When is the best time to post a Reel?

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Investing your time in Reels is a great way to boost exposure. After all, according to Hootsuite, "Reels can get up to 300% more engagement than regular Instagram videos."

But you can take things to the next level by determining when is the best time to post a Reel for maximum exposure. In this article, we'll discuss how to get higher engagement on your Reels, just by changing the day or time you post it.

We'll also talk about how to schedule your Instagram Reels based on the day of the week, along with some other frequently asked questions.

When can you get the highest engagement on Reels?

Even when all other factors are kept the same, when you post your Reel can be the key determinant of how well it will perform online.

That means when you post can be the difference between getting 30,000 views and 30 million.

Overall best time to post during the week

We've pulled some data from a few different sources about the absolute ideal times to post Reels. According to Influencer Marketing Hub and Hootsuite, the best days and times to post are:

• Wednesday 11AM
• Friday 10AM-11AM

Basically, Wednesday through Friday in the midday is pretty good

What day is best for posting Reels?

The best posting time is important, but so is the day of the week. You'll also have to take into account if it's a holiday too.

CRM companies continuously conduct research and develop tools like a "best time to post on Instagram" calculator. So, we suggest you check out places like Hootsuite, Hubspot and Influencer Marketing Hub.

Let's walk through some notes about the best time to post a Reel based on the day. Assume these are non-holiday days.

Best time to post on Mondays

People may be dragging their feet to work on Monday morning, but research shows they tend to work for a few solid hours. Instagram usage is typically lower in the morning and spikes around the lunch hour and afternoon.

Best time to post on Tuesdays

It's been long understood that Tuesdays are often one of the most productive days of the week. Are your followers too busy to watch Instagram Reels? Not quite.

Even on our most productive days, some of us (many of us it seems) are scrolling through Instagram in the wee AM hours and then in the afternoon and evening on Tuesday.

Best time to post on Wednesdays

Wednesday schedules follow a similar pattern, but the best time to post a Reel may be in the early lunch hour range and again at night. People are getting work done on Wednesday afternoons, so save your awesome Reels for later.

Best time to post on Thursdays

Contrary to some other weekdays, the best time to post a Reel on Thursday may be in the afternoon. But shoot for early afternoon like 12PM-2PM. If you post a Reel on Instagram Thursday evening, you'll still have a chance at higher engagement.

Best time to post on Fridays

TGIF! If your audience works a 9-5 job, they'll be ready to break out of the office and go have fun. In terms of activity on Instagram, the best time to post a Reel on Friday may be in the afternoon before people leave work.

While there may be a crowd who stays home Friday night, others will be out and about - perhaps posting their own content, but not necessarily scrolling.

Best time to post on Saturdays

Many of us don't like to work on Saturdays, but posting on Instagram over the weekend could give you a boost in views.

Some data indicate that Saturday morning is a great time to post, possibly before people get going for the day. Also, consider posting in the evening around 7PM-8PM.

Best time to post on Sundays

If you want to publish your Reel on Sunday, do it around 7AM-8AM or later in the evening. Target those trying to wind down early on Sunday nights (around 6PM-8PM). These users may be in the midst of the "Sunday Scaries" and turn to social media for comfort.

How many times should you post Reels per day?

If you really want to take your Instagram to the next level, it's best to post daily content for your followers. But it has to be good.

There is a sweet spot when it comes to posting on Instagram. You want to stay relevant and front-of-mind, but you don't want to over-post. Sometimes too much content can get annoying for followers.

As a business, once a day is usually sufficient. However, don't just limit yourself to Reels. Add regular posts and Instagram Stories (users love Stories).

To avoid making yourself go crazy, we suggest that you schedule Instagram posts in advance. This gives you ample time to brainstorm engaging content, choose the best time to post and evaluate what has worked for you.

How to find the best time to post Reels for YOUR account

"When to post your Reels" data and calculators can be helpful. But every niche, business and account is different. Use the current data as a guide, but conduct your own research based on what you have available. We'll explain.

Review your best-performing posts

The first place you should look for the best time to post your Reels is within your own Instagram account. The app gives you tons of information, especially if you have a public business or creator account.

Switching to these accounts gives you access to Instagram's Insights and analytic tools. These tools will give you actual data on your actual posts! Whenever you post a new Reel, make sure to review the data on a regular basis.

Take note of competitors

Your competitors may be onto something if they are getting more likes, comments, saves and follows than you. Take note of when they post. Scour their Reels for ones that got the most traction and what day and time they were shared.

Research by niche

Get down to the nitty gritty: What is the best time to post a Reel based on your industry?

You can't always find data on this, but G2 Learn Hub did a little digging. For example, they found that media and entertainment brands should avoid posting in the morning, since that is the least engaging time for their audience. On the other hand, B2C companies can feel pretty confident if they post from 10AM-3PM. See more information here.

Research by age

Using your own knowledge and Instagram's analytics tools, hone in on the average age of your followers. In general, younger users to tend me more active on the platform overall.

Find out when people are on the platform. People who go to work or school during the week find themselves scrolling at lunch or on break. That's why some of the best times to post is midday during the week.

On the weekend, your audience may be up late on Friday and Saturday night and sleep in the next day. To find the best time to post Reels based on age of your audience, use established analytic tools on Instagram and CRM data.

Research by geographic location

If you live in one time zone, but your target audience lives in another, take note. When you're trying to figure out the best time to post a Reel, make sure you're thinking about your audience's time zone. Not your own.

Other Reels essentials to go viral

Even if you post at the best time for Reels, you won't get great momentum if the content isn't good. Before you post your next Reel, here are a few tips to make sure your content has the best chance at going viral:

• Post high quality content that your audience wants.
• Plan ahead to make your Reels as interactive as possible.
• Make your Reels look professional (Mojo helps with that).
• Use relevant Instagram hashtags.
• Collaborate with Instagram influencers when you can.
• Optimize your video to fit Instagram's parameters.
• Create original content to rank higher in the Instagram algorithm.

We know it's a lot! However, Mojo is a video creation app that helps you produce professional-looking Reels that are exciting and engaging for your audience.

Time to create your Reel?

Set yourself up for success with show-stopping Reels that are ready to break the internet!

When you create your Reels with Mojo, you'll have 400+ premade templates to choose from. You'll also get countless popular features like auto captions and background removal. The tools available in the Mojo app bring your videos to life in a matter of minutes.

Play around in the app and see for yourself!

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