In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. Regarding Facebook, timing is one key factor that can significantly impact your success. Understanding when your audience is most active can make a difference in engagement and reach.
To gain the most extensive reach and engagement with your posts, you need to be strategic about the times you schedule them. Below is an easy-to-understand table indicating the best times to post using the traffic light system.
In this article, we’ll delve into the latest insights on the best times to post on Facebook in 2023.
Sprout Social’s Insights
Our journey to find optimal posting times begins with Sprout Social’s research. They’ve analysed user behaviour and engagement patterns on Facebook extensively, and here’s what they discovered:
1. Wednesday Reigns Supreme: According to Sprout Social, the best days to post on Facebook are Wednesdays. In particular, 11 am and 1 pm emerge as the golden hours for engagement.
2. Weekday Consistency: For a consistently engaged audience, focus on posting between 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays. This time frame encompasses the most active hours for Facebook users.
3. The Sunday Slump: On the flip side, Sundays are the least engaging days. Your posts might not perform as well, so it’s a good day to plan for other marketing activities.
4. Early Mornings and Late Evenings: Engagement tends to dip during the early hours of the day (before 7 am) and in the evening (after 5 pm).
People are creatures of habit, and many check their Facebook during breaks at work, such as morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. Surprisingly, weekend and evening usage is lower as users shift their attention elsewhere.
However, it’s essential to remember that not all audiences are the same. People use Facebook differently, so precision is key to finding the optimal posting time for your specific audience.
Industry-Specific Insights from CoSchedule
CoSchedule offers another perspective by examining data from 25 studies across various industries. Here are some industry-specific recommendations:
- Hootsuite: Suggests posting between noon and 3 pm on weekdays.
- HubSpot: Recommends 1 pm to 4 pm as the ideal window.
- Falcon.io: Aligns with Hootsuite, suggesting noon to 4 pm.
- Unmetric: Brings it forward, proposing posting between 9 am and 2 pm.
- TrackMaven: Offers a unique take, suggesting 8 pm on Thursdays as the best time.
Leveraging Facebook Insights
Facebook Insights is your go-to tool to uncover your ideal posting times tailored to your audience. Here’s how you can utilise it:
Accessing Insights: Ensure you have a Facebook Page and click on the appropriate link at the top of your page to access Insights.
Check the ‘Posts’ Section: Navigate to the ‘Posts’ section in the left-hand menu. Here, you’ll find valuable information about when your fans are online, both by day and time.
Spotting Engagement Spikes: Look for spikes in the data, as these indicate when your Facebook audience is most active.
Learn from Successful Posts: Scroll down on the same page to find data on your most successful posts. Please note when they were posted and consider replicating those posting times for increased engagement.
AI Tools
If you possess adequate IT skills, you may explore the option of utilising AI-driven tools, albeit at a cost, to streamline your posting schedule. These advanced applications can analyse your audience’s peak engagement times and recommend optimal posting strategies and content types.
In conclusion, understanding the best times to post on Facebook is a crucial aspect of successful digital marketing. While general insights from research studies like Sprout Social and industry-specific recommendations from sources like Hootsuite and HubSpot can provide valuable starting points, the key to optimising your posting schedule lies in the precise data from your Facebook Insights.
🌹🐝 To navigate this dynamic landscape effectively, consider leveraging the expertise of professionals like Lesley from Rose Bee Digital. Lesley specialises in social media optimisation and timing, and she can work closely with you to tailor your posting strategy to your unique audience and industry. With her guidance, you can stay flexible, test different posting times, and watch your engagement soar as you connect with your audience when they’re most receptive.
🌹🐝 Don’t hesitate to contact Lesley of Rose Bee Digital for personalised assistance in maximising your reach and impact on Facebook. Stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing with expert guidance.