The Ultimate Guide to Best Times to Post on Social Media (Infographic)

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Which came first, the chicken or the egg? It’s a question without an answer that’s been vexing people for decades. Well, here’s the social media equivalent: When are the best times to post on social media, your favorite social media networks?
People have been asking this question since the moment Mark Zuckerberg opened Facebook up beyond college students. Many people claim to have the answer, but the truth is it varies depending on what site you are using and who you are trying to reach, according to a new infographic. Here’s a breakdown of when to post according to which site you’re using.
 

Best Times to Post on Social Media

 

1. Facebook

The migration of Facebook users to mobile has a big impact on the best time to post on the site. People tend to check in on their mobile devices early in the morning, before they leave for work. While at work they don’t tend to check their accounts.
Thus the best time to post on Facebook is 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., catching people before they run out the door for their commute, or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., when they’re coming home from the office or hitting the end of their day.

2. Twitter

While people tend to eschew Facebook on the weekends, they are fairly active on Twitter during Saturday and Sunday, with engagement 30 percent higher than on Facebook. The best time to post on Twitter is from 1 to 3 p.m. on weekends, before people have gone out for the evening and after they’ve had a chance to sleep in and eat lunch.

3. Google+

One of the newer social media sites, Google+ tends to reflect general social user trends. It does not do well in the overnight hours, when people are either asleep or active with other media, such as television or video games. The best time to post on Google+ is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., since many people check the site at work for work-related projects.

4. LinkedIn

As you might expect, people check in with LinkedIn right before and right after work. Since it’s a site for professionals, there’s not a lot of traffic during office hours. The best time to post on LinkedIn is from 7 to 8:30 a.m., before people start the workday, or 5 to 6 p.m., when they’re just getting off. Note also that LinkedIn tends to be more active on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

5. Pinterest

On Pinterest you’ll be reaching a largely female demographic, women who tend to be interested in cooking, decorating, fashion and DIY home improvement. Pinterest has much higher dwell time than other social media sites, with the average visitor spending 16 minutes on the site. That’s longer than almost all other social media sites.
The best time to post on Pinterest is Saturday morning, when people are looking for ideas for what to do with their weekends or planning a party and searching for ideas. Saturday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. and nights from 8 to 11 p.m. are also good posting times.
 

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