Alexis Kestler
Do you want to know the best time to publish your posts on Instagram to reach your target audience and grow your brand? Worry no more! This post will show you the best times to make posts on Instagram.
The best time to post on Instagram is when most of your target audience is available online. Then, how can we determine that?
Well, you would probably need a magic wand for that. Knowing when a decent percentage of your target audience is available to engage with your content is a task many have tried to undertake but haven’t come to an absolute result.
Marketing your product on Instagram has gotten harder these days. This is because Instagram keeps altering its algorithm. Thus, the reach of Instagram business posts is unimpressive.
This is because more relevance has been given to posts by family and friends on the platform. Thus, putting your brand out there is a struggle. But then, you have to keep trying.
A strategy that can help you out is knowing what the best time to post on Instagram is. It will make no sense to sweat it out to make good content, only to post them when most of your audiences aren’t using the app.
Thus, we will take a wholesome look at how to go about determining the best time to make posts on Instagram.
Most Suitable Times to Post on Instagram
People still debate what the best time to post on Instagram is, and this doesn’t look like going away any time soon. This is because many factors come into play, and the whole issue may be quite more subjective than we think.
This is why all the different tests and analysis that has been carried out have all come up with different results.
However, one should note that timezone varies according to location; thus, the timezone used in most of these findings (Central Time US) may be different from yours.
Thus various findings suggested that the best day to post on Instagram is on Thursdays. And the best time to do such include 2 pm – 3 pm on Thursdays, 11 am on Wednesdays, and 10 am on Fridays.
Why it's important?
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Instagram Engagement
Engagement is very vital for the growth of your business on a social media space like Instagram. Many brands are more concerned about this than any other thing. Instagram is known to basically make provision for likes and comments. But you will now find other inclusions such as views, shares, and direct messages.
There are also Instagram Stories and IGTV to add up to that. Thus, engagement constitutes all kinds of interactions between your brand and your followers or customers on Instagram.
There are many statistics concerning engagement on Instagram.
- Number of likes per Instagram post (Median) = 100
- Number of comments per Instagram post (Median) = 4
The above figures may look discouraging, especially for those who own businesses. Thus, that brings us to the issue of content. The above statistic may make you wonder why you need to make the effort of creating content. But then great content is the key to generating more engagement with your audience.
Thus, you need to take your time to create content that will readily catch the eye. And not only this, you need to know the right time to post such so that your effort won’t go to waste.
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Investigations on the Best Time to Post on Instagram
There has been numerous research by groups and individuals just to determine when the right time is to post o Instagram. This has brought about a wide array of conflicting views and opinions.
However, sifting through some of the results from these investigations still show some interesting patterns. Thus we have looked at numerous investigations carried out by the likes of Sprout Social, Expert Voice, Later, and CoSchedules
What to Consider in Picking the Best Time to Post on Instagram
1. Day of the Week
We have twenty-four hours in a day, and that is enough time for engagement levels on Instagram to change massively. Thus, it should not come as a surprise if a particular time of a certain day of the week is said to be suitable for making posts on Instagram, and then, another time on that same day is listed as the worst time. This is just to let you know that massive fluctuation as per the level of engagement can occur within a short period. This is partly because user behavior cannot be analyzed in totality.
But one consistent trend is the fact that engagement is greater during the early hours of the day, say 5 am. This is because people tend to first check their phones the moment they wake up from sleep. Thus, they are more likely to check social media platforms such as Instagram to see what is new. This is more prevalent during workdays.
2. Siesta Time on Workdays
This, too, is a logical trend. People tend to make use of their phones when they pause from work. It is even a way for them to relax. Thus, they are more likely to check social media platforms such as Instagram to see what is new and if they have any messages. This is more prevalent during lunchtime.
Also, as the day goes on and people begin to get weary from work, some tend to turn to their phone as a way of getting distracted; thus, they are more likely to check social media platforms such as Instagram to see what is new and if they have any messages.
