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.
