The topic of Facebook’s organic reach is a continual point of discussion among marketers. If you’re someone who finds Facebook engagement metrics frustrating, this post is tailored for you.
Even with the challenges, there’s still a significant opportunity to reach your audience’s feeds. The key is identifying the best time to post on Facebook to maximize likes, comments, and shares.
While many marketers turn to paid ads, not everyone has the budget to boost social media reach consistently. So, the big question remains: when is the best time to post on Facebook?
Moreover, is there just one ideal time, or are there multiple optimal times for posting on Facebook?
Utilizing free Facebook analytics tools can help you assess your audience’s activity patterns, but solving this puzzle requires a deeper dive. We analyzed over 50,000 Facebook accounts and their posts to uncover the best times to post on Facebook.
Finding the perfect timing can be challenging, but our data-driven insights and tips will guide you in your search.
Let’s get started!
When is the Best Time to Post on Facebook?
The best time to post on Facebook is around 10 a.m. on Fridays. Mondays at 10 a.m. and Tuesdays at 9 a.m. also show strong engagement, making them prime times to connect with your audience, according to Viralpep data.
- Mondays: 9 a.m. to noon
- Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Thursdays: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Fridays: 9 to 11 a.m.
- Best days to post on Facebook: Mondays through Thursdays
- Worst day to post on Facebook: Sundays
Facebook remains the most widely used platform by marketers, with 89% of them leveraging it, and it boasts a staggering 3.05 billion monthly active users. Its influence on social media usage is undeniable for consumers and marketers. Compared to last year, periods of high engagement on Facebook still occur in mid-mornings during weekdays, aligning with standard business hours.
The best times to post on Facebook are typically Mondays through Fridays, starting around 9 a.m. and continuing until early afternoon, around 2 p.m. What does this mean for marketers? It suggests that most users are taking short breaks during their routines to check Facebook, making this the ideal time to schedule posts for maximum interaction.
With a robust Facebook marketing strategy, businesses can connect with the right audiences through their content, whether it’s informing them about products or offering exclusive deals. Remember, engagement is a blend of how frequently you post on social media and the type of content you share.
When are the best days and times to post on Facebook?
While we have insights on the ideal times to post on Facebook in general, how does it vary for each day of the week?
Friday is the top day for posting on Facebook, with strong engagement from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ideal time to post is around 10 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are also excellent days for posting, though engagement tends to dip slightly midweek.
The worst day to post on Facebook is Saturday since engagement is significantly lower than the rest of the week. Similarly, Sundays should also be avoided for good engagement and reach.
While the general posting times mentioned earlier provide a good starting point, they might not perfectly align with the habits of your specific audience. Discovering your best time to post on Facebook is vital for effective social media management. Identifying when your audience is most active and engaged will enhance your overall strategy.
If you’re looking for the best days and times to post on Facebook, check out the analysis below:
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Best times to post on Facebook on Mondays
The optimal posting time is between 9 a.m. and noon. While there’s decent engagement from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the highest engagement occurs just before lunchtime.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Tuesdays
The best window is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with another peak at 5 p.m. Engagement remains steady throughout the business day.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Wednesdays
Wednesdays see high activity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an additional surge at 5 p.m., making it one of the most active days to post.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Thursdays
Similar to Wednesday, Thursdays show strong engagement from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with another peak at 5 p.m.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Fridays
Fridays are best for posting between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as users begin to shift into weekend mode. However, there’s still steady activity throughout the workday.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Saturdays
On Saturdays, the best engagement happens between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Overall, weekends, including Saturday, tend to lower engagement than weekdays.
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Best times to post on Facebook on Sundays
The optimal time on Sundays is between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Like Saturdays, Sundays typically see reduced engagement across most social platforms.
Why does timing matter when posting on Facebook?
Think of scheduling social media posts like planning an event. Hosting an event in the middle of the night will likely result in a smaller turnout than if you choose a time during the day or evening when more people are awake and active.
