The Best Times to Post to Social Media

Have you ever wondered why some social media posts get more engagement than others? Studies show that certain days and times of the week affect the number of people who like, share, favorite, and retweet your posts. Most of you are fully aware that 3:00am on a Wednesday morning isn't the most optimal time to post an image on Instagram and expect engagement, but it's helpful to know specific days and times that your audience is most active. Today we've rounded up the data to help you gain more engagement with your followers over social media. 

The Best Times to Post to Social Media | Elle & Company

Facebook

Studies show that weekend posts get 32% more engagement on Facebook. However, there is some debate over the best time to post. Some say 1:00pm while others say 3:00pm, but the implication is that posts in the early afternoon receive more engagement.

Twitter

Posts published on Wednesday at 12:00pm and 6:00pm receive more follows, favorites and retweets. The optimal number of tweets per hour is between 1 and 4. 

Instagram

Most forms of social media have a couple distinct times to post that gain more engagement, but that isn't the case with Instagram. Studies show that Instagram users are consistently active on Instagram because of it's mobility. 

Pinterest

The best time to post to Pinterest is 8:00pm to 11:00pm on Saturday nights. The average Pinterest visit is over 16 minutes, which is far longer than any other social media platform. Pinterest also drives more referral traffic than LinkedIn, Google+, and Youtube combined!

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is most often used right before and right after normal work hours. Posts from 9:00am - 5:00pm receive less engagement. 

Are you surprised by any of these statistics? When are you most active on social media and which platforms are your favorites?



Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6