You keep posting interesting and informative Instagram Reels. They take you hours to edit. BUT you post and womp womp, they just get a few likes. Maybe your Reels aren’t as good as you thought. Or maybe, you’re not posting your Reels at the best time!
Some people swear by early morning posts, others late at night. And still, others believe that any time besides peak hours is the way to go. But what does the data actually say? What is the best time to post reels on Instagram for your brand or business? Should you post on a weekday or on a weekend? Let’s dive in.
Is There A Best Time To Post On Instagram?
Everyone has a slightly different best time to post Instagram reels, depending on a few factors. It’s important to keep day of the week and time of day in mind, but your target audience may be different from someone else’s. Additional factors can include time zones, demographics, and niche.
In general, you should post during peak hours when your target audience is most engaged, as this drives the visibility of your Reels and increased engagement. So, what are the peak hours? Let’s find out.
Best Time To Post Reels On Instagram For Engagement
According to a study by Later, the best time to post reels on Instagram are:
- Monday: 5 a.m.
- Tuesday: 6 a.m.
- Wednesday: 6 a.m.
- Thursday: 5 a.m.
- Friday: 6 a.m.
- Saturday: 6 a.m.
- Sunday: 6 a.m.
According to a study by Sprout Social, the best time to post Instagram Reels for optimal engagement are:
- Mondays at 11 a.m.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
So, what’s the verdict?
It depends. The best time to post Instagram Reels can vary depending on your audience, followers, time zone, and the type of content you post.
Our suggestion is to test the suggested times from Later and Sprout Social in conjunction with factors listed in the next section of this article.
Related: How to Go Viral on TikTok
Tips For Finding Your Best Time To Post Instagram Reels
There are a few factors Instagram users should consider when trying to determine the prime time to post video content on Instagram. They are:
- Your audience
- Your content
- Your goals
#1. Consider Your Audience
When trying to figure out the best time to post on Instagram, you need to consider your audience.
Think about when they are most active on social media and when they are most likely to see your content.
Are they early risers, or do they stay up late?
Do they work 9-5 jobs, or are they students?
Answering these questions will help you determine the best time to post video content for your specific audience. So how do you know when your audience is most active on social media?
Simple, just take a look at your insights!
Instagram insights will show your audience’s age, gender, location, and interests. It will also show you when they are most active on the app.
To access your insights, go to your profile and click on the three lines in the top right corner. Then, click on insights.
From there, you can click on “followers” to see when they are most active.
The location of your target audience is also essential when determining the best time to post on Instagram.
This is because people in different time zones will be active at different times. For example, if most of your audience is in the United States, you will want to consider EST when posting.
On the other hand, if you have a global audience, you will need to consider all the different time zones.
#2. Create Interesting Reel Content
As we all know, content is king. The type of content heavily impacts the best time to post to maximize engagement on Instagram.
People are more likely to engage with posts if they are contextually relevant.
Let’s say you post Reels about food, then the best time to post on Instagram will be during mealtimes.
If, on the other hand, you are posting Reels about fashion, the best time to post on Instagram will be during the daytime, when people are more likely to be looking at fashion.
And nighttime is the best time to post on Instagram if you post videos of the nightlife. Like people partying or going out to bars and clubs.
#3. Evaluate Your Goals
The best time to post on Instagram is whenever is best for YOUR brand and YOUR goals.
Think about what you want to achieve with your posts, and then determine the best time to post an Instagram Reel based on that.
Do you want to increase brand awareness on social media?
Then post when your target audience is most active.
Do you want to increase sales?
Then post during mealtimes or when people are more likely to be looking at your type of content.
Related: What is Social Media?
Final Thoughts
The best time to post Reels on Instagram varies depending mainly on your target audience, time zone, and content. Keep these factors in mind when trying to figure out the best time to post on Instagram for your brand.
Now you know the best time to post reels on Instagram. Good luck, and don’t forget to have fun with it!
Need help with your business’ social media marketing or overall social media strategy? Contact us at Intensify for a free consultation!
