- Best times: Wednesday, 11 a.m. and 1–2 p.m.
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Sunday
Authenticity is key to engagement with the ever-evolving Facebook algorithm, and that means knowing when to reach your audience so that their interest is piqued to interact with and share your content.
As we dug through the data, we found that Wednesday is typically a top day for many industries. And just as activity rises at the middle of the week, it tapers off on the weekends for most industries. This means it can be harder to get eyes on your content when your audience’s attention is elsewhere on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition to the top times to post above, Facebook as a whole showed the most consistent engagement during the time period of Tuesday through Thursday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., so these can be considered other “safe” times to post. On the other hand, the lowest engagement that you may want to avoid occurred every day either before 7 a.m. or after 5 p.m. These patterns can help clue you in to how audiences are widely using Facebook: checking in for mid-day updates throughout the week, and logging off a bit more in the mornings and evenings. As we get granular with the best times for Facebook across various industries, consider pairing this data with the audience personas you may have already created to deepen your understanding of audience behavior.
Best times to post on Facebook for consumer goods
- Best times: Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m.
- Best days: Wednesday and Friday
- Worst day: Sunday
Disclaimer: Industry specific heat maps are more concentrated to show medium- and high-level engagement.
It’s no surprise that consumer goods brands thrive online during weekdays, with consistent engagement periods from Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. compared to lower engagement every day before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
One of the keys to social success for retail and B2C companies is understanding what audiences actually want out of their experience with a brand. Use tools like social monitoring and listening to understand what kinds of content, from product showcases to inspirational posts to conversation starters, are resonating at these peak times.
Best times to post on Facebook for media
- Best times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 5 p.m., Friday from 8–9 a.m.
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Sunday
Our research this year shows that media companies have no shortage of times to reach the highly active Facebook audience. With 74% of US Facebook users visiting the site every day, and the ongoing appetite for news and discussion of the news on social, it’s no surprise that media companies see higher engagement than some industries throughout the entire week.
While the weekend is a bit lighter on activity, media audiences are still checking in online for regular updates on what’s going on in the world: reliable times for engagement occur every day around 8–10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Meanwhile, engagement is lightest every day before 5 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
Best times to post on Facebook for education
- Best times: Wednesday at 9 a.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Sunday
Facebook started out as a social network for college students, and while it’s hard to compare those humble beginnings to the expansive platform today, there’s still plenty of room for educational institutions to make an impact on the network. Compared to other industry segments, mornings and nights offer stronger opportunities for schools’ social media content to get seen, as well as some spikes in activity on the weekend.
Social can play a major role for schools of all types–ranging from campaigns aimed at prospective students to updates and discussions that facilitate campus life. Meet your students where they are on Facebook at the top times above, or consider the consistent engagement seen from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and Saturday, noon–9 p.m.
Best times to post on Facebook for nonprofits
- Best times: Wednesday and Friday at 8–9 a.m.
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Saturday and Sunday
Facebook is an ideal platform for nonprofits to highlight their mission with social campaigns, and to spark discussion and interaction with the communities and audiences they serve. Activity for nonprofits is highest during the work week, with peak times on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
You’re also likely to connect with your dedicated followers during the some of the safest times for engagement occurring Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., but nonprofits may want to avoid the lowest engagement hours that happen every day before 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
Best times to post on Facebook for tech
- Best time: Wednesday from 9 a.m.–noon
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Sunday
The statistics show that a social presence is essential for software and tech companies, with 86% of IT consumers using it to help inform decisions. Whether your company is targeting B2C or B2B audiences, our findings show that Wednesday is the best day to post to get maximum engagement.
There’s also opportunity throughout the work week, with a consistent block of engagement happening from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–noon. While mornings are somewhat active for this industry, engagement tapers off as the work day winds down, with the least opportunity for engagement occurring after 6 p.m. every day.
Best times to post on Facebook for healthcare
- Best times: Wednesday from 10 a.m.–noon
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst days: Saturday and Sunday
Facebook is an ideal place for healthcare practices to build their social presence. In addition to marketing and promotional content, it’s a great opportunity to highlight your local presence, connect with patients, and build reputation through reviews.
Unsurprisingly, the typical business week for most healthcare practices features some of the most reliable times for engagement, particularly from Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Outside of standard hours, engagement tapers off, with the lowest engagement for healthcare found every day before 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
Best times to post on Facebook for finance
- Best time: Wednesday at noon
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst days: Saturday and Sunday
Financial institutions on Facebook show solid engagement during the work week, particularly the start of the day from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–noon. As banks and exchanges close, audience interest may start to wane for the day, with the lowest engagement periods happening every day after 6 p.m.
While it may seem intimidating to open up the lines of communication for a regulated industry like finance on social, cultivating an understanding of social media compliance best practices throughout your team can help you lay a foundation for successful content and conversations on the platform.
Best times to post on Facebook for recreation
- Best times: Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m.
- Best day: Wednesday
- Worst day: Sunday
What audiences are looking for when it comes to recreational companies and destinations on Facebook can vary quite a bit by region, niche and other factors. This is reflected in our data, which shows scattered opportunities for top engagement at multiple times throughout the week.
Still, if you’re looking to target consistent engagement outside of these peak times, consider posting from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Avoid the drop off of lower engagement that happens before 5 a.m. and after 5 p.m. every day. Use a social media monitoring strategy to uncover deeper insights into what’s grabbing your audience’s attention during these top times to post.