The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday: The Latest Trends

A good component of content strategy is knowledge of the best time to post on Instagram. Especially on Saturdays because most users have more free time to spend on social media. Knowing all the hours that are optimal for content posting for each day of the week is also helpful. While Saturday isn’t the ideal day for posting, it does have value. 

Wondering the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday? Let’s take a look at the latest trends in optimized content scheduling.

The Best Times to Post on Instagram on Saturdays: Why It Pays to Know

Why should you know the best times to post on Instagram on Saturday, or any other day of the week? Because the main point of posting content is to let your audience see it.  Instagram’s algorithm determines which posts are relevant to each user based on their interests. As well as other measurable online behaviors, among many other factors. There are ways to make Instagram’s algorithm work in your favor. One of them is by utilizing an optimal posting time for your primary audience to capture the maximum audience possible.

People commonly go online at certain times throughout the day. You’ll see them immersed in their phones while drinking their coffee in the morning or having breakfast. Or, during their train commute, lunch break or before going to bed. Spending time on social media is part of the daily norm. However, a variety of factors determine the different traffic volumes over a 24-hour period.

Is Saturday a Good Day to Post on Instagram?

Are you asking yourself, “Is Saturday a good day to post on Instagram?” Research regarding optimal times for content posting on Instagram has found that Saturday is not an optimal day for posting. But, there’s still a moderate level of user activity that you can take advantage of. So you should still find the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday. There’s certainly a benefit. Especially if your competitors are not publishing content on the weekend because most users spend less time on the platform. This creates an opportunity for you to reach users who go online on Saturdays without having to compete for attention.

If posting on Saturday seems like a chore, plan ahead. Create your engaging content during the week or on Friday night to post the next day. Be sure to post them during peak hours for maximum audience engagement. If you create your content earlier in the week, you minimize your work hours on the weekend. Just be sure to regularly post to your social media platforms during the week.

Saturday Instagram Post Time: How to Find the Best Times to Post Throughout the Day

For a personal Instagram account, random and spontaneous content posting is perfectly okay. It is, perhaps, the most organic approach to content creation there is. The organic model should always be at the heart of any content strategy. But, an unplanned post on Instagram is not always recommended for business accounts. Also, it pays to partner with other users or companies to create content or affiliate brands post.

However, having a carefully planned content schedule does not mean compromising your authenticity. It involves mapping out high-traffic times to maximize your audience reach and content exposure. This includes the best times to post on Instagram on Saturdays.

Knowing your primary audience is the most critical factor when determining your Saturday Instagram post time. Especially if you are looking for high engagement for growth and reach. Here are a few more pointers to help get you on the right track.

The Best Times to Post on Instagram on Saturdays Strategy: Learn From Your Posting History

You can always learn from the past, growing your Instagram following is no different. If you are looking to boost engagement, analyze and compare your past posts. How did each one perform? Take note of the hours and the days of the week when your posts published received the most engagement. Bonus points if this happens on the weekends – You’ll know the best time to post on Instagram on Saturdays. Your past data is worth its weight in gold.

The Best Times to Post on Instagram on Saturdays Strategy: Test Your Audience at Various Times for More Engagement

Testing is important when figuring out the best times to post on Instagram on Saturdays. You may have to spend a few weeks testing different hours for each day for content posting. Don’t forget to also confirm your results with additional tests. For a high engagement rate, try hours when users are in downtime. Instagram posting times around lunch breaks is a good idea. Why? Most likely, users are wanting a mental break from work or their day-to-day schedule during lunch hours.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturdays Strategy: Utilize Different Types of Content

Instagram users interact with content differently. This is why it’s important to diversify your content. For example, if you typically stick to photo posts, change things up and post reels and stories. The best posting times for regular posts, Instagram stories, reels, IGTV and Live may vary. Are your IG stories or Instagram reels getting more engagement? Perform separate scheduling tests for each type of compelling content. Look at your top-performing posts or posts with the highest engagement. Is there a specific day in your work week or a local time that coincides with your successful posts? If so take note. This helps to figure out the best time to post on Instagram on Saturdays and other days of the week.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday Morning, Afternoon and Evening

Is it the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday morning, afternoon, or evening? As aforementioned, Saturday is actually not the best day of the week to post content. For many users, Saturday is an opportunity to take a deep and refreshing breath of real-world air, so to speak. The weekend is for family, self-care, and rest. Ultimately, it’s the time to log off so users can recharge.

