When Should My Business Post On Facebook And Instagram?

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You did it: you’ve created the perfect social media campaign for your business. You've come up with a social media strategy, campaign goals, content and ways to track success. However, there’s one thing left to figure out: when to post your content. With so much time in the day and so many people to reach, it can be overwhelming trying to determine the best time to post on Facebook and Instagram.

But don’t fear, because connectU has you covered. In this article, you’ll learn:

• Why Facebook and Instagram are important for business

• How Facebook and Instagram differ

• Why there is a “best time” to post on Facebook and Instagram

• The best day and time to post on Facebook and Instagram

• How connectU can help your Facebook and Instagram posts

  
  

Why Are Facebook And Instagram Important For Business?

Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, are vital for businesses trying to get their message out there and increase sales. Over 200 million businesses worldwide use Facebook and get their brand and message to their target audience through the platform.

Reach A Large Population

Facebook is vital to ensuring that your target audience knows about and buys from your business. By 2027, analysts project that Facebook will reach 75% of the world’s population. With a platform this large, you have an almost unlimited amount of customers to interact with on the platform. While you may not reach all 75% of the population, you can reach a significant amount of your target audience.

Get Consumers To Take Action

Facebook is also a great way to get consumers to follow calls-to-action. 58% of users browse a brand’s website for more information after seeing a product on a Facebook Story, and 31% go in-person to their store. This is great for both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses, as both retailers can appeal to their target audience and ensure a high return on investment (ROI) through the platform. 

Consumer Decision Making Process

Instagram is also vital for businesses, with 62% of users following and researching brands and products on the platform. Furthermore, 70% of shoppers use Instagram to inform their purchases, making Instagram a vital part of the shopping experience. With Instagram, it’s easy to see how products look before buying them, increasing confidence in purchase decisions. Brands who don’t use this platform are missing out on many potential customers and sales without this easy-to-use platform. 

How Do Facebook And Instagram Differ?

Like all social media platforms, consumers use Facebook and Instagram for various purposes. While people generally use the platforms to keep up with friends and family and be entertained, this comes across differently on Facebook and Instagram. 

Visual vs. Text-Based

Instagram is a visual-based platform, with an emphasis on photos and videos shared in Posts, Stories and Reels. However, Facebook allows for text-only posts, as well as photos, videos, Reels and more. Because of this, Facebook is both a text-based and visual-based platform. 

Because of these differences, businesses can’t approach the two platforms the same way. For example, businesses whose products need to be shown to best appeal to consumers, like restaurants and boutiques, may find more success on Instagram. However, Facebook is still a great platform to use, as it allows businesses to engage with customers through events and longer-form content.

Platform Features

Facebook and Instagram also differ in what they allow users to post. Currently, Instagram allows users to post photos, videos, Stories and Reels, making the platform much more image-based. However, Facebook allows for other forms of media with clickable links in captions and longer videos. 

Because of these differences, Instagram is best for showing products and services, while Facebook is great for creating strong relationships with users through personalized and engaging content. 

Is There A “Best Time” To Post On Facebook and Instagram?

Like many other aspects of social media, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to posting. Some brands may find success posting content early in the morning, while others perform best late at night. 

First, think about what time you check social media. Unless you drink lots of coffee and use eye drops all the time, you probably don’t scroll throughout your social media feed every hour of the day. 

Neither does your target audience. Now, ask yourself "What time do people check their social media"? Depending on the demographics and behaviors of your target audience, they may scroll through their feed right when they wake up, while others scroll in the middle of the night. Your target audience checks social media at different times of the day for many reasons, and you need to ensure that your content is posted when they’re most active on the platform. 

When conducting a social media campaign, post when your target audience is most active on social media. If your research shows that your target audience is most active on Facebook while they’re getting ready for work, post content then so that your audience sees it. Otherwise, if you post while your audience gets ready for bed, the odds that your audience will see and engage with your content is much lower. 