In the same way, engagement on your social channels depends on your audience’s activity. If your followers aren’t online, they won’t be able to interact with your posts.
When is the best time to post on Facebook? In theory, it’s simple: the best time is when your audience is most likely to be online. This is when your content has the greatest chance of being seen and engaged with, signaling to Facebook’s algorithm to expand the reach of your posts.
In practice, it’s more complex. Your audience may not be active at the same time as others. Time zones and differing behaviors between weekdays and weekends add to the complexity.
Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Facebook is the world’s most popular social network.
- The average Facebook Page posts five times per day.
- Users spend nearly 20 hours a month on Facebook.
- Millennials represent nearly half of Facebook’s audience.
- Only 19% of teens use Facebook daily.
Luckily, there are tools to help determine the optimal day and time for posting on your specific Facebook Page. We’ll explore those in the final section, but for now, here are some general tips to guide your Facebook posting strategy.”
How to find your best time to post on Facebook with Insights
Unfortunately, with a recent update, Facebook removed the feature that showed when your fans are online, so you’ll need to track this manually.
If you’ve been posting on Facebook for some time, you can review your existing metrics for insights. If you’re just starting out, I recommend using the suggested posting times for about a month and then following the steps below to analyze your results.
Here’s the approach I suggest
- Log in to your Facebook Page. Click on your profile picture at the top right and select your Page from the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Professional Dashboard” from the left menu.
- Click on “Content” in the left sidebar.
- Choose a timeframe, such as ‘Last 90 days’. Click on “Date” and select “Post Reach” to sort posts by reach. Focus on posts you haven’t boosted to gauge organic reach.
- Note the day and time of day for the top ten posts and their content types (video, photo, text).
- Switch to “Engagement” and repeat the process with the top ten posts. Look for patterns in posting times and days.
- Check for recurring patterns or trends, like specific days or times when posts perform best. If needed, expand to 20 or 30 posts for a broader view.
Viralpep will guide you on the best day to post on Facebook, the ideal type of content to share, and how frequently to post for your specific target audience.
How to find your best time to post on Facebook with Viralpepe
A social media management tool like Viralpep helps you dive deep into your analytics, offering tailored insights for your brand’s accounts across all networks, collectively and individually. Gain a competitive edge by comparing your performance with competitors to uncover new engagement opportunities.
Viralpep simplifies this process by providing insights based on your historical performance. To use Viralpep, follow these steps:
- Ensure your Facebook Page or group is linked to Viralpep. Follow their guide to connect to a Facebook Page or group.
- You’ll need to be on Viralpep’s Essential. You can try the basic plan for free for 15 days or check Viralpep’s pricing for details here.
- Click on “Analytics” in the top menu.
- Choose Facebook from your channel list on the left.
- Viralpep will show you optimal posting times and suggest schedules to boost engagement.
With these methods, you can fine-tune your posting strategy to reach your audience when they’re most active.
Best Times to Post on Facebook Marketplace
If you use Facebook Marketplace for social selling, understanding the best time to post on Facebook Marketplace is just as important. Since marketplace users often browse during off-hours, aim for times outside the traditional workday, such as early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Analyzing your sales performance on the platform can also help pinpoint the best posting times for your products.
Wrapping It Up
Now that we’ve debunked the myth of a best time to post on Facebook, it’s time to focus on experimentation. Dive deep into your audience’s specific behaviors to identify when they are most active. Utilizing tools like Facebook Insights and Viralpep helps you identify the best times to post on Facebook business pages and optimize engagement.
Analyzing your data will provide the most accurate insights into your audience’s habits, helping you tailor your approach effectively. Whether you’re posting on your business page, facebook reels, or the marketplace, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, so testing is crucial.
Additionally, use Viralpep to plan and publish your posts at optimal times. With thorough testing and a solid strategy, managing your social media accounts becomes straightforward, allowing you to boost social media engagement and improve your overall visibility on Facebook.
So, don’t wait—start optimizing your posts today!
