relative newcomer to the fold, TikTok has quickly become one of the most beloved social platforms worldwide – and is drawing brands in increasing numbers.
With the average user spending nearly 54 minutes on the app daily, it’s hard to beat the hold that TikTok has among audiences. By optimizing your presence there, you can stand to generate some impressive returns on your marketing efforts.
So, what’s the best time to post on TikTok? The jury is out on this one – and it may take extra experimentation on your part to find the sweet spot that engages your audience.
Tuesday seems to rise to the top among the sources we consulted, with Wednesdays and Thursdays also getting recommendations. Generally speaking, it looks like midweek is a good time to test out your TikTok content, but there are plenty of discrepancies in the data.
While HubSpot named Friday as the best day, it also highlighted that Saturdays and Thursdays are strong for B2B brands, and Saturdays and Sundays work well for B2C brands.
Sprout Social found Sunday to be the worst performing day, while Monday and Tuesday are the worst days, according to HubSpot.
We also find a mix of recommended time slots, from early morning to mid-afternoon and also evening being suggested.
The Best Times To Post On Snapchat
Snapchat, the pioneer of ephemeral social media content (and the inspiration behind Instagram Stories), provides unique opportunities to reach younger demographics.
It differs from other platforms in how it works and the type of content that engages there. Snapchat typically centers around showcasing real-time experiences and authentic behind-the-scenes content versus polished marketing content.
This makes Snapchat an advantageous yet often underutilized tool in digital marketing. But it should not be overlooked, especially given that the platform continues to innovate.
While we have seen 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. cited as the best times to post on Snapchat in various secondary sources around the internet, we have found no recent original data to either confirm or refute this.
Given this, we would recommend testing out different times and days based on the behaviors and lifestyles of your target audience and then iterating based on your results (which is what you should be doing across the board, regardless!)
The Best Times To Post On Pinterest
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Wednesday to Friday | 1-3 p.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Friday | 3-6 p.m. Local |
| CoSchedule | Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (in that order) |
8 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on Pinterest: 3-6 p.m.
- Best day to post on Pinterest: Friday.
- Worst day to post on Pinterest: Sunday.
Pinterest, once thought of as a simple inspiration board-style site, has today become a crucial player in the world of ecommerce.
Businesses can leverage Pinterest to showcase their products and drive conversions, but also to grow and expand brand awareness and sentiment.
Success on Pinterest can be found through sharing brand-specific imagery, optimizing for mobile, and appealing to your audience’s sense of aspiration and inspiration.
Friday, alongside other weekdays, is consistently mentioned as a strong day among our sources. On the other end, Sunday is commonly named as the least effective day for posting on Pinterest.
When it comes to the most fruitful posting time on the platform, it appears that the late afternoon to early evening, specifically around 3-6 p.m., is optimal for best engagement.
The Best Times To Post On X (Twitter)
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday to Thursday | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday and Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Wednesday, Tuesday, and Friday (in that order) | 9 a.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Friday and Wednesday (in that order) | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on X (Twitter): 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Best days to post on X (Twitter): Wednesday and Friday.
- Worst day to post on X (Twitter): Sunday.
X (formerly known as Twitter) has long been a place for marketers to connect and engage with their audience, join trending conversations, and build community.
The real-time nature of X (Twitter) differentiates it from other social platforms and allows for spur-of-the-moment and reactionary marketing moves. And with CEO Elon Musk’s big plans for the app, it’s undoubtedly a space to watch.
When looking for the top days to post among the sources we consulted, Wednesday and Friday are most often mentioned – with Sprout Social specifying Tuesday through Thursday.
Hootsuite nominates Monday and Wednesday as the top days, proving that weekdays reign supreme on X (Twitter).
Like many other platforms, Sunday seems to be the least effective day for post-engagement.
Looking for the best times to post on X (Twitter)?
Late morning, from around 9 a.m. to noon, seems to be the most recommended time – though, as always, this will differ based on your specific audience and the type of content you are sharing.
We always recommend testing and experimenting to see what works for you.
The Best Times To Post On LinkedIn
| Source | Day Of Week | Time To Post |
| Sprout Social | Tuesday to Thursday | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Local |
| Hootsuite | Monday | 4 p.m. EST |
| CoSchedule | Thursday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (in that order) | 10 a.m. Local |
| HubSpot | Monday, Wednesday, and Tuesday (in that order) | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Local |
- Best times to post on LinkedIn: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Best days to post on LinkedIn: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Worst days to post on LinkedIn: Weekends.
Though first and foremost a platform for professionals, LinkedIn has picked up steam in recent years, becoming a hub of engagement and a frontrunner among social media networks.
It’s also an essential tool for businesses that want to reach business executives and decision-makers, as well as potential candidates.
Done right, LinkedIn content can go a long way in building a public perception of your brand and providing deep value to your target audience.
Digging into the data, we can see that weekdays provide the biggest opportunities for engagement on LinkedIn, which is hardly surprising. Tuesdays through Thursdays are often mentioned as the top days, with Mondays also highlighted by Hootsuite and HubSpot.
