BEST TIME TO POST ON FACEBOOK IN 2024
Learn the best times to post on Facebook in 2024 for more reach and engagement. Proven tips on posting schedules based on analytics data and audience insights.
Determining the best time to post on Facebook in 2024 can have a big impact on the reach and engagement of your content. With over 3.05 billion monthly active users as of early 2024, timing your Facebook posts well gives you the chance to tap into a huge audience. But when exactly should you be posting to see the most success? Let’s break it down.
As a General Rule, Post Between 9–11AM or 1–3PM
As a general best practice, industry experts typically recommend posting on Facebook in the morning between 9–11AM or in the early afternoon between 1–3PM.
Here’s why those time frames tend to work well:
- 9–11AM — This is when many people arrive at work, checking their personal social media feeds, drinking their morning coffee, etc. There’s often a surge in Facebook usage at the start of the workday.
- 1–3PM — These are common lunch hours. People are taking a break in the afternoon and maybe scrolling Facebook while eating. It’s another peak Facebook usage time.
So if you don’t have any Facebook-specific data yet, aim to post during those windows for a better chance at views, engagement, and reach.
Check Your Facebook Analytics for Customized Best Times
While the 9–11AM and 1–3PM guidelines are a good starting point, your own Facebook analytics will reveal the best times specifically for your audience.
Here’s how to find your ideal posting times in the data:
- In the Meta Business Suite, go to the Publishing section.
- Select “See All” next to Posts.
- Filter posts based on date ranges and metrics like reach or engagement.
- Note which times of day routinely perform best.
Do this for at least a month to identify meaningful patterns and optimize accordingly.
Best Times to Post on Facebook Can Vary by Day of the Week
Studies show engagement rates on Facebook tend to be higher earlier in the week and dip as the week goes on.
Though 9AM and 1–3PM are generally recommended, you may find certain days have better timings. Here is a quick breakdown of the best times to post by day according to Social Pilot:
Here is an optimal schedule to follow by day:
- Monday: 9AM-12PM
- Tuesday: 9AM-2PM
- Wednesday: 9AM-2PM
- Thursday: 11AM-12PM
- Friday: 9AM-2PM
- Saturday: 8–11AM
- Sunday: 8–11AM
So for example, posting at 9AM on a Monday would be ideal based on typical Facebook traffic patterns.
Why Posting Schedule Matters
Getting your posting times right is crucial because early engagement and views can snowball into more over time.
Here’s how it works:
- Engagement in the first hour influences views for the next 6 hours.
- Performance in the first 6 hours dictates distribution over 48 hours.
- Initial 48-hour performance can impact reach over 72+ hours.
Unlike websites or long videos, social media posts have a shorter lifespan. If this happens, it’s smarter to remove the content and analyze what went wrong. You can then refine and repost it.
If the algorithm hasn’t been promoting your post, it’s likely because Facebook has flagged it as “Not Suggested”. Why does this happen? It could be:
- You unknowingly violated a guideline
- Your content wasn’t entertaining enough
- It didn’t address any specific user problem
That’s why locking in strong early engagement with optimized posting times is key.
What If You Get No Early Engagement?
Sometimes a post will flop and get zero likes, comments, or shares in the beginning.
If this happens, don’t delete the post right away. Leave it up for 72 full hours.
Why 72 hours? Past this point, if a post still has no engagement at all, it likely won’t suddenly take off. The Facebook algorithm simply won’t promote it.
At that point, deleting the post and evaluating why it flopped is wise. Think about how you can improve it and potentially repost a refined version later.
Customize Your Approach Over Time
The best practices outlined here are a starting point as you gather data. But you’ll want to customize your approach over time based on insights specific to your audience.
The general schedule I outlined earlier serves as a helpful starting point when you’re still gathering data. But once you have more insights, customizing your schedule becomes essential.
Not every timing will work perfectly for everyone. Many factors affect your optimal posting times. You shouldn’t just post when it’s most convenient for you. Carefully consider when your target audience is most active online.
Some key factors to think about:
- When your existing followers are active
- When potential non-followers are active
- The geographical locations of both groups
Here are some key factors to consider:
Follower Activity Patterns
Leverage Facebook’s built-in suggestions on when your existing followers tend to be most active online. Target those high-traffic times.
Non-Follower Activity
Pay attention to when non-followers engage with your content and adjust your posting times accordingly.
Location of Both Followers and Non-Followers
The time zone your followers and non-followers are in will impact their Facebook activity patterns. Identify where most of your audience is located and focus on peak times in those zones. Many variables shape how the algorithm targets users, like language, niche, locations, and gaps between countries. I explained this further in my e-book. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Related: Facebook Page Monetization Criteria in 2024
Final Thoughts
Determining the optimal times to post on Facebook does take some trial and error. But the effort pays off in the form of better reach, engagement, and ultimately more conversions from your Facebook presence.
Stick with the general guidelines of 9–11AM and 1–3PM to start. Then lean on your Facebook analytics data and audience insights to customize your approach over time.
With smart timing and compelling content that solves problems, you can build a highly engaged Facebook following in 2024 and beyond.
