Best Times to Post on Instagram (2023 Update)

Best Times to Post on Instagram for Each Day

• Monday: Noon
• Tuesday: 9:00 AM
• Wednesday: 11:00 AM
• Thursday: Noon
• Friday: 2:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM
• Sunday: 7:00 PM

Monday: Noon

On Mondays, the ideal time to post is at noon. This makes sense when we consider that people are often settling into their workweek, checking their social media during lunch breaks or moments of pause. The noon posting time aligns with this behavior, providing an opportunity to capture attention when users are likely to be browsing their feeds.

Tuesday: 9:00 AM

Tuesdays bring a shift, with 9:00 AM being the optimal time for engagement. This earlier time might align with the patterns of those who start their day by checking their phones, perhaps during a commute or right before diving into work. Posting at this time catches the early risers and those who engage with social media as part of their morning routines.

Wednesday: 11:00 AM

On Wednesdays, the best time shifts again to 11:00 AM. This could correlate with mid-morning breaks or the lead-up to lunchtime when users might be looking for a distraction or a moment of relaxation. The 11:00 AM slot might also catch those who have settled into their workweek and are more inclined to take periodic breaks to engage with content on social media.

Thursday: Noon

As we continue to explore the optimal times to post on Instagram, we find that Thursdays also align with a preferred posting time of noon. This mid-day slot might signify a pattern of user behavior that is consistent with the beginning of the workweek. By Thursday, users have likely settled into their routines, and the lunchtime break may provide a consistent window for social media engagement. The shared time with Monday suggests a uniform pattern, where the mid-week work rhythm creates opportunities for brands to engage with their audience during common breaks.

Friday: 2:00 PM

Fridays see a shift to a later time, with 2:00 PM being the prime posting window. This adjustment might reflect the winding down of the traditional workweek, where people may be beginning to shift their focus towards the weekend. It's a transitional time, where the anticipation of leisure or weekend plans might coincide with increased social media browsing. It's a time that captures the mood of readiness for relaxation, and posting at this hour may align well with content that resonates with the forthcoming weekend vibe.

Saturday: 9:00 AM

The weekend itself brings a further change, with Saturday's optimal posting time moving to 9:00 AM. This earlier slot on a weekend day can be associated with a more relaxed browsing time, perhaps over morning coffee or breakfast. It's a time that may align with leisurely scrolling, where the urgency of the workweek has subsided, and people are more inclined to engage with content at a slower pace. Saturday mornings offer a unique opportunity to connect with an audience that might be in a more reflective or receptive mood, open to different types of content that align with the weekend's relaxed tone.

Sunday: 7:00 PM

The pattern of optimal posting times continues to evolve as we move into Sunday, with a significant shift to 7:00 PM. This later time may reflect a very different behavior pattern from the rest of the week. As people prepare for the upcoming workweek, they may be more inclined to check their social media in the evening.

Whether it's a moment of relaxation before the week begins or a time to catch up on what might have been missed over the weekend, this evening slot represents a unique opportunity to connect with users at a potentially reflective and receptive time.

What About Reels?

In addition to the daily timings, insights on Reels—a relatively newer feature on Instagram—reveal interesting patterns. Reels have become an essential part of the platform, allowing for more creative and engaging content. According to data by Hootsuite, Reels can get up to 300% more engagement than regular Instagram videos, this statistic that underscores the importance of this feature in a modern Instagram strategy.

Brands that leverage Reels may find opportunities to connect with their audience in new and innovative ways, capitalizing on a format that encourages creativity and interaction.

Weekends: Least Favorable Days

The overall analysis also points to a general trend regarding weekends, which might be the least favorable days for posting in terms of engagement. This pattern may reflect a shift in user behavior over the weekend, where people might be less inclined to engage with brand content and more focused on personal time and relaxation.

The contrast between the higher engagement times during the workweek and the reduced activity over the weekend offers valuable insights for brands planning their content strategy. It suggests a need to tailor content to the specific behaviors and expectations of the audience, recognizing that weekends may require a different approach or understanding of what resonates with followers.

When is the Best Time to Post on Instagram by Country?

The success of an Instagram post can often be influenced by something as seemingly simple as the time it's posted. While content and hashtags are vital, timing can also play a substantial role, especially when considering different time zones and regions.

Different Regions, Different Behaviors

Various parts of the world have unique audience behaviors that are influenced by culture, work habits, lifestyle, and, importantly, time zone overlaps. An account based in New York might have followers across the United States, which means it must consider different time zones from the East Coast to the West Coast.

Local Times Across Different Time Zones

The following times represent a general guideline for posting in different regions, taking into account their respective local times:

• US + Canada West Coast: 9 PM - 12 AM
• US + Canada Central: 10 PM - 12 AM
• US + Canada East Coast: 11 PM - 4 AM
• South America: 5 AM
• UK: 3 AM - 4 AM
• Western Europe: 4 AM - 6 AM
• Eastern Europe: 5 AM - 7 AM
• Africa: 2 AM - 3 AM
• Middle East: 4 AM
• East + Southeast Asia: 6 AM - 8 AM
• Australasia: 11 PM - 12 AM

These times are helpful in understanding when audiences in different regions are most active, offering a roadmap for maximizing engagement.

