Instagram is one of the most used social media platforms in recent years. It has over one billion active users, making it a prime platform for businesses to reach out to their target audience. The best time to post on Instagram can greatly impact the success of your posts, and finding the optimal time to post can help increase engagement, reach, and visibility.
These topics we are going to discuss to find out your best time to post on Instagram in 2023:
Table of Contents
Consider the behaviour of your target audience
In what time zone is your audience ?
Best time to post on Instagram – weekdays & weekends
Different niches perform on different times
Analyze your Instagram Audience Insights (+ how to discover your insights)
Experiment and adjust
Conclusion on when is the best time to post on Instagram
Here are the best tips on how you can find out your best time to post on Instagram in 2023 :
Consider the behaviour of your target audience
The first factor to consider is your target audience. Different demographics may have different behaviors and habits when it comes to using social media. For example, younger audiences tend to be more active on social media during the evenings and weekends, while older audiences may be more active during the day.
In what time zone is your audience ?
Another factor to consider is the time zone of your target audience. If you are a business targeting people in different time zones, you will need to take into account the different time zones to ensure that your posts are being seen at the optimal time for each time zone. It is also important to consider your own time zone and the best time to post for yourself and your team.
Best time to post on Instagram – weekdays & weekends
Studies have shown that overall, the best times to post on Instagram are during off-work hours on weekdays and on weekends. For businesses targeting working individuals, the best times to post are typically in the early mornings and after work hours, around 9am and 4.30pm. During these times, people are more likely to be checking their phones and scrolling through their social media feed during their daily commutes or breaks.
On the weekends, posting in the late mornings, between 10am to 11am, and in the evenings after 4.30pm tends to perform well. This is because people tend to be more relaxed and have more free time to engage with social media on the weekends. On weekends, people are also more likely to be checking their phones for leisure and entertainment.
We want to show here with 2 studies of famous marketing websites, that at the end all the times and recommendations are different and you need to concentrate on your audience insights :
Hootsuite
| MON | TUE | WED | THUR | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 AM | 8 AM | 9 AM | 11 AM | 2 PM | 8 AM | 6 PM |
| 12 PM | 9 AM | 10 AM | 12 PM | 3 PM | 9 AM | 7 PM |
| 1 PM | 10 AM | 11 AM | 1 PM | 4 PM | 10 AM | 8 PM |
*Times marked with an asterisk indicate particularly high engagement levels.
Later
Later suggests posting on Instagram at different times throughout the week, including early morning hours on weekdays and weekends, as well as late at night. Some of the best times to post are:
| MON | TUE | WED | THUR | FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 PM | 12 AM | 12 AM | 12 AM | 12 AM | 12 AM | 12 AM |
| 1 AM | To | 2 AM | 2 AM | 5 AM | 1 AM | To |
| 3 AM | 9 AM | To | 3 AM | To | 3 AM | 2 AM |
| 7 AM | 7 AM | 5 AM | 8 AM | 11 PM | 5 AM | |
| 7 AM | To | |||||
| 11 PM | 7 AM | |||||
| 11 PM |
Different niches perform on different times
It is also important to consider the type of content you are posting. For example, if you are posting content related to food or travel, you may find that posting during the lunchtime or dinnertime hours tends to perform well, as people are more likely to be thinking about food or planning their next vacation during these times.
It is also important to keep in mind that while the best time to post may vary, always keep and maintain a consistent posting schedule. This will help you establish a presence on the platform and keep your followers engaged and interested in your content.
Analyze your Instagram Audience Insights (+ how to discover your insights)
In addition to finding the best time to post in general, it is much more important to analyze your Instagram insights to see when your followers are most active. This information can be found in the insights section of your Instagram account, and will show you the days and times when your followers are most active. Using this information, you can determine the best times to post for your specific audience.
To find the best time to post on Instagram using the Audience Insights feature, follow these steps:
- Access Instagram Insights: Log in to your Instagram account and navigate to your profile page. Tap on the three lines in the top right corner to access your Insights.
- View audience activity: In the Insights section, you’ll see an “Audience” tab that displays information about your followers, including their location, age, and gender. Additionally, you can see when your followers are most active on the platform.
- Analyze activity patterns: Observe patterns in your followers’ activity levels and determine the times when they are most active. This information can be used to help you determine the best times to post on Instagram.
By using the Audience Insights feature, you can gain valuable insights into your followers’ activity patterns and use this information to find the best time to post on Instagram for your specific audience. Remember, finding the best time to post takes time and effort, so be patient and keep experimenting to find what works best for you.
Experiment and adjust
To ensure you’re reaching your target audience at the most optimal time on Instagram, it’s crucial to continuously monitor and adjust your posting schedule. Experiment with posting at various times and pay attention to the engagement, reach, and visibility of your posts. This will help you determine the ideal posting times for your unique audience. Remember, the best time to post may vary over time, so regularly re-evaluate and adjust accordingly.
Conclusion on when is the best time to post on Instagram
In conclusion, finding the best time to post on Instagram is crucial for businesses looking to reach their target audience and increase engagement, reach, and visibility. By taking into account the demographics, time zone, and type of content, as well as analyzing your Instagram insights, you can determine the best times to post on Instagram for your specific audience. However, it is also important to maintain a consistent posting schedule to establish a presence on the platform and keep your followers engaged and interested in your content.
