The best times to post on social media

Social media is one of the best ways to amplify the great content you are creating. But it isn’t enough to just post content whenever you feel like it. Some times are better than others.That being said, there is plenty of data out there on optimal times to post on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Think of this data as a general guideline, and use it to help you find the optimal posting times for your business. Facebook
People use Facebook at work and at home, on mobile and desktop. The best times to post include:

• 12:00 – 13:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
• 15:00 – 16:00 p.m. on Wednesdays
• 13:00 – 16:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays 

The worst times to post on Facebook are weekends before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m.

Twitter
Twitter is used at work and at home, usually during down times such as commutes and breaks.

• 12:00 – 15:00 p.m. on Mondays through to Fridays
• 17:00 – 18:00 p.m. on Wednesdays 

Some businesses have also had success with 2:00 – 3:00 a.m., 6:00 – 7:00 a.m., and 9:00–10:00 p.m. post times. Experiment with these times and others to see if they work with your audience.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is for professionals who tend to use it during working hours.

• 07:30 – 08:30 a.m., 12:00p.m. and 17:00 p.m. – 18:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays 

The worst time to post on LinkedIn is during the night, between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

So when is the best time to post content to social media? Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer. Different businesses may find that different days and times work best for them. In fact, timing often depends on the platform you are using, how your target audience interacts with that platform, the regions you are targeting, the content of your post and your goals. It would be wise to research how South Africans interact with social media and during which times they are active on various social media platforms.

For more information, contact Karlien Theart at karlien@succeedgroup.co.za

This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein.