It’s a well-known adage — the Internet never sleeps! But with billions of social media users active, how can you determine the optimal times to engage with them, and through which platforms?Today, we’re demystifying the ideal posting schedules for various social media platforms, ensuring your content reaches its intended audience effectively. We’ll explore:
What are the best times to post on social media?
Optimal posting times for Instagram
The best times to post on Facebook
Peak posting hours for X/Twitter
Optimal posting times for LinkedIn
Best times to post on YouTube
Optimal posting times for TikTok
Social media landscapes are dynamic, with trends and optimal posting times shifting across platforms. Stay informed with WebFX’s newsletters, where you’ll receive the latest digital marketing insights directly to your inbox. Subscribe now to elevate your social media strategies!It’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all “best time” to post on social media that applies across all platforms. Each platform has its unique user demographics and purposes, leading to varying peak engagement hours. These peak times do not align universally, making it impossible to pinpoint a single “best time” for posting across all social media platforms.However, with distinct peak hours for each platform, we can identify the optimal posting times for specific social media channels.Consult our comprehensive guide for the best times to post on social media, segmented by platform:According to data, the most effective time to post on Instagram is between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays, with 7 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays being the best overall times.While Mondays and Fridays are ideal days to post, peak hourly engagement times vary across the week as shown below:Instagram is an excellent platform for business marketing, supporting diverse media formats like videos, photos, and gifs. Even if you’re not adept at video editing, Instagram’s Reels and Stories simplify video content customization.Instagram is a platform where businesses can showcase their human side while maintaining professionalism. When crafting content for Instagram, authenticity is key!Ultimately, the content you post on Instagram will depend on your business, industry, and social media objectives, but here are some guidelines to help your business thrive on the platform:The best times to post on Facebook are 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, with Fridays at 10 a.m. being the most effective overall time. Engagement rates peak during these periods.Overall, the best days to post on Facebook are Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. Specific posting times for each day are as follows:Like Instagram, Facebook offers a variety of content options, including photos, videos, and stories. However, video content is often the most effective on Facebook, accounting for 50% of the time users spend on the platform. As a result, 86% of marketers utilize video marketing on Facebook.When planning your Facebook content, consider incorporating engaging video content. Ensure your videos are concise and entertaining, and include subtitles for those who watch with sound off.Keep these tips in mind when developing your Facebook content strategy:The best times to post on X/Twitter are Mondays and Fridays at 11 a.m., with Monday being the overall best day to post. Peak engagement times are typically in the early morning and late evening.For more detailed information on the best times to post on X/Twitter for each day, see the following:X (formerly Twitter) is a platform for conversations, where text posts are often the most effective. While you can enhance your posts with videos, photos, and gifs, the most impactful content is typically straightforward text.X is a space for businesses to connect with customers and establish a brand voice. Brands can cultivate leads and strengthen customer relationships through posts like these:LinkedIn, being a professional social networking site, has the best posting times from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with Monday to Friday being the most active periods, reflecting the typical work week.While engagement drops significantly on weekends, there are still optimal times to post on LinkedIn each day of the week:As a professional networking platform, the best content for LinkedIn is educational and insightful. It’s an opportunity to establish your brand as an authoritative voice in your industry while networking with peers and potential customers (if you’re a B2B company).