Do a quick Google search of the “Best Time to Post on Instagram.” You'll get 1,000s of results and not many answers. Research used to show that you could post virtually anytime to get a higher amount of likes and interaction. Wrong. But there is a best time to post to Instagram and it usually has to do with where you live and WHO your followers are.

But there's more to it than that. And this post is going to break it down and share how you can find out when your best time to post on Instagram. In doing, you'll gain more engagement and it will help eliminate some of the stress that comes with Instagram.

If you want to make sure your Instagram posts get seen, it's important to know when is the best time of day to post. By understanding the algorithm and doing research on your target audience, you can select a time of day that will optimize your post's reach and engagement.

Why should we post to Instagram at the optimal time?

When we post at the right time, more people will see your post. Basically, one of the ways to master the Instagram Algorithm is to post when more of your followers are actually online. When you do this, they will actually see your posts, interact with them, and then Instagram will continue sharing your posts to a wider audience. Meaning, post at the right time and gain more likes and interaction.

Have I piqued your interest yet?!

I'm going to use myself as an example. If I post something at 1 A.M. on a Friday night, there's a good chance it's not going to be seen as much as a post at 6 P.M. the same day, no matter the picture. My followers are probably asleep or out having fun and not looking at Instagram.

You probably already know this, but the MOST important aspect is having a great photo or video along with an intriguing caption. If you need some ideas for captions check out this post.

The best times to post on Instagram:

First, these times are central time zone. They might differ slightly for you. Remember, this is UNIVERSALLY speaking.

Right now, (and this post was updated March 2023) the best time to post to Instagram is Saturdays at 11am EST and Fridays at 10–11am EST. Across the world, these are generally the optimal times when your audience is scrolling through their feed and most likely to engage with your post. Make sure you're scheduling your posts in advance so that you can capitalize on peak levels of engagement!

Now the day you post might affect this, so let's take a closer look.

Weekdays:

9 am
People are awake, maybe drinking their morning coffee. They aren't commuting to work or answering their first emails of the day.

Mid-day
11am-2pm
I know this is a wide range but think of this around lunch time. People take a break to eat, and check social media.

6:30-9pm
Again, they are home from work, able to scroll through their phones.

The best day to post to Instagram is Monday according to Huffington post. This is a day that has the best instagram engagement- meaning more likes and comments all around. Monday has the highest average engagement occurring for posts published.

But personally, Tuesday and Wednesday typically are higher days for me.

Weekends:

Saturday at 7pm. This is when people are out and about and might check their phone. Another time is 11pm. It seems late, but you'll also have less competition of others posting photos.

Sunday at 5pm. This might because lazy Sunday is finally settling in, you're no longer day drinking, but thinking about tomorrow's activities and checking your feed.

Sunday 10am -2pm. Taking a break after the weekend and scrolling through Instagram is happening at this time.

Why isn't this 100% accurate? Because everyone has different followers, in different times zones, with different jobs, etc.

Posting at the right time on Instagram can make all the difference in terms of engagement and growth. However, it's important to note that the best time to post can vary from account to account depending on the audience's behavior. For example, if your target audience is college students, you may want to post during the evening hours when they have finished classes for the day. It's crucial to understand your audience's habits and adjust your posting schedule accordingly.

To determine the best time to post for your account, it's recommended to check your Instagram analytics regularly. You can view your audience's demographics and see when they are most active on the platform. This information can help you adjust your posting schedule to maximize engagement and reach. Additionally, be sure to focus on creating high-quality content that captivates your audience's attention and encourages them to interact with your posts. By combining the right timing with great content, you can grow your Instagram following and increase engagement with your audience.

To be honest, you don't have to follow this at all. I don't! I think it's fun to post images more organically, but it's always nice to know.

While all of this sounds great, it's not the end all, be all when it comes time to posting to Instagram. The great news is that Instagram has awesome analytics which will showcase when your followers are more active. For example, since I live abroad, posting at 8am to 9am, my peak hours, simply doesn't work for me because my followers are USA based and that's actually 3 am in the morning for them. Instead, I typically post around the WRONG time which is 3-4pm!

I can easily look at my analytics and see my followers are based mostly in the US and plan accordingly.

