Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms and can be a valuable marketing tool for businesses when used correctly. However, there are many different factors that go into running a successful Instagram account. One of those factors is timing, which is what we will be discussing today. Timing is important because posting at the time wrong time could be detrimental to your account’s success. In this article, we are going to discuss Instagram’s algorithm, the best times to post photography on Instagram, and the importance of having a social media presence.
Table of Contents
How Does the Instagram Algorithm Work?
Instagram uses algorithms to decide what material to show users on their Explore page and within their feed. They do this because their goal is to provide relevant and engaging content that is unique to each user to keep them on the app for a longer time. The following are the main factors that the Instagram algorithm considers when deciding on what to show on that user’s home feed.
Relevance
Relevance is how closely a post matches a user’s interests, preferences, and activity on prior similar posts. To increase the relevance of your Instagram posts, it is important to post content that resonates with your followers.
User Engagement
Instagram prioritizes content that users will engage with, such as comments, likes, and sharing. More engagement means Instagram will push the post to other users. The more engagement your post receives, the more likely it is that it will end up on the Explore page. To maximize user engagement on your posts, it is important to create interactive content and make your posts easier to find by using hashtags and geotags.
Timing of Posts
New posts are more likely to show up on one’s feed because Instagram prioritizes newer content over the old. This means that the visibility and engagement of your posts can be significantly impacted by the timing of your posts. In order for your posts to be viewed by as many people as possible, it is crucial to take into account the time zone of the majority of your audience.
Relationship
Another factor that the Instagram algorithm takes into account is the relationship between the user and the account that posted. The stronger the relationship, the more likely it is that the user will interact with the account. This is why it is important to develop relationships with your followers. You can do that by interacting with your followers by doing things like responding back, reposting, hosting Instagram Lives, and addressing your followers by name to help build a sense of connection. Also, posting regularly and consistently can help you to establish a stable social media presence which will increase the likelihood that someone will interact with your content.
The Best Times to Post Photography on Instagram Throughout the Week
Depending on your audience and location, there are many different times that you could post on Instagram. The following are just general guidelines you might want to follow. The best way for you to find out what is the optimal time for you to post is to test it out. Try out different posting times on different days to determine which ones are most effective for engaging with your audience. Instagram also offers insights that let you know when your followers are using the app and when and what days the engagement is the highest. Pay attention to the demographic of your audience and adjust your content to meet their interests as well as yours and regularly monitor your insights to keep track of your progress and identify the areas where you can make changes.
Weekdays
Monday through Friday are usually better days to post because engagement is lower on the weekends.
Mornings
Between 9:00 am and 11:00 am of your local time is generally the greatest time to post on Instagram. Before people go to work, they like to spend a little time on their phones and go through their feeds to see what was happening overnight and in the morning.
Lunchtime
11:00 am to 1:00 pm is another good time to post because this is the time that people usually take their lunch break. During that time, they often take some time to scroll on their phones.
Evening
In the evening, a good time to post would be between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. People tend to check their phones and wind down for the day at this time.
Instagram Insights
Instagram Insights is offered by Instagram and is available only on mobile apps. This feature is very helpful when you want to learn about the common patterns among your followers and how well your content is performing. You can view insights from posts, stories, videos, reels, and live videos. Here are the steps to setting up and using Instagram Insights:
Step 1
Instagram Insights is free but it is only available for business or creator accounts, if you already have one of these two accounts, you can skip this step. If not, to change your account, go to your profile settings, choose “Account”, then “Switch to Professional Account.” After that, Instagram will guide you the rest of the way.
Step 2
After creating your business or creator account, you can view your insights by pressing the three horizontal lines at the top right corner of your profile page. Then choose “Insights.” Instagram Insights gives you access to a range of information about your account’s performance such as impressions, reach, engagement, and follower demographics. You can also view in-depth metrics for each story or post you share, such as likes, comments, saves, and shares.
Step 3
After learning and collecting insights on your followers, incorporate this information into your social media strategy. From insights, you can learn what days and times your followers are most active, what kind of content they engage the most with, and how to best optimize your content to enhance engagement and reach.
The Benefits of Scheduling Your Photography Posts
Scheduling posts on Instagram is a great way to save time and ensures that your content is being posted at the best times for your audience. It should be planned out in advance rather than you having to manually post the content every day. Doing that is simply unrealistic and inconvenient. Having a consistent posting schedule will also increase engagement and followers on your account. By scheduling posts in advance, you can take the time to carefully curate your captions and choose and edit the best photos. Luckily, there are lots of different scheduling platforms to choose from!
How Many Times Should I Post Photography on Instagram?
Generally, posting once every day or a couple of days a week is a good place to start out when trying to grow your Instagram account. Ultimately, the best answer for you will depend on your audience. As your account grows, you can adjust your schedule to best benefit your abilities. Some accounts post multiple times a day, a couple of times a week, or once a week. It all depends on your audience, your goals, and the type of content you share. Usually, it is better to post a few high-quality posts than a lot of low-quality ones. Take the time to make sure that each post is meaningful, has a purpose, adds value to your brand, and engages your audience. One of the best practices for posting on Instagram is consistency. Plan out and maintain a consistent posting schedule from the beginning, whether that is every other day or 3 times a week. Part of planning out and maintaining a consistent schedule is understanding your audience and determining when they are most engaged.
Social Media Marketing Benefits
Social media marketing has become a critical part of today’s business strategies. It offers great opportunities for businesses to raise brand awareness for potential customers. Social media platforms also give businesses the chance to interact with their customers directly, address issues, and create relationships with them. This will allow customers to give helpful feedback that will help to improve your business. Lastly, social media platforms give useful information about the behavior, preferences, and interests of their customer allowing businesses to target a specific audience more effectively.
Specifically, Instagram has become a popular marketing platform for all companies. They have over 1 billion monthly active users, giving businesses access to a huge audience. The average user spends an average of 28 minutes a day on the platform, making it easy for businesses to capture potential clients. Since Instagram is a platform that relies on visually engaging content, it is perfect for photography companies to highlight their services. Instagram is also a more affordable form of marketing compared to traditional advertising, making it accessible to all businesses. Overall, Instagram is a powerful marketing tool for companies to grow their business with its many resources and large user base.
FAQ:
- What are the busiest times on Instagram?
- Does posting time matter on Instagram?
- Is posting in the morning or the evening better?
- Is having an Instagram account important?
- How often should I post photography on Instagram?
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