However, Saturday is also not the worst day of the week to post on Instagram. There may be different trends for different industries. Generally, the best time to post on Instagram on a Saturday morning is mid-morning into early afternoon. Avoid the early morning and aim for peak times between 10 am and 1 pm. There’s a decent level of user engagement between 7 am and 10 am. Then again after the lunch hour, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Try to steer clear from posting Saturday evening. Engagement levels are lower from 4 pm to 10 pm.

There is less competition for a spot on Instagram feeds. Thus, giving you an opportunity to capture a bigger slice of the social media pie. The “pie” may be smaller, but you may still be able to claim a percentage of it. Plus, your portion is comparable to the engagement you receive when posting on a day with higher traffic and competition.

Saturday is also a great time to boost your Instagram engagement metrics. The higher your engagement metrics are, the higher the likelihood you’ll place prominently in users’ news feeds. This extends to all days of the week.

The Best Time to Post a Reel on Instagram on Saturday

It’s also helpful to know the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday according to different types of content. Here are the results according to research conducted by Status Brew. Times with an asterisk (*) are the optimal times for posting. Take note that there are no optimal posting times on Saturdays for these types of content. But, you still have a small window to post Instagram reels which you should take advantage of.

If you are curious when the best time to post a reel on Instagram on Saturday, look no further than this chart. It’s a good starting point for your posting social media strategy.

*All times are in Eastern Time Zone. Be sure to adjust the time if in different time zones.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday: Social Media Strategies

Start taking advantage of the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday and on other days. Just follow the aforementioned guidelines for time. It’s also important to figure out the best time to post for your specific industry and your brand’s target audience. Here are a variety of strategies to utilize as you build and grow your social media brand.

Identify Your Content Strategy Goal When Deciding When is the Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturdays

You should have a goal when it comes to building your Instagram footprint. Is it to generate more page views or to increase brand awareness? Do you want to boost your follower numbers, engagement rates, or sales? If increasing sales is your top priority, the best time to post is during peak seasons. Find the best times to post on Instagram on Saturdays and use them to your advantage.

Who’s Your Target Audience?

It’s crucial to identify your audience and appeal to them. The specific demographic group/s your audience belongs to will determine when they’re most active online. The best time to post on Instagram on Saturdays is when your audience can see you. You should do research to find out their usual online behaviors. 

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturdays: Consider Time Zones

You need to ask yourself, “Where does my Instagram audience reside?” Wherever they live, you should post on Instagram according to their time zone. Do you have an audience that spans the entire U.S.? Or, do you have a global audience? If so, you’ll have to post the same content at different times of the day. Or, stick to the best practices of what time of the day to post.

It’s typically best to start posting early in the morning before everyone is awake and starting their day. Even if it’s not the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday, it’s okay. Since it’s a slow posting day, you’re audience still has a chance of seeing your posts when they log on.

Post on Instagram Regularly But Not Too Often

Even if your niche falls into one of the best times to post on Instagram on Saturday, refrain from over-posting. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Followers might find the high number of posts annoying and opt to unfollow or see less of your content. Decide how often you should post to Instagram per day or week and stick to the schedule. Once you figure out the best time to post to reach your audience, create a content schedule and post regularly. Be sure to post on Instagram during these hours. It will keep your feed fresh, active and visible.

Learn the Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday by Leaning into the Algorithm

If you are trying to learn the best time to post on Instagram on Saturdays, pay attention to the algorithm. The platform’s algorithm dictates how and when content appears to your followers and potential followers. So, learn as much as you can about Instagram’s algorithm. This will take much time and effort, but it’s worth the work.

Determining the best time to post based on user activity levels is just the start. If you run an Instagram business account, regularly analyze your content performance using Instagram Insights. You’ll want to assess how your posts perform. Last, pay attention to a posting schedule when you post on Instagram. Avoid posting too frequently as this might be flagged as spamming.

Final Thoughts on the Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday: A Perfectly Timed Post Is an Optimized One

For business growth, you’ll need more than just amazing, quality content. You have to know how to reach your audience. It’ll take a while and trial and error to determine the optimal times to reach the highest number of users. You will also need to learn when they are most likely to engage with your content. But knowing the best time to post on Instagram is a great place to start.

Take advantage of the established best times to post on Instagram on Saturdays and other days of the week. Even if the results are generalized across all industries, they are useful. Then you can narrow down the results to identify the best times for your industry and brand. Just test the times listed above and analyze your content’s performance.

At Path Social we’ve built up an in-house platform of Instagram influencers and a proprietary AI targeting algorithm. That’s how we reach organic users who are targeted, interested and engaged. You’ll build an Instagram community that lasts! Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.