Another app to use, espeically if you aren't an Instagram business account is Iconosqure. This will also help you ,ap out when to post on Instagram:

The bigger the circle, the better time to post.

Posting at the right time on Instagram can make a huge difference in the engagement your post receives. However, it's important to keep in mind that the best time to post may vary for each account depending on their audience. The key is to understand your follower's behavior and posting accordingly.

In addition to checking your Instagram analytics, there are other factors to consider when determining the best time to post. For example, if you have an international audience, you may want to adjust your posting schedule to accommodate different time zones. It's also important to understand the purpose of your post and what you hope to achieve with it. For example, if you're promoting a product or service, you may want to post during peak shopping hours.

Remember, in order to receive more engagement, we want to find the best time for YOU to post. To beat the algorithm we want to post so more people interact and how quickly they interact. Which is why posting time is so important.

How to Find the Best Time For YOU to Post to Instagram

I always suggest that you have a creator or business account on Instagram. Having insights helps you find out what's working on Instagram so that you can accurately engage your followers.

Inside your analytics, Instagram gives you lots of tools to help you better understand what content to produce and when.

Next, go to your profile, click the three bars on the top right and click “Insights.” Now click on “Audience.” Here you'll see your follower growth, your top locations, age range, gender and information about the days and hours your followers are most active:

Here you can see based on my stats the hours between 12pm and 3pm and my most active on Sunday. That will help me prepare, so I have a good gauge of the best time to share.
Does this mean I ALWAYS share at this time? No! But it helps me have a better understanding of when my engagement is more likely to spike or that my followers will be online.

To find the best time to post on your Instagram account, you can start by checking your analytics to understand when your followers are most active. If you have a business account, Instagram provides this information for you. If not, you can use third-party apps like Iconosquare to track your follower activity. It's also important to consider your target audience's time zone and daily routine. Experiment with posting at different times and track your engagement to see which times work best for you. In the end, finding the best time to post is about understanding your own unique audience and their behavior.

Now, this can change during unique times. Meaning, during holidays or global pandemics, the timing might be different. To build an engaged audience, you need to get to know your followers. And part of that is seeing what time they are active.

How often should I post on Instagram?

Posting on Instagram can be a tricky task to manage, especially if you're trying to build an online presence. You might be wondering how often you should post on Instagram to engage your followers and increase your visibility. The answer to this question varies depending on your goals and your audience, but there are some general guidelines to follow.

According to social media experts, the ideal posting frequency on Instagram is once per day. However, this might not be the best strategy for everyone. If you post too often, your audience might get overwhelmed, and your content might seem repetitive or uninteresting. On the other hand, if you post too infrequently, your followers might lose interest and forget about you.

To determine the best posting frequency for your Instagram account, you should consider your goals, your audience, and your content strategy. For example, if you're a fashion blogger, you might want to post more frequently during fashion week or when you have new outfits to showcase. If you're a food blogger, you might want to post more frequently during meal times or on weekends when people have more time to try out your recipes.

Another thing to consider is the type of content you're posting. If your content is visually appealing and engaging, you might be able to get away with posting less frequently. However, if your content is more informative or requires more context, you might need to post more often to keep your followers engaged.

Ultimately, the best posting frequency on Instagram is the one that works for you and your audience. Don't be afraid to experiment and try different schedules to see what resonates with your followers. You can also use Instagram's analytics tools to track your engagement and see how your posts are performing. This can help you make informed decisions about when and what to post in the future.

Take the time to analyze which types of posts have been the most popular among your followers. Knowing what type of content resonates best with your community, helps you decide which type to post at different times of day. For example, if your audience tends to engage more with visuals like pictures or memes than long-form text, consider using mostly image and video content when posting during peak hours. However, textual messages posted in the evening may be more successful due to lower competition for attention from other users.

In addition to frequency, the timing of your posts is also important. Research has shown that certain times of the day and week are better for engagement than others. For example, posting during weekdays between 10am-3pm tends to yield higher engagement rates. However, your audience may have different habits, so it's important to test different times and see what works best for you.

Is there an optimal time to post on Instagram?

Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. As a result, it has become a powerful tool for businesses and individuals to connect with their audience and promote their brand. One question that many people ask when using Instagram is whether there is an optimal time to post. In this blog post, we'll explore this question in more detail.

