Finding The Best Time To Post On Instagram

Do you know the best time to post on Instagram? Timing content is vital to social media strategy, but many creators haven’t found their optimal window. It’s a tricky puzzle because what works for one influencer may not work for another. 

Whether the goal is to drive engagement with new likes and comments or grow your following, you must know the best times to post. Learn more about when your audience is online and why timing is essential.

When is the Best Time to Post on Instagram?

Unfortunately, finding the best posting time isn’t straightforward. Because, well, it depends. Each social media marketer is unique; the optimal time depends on your location, audience, and industry. Plus, Instagram’s ever-mysterious algorithm and human habits play a role. You can’t always capture an exact recipe!

The best time to post doesn’t stay the same, either. To keep your posting schedule effective, you’ll want to adjust it regularly to keep up with changing trends and audience needs.

Luckily, marketers research this area to understand some of the vital factors. For example, Sprout Social has studied Instagram usage. Here’s an overview of their insights on the best posting times.
 

These are just general estimates. You can examine research from other companies to gain more insight. You should also look at your audience and analytics to get information unique to your account. If your audience has totally different habits, research from other sources won’t increase your engagement.

The best time to post on Instagram is an ongoing experiment. Keep learning about your audience and trying new posting times. And when a usual golden hour falls flat, don’t be afraid to pivot to something new. 

Does It Matter What Time You Post on Instagram?

Yes, it does. 

The algorithm typically prioritises new content. So, if you post new content while your audience is most active on the platform, they’re more likely to see it in their feeds. You’ve captured your first audience segment! This capture increases views and other forms of engagement, such as likes and comments. 

Popularity also factors into the algorithm. Gaining that early engagement from active users makes the content more likely to show up later for the outliers who aren’t on the platform when you post. That posting schedule has now allowed you to capture a second audience segment!

Strategic timing gives your content the best chance of reaching the most people.

How Do I Improve My Timing? 

If you want to use Instagram for your marketing goals and expand your audience pool, you can improve your timing with targeted insights. Here are some tips to help determine the most effective time to post on Instagram.

Look at Insights for Your Industry 

Sprout Social’s insights provide the best times to post on Instagram for several specific industries. If you fall into any of these categories, their industry-specific tips can help. 

• Restaurants: The best time for restaurants to post is during lunch on weekdays, from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• Travel and Hospitality: This industry has more steady weekly engagement, but Wednesdays and Thursdays perform slightly better than average.

• Healthcare: This industry sees the most engagement Tuesdays through Fridays, between 11 am and 3 pm. 

• Schools and Education: Wednesdays perform the best for schools, particularly institutions of higher education. The best posting times are 2 pm to 4 pm and 9 pm.

If you operate in another industry, try searching for information from other market researchers. Retail, for example, is an oft-studied industry where you could find specific insights. 

Consider Your Audience’s Time Zone

If a target audience is in a specific geographical region, use that region’s time zone when posting your content. Remember, you should publish content when most of your audience is active online. 

Some creators may have a primarily American audience, so using American insights and times will be more beneficial. Once you’ve nailed down the audience’s time zone, you can manage your posts by scheduling them days in advance. That way, you don’t have to post manually in the middle of the night or other inconvenient times.  

Use Insights Based on Your Best Post

Not all posts perform equally well. Some have high reach and engagement rates, while your audience rarely sees others. Instagram insights provide compelling information about content schedules, which you can use to determine your best-performing posts.

To view your insights: 

• Tap “Insights” in the top right corner

• Click the “Total Followers” button

• Click on the “Most Active Options” 

Using this information, identify the best-performing posts and examine anything that stands out, including when

they’re released. Maybe your posts typically perform well on Wednesdays, but Reels get the most engagement on Fridays. You could use this insight to change when you publish video content so that you post all videos at their optimal time.

Experiment with the Posting Schedule

Don’t limit your schedule to one day of the week or during a particular hour just because the provided data drives you in a specific direction. Remember, determining the best time to post on Instagram is an ongoing experiment. Make several modifications to your content publishing activities and adjust based on how your audience behaves.

If you usually post Stories in the morning and suddenly lose views, switch it up! Try a later hour or a different day instead. And even when something works well, a little experimentation here and there can provide you with new insights and unexpected success. 

Improve Your Instagram Presence with Superviral

Finding the best time to post on Instagram is a work in progress, but with evidence-based insights and a little experimentation, you can continually improve your efforts. 

While timing is important, it isn’t everything. If you need to boost your account in other ways, Superviral can help. Buy Instagram likes or comments to increase your overall engagement.