Does Posting Time on Instagram Really Matter?

Understanding when your target audience is most likely to be active on Instagram can significantly improve your chances of higher engagement. While these guidelines are generalised, they can serve as a helpful starting point when planning your content schedule.

According to various studies and analytics data, here are the optimal times and days to post on Instagram in 2024:

• Monday: 11 am 2 pm
• Tuesday: 10 am 3 pm
• Wednesday: 10 am 2 pm
• Thursday: 10 am 3 pm
• Friday: 9 am 3 pm
• Saturday: 9 am 1 pm
• Sunday: 10 am 2 pm

These time frames indicate that posting during mid-morning to early afternoon on weekdays and late morning on weekends can result in higher engagement. However, it is crucial to recognise that these optimal times may vary depending on factors such as industry, target audience, and content type.

To provide a more tailored approach to posting times and increase relevance, we will explore the best posting times for different industries:

1. Fashion and Clothing Brands

Best Times: Wednesday at 10 am, Thursday at 11 am, and Friday at 10 am
Best Days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

2. Fitness and Health Brands

Best Times: Wednesday at 6 am, Thursday at 12 pm, and Saturday at 9 am
Best Days: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday

3. Food and Beverage Brands

Best Times: Tuesday at 10 am, Friday at 11 am, and Sunday at 12 pm
Best Days: Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday

4. Travel and Tourism Brands

Best Times: Tuesday at 2 pm, Wednesday at 11 am, and Friday at 10 am
Best Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

While these are generalised industry-specific guidelines, it is highly recommended to continuously monitor your own account’s performance and adjust your posting times accordingly.

In order to achieve maximum engagement, you should seek out the optimal posting times tailored to your unique audience. To help you with this endeavour, Instagram offers a powerful tool Instagram Insights. Accessible to business and creator profiles, this feature provides a wealth of data, including the times when your followers are most active.

Follow these steps to unlock this valuable information:

1. Go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon in the top right corner.
2. Select “Insights” from the menu.
3. Under the “Audience” tab, you will find a section displaying the active times of your followers on a typical day and across the week.

By analysing this data, you can determine your unique best time to post on Instagram, ultimately increasing your chances of higher visibility and engagement.

While posting time is important, it is not the only factor that contributes to a successful Instagram strategy. Make sure to also focus on the following aspects:

• High-quality content: Engaging visuals and compelling captions are key to capturing your audience’s attention.
• Hashtags: Use relevant and targeted hashtags to increase discoverability and expand your reach.
• Community engagement: Respond to comments, interact with your audience, and participate in like-minded communities to build strong relationships with potential followers and customers.
• Consistent posting: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and maintain growth.

In conclusion, while the timing of Instagram posts does matter, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. A successful Instagram strategy involves a blend of strategic timing, quality content, and continuous analysis and optimisation. So, keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep evolving your Instagram strategy to maximise your engagement and growth.

By leveraging the general guidelines provided by us, coupled with your Instagram Insights data, you can harness the full potential of optimising your posting times. Higher visibility and engagement can translate into increased brand awareness and growth, setting your account on the path to long-term success. 

To that end, we’ll help set you up for success, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Digital Influence!