The short answer is yes, there is an optimal time to post on Instagram. However, the optimal time may vary depending on your audience and location. For example, if you're targeting an audience in the United States, you'll want to post when it's daytime there. Similarly, if you're targeting an audience in Europe, you'll want to post when it's daytime there.

So, how do you determine the optimal time to post on Instagram? Here are some things to consider:

1. Know your audience: Understanding your audience is crucial when determining the best time to post on Instagram. You should know their location, age, and habits. Once you know this information, you can use it to your advantage.

2. Use Instagram Insights: Instagram Insights is a free tool that provides valuable information about your audience, such as when they're most active on the platform. You can use this data to determine the best time to post.

3. Experiment: It's important to experiment with different posting times to see what works best for you. Don't be afraid to try posting at different times throughout the week and track your engagement to see which times get the most likes, comments, and shares. This will help you create a posting schedule that works best for your audience.

4. Consider time zones: If you have a global audience, you need to consider different time zones. For example, if you're based in New York, but your audience is in Australia, you'll want to post when it's daytime there, even if it means posting in the middle of the night for you.

5. Avoid posting during peak hours: While it may seem counterintuitive, it's best to avoid posting during peak hours when everyone else is posting. This is because your post may get lost in the flood of other content. Instead, try posting during off-peak hours when there's less competition.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of the best time to post on Instagram. It all depends on your unique audience and their behavior. By understanding your audience, using Instagram Insights, experimenting, considering time zones, and avoiding peak hours, you can find the optimal time to post that works best for your brand.

Is there a certain time of day that works best to post on Instagram?

Statistics show that there is a certain time of day that works best to post on Instagram. According to studies, the best time to post on Instagram is between 9 am to 11 am (EST) on weekdays. This is because most people check their phones in the morning as soon as they wake up, and Instagram is one of the social media platforms they are likely to browse through.

Additionally, there are other times that may work well based on your audience's location and demographics. For instance, if you have a significant following from a different time zone, you may want to post during their peak hours. On the other hand, if your audience is predominantly students, the best time to post is during their breaks, such as lunchtime or after-school hours.

It's essential to note that these are just general guidelines, and the best time to post ultimately depends on your audience's habits and behavior. Therefore, it's essential to analyze your insights to determine when your audience is most active and tailor your posting schedule accordingly. You can also use Instagram's built-in analytics tool to track your engagement rate and identify the best time to post for your account specifically.

In conclusion, the best time to post on Instagram is between 9 am to 11 am (EST) on weekdays. However, it's crucial to consider your audience's demographics, location, and habits before settling on a posting schedule.

Should I post more on certain days of the week on Instagram?

If you're an Instagram user aiming to get more engagement on your posts, you might be wondering if there's a specific day or time that's best to post. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are several factors to consider that can help you determine the best posting schedule for your account.

Firstly, it's important to understand your audience and when they're most active on the platform. If you have a business account, you can use the insights feature to see when your followers are online. This data can help you determine the best times to post so that your content is more likely to be seen.

Another factor to consider is the type of content you're sharing. If you're posting something time-sensitive or related to a current event, it's best to post it on the day it's most relevant. However, if you're sharing evergreen content that isn't time-sensitive, you can experiment with different posting schedules to see what works best.

In general, it's a good idea to post consistently, whether that's daily, weekly, or on some other schedule. This helps your followers know when to expect new content from you and can increase engagement over time.

While there's no guaranteed formula for success on Instagram, paying attention to your audience's behavior and experimenting with different posting schedules can help you optimize your content for maximum engagement.

Top Tips for Getting More Engagement On Instagram

I suggest taking a look at your followers and seeing what their local time zone is. Knowing this information can help you to more greatly connect and find what works for you.

Weekdays have greater weight, so save your best posts for during the week. That's not to say don't post at all on the weekend, just typically more people are engaged during the week.

Use the tools Instagram gives you.

I suggest promoting your posts on Instagram stories to encourage engagement. I also think using Instagram Stories is the best way to continue to grow your account and engagement. Here's my complete guide to Instagram Stories or check out 30 Instagram Story ideas.

Make sure you aren't getting shadowbanned and using hashtags that help you grow. Here are some of my favorite hashtags.

Don't forget to follow along with me: @heleneinbetween.