When is the best time to post on social media?

Ever wonder when’s the best time to post that killer content you’ve been cooking up? Well, timing is everything. Let's break it down.

TL;DR 🎯

• Morning = brains on, education in! 🧠  
• Evening = chill mode, bring on the fun! 🎉

If you’re posting valuable, educational content (like how-to guides or business tips), hit your followers in the morning when they’re most likely to care. If you’ve got a flash sale or a meme that’ll get those clicks rolling, save it for later in the day when people are craving instant gratification.

But why 🤔

Turns out, our brains are funny little creatures. In the morning, we’re primed to learn and engage with stuff that makes us feel smarter or better prepared (hello, SEO guides). But as the day goes on, we’re more likely to say “forget the salad, where’s that burger?” Our self-control drops, and we start craving quick rewards, like a flash sale on that stylish hoodie or a hilarious meme.

What the data says 📊

A study analyzed Tweets from The Boston Globe and found something interesting:

• Before 4:13pm: Tweets about business, nation, or world news (a.k.a. virtue topics) got the most love.
• After 4:13pm: Tweets about lifestyle, entertainment, and, yes, marijuana (vice topics) stole the spotlight.

Same principle applies to other social platforms (and probably emails too). Morning brains = education. Evening brains = impulse.

How to do it ✅

1. Split your content: Define your “virtue” (educational) and “vice” (fun, entertaining) content.
2. Plan your schedule: Post virtue content in the morning when people are in learning mode, and save the fun stuff for later when they’re winding down.
3. Test different platforms: While this data is from Twitter, try it on your other social channels (Facebook, Instagram) and even email. Send your educational content early and save the excitement for later.

Pro tip 💡 If you’re targeting a global audience, consider your followers’ time zones. That morning post for your East Coast fans might be a late-afternoon scroll-fest for your West Coast crew.

Watch out for this ⚠️

This works well across most industries, but your results might vary based on your audience. If you’re selling luxury or high-end products, your shoppers might engage differently. Keep an eye on the data, and don’t be afraid to adjust!

That’s it for this week. Try tweaking your posting times and see if your engagement jumps. You never know, your next sale might just depend on hitting that sweet post-work relaxation window. 🚀

Want to learn more? 🤓

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can dig into the nerdy details in the original marketing study.

Quote of the week 💬

"Teach in the morning, entertain at night—timing is everything."