Cracking the code of Instagram’s best time to post.
It’s only natural to wonder if there’s a perfect time for Instagram posts. Could it be that some posts receive more likes simply because they were shared just before bedtime, or is the captivating content consistently engaging the audience, enticing them to return for more?
The key to unlocking success on Instagram revolves around gaining a deep understanding of both the platform’s algorithm and the preferences of your audience. This understanding serves as a core component of an effective content strategy, playing a crucial role in achieving your goals and amplifying the impact of your posts.
Understand the WHYs
To jumpstart your content strategy, you can begin by asking yourself a series of “Why” questions.
- Why am I posting this? To drive traffic, promote a product, or share a personal experience?
- Why am I using this tone of voice?
- Why would my target audience be interested in this type of content?
- Why should people engage with this post? Is the caption engaging and likely to encourage comments and interactions?
These “why” questions serve as a foundation for crafting an effective content strategy, and help you better relate your content back to the objectives of your Instagram campaign.
Understand the WHOs
Understanding your target audience is the linchpin of effective content strategy. By delving into their preferences and behaviours, you gain the power to time your posts effectively, ensuring maximum reach and engagement.
Instagram itself offers a built-in feature called Insights. By simply converting your Instagram account to a professional one, you can access these analytical capabilities.
Within the “Total Followers” section of the Insights Overview, you have the opportunity to examine the demographic details of your intended audience, including their age, gender, and geographic distribution breakdown.
Within the “Accounts Reached” section, you can assess where you are connecting with individuals and the quantity of those who have not yet become your followers.
Next, compare your discoveries with the “Accounts Engaged” tab, which represents the individuals who are most interested in your content and how your business is actively engaging with them through marketing efforts.
Find out when your target audience is most active.
Upon analysing the data pertaining to your target audience, it’s likely that you’ve gained a preliminary understanding of your audience’s daily habits and their engagement patterns with your posts.
Beyond reaching your audience at the right time, your content has to resonate with their unique needs and desires. There are many ways you can find out what your target audience wants to see:
1. Interact with your audience, engaging with them through their comments or queries through direct messages.
2. Make use of Instagram’s “Poll” or “Questions” features within Instagram Stories to help you inquire about your audience’s preferences for your content or gain insights into their interest.
Examples:
- Question Sticker: What kind of content are you interested in watching?
- Poll Sticker: What time of the day are you usually on Instagram? Give them a few options - daytime, lunchtime, dinnertime or bedtime.
- Do you prefer posts or reels?
3. Another effective approach is to observe the content posted by Instagram accounts that are similar in nature to yours, and consistently receive a significant number of views and likes.
If they provide the same goods or services as you, and have a similar target audience to your business, take their content for inspiration, steal like an artist and try it on your own account to see if it works for your audience.
Understanding the HOWs
How does the algorithm work? The Instagram Algorithm takes into account your interactions with the app as well as how others engage with your content. Aligning your content with your audience’s interests, utilising location tags, hashtags, and popular formats can enhance your algorithmic performance.
Here are 3 tips for your Instagram posts to avoid falling out from the algorithm:
Once you’ve identified the best time to post, maintaining a consistent posting schedule can also aid in elevating your Instagram Algorithm performance. A more recent post tends to appear higher on users’ news feeds compared to older content. Prioritising recency is undeniably one of the most straightforward and effective strategies for optimising a post’s chances of success.
So, is there really a best time to post on Instagram?
In summary, there isn’t a universally best or worst time – there’s just the right time for you based on your target audience’s behaviours, routines, and the cultural zeitgeist, which will evolve over time. Therefore, it is essential to remain adaptable and innovative. Don’t be afraid to explore alternative posting times or content types; they may reveal intriguing insights or fresh opportunities you have not previously considered.
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