Instagram is a very popular social media app. Many people use it to share pictures, videos, and stories. Whether you use Instagram for fun, business, or to influence others, knowing the right time to post is very important. Posting at the best time can help your content reach more people and get more likes, comments, and shares.
The time you post on Instagram can make a big difference. If you post when most people are online, your content is more likely to be seen. On the other hand, if you post at the wrong time, your post could get lost in the feed, and fewer people will see it. This means your content might not get the attention it deserves.
In this article, we will talk about the best times to post on Instagram. We will also explain how you can find the best time for your specific account because the ideal time can change depending on who your followers are.
Why Timing Matters on Instagram
Before talking about the best times to post, it is important to understand why timing is so important. Instagram has millions of users around the world. Each person looks at their feed regularly. However, not everyone will see every post. Which posts appear on someone’s feed depends on several factors. Two main factors are the time you post and how Instagram’s algorithm works.
Instagram uses an algorithm to decide which posts to show users. The algorithm looks at things like how many likes and comments a post gets, the relationship between the user and the person posting, and how recent the post is. Posting at the right time can help your post get seen by more people, and it could appear at the top of your followers’ feeds. This can help your content get more attention and engagement.
The Best General Times to Post on Instagram
There is no single perfect time for everyone to post on Instagram. However, there are some general times that studies and research suggest are better for most people. These times are based on patterns seen in many accounts. Let’s look at the best times according to these trends.
Best Time for Engagement
Research has shown that posting during lunch hours, from 11 AM to 1 PM, and in the evening, from 7 PM to 9 PM, is usually a good idea. These are the times when many people take breaks, either for lunch or after work. During these times, people often check their phones and scroll through their feeds. This makes it a good time to post because there are more chances for people to see your content.
Best Days to Post
Wednesdays and Thursdays are generally considered the best days to post on Instagram. People are more active on these days because they are not too busy with weekend plans or the start of the week. People have more free time on these days to browse Instagram.
Weekends
Weekends are different because, although weekdays tend to get more engagement, weekends can also be a good time to post. This is especially true for businesses and influencers targeting younger audiences. However, you might notice that engagement can be lower on weekends for some accounts. It’s important to experiment and see what works best for your followers.
Best Time to Post for Different Types of Accounts
The best time to post depends on the kind of account you have. Different types of accounts have different target audiences, and these audiences may be online at different times. Let’s look at how different accounts should think about timing.
Personal Accounts
If you use Instagram for personal reasons, like sharing photos with friends and family, posting in the evening, after 6 PM, is a good idea. Most people have finished work or school by then, and they are relaxing at home. This is when many people will check their phones to see what their friends and family are posting.
Because your followers are friends and family, who might have different schedules, evenings and weekends are often the best times to post. These times allow people to spend more time interacting with your posts.
Business Accounts
For businesses on Instagram, the best time to post depends on the type of business and the people you want to reach. If your business is related to food or entertainment, posting during lunch breaks (around 12 PM to 1 PM) or dinner time (around 6 PM to 7 PM) could get you more engagement. If your business is something else, like technology or fashion, posting in the morning, between 9 AM and 11 AM, might work better. People often check their phones first thing in the morning.
If your business targets people around the world, you should adjust your posting times based on the different time zones of your target audience. You can use Instagram Insights or other analytics tools to learn more about when your followers are online and active.
Influencers and Content Creators
For influencers and content creators, the goal is usually to get the most engagement possible. This is often achieved by posting when followers are most likely to be active. The best time to post is often early in the morning (around 7 AM to 9 AM) or late in the evening (around 7 PM to 9 PM). These times are when followers are more likely to have free time to engage with posts.
E-commerce and Online Stores
For online stores, the best time to post usually happens when your customers are most likely shopping. This is often between 10 AM and 12 PM on weekdays. During these hours, people are browsing the internet, looking for products to buy. You can also post in the evening to target people who shop after they finish work or school.
Using Instagram Insights to Find Your Best Time
Although general trends can give you a good idea, the best way to figure out the right time to post for your specific account is by using Instagram Insights. Instagram Insights is a tool that gives you important data about your account. It helps you see when your followers are most active, which is crucial for knowing the best times to post.
Instagram Insights is available for business and creator accounts. If you have one of these accounts, you can access the “Audience” section of Insights, which shows the times your followers are online. This section also shows you which days and hours are most active.
How to Use Instagram Insights:
- Open your Instagram profile.
- Tap the three lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Select “Insights” from the options.
- Go to the “Audience” tab.
- Scroll down to see the “Most Active Times” section.
- Look at the graph to see the exact hours when your followers are most active.
Using this information, you can create a posting schedule that matches when your followers are online. This will help increase the chances of getting more likes, comments, and engagement.
Other Things to Think About When Posting on Instagram
While posting at the right time is important, other factors can also affect how successful your posts are. Let’s look at some of these factors.
Quality of Content
Even if you post at the best time, your content must be interesting and good quality to get noticed. Make sure that your photos or videos are clear and well-edited. Try to create posts that your followers will enjoy. A strong caption and the right hashtags can also help increase engagement.
Frequency of Posts
Posting too often can annoy your followers, while posting too rarely can make you lose contact with them. It’s important to find a balance. Research shows that posting 3 to 7 times a week works well for most accounts. This helps keep your content fresh without overwhelming your followers.
Instagram Stories and Reels
Besides regular posts, you can also use Instagram Stories and Reels to engage your followers. Instagram Stories often get quick reactions and high engagement. Reels can help you reach a wider audience. You can post Stories during peak times, while Reels can be posted anytime, even when your followers are not online.
Consistency
Consistency is important for growing your Instagram account. Even if you know the best time to post, it is essential to stick to a regular schedule. Your followers will start to expect posts from you at certain times, which can increase their engagement with your content.
Experiment and Adjust
The best time to post can change over time. Your audience might change, or Instagram’s algorithm might adjust, so it’s important to test different posting times. Try posting at different hours of the day or on different days of the week. Track how well each post does, and adjust your schedule based on your results.