One of the most common questions people ask us is, “When’s the best time to post on social media?” You’ve likely stumbled across your fair share of online articles professing specific days and times as the key to posting success. And while these times can serve as a great starting point in your quest for discovering that oh so coveted sweet spot, the answer isn’t so simple. The truth is, there’s no single perfect time or magic formula to ensure your audience sees your content. However, there are things your business can do to improve its social media reach and position itself for social media success.
Every Business Is Different
It’s imperative to understand that no two businesses are exactly alike. What works for one company may not work for another, so you must treat each of your social channels as unique, individual entities. Timing depends on a variety of factors including industry, audience, and platform. Googling the perfect posting time is too generic a strategy; you need to make sure those posting times are the right ones for you. Your fans are unique to your brand, and they have their own unique behaviors, so take the time to get to know and understand them. The timing of your posts will be radically different if you’re a global brand connecting with audiences 24/7 or if you’re a local mom and pop brand in a specific time zone.
Experimentation Is Key
The best way to find the posting times that are right for you is through experimentation. Set aside some time each week to explore your analytics and figure out what times your most popular posts were published. Take notes of any patterns you notice. It’s okay to look to online data to find the most active times of social media users, but you should treat this data as a general guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Turn to your insights to see when your audience is online, and then look at the engagement your posting gets. Always look for the sweet spot.
Timing Is Not Everything
Sure, timing is one factor worth considering when putting together a strong social strategy. But it’s not the only factor to consider. One way to improve your Reach is to tag other users, especially when posting user-generated content. You can also leverage trending topics and use strategic hashtags in your posts to widen your audience. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; when it comes to social media success, quality content is key. If you aren’t posting content that your audience finds worthwhile and interesting, it won’t matter what time you post it. So don’t let yourself get so caught up in finding the perfect time to post that you forget about what’s most important – sharing valuable content that gives your fans a reason to engage and come back for more.
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