Demystifying The Best Days to Post on Instagram in 2023

Wondering when you should hit "post" on Instagram for max views and engagement this year? With over a billion monthly Instagrammers, timing matters more than ever before!

In this beginner-friendly guide, I‘ll break down everything that goes into finding your perfect posting schedule. I‘ve analyzed tons of current data and insights as an experienced social media manager to cut through the confusion.

A Quick Primer on The Ever-Changing Instagram Algorithm

Instagram‘s algorithm decides the top posts people see in their feeds based on "relevance." So what exactly signals a "relevant" post to each user?

• Recency – Fresh, timely content
• Relationships – Accounts they engage with frequently
• Interests – Content similar to posts they like and comment on

And in 2023, Instagram is putting even more emphasis on recommendations from accounts you don‘t follow yet, like Reels you might enjoy from rising creators.

Here‘s a quick cheat sheet on how much different post formats influence the algorithm:

As you can see, you need a smart Reels and Stories strategy to win in 2023!

Why Audience Engagement Matters More Than Ever

The more likes, comments, shares, and overall engagement your posts generate, the more visibility Instagram gives you.

So rather than judging vanity metrics, look at engagement rates as a gauge for how captivated your audience feels. If you entertain them, educate them, inspire them – you‘ll rocket to the top of more feeds!

And the best way to earn higher engagement? Post when your followers are actively scrolling on Instagram.

Research Your Audience Like You‘re Getting Paid For It

Let‘s dive deeper into unveiling the specialized interests, habits, and behaviors that make your audience tick:

Demographic Intel

Location, age, gender, income level – these tell volumes about people‘s motivations and pinpoint targeted messaging opportunities for you.

Instagram Insights reveal age ranges, gender splits, locations, and languages of your current followers. But don‘t stop there…

Behavior Patterns

Implied interests based on posts saved and accounts followed offer invaluable intelligence. A follower who saves wanderlust-inducing travel posts likely craves that content from you, too!

And don‘t forget to trace engagement fluctuations across different posting days and times. Spikes reveal the sweet spots for your fans!

Beyond Built-In Analytics

Expand your research toolkit with adding free or paid tools like Socialinsider, Iconosquare, and Inzpire.me. Dive deeper into benchmarking performance across niches, monitoring competitors, and even surveying your audience directly!

The Best Days to Post Instagram Content

Let‘s reveal the definitive 2023 Instagram trend reports and scientific studies identifying prime posting days across industries:

Overall Best Days

I‘ll cut to the chase – Wednesday at 11 AM Pacific reigns supreme for peak Instagram engagement. Midweek motivation is real!

Tuesday and Thursday mornings also make the podium as stellar posting days per the 6+ million posts analyzed by Sprout Social:

Weekends vs. Weekdays

We often assume weekends rule for social media. Yet weekday posts attract way more attention across most niches.

When people relax on Saturdays and Sundays, scrolling Instagram takes a backseat to errands, family time, and having a life!

However, interests like travel and restaurants can achieve success on weekends when folks actually go on trips and dine out. Know your niche!

Niche Breakdowns

While Wednesday and Thursday mornings dominate broadly, your particular audience‘s habits likely vary.

Cosmetics and beauty brands score big just before the Friday rush at noon when followers shop for weekend plans.

B2B companies and financial accounts find email open rates peak Tuesdays – so piggybacking relevant Instagram posts Mondays gets clicks.

Test what works for your vertical!

Conquering Instagram Reels in 2023

Reels rocketed to stardom since launching in 2020, now accounting for 50% of the time people spend on Instagram.

Views of Reels continue climbing month over month, delivering accounts epic growth potential. Just look at these juicy January 2023 benchmarks from Later.com:

As for the prime posting times, weekday mornings before noon allow you to catch scrollers during mobile coffee breaks.

But weekend nights pump powerful as well when restless people crave entertainment. Test both time slots!

While explosive if they gain traction, Reels carry notable downsides, too:

Pros

• Massive potential reach
• Gain followers fast if they go viral
• Fun creative outlet

Cons

• Highly unpredictable algorithm
• Very time-intensive to produce
• Audio issues and restrictions

I suggest dipping your toes in, not diving headfirst, until you gauge initial Reels success.

Optimizing Your Approach for Each Vertical

While the hard data above provides an excellent starting point, your niche strongly informs ideal posting times, too.

For example, an Instagram model would likely perform best on Fridays when audiences decide weekend fashion and makeup plans.

Alternatively, contractors and trade workers activate most midweek during standard 9-5 business hours.

Analyze your followers‘ habits, then cater content types and scheduling around their unique interests and availability!

Streamline Posting With Additional Tools

Creating consistent, stellar content is demanding enough. Simplify your process with built-in and third-party tools!

Instagram‘s Native Scheduling

The internal Creator Studio allows planning Instagram posts and Reels up to 75 days out. Bulk upload for smooth scheduling!

Top Third-Party Tools

Manage multiple social profiles via slick interfaces. Understand what truly engages your audience with powerful analytics. Automate repetitive tasks so you focus activities that actually grow your brand.

Test which option best fits your needs and budget!

Key Takeaways

I hope breaking down the latest Instagram algorithm updates, revealing crowd-sourced engagement data, and providing specialized tips for your niche leaves you feeling empowered, not overwhelmed!

Remember, while 11 AM Wednesday takes the prize overall, optimize your approach for your specific audience. Consistency also rules – stick to a thoughtful posting cadence.

Now you‘ve got the inside scoop on acing Instagram in 2023. Wishing you record growth and engagement this year, my friend!