5 Things You Missed When Reading About Best Times to Post on Social Media

You've probably heard me talk about these "Best Times" posts where professionals answer the question

"When is the best time to post on social media?"

These types of posts can be helpful, but potentially dangerous if not closely looked at as it could lead someone down a path of missed opportunities and misunderstandings about how they should use social media for their business. Here is what you should know when evaluating these lists:

Is the article looking at posting habits or engagement habits? There's a difference between evaluating when others do their postings and when specific postings receive positive engagement. Just because someone does something a lot, doesn't mean they're doing it right or that it needs to be continued as often.

Is the article taking industry into consideration?TrackMaven just released industry specific information touting a large sample size for their data. I think it's worth checking out as it can serve as good starting point, but...

Does the article make it clear that you need to take time zones into consideration? If they say post at 1 pm EST but you're in California, does that mean you need to post at 10 am? It's not always clear for those not focused on this aspect. If you find that your sweet spot for a national product is lunch time, then that spans across several hours. But if it's during, let's say, a particular show or sports event, that happens at the same time for everyone.

Does the article explain what's happening and why? You have to take into consideration why a certain time is ideal. If you're familiar with the daily habits of people in your industry you should be able to draw your own conclusions. When do people get into the office and when do they leave? When are big announcements made? When is the slowest productivity time of the week for your target market?

Does the company providing the list give you the insight to adjust the strategy as time goes on? These lists change from time to time based on their findings. Your strategy should be just as flexible just as often. Pay attention to the trends provided by your social media management reporting system or the native insights provided by Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. You may find that your own business's trends differ from that of the national or international trends.

While there's no need to avoid these types of posts, remember to evaluate them carefully. I'm always happy to answer any questions you may have. What's the best time to ask me these questions? Anytime!