When you are posting on social media could be as important as what you’re posting, and this CoSchedule study attempts to determine the best time to post.

Timing is everything. And that statement especially holds true when it comes to posting content to social media.

There’s no point in putting in the time and effort to create informative blog posts, inspirational tweets, or captivating Facebook posts if you’re not getting the most exposure you can out of your social media outlets.

That being said, there is ample data out there on the best times to post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Earlier this year, CoSchedule looked at a combination of its own original data and more than a dozen studies on this very topic, from sources like Buffer and Quintly, and compiled the results to take the guess work out of when to post.

Here’s a breakdown of their results.

Best times to post on social media by network

Facebook

Most people are using Facebook around the clock, on their desktop and mobile devices. Unlike other sites that attract more attention during the work week, Facebook users are checking in at work and at home.

• The most optimal time to post is 1-4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, specifically on Saturdays and Sundays between 12-1 p.m.
• Posts during the week had the highest clickthrough rate on Wednesdays at 3 p.m.
• Avoid weekends before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m., when user numbers are significantly lower

Twitter

Much like Facebook, Twitter users are active on their mobile devices as well as their desktop computers. But they tend to treat Twitter like a revolving newsfeed, so downtime breaks — like during commuting hours and lunch — tend to see higher usage.

• Between 12-3 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. is the optimal time to tweet for the most exposure, which correlates with lunch and the evening commute.
• Weekday tweets have a higher chance of being retweeted with higher clickthrough numbers
• B2B tweets saw a 16% better performance during work hours, while B2C tweets saw a 17% better performance on weekends.

LinkedIn

Also known as the social media site for professionals, LinkedIn saw 25% of its users during weekdays and specifically, during work hours. Not as popular as some of its competitors, more than half of LinkedIn users visit less than once a week, so your posts need to deliver a clear message in short, informative posts.

• Not surprisingly, the posts with the highest views and clickthrough rates were Tuesdays through Thursdays from 7-8 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., in direct correlation with the start and end of the work day.
• Some companies have seen a higher performance on Tuesdays between 10-11 a.m.

Instagram

More than half of Instagram users log on daily, but tend to use the mobile app in their free time. Posts for this site are image-driven and are often more creative and less data-heavy than other sites.

• In general, the best times to post are on Mondays and Thursdays, in the evenings or early mornings.
• Some companies have reported success on Mondays between 8-9 a.m., correlating with the morning commute.

Many people still play a guessing game when it comes to deciding the best time to post their content for the most impact. And though there is no magic formula for the most retweets or reposts, there is data to help guide you. Posting the right content, at the right time, can make the difference between getting valuable comments, shares, and clicks on your links, which translate to valuable new leads.

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