Discover the Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday

Knowing the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday or any other day is crucial. For one, it helps to maximize your reach and engagement. You might be creating fantastic content that’s relevant, informative, and visually appealing to your target audience. However, if your Instagram posts get minimal or no engagement, your content strategy might lack proper timing.

Figuring out your optimal Saturday Instagram post time can be challenging and often involves time, effort, and trial and error. Remember, great timing creates excellent opportunities for Instagram engagement. To help, we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide. These tips and tricks will help in determining the best times to post on Instagram in 2024.

Why Timing Is Key To Getting Real Followers

Knowing the best time to post content on Instagram is essential for gaining real followers. Timing plays a crucial role in maximizing your reach and engagement. Are you creating interesting and relevant content for your target audience but not getting noticed on Instagram feeds? If your Instagram posts are informative and aesthetically pleasing yet receive minimal engagement, your content strategy might need better timing.

Figuring out the best time to post stories on Instagram or any other content can take time and patience. Great timing creates opportunities for better Instagram engagement from your own audience as well as others. These tips and tricks will help you post compelling content at the right time, no matter your industry.

How to Figure Out When to Post on IG

Deciding when it’s best to post depends largely on your audience. Start by identifying your target audience, considering location, time zone, and age group. Are they in the same time zone as you? Do they follow a similar work week? Understanding your audience will help you determine the optimal times for posting, increasing the chances of more engagement.

While it’s difficult to know your audience’s exact daily schedule, you should have a general idea of their everyday activities. For instance, if your audience includes college students, consider their class schedules. Most students are in classes during the day and more active online in the evenings or on weekends. Factoring in these practical considerations will help you decide on Saturday Instagram post times for maximum engagement.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday and Each Day of the Week

According to Sprout Social’s analysis, the best time to post on Instagram varies depending on many factors. The content you post and the industry you work in impact when is best. Location also plays a part.

Generally, Wednesday has the largest posting window. You could say that this makes it the beast day of the week to post. Posting on a Wednesday from 9am to 4pm is an effective strategy to further your reach. Other notable days include Thursdays mornings into lunchtime. Also, Tuesday mornings into the afternoon. Friday offers the most restrictive posting window. So don’t leave your posts until the end of the week.

There’s even more reason to get in on the action early. As engagement generally drops during weekends. This makes Saturdays and Sundays less ideal for posting. Here’s a breakdown of the best hours to post each day (using your local time):

Curious as to why early hours work the best for engagement? Users and followers are likely to check their Instagram accounts during morning downtime. Whether that is while they are just waking up or eating breakfast. Or, they may be checking IG during their morning commute. Your content has a good chance of popping up in your followers’ feeds first thing in the morning. Here are some other posting times and days you should consider.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Monday

For the best engagement on Instagram, consider posting on Mondays between 11 AM and 2 PM. This typically aligns with many people’s lunch breaks. Additionally, posting anytime between 9 AM and 4 PM can yield good results.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Tuesday

Tuesdays show the highest engagement between 10 AM and 4 PM, with nearly double the engagement compared to Mondays.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Wednesday

Wednesdays are the best day for engagement on Instagram. Optimal posting times are between 9 AM and 4 PM, making it the peak day for interaction.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Thursday

Thursdays see optimal engagement between 9 AM to 1 PM and again around 2 PM. However, it’s worth noting that engagement slightly dips at 1 PM.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Friday

Friday engagement peaks at 11 AM but remains high a few hours before and after this time.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Saturday

Now, what you’ve been waiting for: the best time to post on Saturdays on Instagram. Saturdays are most active from 9 AM to 12 PM. However, weekends typically see lower engagement than weekdays.

The Best Time to Post on Instagram on Sunday

Sundays have less overall engagement. Sunday timings are similar to the best times to post on instagram on saturday. The best posting times on Instagram on Sunday fall between 10 AM and 12 PM.

Remember that these posting times are general norms across industries and for a global audience. Knowing the best time to post Instagram content varies based on these factors.

The Worst Times for Posting Content on Instagram

As important as knowing what time to post on Instagram on Saturday is knowing when not to. Posting when your audience is most active isn’t always the best strategy. Several factors can affect engagement rates. Research indicates Instagram’s algorithm might favor earlier Instagram posts. Posting early can lead to higher engagement because your content appears first in your audience’s feed. This strategy works well when competition is low, ensuring your post is seen during their initial scroll. Even if a post is a few hours old, it can still be visible. It’s best to avoid posting during times with lower engagement.

