The Best Time to Post on Facebook in 2024 Explained

 

Posting content when your audience is most active can greatly benefit social media managers. Timing is a key factor in engagement success on Facebook. Discover the best days and times to optimize your posts for desired results.

 

Why does timing matter when posting on Facebook?

Effective posting on social media is akin to hosting an event at a time when most guests can attend—it maximizes engagement. For Facebook, the best posting times align with when your audience is most active online. This timing not only increases visibility and interaction but also influences Facebook's algorithm to extend your post's reach. However, finding this optimal time involves considering factors like audience activity, time zones, and weekday versus weekend behavior.

 

Here are some important factors to consider:

 

• Facebook is globally the most widely used social network.

• On average, Facebook Pages post five times daily.

• Users spend nearly 20 hours monthly on Facebook.

• Millennials constitute a significant portion of Facebook's user base.

• Daily Facebook use among teens is limited to just 19%.

 

Thankfully, there are effective tools available to determine the optimal day and time for posting on your Facebook Page. These tools will be discussed further in the final section of this post. For now, here are some broad guidelines to consider when developing your Facebook posting strategy.

 

The best time to post on Facebook in 2024

 

Naturally, consider the time zones where your audience resides when scheduling these posting times.

 

The best time to post on Facebook by day of the week

Consider both the timing of day and the days of the week when planning your content for Facebook. Research suggests that Mondays through Wednesdays are generally the most effective for posting, but it's essential to strategically enhance engagement on other days as well. 

The best time to post on Facebook on Monday

The optimal time to post on Facebook on Monday is at 8:00 AM. This is when many Facebook users are beginning their week and typically browsing while enjoying their morning coffee, just before starting their workday.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Tuesday

The ideal time to post on Facebook on Tuesday is at 7:00 AM. Our analysis shows that Tuesdays generally experience the highest engagement on Facebook compared to other days of the week.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Wednesday

The optimal time to post on Facebook on Wednesday is at 7:00 AM. This trend continues to highlight the early morning as a peak period for Facebook activity.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Thursday

The most effective time to post on Facebook on Thursday is at 8:00 AM. Consider when you last indulged in your coffee and scrolling session—this is prime time for engagement.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Friday

The optimal time to post on Facebook on Friday is at 7:00 AM. This finding was unexpected, as engagement typically decreases approaching the weekend. However, Facebook users maintain consistency, with mornings consistently showing strong performance on the platform.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Saturday

The most effective time to post on Facebook on Saturday is at 10:00 AM. Similar to other social networks, weekends generally yield lower engagement. Nevertheless, posting during these times may result in less competition for attention. It's always worth experimenting to see what works best for your audience.

 

The best time to post on Facebook on Sunday

 

The optimal time to post on Facebook on Sunday is at 11:00 AM. If you're sleeping in on Sundays, chances are your audience is too. Waiting to post until late morning allows your audience time to wake up and get comfortable before engaging with your content.

 

What affects the best time to post on Facebook?

Each business will experience varying peaks and lows in terms of the best times to post on Facebook. Here are some key considerations to remember when planning your posting schedule.

 

Your unique audience

Understanding your audience's behavior is crucial for determining the best time to post on Facebook. Factors such as whether your audience works a standard 9-5 schedule or are stay-at-home parents who check Facebook throughout the day can significantly influence their online activity patterns. By identifying these habits, you can strategically schedule your posts to maximize engagement.

 

Consider the following when planning your Facebook posts:

 

• Age: Millennials constitute a significant portion of Facebook's user base, while teens from middle- to lower-income families are more likely to use the platform compared to those from higher-income households.

 

• Work: Professionals often check Facebook during commute times, lunch breaks, or in the evenings. Those with flexible or non-traditional work schedules may be active at different times throughout the day.

 

• Location: Posting content at times aligned with your audience's location maximizes visibility. For global audiences, consider posting at times that cater to multiple time zones to reach a broader audience effectively.

 

Your industry

Different industries experience varying peak times for engagement on social media. To identify when your audience is most active, start by analyzing competitor data. This involves studying competitors' posting schedules and engagement patterns to inform your own strategic posting decisions.

 

Here’s how to do it:

 

• Identify key competitors: Select competitors with a comparable audience and product offering to yours.

 

• Track their posting times: Take note of the specific times of day and days of the week when they make their posts.

• Measure engagement: Monitor the likes, comments, shares, and other engagement metrics their posts generate.

 

• Identify patterns: Analyze their posting and engagement data for recurring trends. Determine if there are particular times or days when their posts consistently achieve higher engagement levels.

 

Updates to the Facebook algorithm

Facebook has continually evolved its algorithm, adjusting ranking signals to prioritize content that is most relevant to users. Understanding these algorithm changes can be beneficial for optimizing your posts to increase engagement on Facebook. Timing your posts strategically can leverage these algorithm updates to maximize visibility and interaction with your audience.

 

As of 2024, the Facebook algorithm operates on four primary ranking signals:

 

• The algorithm on Facebook prioritizes content from sources that users frequently interact with, including posts from friends, followed pages, and businesses that are regularly engaged by their audience.

 

• Users' interaction history determines the type of content that appears more frequently in their feed. For instance, if a user interacts more with videos, their feed will show more video content; similarly, interactions with photos or text updates influence what appears.

 

• The algorithm assesses the likelihood that users will engage with a post based on factors like previous interactions (such as likes, comments, shares), the type of post, and its relevance to the user. Posts predicted to have higher engagement are given priority in the feed.

 

• Facebook prioritizes posts expected to generate meaningful interactions among users, such as comments, shares, and replies. This prioritization aims to promote valuable social interactions and connections, ensuring that content fostering conversations is emphasized.

Geographical trends and events

Geographical trends and local events significantly influence when and how your audience engages with Facebook posts. Factors like local holidays, events such as sports games or music festivals, and even weather conditions affect user activity. During holidays, people may be more active online for shopping, recipe ideas, and gift searches, though they might also spend more time offline with family.

 

How to find your unique best time to post on Facebook with Hootsuite

 

Determining optimal posting times on Facebook can significantly impact the visibility and engagement of your content. Hootsuite offers helpful tools like Best Time to Publish and Recommended Times in Composer, simplifying the process of finding these ideal posting times.