Half of the world’s total population has access to the internet, and almost 75% of these users are actively on social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. With so many consumers online, you’d be forgiven for thinking that no matter when you post, your content will surely be seen by a large audience. As it turns out, there are certain times throughout the day and week where posts perform better, generate more click-throughs and have higher engagement. We’ve collected the data from a number of studies to help outline when you should be aiming to post content on your social media profiles.
FACEBOOK
The giant of social media (with 1.87 billion active users) has a number of different times throughout the week where post-performance increases.
Best days to post:
Thursday – 18% higher engagement
Friday – 18% higher engagement
(Post between 12pm and 3pm)
Saturday – 32% higher engagement
Sunday – 32% higher engagement
(Post between 12pm and 1pm)
How frequently? According to SocialBakers, once per day is a good starting point for most businesses. However, this may be too often or not enough depending on your audience. So monitoring your social analytics is essential to determine the best times to reach your audience effectively.
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INSTAGRAM
With more than 800 million monthly active users, and over 40 million photos posted daily, knowing the right times to post will significantly improve how many users interact with your content.
Best days to post:
Monday – One of the best days for posts
Wednesday – Good day for posts
Thursday – One of the best days for posts
(5pm – 7:30pm is the best time. Avoid posting 3pm – 4pm)
Sunday – Worst day for posts
(11am is the best time on weekends)
How frequently? Union Metrics found that on average, brands post an average of 1.5 times a day. This number doesn’t necessarily mean it will be optimal for your following. Some businesses may post multiple times a day, or only a few times a month. There is no magic number as every following will react differently to the frequency of posts – so experiment!
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LINKEDIN
Often overlooked, LinkedIn is more than a social network for professionals, it’s a platform to connect with potential clients and show off your work and experience. Professionals are busy people, so knowing when they take a break and view LinkedIn can help your posts reach more people.
Best days to post:
Tuesday – 8am and 5pm
Wednesday – 8am and 5pm
Thursday – 8am and 5pm
(Tuesday 10am – 11am receives the most clicks and shares)
Mondays and Fridays experience extremely low levels of user engagement, so avoid posting your best content on these days.
How frequently? LinkedIn suggests posting twenty posts per month – which is roughly one post per weekday. This will give you on average a 60% audience reach, which will significantly help the growth of your profile. However, if you are starting out, two – three posts per week will be efficient.