All of our sources agree that weekends are less effective for LinkedIn posts.
If you’re searching for the right time, you might try your hand at posting from late morning to mid-afternoon, based on what these sources discovered.
But (and not to sound like a broken record) your results may differ based on your brand, niche, target audience, and content.
What Is The Best Time For You To Post On Social Media?
Finding the best times to post on social media requires a delicate blend of testing, experimentation, and personal analytics.
And it never hurts to start your journey with industry insights like the ones we’ve covered in this article.
By aligning your content strategy with your target audience and trying out different posting strategies – taking into account these recommended time slots – you will be able to determine what works best for you and significantly enhance your social media presence and engagement.
Sources of data, November 2023.
All data above was taken from the sources below.
Each platform conducted its own extensive research, analyzing millions of posts across various social networks to find the times when users are most engaged.
Sources:
- Sprout Social analyzed nearly 2 billion engagements across 400,000 social profiles.
- Hootsuite analyzed thousands of social media posts using an audience of 8 million followers. For its Instagram updates, it analyzed over 30,000 posts.
- CoSchedule analyzed more than 35 million posts from more than 30,000 organizations.
- SocialPilot studied over 50,000 YouTube accounts and over 50,000 TikTok accounts to compile its data.
- Later analyzed over 11 million Instagram posts.
- HubSpot surveyed over 1,000 global marketers to discern the best times to post on social media. For its Instagram-specific data, it partnered with Mention to analyze over 37 million posts.
More resources:
Featured Image: Kaspars Grinvalds/Shutterstock
FAQ
What factors should marketers consider when deciding the best times to post on social media?
Marketers should carefully consider several factors when determining the optimal times for posting on social media. These factors include:
- Audience Behavior: Understanding when your target audience is most active on social media is crucial. This can vary widely depending on demographic factors, time zones, and user habits.
- Social Platform Specifics: Each social media platform has different peak usage times. For example, the best time to post on LinkedIn, a professional networking site, will differ from Instagram, which caters to a more leisure-focused audience.
- Industry Trends: Posting times can also depend on industry-specific engagement patterns. Certain industries may see more interaction during standard business hours, whereas others may have a user base that is more active in the evenings or weekends.
- Content Type: The nature of the content being posted can affect engagement. Some content may perform better during work breaks, while others, such as leisurely videos, may garner more views during off-work hours.
- Competitor Analysis: Observing when competitors are posting and the engagement they receive can provide insights into effective posting schedules.
- Empirical Testing: Ultimately, experimenting with various times and analyzing the engagement results is essential for tailoring the posting schedule to your specific audience.
How can understanding the demographics of a platform’s user base inform social media marketing strategies?
Understanding the demographics of a social media platform’s user base is vital for creating targeted marketing strategies. The type of content, messaging, and advertising should align with the interests and behaviors of the platform’s predominant age group, gender, interests, and professional background. For instance:
- LinkedIn: With a user base of professionals and business decision-makers, content should be more formal and business-oriented, targeting weekdays for posting.
- Instagram and TikTok: These platforms attract a younger demographic that prefers visually engaging content like short videos and high-quality images. Brands can also be more playful and casual in their approach.
- Facebook: Given the broad and somewhat older demographic, marketing on Facebook often requires a more balanced approach, with content geared towards both personal interest and professional utility.
- Platform-Specific Features: Marketers should leverage the unique features of each platform, such as Instagram Reels or LinkedIn articles, to meet users’ expectations and enhance engagement.
Is it beneficial for brands to post during the “worst” times on social media platforms?
While it might seem counterintuitive, there can be advantages to posting during off-peak or “worst” times on social media platforms:
- Less Competition: Your content has a better chance of standing out when there is less overall activity and noise from other brands.
- Engaged Niches: Some audiences may be more active during non-peak hours, and targeting these users can lead to higher engagement with a more attentive crowd.
- Tailored Approach: If analytics show that your specific audience engages at different times than general trends suggest, it might be more strategic to cater to when your audience is online.
- Global Reach: For brands with international audiences, posting during local off-peak times can capture attention in different time zones.
Ultimately, the key is to analyze your brand’s engagement metrics and tailor your strategy accordingly, rather than relying solely on generalized best and worst posting times.
How can marketers adapt their social media strategy according to variations in optimal posting times?
Adapting to the variations in optimal posting times can make a significant difference in a brand’s social media presence. Marketers should consider these approaches:
- Analyze Audience Data: Use social media analytics tools to understand when your audience is most active online. Tailor your posting schedule according to these insights.
- Consistent Testing: Regularly test different posting times and measure engagement rates to refine your strategy.
- Use Scheduling Tools: Leverage scheduling tools to plan and execute posts during peak engagement periods across different time zones.
- Content Tailoring: Create content that aligns with the behavioral patterns of your audience during specific times of the day or week.
- Monitor Trends: Keep an eye on any platform-specific trends and update your strategy accordingly to maintain relevance.