3. The Use of Time Zones Can be of Great Help
If your target audience comes from one geographical region, it is advisable to use the timezone of that region to determine when you want to make your posts on Instagram. However, if your audience is spread out in terms of location, it will be quite harder to reach everyone at a given time or even find a best fit time to make your posts.
Thus, if you want to reach your audience at launch time, it means a great chunk of your audience is probably those about to pause their work.
4. Use Instagram Insights to Learn Your Audience’s Habits
Following these best times to post may not yield dividends if your audiences are not truly the usual type. Thus, we suggest you make use of Instagram Insights. You will only be able to use this tool if you have a Business Instagram account.
This tool will help you determine the usage habits of your followers. You will be able to determine the best time when your followers are online. Fashioning out your posting strategy to reflect this is a good attempt and may work out well.
5. How Frequently Should You Post on Instagram?
It makes no sense if you are the type that posts probably once a week, and that is all. You need fresh content to keep your followers glued to your account. This is how your brand can even have the chance of taking off in the first place. Thus, you need to post regularly. And do ensure that your content is unique and reflects your brand as well as possible.
Therefore, we suggest you make as many as three posts daily. Also, mix everything up. Your posts don’t have to always be about your brand. It may come out as boring if you keep doing one thing over and over again.
Different Niches, Different Post Times
And here is where everything comes apart. After all your careful planning, we just have to let you know that your niche has a say on when you should make those Instagram posts happen.
For instance, HubSpot believes Technology Companies should make posts on Instagram on Wednesdays at 10 am, B2C Companies should do so on Saturdays at 11 am and 1 pm, Educational bodies should make posts on Mondays at 8 pm, Healthcare Companies should post on Tuesdays at 1 pm, and lastly, Non-Profit Organizations should publish their posts on the platform on Tuesdays at 3 pm and 9 pm, Wednesdays at 3 pm and 4 pm, Thursdays at 2 pm & 3 pm, and Fridays at 10 am & 2 pm.
There are numerous analyses with different results of this kind from other organizations that we don’t want to bug you down with. We want to point out here that there is no one accurate time for making posts on Instagram. But then, getting ample knowledge of the whole issue will help you come up with a good strategy of your own.
FAQs
1. What should I post on Instagram?
This isn’t easy to determine. There is no specific time agreed upon. This is because of so many factors, such as differences in brands and audiences. According to research carried out by Sprout Social, it is suggested that the best time to post on Instagram falls on Wednesday at 11 am and Friday at 10–11 am. While HubSpot suggests, you post between 2 pm and 3 pm.
2. When shouldn’t I post on Instagram?
The general time you shouldn’t post on Instagram is the early morning. But this, too, is subjective. Take, for instance, if most of your audiences are from a region that uses a different timezone. The early hours of the morning in your region may be entirely different from theirs. Thus, it depends on what type of audience you have.
3. Is posting on Instagram at night bad?
Posting at night time on Instagram is generally not the best time to catch your audience’s attention. Through many studies, the best time suggested in making Instagram posts is around mid-morning to afternoon. But then, you have to take note of time zones and the type of audience you have. These may greatly influence when you should post on Instagram.
4. Are there any post limits on Instagram?
There are no post limits on Instagram. You are free to make as many posts as you want. This, too, depends on your audience and brand. If your niche tilts toward entertainment, it will make sense to bring out fresh content regularly to keep your audience glued to your account.
However, there are certain limits for account activities. You can’t have more than 200 follows and unfollows per day, a maximum of 1000 likes, and you can’t make above 180-200 comments per day.
Conclusion
The right time to make Instagram posts is very difficult to determine. There is no specific time agreed upon. This is because of so many factors, such as differences in brands and audiences.
In this article, we have suggested that the best time to post on Instagram falls on Wednesday at 11 am and Friday at 10–11 am, according to research carried out by Sprout Social. While HubSpot suggests, you post between 2 pm and 3 pm.
Also, suppose your target audience comes from one geographical region. In that case, it is advisable to use the timezone of that region to determine when you want to make your posts on Instagram. Make use of Instagram Insights too.
This tool will help you determine the usage habits of your followers. You will be able to determine the best time when your followers are online. This will go a long way in growing your brand.
