Best Times to Publish Facebook Updates

Best Times to Publish Facebook Updates

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Although the best times to publish Facebook updates vary depending upon your business niche, if you are unsure when to post your latest blog article, video, infographic, and branded content, this is the cheat sheet for you.

This quick guide is made up of Sprout Social’s research and our experience as social media marketing managers since 2007.

Best times include:

  • Global
  • Consumer Goods
  • Media
  • Education
  • Nonprofit
  • Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Finance
  • Recreational

Best Times to Publish Facebook Updates: Global

Who: Worldwide multiple audiences, multiple industries

Why: Provide information to people searching for answers, searching for goods or services to purchase, or consumers interested in engaging and communicating with a brand

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Times: Wednesday 11:00 a.m. and 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Most Consistent Engagement: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagement: Monday – Sunday before 7:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.

Consumer Goods

Who: Retailers, consumer good- brands – consumers interested in buying goods or services

Why: Sell consumers goods or services, answer consumer questions, publish discount offers or contests

Best Days:  Wednesday and Friday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Times: Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: every day before 8:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m.

Media

Who: Media companies, newspapers, publications – viewers, readers, subscribers, and advertisers

Why: Breaking news stories, advertisements, showcase publisher’s mission, raise brand awareness with potential subscribers

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 5:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00–9:00 a.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: every day around 8:00–10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: every day before 5:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.

Education

Who: Schools, universities, professional training – enrolled students, and potential students

Why: Inform enrolled students on classes, programs and announcements. Solicit potential students  

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Times: Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and Saturday, 12:00pm–9:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: Anytime on Sundays

Nonprofit

Who: Potential corporate donors, individual donors, media companies seeking stories

Why: Highlight latest and best charitable campaigns as well as organization’s mission. Attract new donors   

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Days: Saturday and Sunday

Best Times: Wednesday and Friday at 8:00–9:00 a.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: Every day before 6:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.

Tech

Who: Software and technology companies, entrepreneurs, developers, consumers  

Why: New product announcements, rollouts, sales, breaking news, solving security issues, download patches, and brand awareness

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Time: Wednesday from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: After 6:00 p.m. every day

Healthcare

Who: Doctors, dentists, and all medical professionals. Consumers, patients, families and organizations

Why: Build the healthcare practices for doctors and dentists. Breaking news to hospital workers and consumers. Announcements for new drugs, research, diseases and patient care

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Days: Saturday and Sunday

Best Times: Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: Every day before 6:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.

Finance

Who: Financial institutions, banks, lenders, mortgage brokers, pundits, consumers

Why: Market news for investors, sales, breaking news announcements, consumers seeking information

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Days: Saturday and Sunday

Best Time: Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: Every day after 6:00 p.m.

Recreational

Who: Recreational product and service companies, recreational destinations, and travel

Why: Promote recreational products, services, and destinations to consumers. Raise awareness for destinations, sell, advertise new products, discount sales and contests

Best Day: Wednesday

Worst Day: Sunday

Best Times: Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Most Consistent Engagements: Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Least Consistent Engagements: Before 5:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. every day

Best Times to Publish Facebook Updates: What Now?

We have seen organic Facebook post reach (updates), for a Facebook business page, diminish to the point where less than 5% of a business page’s fans see the update. This makes it critical that you update your page at the most advantageous times.

If you have different experiences through your Facebook organic campaigns, please help add to the data.

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