With nearly 5 billion social media users worldwide and across several platforms, social media presents many opportunities.
In fact, social media has become a much more cross-functional and collaborative channel in the last few years. Where it had once been used solely for brand awareness, now there is an impact of social media on business across several teams: customer experience, sales, product development, content, and marketing.
Best times to post on social media overall:
o Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon
o Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
o Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
o Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon
o Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Best days to post on social media: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Worst days to post on social media: Sundays
Sprout noticed that the highest times of engagement were Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays generally between 9 a.m. and noon. Midweek mornings proved to be a successful time across most social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Pinterest and TikTok saw higher engagement in the afternoons.
Best Times to Post on Facebook
- Best times to post on Facebook overall:
- 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 days to post on Facebook: Mondays through Thursdays
- Worst days to post on Facebook: Sundays
Facebook is still the most used platform by marketers worldwide at 90%, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. We’ve seen an interesting shift in most engagement times matching general business hours versus very early morning hours as we had seen in years prior. What does this mean for marketers?
Best Times to Post on Instagram
- Best times to post on Instagram overall:
- 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 days to post on Instagram: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Worst days to post on Instagram: Sundays
Where Facebook was the most-used platform by marketers worldwide, Instagram comes in second with 79%. Not surprisingly, Instagram is also the second most preferred platform for customer service after Facebook as well, for marketers and consumers. With the competition for short-form video between Instagram and TikTok still heating up, the Reels account for 30% of time spent on the Meta-owned platform.
Best Times to Post on TikTok
- Best times to post on TikTok overall:
- Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Best days to post on TikTok: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Worst days to post on TikTok: Sundays
As the youngest digital platform on this list, TikTok has grown significantly and made waves in half as many years as the others on this list. With the app now amassing over 1 billion active global users who spend nearly 20 hours on the app every month, TikTok has competitive staying power.
Best Times to Post on LinkedIn
- Best times to post on LinkedIn Company Pages overall:
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon
- Best days to post on LinkedIn Company Pages: Tuesdays through Thursdays
- Worst days to post on LinkedIn Company Pages: Weekends
Unsurprising for this professional-focused social platform, LinkedIn engagement times are consistent to general business hours. High engagement hours are more concentrated midday and don’t extend too far out past the workday hours. You’re less likely to get eyes on your LinkedIn content on the weekend, where engagement drops significantly.
Because LinkedIn content is centred around professional thought leadership and career growth, it makes sense that a majority of audiences engage with this content throughout their working day. By midday, there’s buzz on the platform, and the best times to post on LinkedIn are Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and noon.
Best Times to Post on Pinterest
Best times to post on Pinterest overall:
o Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
o Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.
o Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
· Best days to post on Pinterest: Wednesdays through Fridays
· Worst days to post on Pinterest: Sundays and Mondays
Understanding the best times to post on social media platforms is crucial for maximizing engagement and reaching a broader audience. With the increasing number of users across various platforms, businesses must adapt their strategies to stay relevant and engaging. As social media continues to evolve, it is important to remember that it is not just a tool for brand awareness but also plays a significant role in customer experience, sales, product development, content, and marketing. By posting content during optimal times, businesses can increase their chances of success and create a more significant impact across their target audience.
The ever-changing landscape of social media means that businesses should continue to monitor and analyze their performance on these platforms. Social media engagement patterns may shift over time as users adapt to new features and functionality. Thus, it is essential to stay informed and adjust strategies accordingly. By staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, businesses can ensure that they are making the most of their social media efforts and connecting with their audiences effectively. In the end, it’s all about adapting to the dynamic nature of social media and making data-driven decisions to optimize engagement and growth.
