What is the worst time to post on Instagram?

Sundays are generally the worst day of the week to post. Everyone is preoccupied doing other things that do not involve checking their phone.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram

Everybody wonders when is the best time to post on Instagram. You get your post all ready to go and then wonder if you should wait just a bit longer. This can be a good thing, but this can also be a bad thing. The true answer to when to post on Instagram is truly dependent on one thing: you.

Table of Contents

Instagram’s Algorithm

Instagram is a social media platform that heavily relies on its particular algorithm. This algorithm has changed often throughout the years, but it largely focuses on the same ideas every time. Learning when to post requires understanding Instagram’s algorithm and how it affects you. If you want to use Instagram as a marketing tool successfully, you will need to know your audience. Narrowing down who you appeal to will help you navigate the algorithm and learn when you should post.

How to Use Instagram’s Algorithm

As previously mentioned, the Instagram algorithm has changed a number of times throughout the years. This makes understanding the algorithm a bit trickier than it should be. You will need to actively adapt to changes to find the best day and time to post on Instagram.

If you have been around Instagram for a while, you may remember that posts used to appear on timelines chronologically. This is no longer the case and has not been for many years now. This is just one example of the ever-changing landscape of Instagram that you will need to navigate. Luckily for us, Instagram provides users with a look into the Instagram algorithm. With the information provided, narrowing down the best times to post on Instagram becomes easier. Of course, Instagram does not actually divulge their algorithm’s coding This doesn’t really matter because we have identified the algorithm’s key factors.

1. Information

Instagram ranks posts within feeds based on the information that they keep on every user. Prior to deciding the best personal time for you to post on Instagram, study the information. Instagram pairs your post, your information, and the information of other users to place it within feeds aptly. This means that Instagram finds the most likely users to interact with your post. A large part of Instagram’s ranking system spawns from previous interactions with a user. If you have previously liked or commented on a user’s post, Instagram will consistently put their posts in your feed. Capitalizing on interaction history is a great way to increase engagement on your posts.

2. Activity

Activity has a lot to do with deciding the best time to post on Instagram. In order for Instagram to rank your page highly, consistently using your profile is recommended. The algorithm will pair your profile with other profiles of a certain history. What you like, comment, and view makes you more likely to appear to people with similar interests. Another factor of Instagram activity is timing. It is important to post at peak hours for your audience. This creates high engagement on your posts, ranking you higher and higher in the system each time. Instagram’s algorithm is a vicious cycle of consistent content. That is why you must frequently post at the proper times for your audience. In doing so, you will see your profile and its posts rise in the rankings.

3. Followers

Followers are great. They help increase your invisibility as your follower count climbs and they interact with your posts. The key to this relationship is that they truly do interact with your posts. If your followers are not actively engaging with your content, your ranking will begin to fall. It is important to eliminate “ghost followers” from your follower count. In doing so, you will begin to see your account rise in the algorithm’s rankings. The algorithm works on a mathematical equation. If it sees your followers ignoring your posts, it will assume that your posts are not worth interacting with.

When Is the Best Time to Post on Instagram?

With Instagram’s key factors in mind, there are rules you should follow when deciding when to post on Instagram. It is best to consider that any listed times vary based on your time zone. If you are a global personality or brand, it is best to stick to your time zone. It is too hard to differentiate between the wide scope of your audience. For smaller marketing purposes, your followers most likely live within the same time zone as you. The best time to post on Instagram is a heavily researched topic. Within this research, a number of general rules have developed.

Sundays are generally the worst day of the week to post. Everyone is preoccupied with doing other things that do not involve checking their phone.
It is best to capitalize on rush hours. This means it is best to post on Instagram at lunch and dinner times. The human race no longer converses at the table.
On a similar night, post when people are waking up or going to sleep. These are the most likely times for people to be checking their phones. If you directly post within this time frame, your post will find itself higher on feeds.

Finding The Best Day and Time to Post on Instagram

Sunday: 7 AM, 10 AM, 2 PM, 4 AM (the day with the lowest engagement).
Monday: 10-11 AM, 2 PM, 10 PM.
Tuesday: 9 AM, 6 PM.
Wednesday: 7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, 11 PM. (the day with the highest engagement).
Thursday: 7-8 AM, 12 PM, 3-4 PM, 7 PM.
Friday: 9 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM.
Saturday: 11 AM, 7-8 PM.

Unfortunately, these times are simply generalities that have been researched over time. The best time to post on Instagram is the best time for you. This means the best time for yourself and also your audience. Do not immediately dismiss these times in favor of your own ideas, though. Take your time and evaluate which times work best for you and your audience.

Scheduling Posts

Life gets hard after any Instagram user correctly identifies the best time for them to post on Instagram. You would think that you have got everything figured out, which you do, but consistently posting can be a chore. This is where the many different Instagram scheduling tools come into play. These various third-party application queue Instagram posts for you to share with your followers. Each application has its own variety of characteristics, so it is important to find the best one for your needs. They will all help you market your brand in a specific manner. This is done by successfully utilizing your chosen times to post on Instagram.

Later

Later is an advanced Instagram marketing platform. They have done a variety of research on the best time to post on Instagram. This platform includes a number of plans.

Later’s free version is perfectly competent for your marketing needs. It allows you to schedule up to thirty Instagram posts at a time. These posts can be scheduled for any time in the future, allowing for incredible flexibility. Included in Later’s many features is an analytical tool providing you with statistics to judge your posts on.

There are three different paid versions of Later. Each one gradually increases in price and houses more features than the last. If you wish to take your Instagram to the next level, using one of these tools may benefit you.

Combin

Instagram’s schedulers are not an entirely diverse group of tools. Combin provides you with a similar service to Later. Like Later, it can be entirely free if you wish it to be. There is also a premium version of Combin for those wishing to take their Instagram a step further.

It is important to note that Combin’s free version has a number of restrictions. The free plan only allows you to log in with one Instagram account. Alongside that, you may only post three times a week. While not entirely agitating, it is something to note when deciding on the Instagram scheduling tool for your needs.

Buffer

Buffer is another third-party scheduler that will allow you to post on Instagram. This tool, like the other two, allows you to post to Instagram from the third-party application directly. This means that the free app will be granted access to your account.

When you have decided on the best time to post on your Instagram account, you can do so from there. This is a great feature that these applications provide, and they will not change your account settings at all. Just like Combin and Later, Buffer has a premium version of their application.

Deciding the Best Time to Post on Instagram

Knowing the best time to post on Instagram is dependent on a number of factors. All of those factors are entirely dependent upon the individual scheduling a post. An Instagram user must correctly identify the precise times that their audience engages with the application. Once that is done, they should provide a constant stream of content to stay on top of Instagram’s algorithm. Instagram can be a powerful marketing tool for a business, individual, or successful product, but the practice is necessary for eventual success.