Reels are short videos that you can post without limits. They help you attract new audiences and keep your current followers engaged.
Instagram promotes new Reels, but only if they are posted at the ‘right time.’ This timing is crucial for growing your audience’s engagement and reach. If your video starts getting more views and interactions within the first few hours, it signals the algorithm to keep showing it in users’ feeds.
This is why it’s important to post new content when most of your audience is active. Understanding how algorithms work and knowing the best time to publish Reels will give you an edge over your competitors.
When Are Users Most Active on Instagram?
Analyze your Instagram account Insights for the last year, six months, and month. Identify the most active times and see which videos gained the least interactions.
While the reach doesn’t always depend solely on the time of publication, gathering this data can be useful. For example, you can keep a publication schedule and review the insights at the end of each month to track the most effective times for posting.
Consider the type of content you are creating. Diversify your posts. Memes and other entertaining content work best on weekends when people scroll through their feeds looking for something light and relaxing. Plan your content based on diversity and format.
Experiment with different posting days and times, and develop your own “formula for success.” This will help you understand what suits your audience better and reveal their behavioral habits.
Analyze Your Target Audience
Take into account your audience’s time zones. Is there anything specific about their routines? For example, are they office workers tied to a lunch break and a particular schedule, or are they freelancers with more flexible hours?
“Catch your audience” — Instagram analytics offers sections based on your audience type. For example, you can track audience demographics. Younger audiences are more active in the evenings and late at night, while older generations tend to be active during the day.
Another way to find the best time for posting is through A/B testing. Create two versions of the same video — one with subtitles and one without. Post them at different times and analyze the audience’s response. This will help you refine your posting schedule. Users will appreciate the personalized approach.
To find the most suitable time for posting Reels, analyze your previous publications. Review the time they were published and the number of interactions they received.
Ultimately, the best time to post your Reels depends on your content marketing goals. Do you want to attract more followers, increase reach, or generate leads for your sales team? The posting time should align with these objectives.
The Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram
According to SocialPilot’s research, the time between 9 AM and 12 PM from Monday to Thursday is considered the most successful for posting. The company analyzed more than 50,000 accounts across various business sectors to reach this conclusion.
Here are the best times to post during the week (Eastern Time Zone):
- Monday: 6 am and 10 pm
- Tuesday: 3 am, 4 am, and 9 am
- Wednesday: 7 am and 9 am
- Thursday: 9 am and 7 pm
- Friday: 5 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm
- Saturday: 12 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm
- Sunday: 8 am, 11 am, and 4 pm
What is the best time for publishing on Monday?
6 a.m.: Most people start their day not with coffee, but with their cell phones. That’s why, if your audience consists mainly of office workers, your post will be the first thing they see. Additionally, commuting time often involves browsing social networks, which also increases your audience reach.
10 p.m.: On the contrary, people end their day with their phones, either during dinner or while checking messages and emails before going to bed.
What is the best time for publishing on Tuesday?
3 or 4 a.m.: This time allows you to capture the attention of both “night owls” — who are typically younger people — and those who wake up at dawn. For example, this could include those who enjoy early morning workouts or yoga and other mindfulness practices.
9 a.m.: This is the time when you can reach two audiences — those who are just waking up and getting ready for work, and those who are already in the office and taking a coffee break.
What is the best time for publishing on Wednesday?
7 and 9 a.m.: Wednesday is considered the day with the highest audience engagement, even compared to Tuesday and Thursday. Aim to post during the times when people are getting ready for work, school, or other activities. Base your timing on your content marketing goals, the time zones your audience lives in, and demographic factors.
What is the best time for publishing on Thursday?
9 a.m.: Posts published in the morning attract users who check their social networks before starting their workday. Since user engagement peaks at this time, you can achieve a large audience reach.
7 p.m.: Posts published at 7 p.m. help users relax after the workday. Keep in mind the type of content you are posting; something more entertaining will be more appropriate for this time.
What is the best time for publishing on Friday?
5 a.m.: People are often looking for weekend plans and are ready to engage with content.
2 p.m.: By this time, many users have completed their morning tasks and are seeking entertainment. This time slot allows you to capture the attention of an audience ready to engage with content before the weekend begins.
4 p.m.: People start planning their weekends at this time. They are searching for funny videos and ideas for inspiration, which increases the likelihood of higher engagement as interesting or funny content gets shared more frequently among friends.
What is the best time for publishing on Saturday?
12 p.m. and 7-8 p.m.: On weekends, engagement is generally lower compared to other days of the week on most social media platforms. However, midday and evening are the most optimal times for publishing content. It’s important to consider the type of content — memes, infotainment, compilations, and lighter content are more suitable.
