What Are the Best Times to Post on Social Media?
Best Days: Thursdays & Fridays
86% of posts are published during the work week with engagement peaking on Thursday and Friday.
Best Times: Between 1pm - 3pm
The optimal time to post is early afternoon. 1pm posts get the most shares 3pm posts get the most clicks.
Worst Days: Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays
Engagement rates fall 3.5% below average for posts published Monday through Wednesday
PSG’s Thoughts
Share engaging content early in the week (a fresh delivery, new product, or cooking of a dish) and post specials and photos of the final dish or product on Thursdays and Fridays between 1pm and 3pm.
Always Remember
“The less people want to be at work, the more they are on Facebook!” -Buddy Media
Best Days
Instagram engagement stays consistent throughout the week, but spikes on Mondays.
Best Times
The optimal time to post is mid- to late-afternoon. 2pm posts get the most shares 3pm posts get the most clicks
Worst Days
Instagram shows a large dip in engagement on Sundays. There is a slight increase in engagement on Sunday evenings.
PSG’s Thoughts
While Facebook engagement spikes during work hours, Instagram tends to perform better after business hours. Sharing posts in the later afternoon will perform better.
Always Remember
During work hours, an average of 22.5 per 1,000 IG followers interact with posts. During off-hours, 34.4 per 1,000 followers engage with content.
Snapchat
Best Days
Snapchat engagement stays consistent throughout the week, but increases during midweek days - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Best Times
Unlike other platforms, Snapchat is predominantly nocturnal and most users are active at night. The highest engagement is generally between 8pm and 1am. That makes us sleepy just thinking about it.
Worst Days
Snapchat engagement on weekends is largely unpredictable. Some users are less likely to check on posts and prefer messaging friends directly.
PSG’s Thoughts
We all have different audiences and different audiences like to watch different content at different times. Based on our research, you can post on different platforms throughout the week to grow your online presence.
Always Remember
Instagram engagement is highest on Mondays. Snapchat engagement is highest during the mid-week. Facebook engagement is best on Thursdays and Fridays. Weekends tend to show the lowest engagement.
If you use Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat for your business, consider this your complete guide to content, strategy, and engagement. Here’s a quick strategy guide of when you should post.
Monday (Instagram)
2pm - 3pm
Highlight specials or deals offered that week.
Tuesday and Wednesday (Snapchat)
8pm - 1am
Share behind-the-scenes snaps and weekly deals
Thursday (Snapchat and Facebook)
Let your staff “take over” Snapchat for a shift
Post delicious plates and buckets of beer available during that evening’s sporting events on your Facebook
Friday (Facebook)
1pm - 3pm
Post photos of what you’re offering that weekend, special events, raffles, live shows, etc.
Weekends
Weekends tend to perform lower as everyone is out and about. Share any content you’d like, just remember that engagement will be lower during these days.