When Are the Best Times to Post on Social Media?

Woman Posting on Social Media

Whether you’re an entrepreneur just starting out with a new website or you’re an established small business owner who wants to revamp their online visibility, you may wonder if you’re maximizing your social media presence. Hopefully you’re already sharing to the platforms that suit your business, but if you’re not getting the results you want, it could be that you’re not posting at the right times.

Nurturing a successful business means you have to stay engaged with your target audience on social media. So whether you rely primarily on Instagram, Facebook, X, or a combination of several, a strong social media marketing strategy is imperative. Remember: it’s not necessarily about what you post, it’s more about when to post.

In fact, when you choose to post can mean the difference between being spotted by the right people, or being doomed to obscurity. That being said, there’s no cookie cutter template across all platforms: each one has its own optimal times to post. That’s because all the platforms are used in different ways and for different purposes.

Let’s take LinkedIn, for example. This site is for professional networking, so it makes sense that you would post during working hours Monday through Friday. On the other hand, because YouTube is focused on entertainment, you would be wise to post on Fridays.

Let’s take a look at the best times to post on social media in order to maximize visibility.

Key Takeaways

But first, here’s a helpful cheat sheet to glance at:

  • LinkedIn: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Facebook: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. weekdays
  • Instagram: 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. weekdays
  • X/Twitter: 11 a.m. Monday and Friday
  • TikTok: 2 p.m. Mondays, 4 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. Sundays
  • YouTube: 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Fridays

LinkedIn

To maximize your engagement on this popular networking site, limit your postings to weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you have to choose a day, go with Friday, but avoid posting to LinkedIn on the weekends if you can.

Facebook

Posting on weekday mornings will ensure more engagement, which is when most Facebook users arrive at work. Fridays are a good bet, as you’re catching people as they wind down their work weeks. Do this between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The worst time to post on Facebook? Saturday, followed by Sunday.

Instagram

The ideal posting time for Instagram is Friday at 7 a.m. Early mornings are peak times, followed by another spike in late afternoon and evening. Pick of the week? Fridays, followed by Mondays. The worst day to post? Like Facebook: Sunday first, then Saturday. 

X

It’s best to post on the former Twitter app at 11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays. Engagement rates tend to increase in the mornings, peaking at midday and dropping again in late afternoon with the close of the workday. This is an ideal platform for posting late-night or early-morning content. Best day to tweet? Monday. The worst is Saturday.

TikTok

You’re best to stick to afternoons on Mondays and Wednesdays when posting on TikTok, and then again early on Sundays. The best day of the week for postings is Tuesday, while the worst is Saturday.

YouTube

Friday afternoon is when you should post on this site if you want optimal views, followed by Tuesday early afternoon and then Thursday evening. YouTube video views increase in the mid-morning hours, then at typical lunch breaks, peaking again in late afternoon/evening. Fridays seems to be the best day for posting, while Sunday is the worst.

Contact Detroit Internet Marketing For a Free Quote and Consultation

At the end of the day, if you simply don’t have the time, patience, or skill to keep up with your postings and blogs, just let the professionals handle it. We have professional copy writers and social media experts here at Detroit Internet Marketing that can show you the difference good writing can make, not to mention when the best time to post it is. Schedule an appointment with us today at (248) 234-4830.