The Best Times to Post on Social Media for Better Engagement - 2025

Brian Valencia
Aug 16
4 min read

Running a small business is already a full-time job. Careers in the trade or field industry may require your full attention, leaving little time to make a social post. Sometimes that means hitting “post” at midnight just to get something out there. The truth is that posting at inconsistent times (and days) might be hurting your engagement, and by some pretty large margins, too.

Finding a time that works best with your business matters — especially if you’re a business looking to build a regional/local audience. Posting at the right time matters for almost every aspect of marketing. Google’s Local SEO Starter Guide even emphasizes the relevance of timing; it's crucial for local searchability and reach.

Why Timing Matters for Social Media Marketing Success

For those looking to up their social media game, finding a balance between convenience and relevance is key. To get extra eyes on your account, you should understand the basics of its algorithm.

Simply put:

The faster people start liking, commenting, and sharing your post… The better chance it has at reaching even more people.

The best times to post on social media vary between platforms, so we’ve highlighted the top times for Meta's platforms (Instagram and Facebook) and LinkedIn. If you’re unsure what strategy is best for your business, contact us. We’ll walk you through it!

Best Times To Post on Social Media By Platform

THE BEST TIMES TO POST ON INSTAGRAM

Instagram post schedule by Crossroads Media showing the best times to release content.

Mondays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m.–noon and 3 p.m.

Unlike other social platforms, peak times on Instagram are broad. From our experience, a good rule of thumb we use is to aim for 10 a.m., and rarely on Sundays—people are less active at the end of the week. There are exceptions to that rule, of course, and it’s important to check your page’s peak times to optimize for engagement.

To check this:

Head to your page’s Professional Dashboard, click on “New Followers,” and scroll down to see a full breakdown.

Instagram also favors pages that post at consistent times. So if you’re posting every day around noon, keep that trend going!

THE BEST TIMES TO POST ON FACEBOOK

Crossroads Media Facebook schedule with times listed for each day against a purple backdrop with a clock and phone screen visible.

Mondays: 9 a.m.–noon
Tuesdays: 9 a.m.–noon
Wednesdays: 8–11 a.m. and 3–5 p.m.
Thursdays: 8 a.m.–noon
Fridays: 9–10 a.m.
Saturdays: 9–10 a.m.
Sundays: 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

For businesses looking to improve Facebook engagement, we suggest scheduling a day or two ahead of time. Unlike Instagram, Facebook gives you less wiggle room if you forget to update a caption or swap out a graphic. The good news is that Facebook’s peak times are perfect for catching attention early, releasing announcements, or sending reminders.

For example:

A contractor looking to hire skilled workers can announce a job opening.
A café could announce a new drink special.
A barbershop might promote a restock of hair products.
A plumber could post updates about available appointment slots.

Facebook users are most active from morning through lunchtime—so again, catch them early!

THE BEST TIMES TO POST ON LINKEDIN

Clock face and smartphone with LinkedIn posting schedule on purple background. Times listed for each day. Text: Crossroads Media.

Mondays: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10 a.m.
Wednesdays: 10–11 a.m.
Thursdays: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Fridays: 10 a.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.
Sundays: 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

It’s no surprise that peak times for LinkedIn are during office hours. Unlike viral-centric platforms, LinkedIn is more about transparency and professionalism.

Posting authentic stories about your company culture or your team’s experience performs well with career-minded users. Also, unlike other platforms, LinkedIn is friendlier to older posts—it’s common for a post to still circulate days later. That means your content needs to have a longer shelf life.

Use polished captions here instead of the punchy “SMH 😂” style—it helps the algorithm and makes your post feel more professional.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, there’s no perfect formula. People might check trends on Instagram, scroll for news on Facebook, or look for professional updates on LinkedIn—but only you know your niche and your audience. Check your insights, stay consistent, and keep testing what your best times to post on social media.

Do You Need a Social Media Expert?

Setting up and running a social account can be a real time consumer. But making each post with detail and care is critical to appeal to the algorithm and find that growth.

Crossroads Media is all about that care and detail. We operate throughout central Washington, supporting companies in the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Ellensburg, and Wenatchee regions. We offer comprehensive social media services and specialize in helping contractors, tradespeople, and home service businesses with all their marketing needs!

Let's help your social pages reach their full potential! Reach out with any questions you have, or to chat about our marketing services. We want to hear from you! We also handle digital ad campaigns, printing, SEO, and more.