When's the Best Time to Post on Social Media?

Social Media 6 min read

Thousands of people post to social media every second, making it hard to get your posts noticed. What good is exceptional social media content if it doesn't get the attention it deserves?

It can be easy to feel lost in the crowd when there is a multitude of platforms, varying recommendations, and ever-changing social media algorithms. Our team has already done the research, so you don't have to.

Use the data from this article to shape your content calendar. Do keep in mind that the best time to post depends on your company and target audience. Review your social media performance to create a personal content calendar. An easy way to review aggregate data across several social channels is by starting a free StoryChief trial.

Table of contents

The best times to post on social media in 2023.
The best times to post on social media in 2023.

Best times to post on Facebook

Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms, with billions of users worldwide. To maximize your reach and engagement, it's important to know the best times to post on Facebook. By posting when your audience is most active, you increase the chances of your content being seen and interacted with. Here are some key insights on optimal posting times for Facebook:

  1. Weekdays: According to research, the best days to post on Facebook are Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 AM and 3 PM. This is when people are usually taking breaks from work or school and checking their social media feeds.
  2. Weekends: On weekends, the best times to post on Facebook are in the afternoons and evenings, specifically between 12 PM and 8 PM. This is when people have more free time and are likely to be scrolling through their newsfeeds.
  3. Avoid early mornings and late nights: It's important to note that posting during early mornings (before 7 AM) and late nights (after 10 PM) may not yield as much engagement since people are typically asleep or less active on social media during these hours.

Now that you have an idea of the optimal posting times for Facebook, let's move on to Instagram.

Best times to post on Instagram

It's no secret that Instagram is a popular platform for sharing visual content. To make the most of your posts, it's important to know the best times to post on Instagram. By posting when your audience is most active, you increase the chances of your content being seen and engaged with. Here are some key insights on the best times to post on Instagram:

  1. Weekdays: Research shows that the best days to post on Instagram are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Aim to schedule your posts between 9 AM and 11 AM or between 2 PM and 3 PM. These time slots coincide with people's breaks from work or school.
  2. Weekends: On weekends, the best times to post on Instagram are in the mornings between 9 AM and 11 AM or in the evenings between 7 PM and 8 PM.
  3. Experiment with off-peak hours: While peak times may be ideal for reaching a larger audience, don't be afraid to experiment with posting during off-peak hours as well. Some users may have different browsing habits and may engage more during unconventional times.

Next up, let's explore the optimal posting times for LinkedIn.

Best times to post on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that allows you to connect with colleagues, industry experts, and potential clients. To maximize your reach and engagement on LinkedIn, it's important to know the best times to post. Here are some key insights on the best times to post on LinkedIn:

  1. Weekdays: The best days to post on LinkedIn are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Aim to schedule your posts between 9 AM and 12 PM.
  2. Avoid weekends: Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn sees less activity on weekends. It's best to avoid posting during these days as your content may not receive as much visibility.

Now that you have an idea of the best times to post on LinkedIn, let's move on to Twitter.

📚 Reading tip: 5 Ways to Optimize Your LinkedIn Company Page

Best times to post on Twitter / X

To make the most out of your tweets and ensure they reach a wider audience, it's crucial to know the best times to post. Understanding when your target audience is most active can significantly boost engagement and increase the chances of your tweets being seen. Here are some essential insights on the best times to post on Twitter:

  • Weekdays: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the best days to post on Twitter.
  • Early mornings: The optimal posting window on Twitter is during the early mornings, particularly between 7 AM to 10 AM. Within this timeframe, the sweet spot for posting is around 9 AM. This aligns with the morning routines of many Twitter users, as they check their feeds while commuting to work or starting their day.

Important note: You will need to focus on the time zone of your target audience. If you are an European and want to reach an US audience, you will need to find the best times to post for the US. This can be around midday or right in the afternoon for you.

📚 Reading tip: Twitter Threads Explained

Best times to post on TikTok

TikTok is a rapidly growing social media platform known for its short-form videos. To maximize your reach and engagement on TikTok, it's important to know the best times to post. Here are some key insights on the optimal posting times for TikTok:

  1. Weekdays: Research shows that the best days to post on TikTok are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Aim to schedule your posts between 6 PM and 10 PM. This is when users are most likely to be scrolling through their feeds after school or work.
  2. Weekends: On weekends, the best times to post on TikTok are in the evenings between 7 PM and 11 PM. Since people have more free time during weekends, they tend to spend more time watching and engaging with content.
  3. Experiment with trending hours: As trends come and go quickly on TikTok, it's beneficial to experiment with posting during trending hours as well. Pay attention to popular hashtags or challenges that align with your content and try posting during peak activity.

Now that you know the general best times to post on social media, let’s look at how you can find personalized data to find the optimal posting times for your business.

Find your optimal posting times with StoryChief

As with any social media marketing strategy, the key to success lies in testing and iterating. While the insights and data presented above can serve as valuable starting points, it's essential to analyze your own social media performance regularly.

Use the social media platform's native analytics tools or StoryChief’s analytics to monitor the engagement levels of your posts across different channels. Get a free trial of StoryChief and discover the best times to post on social media.

Conclusion

Social media posts should be published when your audience is most active to ensure maximum impact. To determine the best times for posting on different platforms, consider factors such as the days and times when users are most engaged.

Use this article's data to shape your content calendar and review your social media performance to create a personalized schedule. Additionally, you can use StoryChief's free trial to find your best time to post across multiple channels.

📚 Related resources on Social Media & Content Marketing:


Data compiled from Typefully, CoSchedule, Hubspot, Later, InfluencerMarketingHub, Social Media Examiner, and Oberlo.

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