Finding Personalized Best Times

While the above times offer a good starting point, each brand caters to a unique audience with specific behavior patterns on social media. Therefore, leveraging analytics tools to analyze engagement patterns can provide more precise insights tailored to your followers.

Key Instagram Statistics to Keep In Mind

Understanding Instagram's landscape requires a close look at the essential statistics that define user behavior and engagement. These numbers aren't merely abstract figures; they paint a vivid picture of the platform's daily life and offer strategic insights for those looking to connect with their audience.

1. Businesses post an average of once per day: This frequency represents a balance between maintaining visibility and avoiding oversaturation. It signifies the importance of consistent engagement without overwhelming followers.
2. Average engagement rate is 0.96%: Though this may seem small, it's a valuable benchmark for businesses to measure their success. It emphasizes the need to create engaging content that resonates with followers, as every percentage point counts.
3. People spend about 30 minutes on Instagram daily: This daily investment of time highlights how integral the platform has become in many users' lives. It offers a window of opportunity for brands to connect with their audience.
4. Each visit lasts approximately 6 minutes and 35 seconds: Understanding the average visit duration can help in crafting content that fits within these engagement windows. It's about creating impactful content that can capture attention within this time frame.
5. 63% of American users check Instagram at least once per day: This frequent checking showcases the platform's role in daily routines, providing ample opportunities for brands to be part of these daily interactions.
6. 42% of American users check Instagram several times per day: This statistic indicates a significant level of engagement and offers insights into when and how often to post.
7. Weekends are typically the worst days to post for engagement: This pattern provides guidance on when not to post, underscoring the importance of timing in a content strategy.

Does Posting at The Best Times on Instagram Actually Work?

Determining the optimal times for posting on Instagram has long been a subject of interest for marketers and content creators. But does adhering to these schedules genuinely make a difference? Let's explore several factors that emphasize the importance of timing on Instagram.

Unique Audience Patterns

Every brand and content creator caters to a distinct set of followers with individual behavior patterns on social media platforms like Instagram. These unique audience patterns can vary widely depending on factors like demographics, interests, time zones, and even individual routines. Understanding and analyzing these patterns is a cornerstone in creating a tailored and effective posting schedule.

By recognizing when your specific audience is most likely to be online and engaged, you can craft a posting strategy that resonates more deeply with your followers, leading to enhanced interaction with your content.

Importance of Freshness

The importance of freshness in the Instagram algorithm plays a significant role in your content's success. In an environment where new content is being uploaded constantly, the freshness of a post can make or break its visibility. Instagram's algorithm prioritizes newer posts, displaying them higher on a user's newsfeed.

This means that even high-quality content may be overlooked if it's not posted at a time when your followers are most active. Therefore, understanding the peak activity times of your audience isn't just beneficial; it's essential to ensure that your content doesn't get buried under the influx of new posts.

Optimization through Freshness

Optimization through freshness takes the concept of timely posting a step further. It's not merely about understanding when your audience is online; it's about strategically leveraging those timeframes to maximize your post's reach and engagement. Utilizing the recency factor involves careful planning and consideration of your audience's behavior, combined with the content's relevance to them.

This optimization creates a synergy between what you're posting and when you're posting it. By aligning your content's timing with your followers' online activity, you are effectively optimizing each post for success. This approach goes beyond merely seeking visibility; it aims to connect with the audience at the right moment, sparking interaction and building a more engaged community.

Clear Goals

Setting clear goals for your Instagram marketing strategy is analogous to having a well-defined roadmap for a journey. Without distinct objectives, efforts can become scattered, and it becomes challenging to measure success or failure. Whether the primary focus is on building brand awareness, achieving higher engagement rates, driving traffic to a website, or any other specific aim, having clear goals helps align every post and campaign.

These goals act as a compass, guiding every decision, from content creation to posting times. Moreover, the clarity of purpose aids in understanding what success looks like, enabling a more nuanced analysis of what works and what doesn't.

Guidelines from Past Success

Utilizing guidelines from past success builds on the foundation of clear goals by providing valuable insights into what has previously resonated with your audience. By meticulously analyzing successful posts and understanding why they performed well, you can identify patterns that can be replicated in future content. This might include posting times, content types, hashtags, or any other variable that contributed to the success.

Such analysis isn't about merely copying what worked before but learning from it. It's a process of continuous improvement, where past successes serve as a living guidebook, filled with proven strategies and insights specific to your brand and audience.

Conclusion

Understanding the best times to post on Instagram involves considering various factors such as time zones, audience behavior, and individual brand goals. By using the data provided, such as optimal posting times across different regions and insights into audience engagement, brands can make informed decisions to enhance their Instagram strategy. Continuous analysis and adaptation to these guidelines can lead to improved engagement and success on the platform.