There’s no magic formula when it comes to social media. But according to the latest report from US social media management platform Sprout Social, there are certain days and times that are best for your posts to get the most views – and these times differ from platform to platform.
Whether it’s on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn or Pinterest, content creators have every reason to favour certain time slots for posting their content. After analysing nearly 2 billion engagements across 400,000 social profiles, Sprout Social has determined the best times for content to be noticed.
Generally, for these six platforms, the best times to post are Mondays between 11am and midday, Tuesdays from 10am-2pm and 3pm-4pm, Wednesdays between 9am and 3pm, Thursdays between 9am and 2pm, and Fridays between 10am and 11am.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays prove to be the most successful days, while Sundays are the worst days to post.
It’s important to note, however, that these times are averages, and that results may vary depending on the audience, geographical point of origin, and content of each post.
It is, therefore, important to test different times and monitor the results to determine the most effective times for your own social-networking strategy.
The best times to post on Facebook are Mondays from 9am-12pm; Tuesdays from 9am-2pm and at 5pm; Wednesdays from 9am-3pm and at 5pm; Thursdays from 8am-2 pm and at 5pm; and Fridays from 9am-11am.
The best days to post on Facebook are Monday to Thursday, while the worst day to post is on Sunday.
For optimal engagement on Instagram, it’s recommended to post on Mondays between 11am and 2pm; Tuesdays between 10am and 4pm; Wednesdays between 9am and 4pm; Thursdays between 9am and 1pm and at 2 pm; and Fridays at 11am.
The most effective days for posting are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sundays, meanwhile, should be avoided.
To maximise reach and engagement on LinkedIn, companies should post on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10am and noon, and on Thursdays at 10am.
The most effective days to publish on LinkedIn are Tuesday to Thursday, but forget about weekends.
Curiously, to reach a wider audience on Pinterest, post from Tuesday to Friday at 1am, as well as Thursday at 3am. Weekdays are the most effective, while weekends are the worst.
TikTok
On TikTok, posting is recommended on Tuesdays between 4pm and 6pm; Wednesdays between 9am and 11am, as well as at 12pm and from 2pm-6pm; Thursdays between 9am and 11am and from 2pm-6pm; and Fridays between 4pm and 6pm.
The best days to post on TikTok are Wednesdays and Thursdays, but not Sundays.
X
As for X (formerly Twitter), go for Mondays between 10am and noon; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 3pm; and Fridays between 10am and 12pm.
Arrange to post your content from Tuesday to Thursday, and take Sundays off.