For engagement and reach, you should avoid these Instagram posting times:

• Monday: Before 11am and after 2 pm.
• Tuesday: Before 10am and after 4 pm.
• Wednesday: Before 9 am and after 4 pm.
• Thursday: Before 9 am. and after 1 pm.
• Friday: Most of the day, except for 11am.
• Saturday: Early morning and late afternoon and at night.
• Sunday: Early morning and late afternoon and at night.

These times tend to have lower engagement, so it’s best to avoid posting during these periods.

This should give you a general idea of how you should plan your content calendar and your social media strategy. Remember that your specific audience will also determine when you should post on Instagram. So, should you publish your post based on these recommendations or based on your audience’s app activities? Trying both would be the smartest approach.tions or based on your audience’s app activities? Trying both would be the smartest approach.

The Best IG Posting Times by Industry

When you should post on Instagram also varies depending on the industry and the Instagram audience. Don’t forget to use hashtags, also. To get the most out of your social media posts, you’ll need to know who to tag for more reach.

Additionally, consider the time zone when thinking of posting times, unless you are trying to reach a different location market. For example, if you want to grow your East Coast market, you’d post according to the Eastern time zone.

According to Sprout Social’s research, the single best times to post on Instagram in 2024 per industry are as follows:

Industry	Best Time to Post	Best Day / Most Consistent Engagement	Worst Day	Lowest Engagement
Hospitals & Healthcare	Mondays at 10 AM and 1 PM. Tuesdays from 11 AM to 4 PM. Wednesdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM. Fridays from 11 AM to 3 PM	Tuesdays – Fridays	Sundays	Other days
Restaurants	Mondays from 10 AM to 1 PM.Tuesdays from 11 AM to 2 PM. Wednesdays from 11 AM to 2 PM.Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM.Fridays from 11 AM to 1 PM	Weekdays	Weekends	Other days
Schools & Education	Wednesdays from 2 to 4 PM and 9 PM.	Wednesdays	Sundays	Other days
Travel & Hospitality	Wednesdays from noon to 2 PM and 4 PM. Sundays from 11 AM to 1 PM	Wednesdays and Thursdays	None (All days receive moderate engagement)	Other days

The Best Time to Post an Instagram Story

Five hundred million users view Instagram Stories daily, so finding the right posting time is key. For optimal engagement, the best times to post stories are weekdays between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Stories last 24 hours, providing flexibility in your posting schedule. However, avoid posting before 6:00 AM or after 9:00 PM, as engagement is lower during these times. Add your most popular stories to your story highlights to ensure ongoing visibility. On top of that, use the auto-archive feature to preserve access to past stories. 

Remember to add your most popular stories to your story highlights. Your audience can still view story highlight reels even after they have expired. You may also want to turn on your stories’ auto-archive feature to preserve access to them.

The Best Time to Post Reels on Instagram

Posting Reels at the right time can significantly boost engagement on your Instagram profile. Unlike Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, Reels stay on your profile indefinitely. This allows them to reach more viewers over time. The best time to post Reels is between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, Monday to Thursday. This is when engagement is generally higher. Furthermore, you should use every tool Instagram offers. Create high-quality content, utilize relevant hashtags, and schedule Instagram posts ahead of time. This strategy maximizes visibility and engagement by leveraging Instagram’s algorithm.

Need more followers in a pinch? Utilize third-party services that will help you gain a thousand followers in minutes. 

We understand this can be a lot to keep track of. Don’t worry! You can schedule your Instagram posts in advance. This means that you’ll never miss the best time to post on Saturdays on Instagram.

Factors Other Than Time To Consider When Posting on Instagram

While timing is a critical factor in maximizing engagement on Instagram, it’s not the only element. To truly optimize your Instagram posting strategy, there are several other points to consider. 

When you combine timing and other factors together, you end up with a strong strategy. This will encourage better engagement, growth, and visibility. Here are the most important factors to consider when posting on Instagram. Check out these Instagram tips: 

Content Quality

One of the most important factors in determining how well your Instagram posts perform is the quality of the content. Great timing is worthless if your content isn’t exciting. High quality photos, videos, and well-crafted captions are essential in grabbing attention and keeping your audience engaged. 

