When it comes to boosting your Instagram reach, we all know content quality is very significant. But have you ever considered how important timing is?
Yes, posting at the right time can significantly impact how well your posts perform! You may have heard that engagement helps you succeed on Instagram, but what if we told you that posting at the best times could give you a major advantage?
In this post, we will explore the best times to post on Instagram to maximize your reach. We also offer tips to help your content stand out! Let’s have a look!
Post Contents
Why Is Timing Important on Instagram
Instagram’s algorithm gives priority to content based on many factors and recency happens to be one of them! This implies that when you post at a time when your audience is most active, your content has a better chance of being seen by more people.
While there is no standard answer for the best time to post on Instagram, trends do emerge when you analyze user behavior. When you post at peak times, you have a good chance of boosting your engagement and interactions which further help boost your followers on Instagram.
The Best Times to Post on Instagram
Studies by Buffer and Social Pilot analyzed millions of Instagram posts, which revealed many key patterns. Here is a quick overview of the best times to post according to general trends. However, it is important to consider that these times may vary for your specific audience.
Weekdays- Aim for mornings, 3 pm and 6 pm
The sweet spot for weekdays is usually around 3 pm to 6 pm. These time slots cater to people who are winding down after work or taking a break from their busy routines. If you post around these times, you are more likely to catch them as they relax and scroll through their feeds.
While these times are based on general activity trends, they give you a strong foundation to start experimenting with.
In a later section we have provided a further breakdown for each day. Continue reading to learn more.
Weekends- Saturday and Sunday Evenings
Weekends can be tricky as many users are less active or engaged with Instagram. However, these are still optimal times.
For Saturday and Sunday, the best time to post is 6 pm. People tend to be more relaxed and have more free time to scroll through Instagram. This makes evening posts ideal for reaching them.
Why Posting Times Vary
The best times to post are not the same every day. People’s Instagram habits change based on their weekly schedules and routines. Here is a quick breakdown of the best times for each day.
- Monday- The start of the work week means people are easing into their routines, so early morning and mid-morning to early afternoon are prime posting time slots.
- Tuesday– people are still in work mode but a little less focused than Monday. Morning posts get good engagement with a mid-day break.
- Wednesday– early morning and mid-afternoon are when users need a little break from their grind, so posting in the morning and midday around 4 pm can yield good results.
- Thursday- people are already thinking about the weekend. Post early in the morning or catch the lunch crowd and close out the day with a post in late evening.
- Friday- as the weekend approaches, people’s energy starts to wind down. Early mornings and late afternoons are key times to post
- Saturday- engagement is low during the early hours, but posting around noon and afternoon can catch users in their free time
- Sunday– most people are relaxed in the morning, so posting between mid-morning works well for this day.
How to Find the Best Time for Your Audience
The times we have covered above are general recommendations based on broader trends and surveys. However, every audience is different. This is why it is important to track your Instagram insights to determine the best times for your followers.
Here is how you can find your personal best time to post.
- Use Instagram Insights- If you have a business or a creator account, Instagram offers built-in analytics. Go to your profile, tap on Professional Dashboard, and scroll down to see when your followers are most active.
- Social media management- Platforms like Buffer and Social Pilot provide in-depth analytics that can help you determine the exact times your audience is most engaged. These tools usually include heat maps that show the best times based on your audience’s activity.
Final Thoughts
While timing may not be everything, it is an important factor in growing your reach on Instagram. When you post at times when your audience is most active you can boost your chances of getting your content in front of more people.
However, it is helpful to keep experimenting with different times and track the results with Instagram analytics or other analytics tools.
The key takeaway here is to post when your audience is ready to engage, and you will soon see the benefits.