Imagine gaining an edge on your Facebook competition without spending thousands of dollars on research.

Let’s say someone hands you a 2018 report that shows you exactly what times of the day (and week) audiences interact with brands on Facebook.

Now, you’ve got an edge.

In this guide, we show you the best times to post on Facebook to get more likes, comments, and shares for your brand.

Did you know that many of your competitors are scheduling content based on old data? Worse, they rely on studies about when other brands publish, instead of when people engage with brands.

And it’s all based on recent data that measures audience-to-brand activity.

Why Does Facebook Matter?

Since changes to its algorithm in early 2018, Facebook has become commonly referred to as a “pay to play” network for brands wanting to expand their reach.

So, if you’re hoping to increase your brand’s reach, then Facebook Ads Manager will help you find the best times to place paid advertising.

But, if you want to increase engagement (reactions, comments, and shares), then you’re in the right place!

Here’s why Facebook matters to brands:

• Facebook remains the most popular social media network - by far - in 2018.
• Facebook's 2 billion active monthly users currently account for over 42% of all social media visits in the United States.
• 1.45 billion people use Facebook every day.

Despite the algorithm changes and privacy concerns that have defined the 2018 Facebook landscape, the social platform continues to grow.

The 2018 chart below lists the top social media networks by popularity.

Not only is Facebook still the #1 social media network, but the company also owns 4 of the top 6 social networks worldwide.

WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram are also owned by Facebook.

That’s why Facebook continues to be a top priority for brands hoping to engage an audience on social media. Keep reading to discover the best opportunities to boost your brand’s engagement on the most popular social media channel.

What are the Best Times to Post on Facebook?

Except where otherwise noted, our suggestions are based on data from Unmetric’s recent study that examines which time periods have the most audience-to-brand engagement.

The #1 Best Time for Brands to Post on Facebook in 2018 is Wednesdays 10 - 11 am.

Even though most brands post between 12-1 pm, the 10 – 11 am time slot is better because that’s when audiences are most engaged with brands.

• Any day between 10 – 11 am (especially Tuesday through Saturday) is an excellent time to post, but Wednesdays have slightly-higher engagement rates for brands.
• Interesting fact: Many reports indicate that Thursdays are the best days to publish content, but our research shows differently.

Thursdays have the overall highest engagement rates, but brands get the most interaction on Wednesdays.

Day of the Week Brand Engagement Chart:

The next chart shows you how the most popular times versus the most effective times to post.

Number of Posts Vs. Total Interactions Chart:

2. The #2 best general time for brands to post on Facebook is anytime between 9 am – 2 pm Tuesday through Saturday.

• Sundays and Mondays also have high engagement rates, but they’re slightly lower than Tuesday – Saturday.
• Interesting fact: Content published between 9 am - 2 pm brought in 50% of all brand interactions.
  

3. The #3 best general time to post on Facebook in 2018 is 8 – 9 pm on Thursdays.

• 8-9 pm – any day of the week is also a high engagement period, but studies show Thursdays are slightly better.
• Interesting fact: Most brands don’t publish content after business hours, even though there’s a sharp spike in engagement between 8 – 9 pm on weekdays.
  

As a result, 8 - 9 pm may be an excellent opportunity for brands looking for a high engagement time period with low competition.

4. The worst general time to post on Facebook is 2 am – 6 am. Just. Don’t. Do. It.

What Are the Best Times to Post Photos on Facebook?

The best time for brands to publish content on Facebook are:

What Are the Best Times to Post Videos on Facebook?

According to the way users interact with brand videos, here are the best times to post videos.

Tip: When you post videos, be sure the content is compelling enough to engage your audience.

Take the time to get to know your followers and study what types of brand videos they’re most likely to interact with.

Because when you publish videos that get repeat viewership, they get a boost in the news feed.

What Are the Best Times to Post Live Videos on Facebook?

The best time to live stream on is when your audience is most likely to be on Facebook.

Here’s how to find out when your audience is online

Facebook Insights shares information about when your audience is online.

Here’s how to use Insights to find out the best times to post your live videos:

Below the daily information is a chart that shows you what times of day your audience is most active. Scroll over different points in the chart for a popup that gives you more details.

Tip: Consider scheduling a regular weekly live stream so your audience can make plans to join you live.

This gives you the chance to invite, announce, and promote your live videos.

Since content that generates conversations between people shows higher in the newsfeed, be sure to engage your viewers!

Here are a few ways you can encourage your audience to join in the conversation:

• Encourage viewers to introduce themselves as they join in throughout your broadcast.
• Mention people by name as they introduce themselves.
• Ask people to share comments and opinions.

Facebook Live videos get an average “6X times as many interactions as regular videos.”

Be sure to give your viewers a reason to engage!

Live videos are saved so your followers can watch them later.

But, there are a couple of good reasons to try to reach your audience in real-time instead:

• Your video is more likely to appear in their newsfeed during the live broadcast.
• Live audience interaction boosts viewership.
• Followers are more likely to attend live events when they’re already on Facebook.

Broadcast Breaking News When Possible

Although this may only happen once or twice a year for your industry, it’s worth your while to prepare yourself to broadcast live news as it happens. Be sure that the news is relevant to your audience and important enough to capture their attention.

What Are the Best Times to Post for Specific Industries?

The recommendations below are based on slightly-different data than the ones above. Provided by *Sprout Social, this data examined specific brands, channels, and time frames for the tech, education, and healthcare industries.

How Often Should I Post on Facebook?

Most brands should post about once a day.

However, if you have over 10,000 followers, you’ll want to publish more often.

According to a 2018 report by Vend Social, most brands see a decreased number of clicks when they post more than 1 – 2X a day.

But, larger brands with 10,000+ followings receive more interaction the more they post.

No matter how often you publish, keep in mind that quality comes first.

Share content that people will react to and comment on, so your post has a better chance of ranking higher in their newsfeeds.

How to Use Best Posting Times to Increase Brand Engagement on Facebook

Start by using the best posting times above to schedule content in your social media calendar.

As time goes by, the Insights feature will show you which times are working best for your audience.

Here are a few final tips to help you make the most of your content and scheduling:

As with any social media platform, be sure to experiment, measure results, and adjust your posting schedule as you learn what works best for your audience.

With Sharelov, your team can work together faster to produce better marketing campaigns from social media to traditional.

What do you think about the best times to post on Facebook? Do you have any inside tips for your industry? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

*Tech, Healthcare, & Education best times to post: Sprout Social Best Times to Post on Social Media: 2018 Industry Research