How to find your best time to post on Instagram
If you’re new to Instagram, the days and times outlined above are probably a good starting point. However, although the above suggestions on when to post are great to use as you get started building followers and engagement, they are more suggestions rather than rules of thumb.
There is no one way to beat the ‘Instagram algorithm.’ Instead, it is important to understand who your followers are, when they are online, and what works best for your Instagram account — that way, you can time your posts for your specific followers rather than Instagram users in general.
As time goes on, you can start to experiment with other posting times and learn what times are best for you and your brand specifically. But how do you tailor your posting schedule to your specific audience? Well, the Meta Business Suite will give you access to all the data you need to solve your posting woes.
If you want to learn more about your target audience, when most of your followers are online, and how Instagram’s algorithm works, convert your Instagram to a business account to make use of the Meta Business Suite. You don’t need a social media management tool to optimize your Instagram feed – instead, try out Instagram Analytics.
The Meta Business Suite provides you with a native Instagram analytics tool where you’ll be able to see how your previous Instagram posts performed. You will also be able to discover key metrics nad demographic information about your followers, such as gender, age, and location. You’ll be able to build a complete picture of the best time to post to your social media platforms.
With the data within the Meta Business Suite, you’ll have a much clearer idea of the best time to post on Instagram for high engagement. You can then tweak your content calendar accordingly. When are the time frames that your followers are online? Early morning? During their lunch hour? Are they primarily located in PST or EST? The Meta Business Suite will provide all this information and more so you can find your best posting times. It’s good practice to regularly check your social media analytics to monitor and optimize performance.
Key considerations when posting on Instagram
When you’re trying to figure out the best times to post, there are many things to think about. We have compiled the top four key considerations when deciding when to post on Instagram.
1. Day of the week
Some days of the week are better than others for posting content. In general, more people are using Instagram during the weekdays (Monday-Friday) than on the weekends (Saturday-Sunday). People are often out on the weekends, meaning they might not be on their phones. Even during the workday, think about when people typically are on their phones (during work breaks and lunch breaks) and when they are often away from their phones (during commutes, dinner, and overnight).
2. Time zones
Adjust your posting schedule to fit the time zones of your most engaged followers. Where are the majority of your followers located? One of the things you can look at in Instagram Insights is your followers’ top locations. If you live in a time zone that differs from most of your target audience, consider posting on their schedule rather than yours. Think about the specific times that work best for your followers.
3. Breaks during the workday
Instagram engagement peaks during working hours Monday-Friday. Why? Because people love to hop on social media during their work breaks to get a bit of relief from the workday. Think about when your followers may have their breaks and time your posts so they can see them as they eat lunch.
4. Frequency of posts
How often should you post on Instagram? A better question might be, “How often can you produce amazing content?” Once a week or three times a day, no matter how often you can post, the key is consistency. Create a content calendar to get yourself on a consistent Instagram schedule. Creating a social media schedule that you can stick to is an important part of a successful Instagram marketing strategy. Think about users’ feeds and how often they would want to see your content. Consider your ratio of Instagram posts to Instagram stories. Find a few times that work for you, then try to regularly post at those times.
With Adobe Express, you can browse and remix thousands of beautiful templates to create standout social content that will attract attention and encourage engagement on your social networks. Then use a scheduling tool and publish your posts using the Content Scheduler. Get started by uploading your logo, brand colors, and fonts so you can quickly make each post you create on-brand.
This post was updated on January 12, 2024.
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