Audience engagement also depends on the content, not just the time it’s posted. Even if you think you cracked the code on when to post on Facebook, if your content isn’t engaging to your target audience, they won’t like, comment or share your post. Make sure that your content is as good as it is timely so that users engage with it. 

However, when posting time-sensitive content, like information about a lunch special or sale, post before the event or sale takes place. For example, if you’re running a special on sandwiches from 11 a.m.. to 2 p.m., post it before 11 a.m. so that your audience has time to see and consider your post. Otherwise, if you post right at noon, you miss out on customers who have already made up their minds on something else. 

While there is no single time everyone should post to get the most engagement, there is a “best time” to post on social media depending on your target audience. 

Best Day And Time To Post On Facebook

The best day of the week and time of day to post on Facebook depends on your target audience and when they are active on the platform. 

Generally speaking, the best days to post on Facebook are Monday through Thursday, while the worst day to post on Facebook is Sunday. Engagement varies each day, with the mid-morning performing best on some days and the evening performing best on others. Engagement changes each day, so you should consider it when creating your campaign schedule. See the image below for more details.

The times listed below are a broader look at when all users are active on Facebook. Depending on your business and audience, your posts may perform best early Sunday morning, which generally has a lower engagement rate. To see the peak time to post on Facebook for engagement with your audience, check out your Audience Insights, which will give you more information on your target audience and when they are most active. 

Source: Sprout Social

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Sunday

Overall, there are no great times to post on Facebook on Sunday. However, if you choose to post this day, the most engagement is seen from 9-11 a.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Monday

The best time to post on Facebook on Monday is 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Tuesday

The best time to post on Facebook on Tuesday is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a one-hour spike in engagement at 5 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Wednesday

Like Tuesday, the best time to post on Facebook on Wednesday is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with another spike of engagement at 5 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Thursday

The best time to post on Facebook on Thursday is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with engagement again at 5 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Friday

Engagement narrows on Fridays, with the best time to post on Facebook occurring from 9-11 a.m.

Best Time To Post on Facebook on Saturday

Like Sunday, there is no great time to post on Facebook, but the highest engagement will be seen from 9-11 a.m.

Best Day And Time To Post On Instagram

Like Facebook, the best day to post on Instagram depends on your target audience and when they use the platform. 

The best days for brands to post on Instagram are Tuesday through Thursday, while the worst day to post on Instagram is Sunday. Specific times vary, with high engagement on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

However, the optimal posting time looks different for every business. To get a better insight on when your target audience is most active, check out Instagram Insights, which will show you a day-by-day breakdown on when your target audience was most active in the last seven, 14, 30 or 90 days. 

Instagram Global Engagement

Source: Sprout Social

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Sunday

Overall, there are no great times to post on Instagram on Sunday. However, if you choose to post this day, the most engagement is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Monday

The best time to post on Instagram on Monday is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Tuesday

The best time to post on Instagram on Tuesday is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Wednesday

The best time to post on Instagram on Wednesday is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a spike of engagement at 8 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Thursday

The best time to post on Instagram is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with engagement again at 2 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Friday

Engagement narrows on Fridays, with the best time to post on Instagram occurring from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Best Time To Post on Instagram on Saturday

Like on Facebook, there is no great time to post on Instagram on Sunday, but the highest engagement is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

How Can connectU Help My Facebook Or Instagram Posts?

Now that you have a better idea on when to post on Facebook and Instagram, you may be wondering how to get people to see your content. That’s where connectU can help.

connectU is an influencer marketing platform that brings businesses and college students together to help increase brand awareness for the business while helping students earn money.

If your business is located in a college town or your target audience consists of college students, connectU can help. 

When you post an influencer marketing campaign on connectU, you can specify when you want your content posted to ensure that your target sees your business.

If your business is ready to start posting on Facebook and Instagram, connectU is here for you. Sign up here to get started today!