Instagram’s Algorithm

Instagram’s algorithm shows users content that is most relevant to them. The platform takes several factors into account when deciding which posts to show in a user’s feed. 

• Engagement Rates History: If users have interacted with your posts in the past, they are more likely to be shown future posts.
• Content Type: Instagram prioritizes posts that encourage interaction, such as those with questions, calls to action, or engaging visuals.
• Recency of Content: Although timing is crucial, Instagram also places importance on the recency of your post. The fresher your content, the more likely it is to appear in your followers’ feeds. Therefore, posting frequently and staying consistent is important.

Consistency

Posting consistently is key to keeping your audience engaged and building momentum. If you only post every now and again, you’re likely to lose followers. Consistent posting helps you to stay at the forefront of your followers’ minds every time they open the app. Regular posting also signals to Instagram’s algorithm that you’re active. Which is never a bad thing. 

One way to ensure that you are consistent is to create a content calendar. A content calendar can help you organize your posts. This is particularly useful when balancing multiple type of content, like photos, videos, stories, and Reels.

Content Type

The type of content you post also plays a big role in how well it performs. Different types of content perform better at various times of the day. Here’s a breakdown of the types of content and their optimal times:

• Instagram Reels: Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes Reels, so they receive more reach compared to regular posts. If you want to boost your chances of going viral, creating engaging Reels is one way to go about it.
• Instagram Stories: Stories are perfect for behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, or interactive features like polls and Q&As. Posting stories regularly helps build and maintain engagement with your followers.
• Carousels: Carousel posts (multiple images in one post) generally see higher engagement than single-image posts. This is because they encourage users to swipe through. They’re great for educational content, tutorials, or showcasing multiple products.
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Sharing UGC, like photos and reviews from your followers, is an excellent way to build community. UGC often leads to higher engagement because people are more likely to engage with content they are featured in.

Seasonal Trends and Events

Planning around seasonal events and holidays can help your content feel more timely and relevant to your audience. Taking part in viral trends or creating themed content can give you an edge when posting. Keep an eye on the trending hashtags and what’s going on in the world of social media. This helps you to stay up-to-date on what’s relevant.

Post Frequency

How often you post can be as important as when you post. Bombarding your followers with posts is not a good look. This can lead to you losing followers. On the other hand, posting too infrequently can cause you to lose their attention. Or worse, they completely forget about you! Striking a balance and sticking to a semi-predictable posting schedule can keep your followers engaged and interested.

Figure Out Your Optimal Posting Window Through Trial and Error

There’s no steadfast rule regarding the best posting time for content scheduling. One way to start figuring it out is by trial and error. You’ll use the app’s analytics tools to get the necessary Instagram insights about your audience’s behaviors. Particularly when they’re most active on the platform. Take note that Instagram Insights are only available if you have an Instagram business account or creator profile.

A creator profile has the added advantage of having access to the Instagram Creator Studio dashboard. It provides additional audience Instagram insights and engagement metrics, such as data on when your followers are online. Also, knowing which Instagram posts perform best helps you narrow down the kind of content you should create.

Schedule Instagram posts based on the recommended best times post time as mentioned above. Then, use Instagram Insights or Instagram Analytics to check when your Instagram posts get the highest engagement. Verify your findings by adjusting your content schedule accordingly and then checking if you’ll get the same/similar engagement results. You may also schedule the same Instagram account posts at different times for comparison. Don’t forget to post regularly to keep your follower count and engagement rates high.

Final Thoughts: Perfect Timing Is Key To Optimized Content Engagement

Having unique content is just half of the equation for Instagram’s success. The other half is good timing. Your content must reach not just the right people but the maximum number of users every single time you publish.

With some carefully planned trial and error, you can pinpoint specific times for a certain day of the week. You’ll also know the best day of the week to publish your content to get the highest exposure and engagement. When you have the timing nailed down, post consistently and watch your audience engagement soar. Now you know the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and beyond. With this knowledge, you can plot a content schedule covering the most important bases. 

Another great way to organically boost your numbers is by partnering with a reliable growth company like Path Social. We use a proprietary AI targeting algorithm to find real people who are looking for the content you’re already offering. So, you can be sure that the followers you’ll gain have a high likelihood of providing quality engagement. Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today!

FAQs

Still unsure about the best time to post on Instagram on Saturday and any other day of the week? Check out our frequently asked questions to gain a bit more insight.