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Do you remember going to prom in high school? Imagine having the best outfit, a stretch limo and doves flying out as you arrive (Stole that scene from 21 Jump Street if there are any movie buffs reading).
Now imagine you showed up on the wrong Saturday. Your amazing outfit, stretch limo and doves have all gone to waste. Carl Lewis once stated “life is about timing.” Well we are here to tell you that social media is also about timing! Even the greatest post can go to waste if the timing is not right.
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all have optimal posting times and days. These optimal times and days are based on total number of people logged on to the network and the levels of engagement. Understanding when to post and capitalizing on it is critical for social media success. Please note that social media is part science and part art, so experimentation is key, but posting during peak activity times should increase your chances of being seen.
Best Times To Post On Facebook
The Best Time(s): 1-4 PM
The Best Day(s): Thursday and Friday result in the highest levels of engagement
The Worst Time(s): 8 PM - 8 AM
The Worst Day(s): Weekends
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The heat map feature in eClincher tells you when the best times are to post[/caption]
Best Time To Post On Twitter
The Best Time(s): 1-3 PM
The Best Day(s): Monday-Thursday
The Worst Time(s): Everyday after 8:30 PM
The Worst Day(s): Friday
Best Time To Post On LinkedIn
The Best Time(s): Noon and 5-6 PM
The Best Day(s): Tuesday-Thursday
The Worst Time(s): 10 PM - 6 AM
The Worst Day(s): Weekends
Bonus Tip #1: Try posting at the end or the beginning of each hour during the workweek. Most business related activities start and end on the hour. On the way to a meeting or heading back from one, employees are likely to check their social media sites and see your post high on their newsfeed. We have seen a lot of success with this posting strategy. You can also utilize Facebook private group chats!
Bonus Tip #2: Use social media analytics to get a better understanding of your followers. If a majority of your followers are in a certain time zone, try catering your posting times to their time zone.
Bonus Tip #3: This may sound counterintuitive, but experiment with posting during the worst times and dates. Despite there being less traffic during these times, some businesses can take advantage of the low amount of competing traffic. Track your success with analytics to decide if any of these less popular times work for with your audience.
There is no special formula to social media success. Posting during peak times does not guarantee a post will go viral. With this said, posting when your audience is online will increase your chances of being seen. What timing strategies has your brand seen success with? Let us know in the comment section.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to post on Facebook for maximum exposure?
When it comes to getting the most out of your Facebook posts, one of the key factors is timing. Studies have shown that 9 A.M on average is the best time to post on Facebook if you’re aiming for maximum exposure. People are up and starting their day, and they often check their phones!
What time of day gets the most likes on Facebook?
Between 8 am -12 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays has shown to be the optimal posting time to get the most likes. This time frame has the most Facebook traffic and produces more likes than other periods of the day.
Is it better to post in the morning or at night?
It is better to post in the morning! Most people check their phones most frequently after waking up in the morning & during their lunch break. Posting between 8 am - 12 pm is a great time to post for maximum engagement!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. You might have originally thought that the time you post on social media did not matter. Now you know that is far from the truth!
You now know the best and worst times to post on each social media platform if you want more engagement from your audience. But what’s the use of all this knowledge if you don’t put it into practice? Use these tips next time you log in to post and see for yourself how different the results can be. Trust us, your future self will thank you.
