So, you’ve written a social media post that is so good you just know it’s going to get a lot of attention. But the creative only gets you so far.
There is an overabundance of social media being shared every second. For PR pros, marketers and social media managers, it can feel overwhelming – but there are ways to take advantage of the algorithm to make it work for your brand. It starts with getting people’s attention when they are most active online.
Thankfully, Sprout Social, the social media management and optimization platform, has released its 2024 data to give users a clearer analysis of when the most beneficial times are to post. Sprout Social analyzes the data of nearly two billion engagements across 400,000 social profiles: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest and TikTok.
Let’s dig into what they found.
Best Time to Post on Facebook
Facebook is the most used platform by marketers. The prime days and times to post are:
- Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The worst day of the week to post is Sunday.
Best Time to Post on Instagram
Following Facebook, Instagram is the second most used platform by marketers worldwide. According to the information found, the best days and times to post on Instagram are:
- Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
- Fridays at 11 a.m.
Like Facebook, the worst day to post is Sunday.
Best Time to Post on X (Previously Twitter)
X, previously known as Twitter, can be inconsistent with its prime hours to post because it sways as breaking news unfolds. According to Sprout Social, the best times to post are:
- Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.
Following this social media pattern, Sunday is again the worst day to post on X.
Best Time to Post on LinkedIn
LinkedIn users tend to engage during general office hours. This is not surprising due to the users the platform attracts. Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays at 10 a.m. are the most beneficial times to post. The worst times to post are both Saturday and Sunday.
Best Time to Post on Pinterest
Pinterest users experience the visual search engine at all points of the day. While there are a wider variety of times people use the platform, the best times to post on Pinterest are Tuesdays through Fridays at 1 a.m. and Thursdays at 3 a.m. The worst days to post are Saturdays and Sundays.
Best Time to Post on TikTok
TikTok’s users are of a younger demographic, so its active users can usually be found scrolling in the afternoon and early evening. The best times to post on TikTok are:
- Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., noon, and 2 to 6 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.
- Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Consistent with other platforms, Sunday is the worst day to post.
Social Media Planning in 2024
From this information, it is safe to say that no two platforms are used exactly the same. That is why it is smart to know when the best time is to post to your preferred platforms. Becoming aware of these trends can lead to better results and increased brand awareness.
Devine + Partners is a public relations agency based in Philadelphia. We offer a full range of communications services – from message and content development and media relations to issues management and employee and community engagement.
