Is there really the perfect time to post on Instagram?
Since Instagram switched to an algorithm-based feed in 2016, the query of timing has become particularly fraught. If posts don’t show up chronologically, does the time you publish them even matter anymore?
The answer is yes, to an extent.
The Instagram algorithm favors “recency” when it determines what posts you able to see in your feed. Though no longer strictly chronological, it’s designed to serve you recent content material that you just prone to interact with.
Meaning newer posts usually tend to seem in your feed first, irrespective of how many times you refresh it.
What does this imply for brands? That you must be certain your posts are “recent” when your followers are most probably to be online.
That means, they’ll be more prone to see, like, and interact together with your content material.
Below, we’ll present you one of the perfect time and day of the week to post on Instagram based on your business. It uses data from 258,956 posts and the top 20 Instagram accounts in North America that are from 11 different industries.
We’ll additionally show you the way to use this data to inform your publishing schedule.
When is the perfect time to post on Instagram?
One simple option to discover out when your followers are online and most likely to interact with your content material is by digging into your Instagram analytics.
However, it’s additionally useful to seek out what times work for other brands in your business, particularly in case you’re starting from scratch.
Utilizing data from Unmetric, a social media benchmarking tool, we analyzed the top 20 Instagram accounts that are from 11 different industries over the span of 18 months to seek out out when their posts received the most engagement.
Remember: timing can’t make up for bad content material. As a metric, timing ought to solely be used to boost Instagram content material that’s already optimized to perform well.
Additionally, just because these are the “greatest times to post” doesn’t imply you may publish content at another time. A solid Instagram strategy makes room for plenty of experimentation and testing.
Your brand and your viewers are unique. What works for some brands might not work for others (i.e., YMMV).
These timing suggestions work greatest as beginning points and are supposed to be supplemented with inner data. They’re timezone agnostic.
Travel & Tourism
Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Based on Unmetric data, brands in this business experienced the most engagement with their Instagram content material when they posted at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., but in addition 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (in more recent quarters).
On average, Friday was the perfect performing day for Travel and Tourism brands on Instagram, adopted by Tuesday and Monday.
Probably, followers of those accounts are primed to interact with travel content material as they plan their weekends. On Monday and Tuesday, nevertheless, they may be reminiscing about their time on the beach or the slopes.
When not to post: For those who’re beginning fresh in the Instagram travel business, keep away from posting after 1 p.m. Additionally steer clear of weekends, when your followers are having their own adventures #irl.
Brands included: Disneyland, Walt Disney World, The Museum of Modern Art, The Met, Beaches N Resorts, Guggenheim Museum, Trip Advisor, Airbnb, Disney Cruise Line, Four Seasons, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Ritz Carlton, Norwegian Cruise Line, Space X, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Airbus, LATAM Airlines, Singapore Airlines
Media & Entertainment
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 3 p.m.
Based on Unmetric data, the top 20 Instagram accounts in Media and Entertainment experienced probably the most engagement when they posted at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., adopted by 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Audiences are likely scrolling via their feeds during lunch hour and into the previous “afternoon slump”. They search for a burst of inspiration or humor to get them via the rest of their day.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are the clear winners for engagement by day-of-the-week in this business. However, Mondays and Saturdays are additionally strong performers.
This might imply any variety of issues, however, followers likely discover media and entertainment Instagram content material engaging regardless of the day it’s posted on. That it’s served to such large viewers means that this category has to account for a variety of utilization behaviors, too.
When not to post: Mornings.
Brands included: National Geographic, E! News, ESPN, Tasty, Humans of New York, Bleacher Report, BuzzFeed, Vogue, Playboy, HYPEBEAST, TIME, 9GAG, Marvel Entertainment, EA Sports FIFA, Disney, Netflix, Ellen, SportsCenter, Lonely Planet, Epic Reads
Food & Beverage
Fridays at 12 p.m.
This one’s hardly a surprise. Top accounts within the food and beverage business have probably the most success posting at 12 p.m.. It’s time when many individuals are taking a break from their workday to consume, well, food and beverages.
Whether they’re searching for inspiration, motivation, or something tastier than their own #saddesklunch, lunch hour is the clear winner by way of engagement. In case your brand solely posts as soon as a day, this is the time to do it.
Fridays are probably the most engaging day of the week, on average. However, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday are additionally strong contenders for this business.
When not to post: Newcomers to this Instagram community ought to keep away from posting outside of mealtimes.
Brands included: Redbull, So Yummy, Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, Flavorgod Seasonings, Oreo, CakeGuide, Food52, Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon, Corona, Starbucks Coffee, McDonald’s, Burger King, Dunkin’, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, KFC, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A Inc.
Retail
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 12 p.m.
Lunch hours can be popular outside of the food and beverage business. Top retail brands have probably the most success engaging their Instagram followers at the moment too, particularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
When not to post: In case you’re simply beginning a retail-focused Instagram account, keep away from posting outside of the lunch hour window, a.k.a, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Brands included: Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Nike Football (Soccer), Adidas Originals, Zara, H&M, Adidas Football, Footlocker, ASOS, boohoo.com, Target, HomeGoods, Nordstrom, Who What Wear, AliExpress, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana
Professional Services
Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.
On average, top professional services brands appear to have probably the most luck posting early on in the workday, particularly on Fridays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
Some of these corporations usually post helpful educational content material to their Instagram feeds, similar to hyperlinks to weblog posts or videos. Probably, individuals want to consume this type of content material earlier in the day rather than later. And whereas they’re at work, already in the mood to take action.
When not to post: In case you’re a brand new professional services account, keep away from posting on weekends and evenings, except your data tells you in any other case.
Brands included: Lootcrate, Roam, Progressive Calisthenics, Pursuit of Portraits, Ogilvy, Later.com, Wieden+Kennedy, MAKERS, VaynerMedia, Leo Burnett, Huge, TBWA WORLDWIDE, Hootsuite, AKQA, McKinsey & Company, Accenture, 72andsunny, Deloitte, DDB Worldwide, Droga5