What is the best time for publishing on Sunday?
8 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m.: Just like on Saturday, people interact less on Sunday. The majority tries to do a digital detox and spend time with their families. However, you can post your videos on Instagram at the mentioned times in order to get the maximum profit.
Optimal Posting Frequency on Instagram
Optimal posting frequency on Instagram is a key aspect of a successful social media strategy. Research shows that for most brands, posting five to seven Reels a week is effective. This frequency helps maintain activity without overwhelming your followers. Frequency should be determined based on audience analysis; if your followers actively engage with your content, you can increase the number of posts.
Also, consider the type of content you’re posting and control the number of publications. You can post Stories daily, but IGTV or Reels should be posted only a few times a week to maintain diversity and audience interest. Don’t forget to experiment with posting times to determine when your audience is most active.
Consistency in posting helps set expectations for your followers, boosting engagement and loyalty. The most important thing is to maintain high-quality content that is interesting and useful for your target audience.
How to Design Reels for Instagram
Designing videos for Instagram is crucial for increasing engagement and brand awareness. While this depends on your branding, you should at least start by using relevant hashtags so that your video is easy to find. Explore popular hashtags in your niche and combine them with unique ones specific to your company.
Link your content to viral trends to stay relevant and attract audience attention. This will help your videos gain more visibility. Constantly update your content by presenting new versions of videos to keep your audience interested in your brand. Each new video should reflect your company’s values and unique offerings, helping to build a strong brand image.
Don’t forget about quality graphics and design to capture attention in the first few seconds. Your content should not only be interesting but also reflect your brand’s personality.
The Importance of Autoposting on Instagram
Autoposting on Instagram is an essential tool for modern marketers as it simplifies the process of scheduling and managing content.
One of the best platforms for this purpose is Onlypult. It allows you to schedule posts in advance, maintaining consistency without the need to be constantly online. You can also keep a posting calendar, which is useful for data analysis.
Autoposting frees up time for creativity and analysis since you can focus on creating quality content rather than posting it manually. Onlypult also offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to manage multiple accounts simultaneously, which is especially useful for agencies and brands with several projects.
Additional features such as feed preview, hashtags, and analytics can help you optimize your content marketing strategy. With Onlypult you can improve efficiency and focus on your core business goals.
The Importance of Split-Tests
Conducting split-tests on Instagram is key to optimizing your content strategy. This method allows you to experiment with different posting times and days, which is essential for understanding when your audience is most active. The test results will help you determine the optimal posting schedule, significantly increasing engagement.
You can adjust your strategy by always checking test results. For example, if certain days or times show higher engagement, you can focus on those periods.
Thus, split-tests not only maximize engagement but also help you understand your target audience’s preferences. This makes your content more relevant, ultimately leading to follower growth and increased brand loyalty.
How to Stimulate Content Virality on Instagram
Stimulating content virality on Instagram requires a package approach and creativity. The key is to communicate with your audience in the comment section. Ask questions, initiate discussions, and encourage users to share their thoughts. This approach not only ramps up engagement but also builds a community around your brand.
Autoposting with services like Onlypult allows you to schedule posts when your audience is most active, promoting reach and increasing the chances of your content being shared widely.
Incorporate interactive elements such as polls and giveaways to encourage your followers to share your content with friends. By creating unique, high-quality, and engaging content that prompts action, you can significantly increase its viral potential and attract a new audience. Combining these methods will help you achieve maximum impact and brand growth on Instagram.
Why Post Reels on Instagram?
Posting Reels has become an important strategy for marketers eager to boost engagement and follower growth. These short videos capture users’ attention with a dynamic format that outperforms static images. Thanks to Instagram’s algorithms, Reels are more likely to appear in users’ feeds, leading to widespread dissemination.
Successful Reels can greatly increase conversions, turning ordinary viewers into followers and buyers. Visually appealing content retains attention, and high-quality, interesting videos encourage users to share them with friends, which expands your reach. This provides an opportunity to increase the ROI of your marketing efforts.
Including Reels in your marketing strategy helps diversify content and showcase your brand’s uniqueness. Investing time and resources in creating Reels is a step that can lead to significant growth in engagement and conversions, making your marketing efforts more effective.
Conclusion
To maximize reach on Instagram in 2024-2025, you need to study your audience and determine the most active times through analytics. Autoposting and ongoing experiments will help optimize your marketing and content strategies. Focus on creating content that appeals to users to attract new followers and retain current ones.
