Is there actually a best time to post on Instagram and should you really care about the timing of your post?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
While the quality of your content is the most important factor for engagement, timing still plays a crucial role. Instagram's algorithm no longer shows posts in a strict chronological order. Instead, it uses a personalized feed that prioritizes content based on factors like your past interactions, how fresh the content is, and the type of content you engage with most. Reels, for example, often get higher visibility than static posts because Instagram is pushing short-form video to keep up with trends. Even though the algorithm is designed to bring you the content you’re most likely to engage with, the time you post still affects how your content is seen. Posts published at optimal times get more exposure and engagement.
You would have noticed how similar posts with similar hashtags receive different likes when posted on different days or time. The right timing of your Instagram post will always give you a higher engagement for the same post scheduled at some other time.
How to determine the best time to post on Instagram?
If you already have an Instagram business account, then you can access your insights to see the days and times when your followers are online. If you have a personal account, you can change it to a business account and access the insights. Here are the steps:
To switch your Instagram account to a business account: Tap "Edit Profile", then select "Switch to Professional Account". Tap "Next", then choose a category that best describes what you do. Tap "Switch to Professional Account" to confirm, then choose "Business Account".
Once your account is switched to a business account, you can access your followers’ information through professional dashboard. Click the "Professional Dashboard" on your profile, then click "New Followers".
When you scroll down to the Followers section, you will notice that Instagram has charts with the time when your followers are most active for every day of the week.
This is exactly the information that you need to use while posting on Instagram. I have noticed over and over that timing the post as suggested by the Instagram’s insights always give me better results.
There are several reasons why you should refer to these insights before scheduling your post:
If your followers are engaging with your content, then your content will also rank higher in the explore feed of other users who might be interested.
The first few comments boost a post on Instagram, so, if you have interactive followers, you can expect more engagement from new users as well.
Instagram insights will only give you information of your followers. But, if you want to learn the best days and times to schedule a post to reach a wider audience and not just your followers, then continue reading.
What are best days to post on Instagram?
As per the research by Sprout Social on Instagram global engagement:
Best days to post on Instagram in order (best to worst): Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday, Friday, Sunday, Saturday
Best times to post on Instagram: Wednesday (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), Monday (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), Thursday (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.).
Worst times to post on Instagram: Any day of the week ( 12 – 3 a.m.).
Wrapping it up
Using a mix of your audience insights and research data to schedule your post will help you determine the best posting times for your Instagram account. Keep experimenting till you have few days and times that work better for you than others.
And, never forget that content is the king. Right timing is just an essence to your existing content, so if you really want to grow your Instagram account, focus most on the content.
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