Business dictates the best, worst times for social media

Social media never sleeps, but it does take a breather once in a while. Usually, those rest periods are determined by our work schedules, not our social engagement, because business shapes social media usage now more than ever.
For example, Facebook, the 800-pound gorilla of social media, emerges from repose as the workday begins and exhibits its heaviest engagement around the lunch hour, when workers are more likely to indulge in non-work diversions. Twitter also hits its stride around the same time. Meanwhile, LinkedIn, a popular place for job-hunting, sees its heaviest traffic either just before or just after the typical workday, because nobody wants to risk leaving digital clues at their current job that they are looking for a new one.
So, mind the clock when shaping your company’s social media networks for optimum outreach. The proper timing for posts and tweets will vary somewhat by industry and by company, naturally, but the platform schedules listed below offer good guidelines in general:

Facebook

Best time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Traffic builds after 9 a.m., reaches its peak around 3 p.m.
Worst time: 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Traffic fades after 4 p.m. Avoid posting on weekends.

Twitter

The Digital Essentials, Part 3

Developing a robust digital strategy is both a challenge and an opportunity. Part 3 of the Digital Essentials guide series explores five of the essential technology-driven experiences customers expect, which you may be missing or not fully utilizing.

Get the Guide

Best time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Traffic builds after 11 a.m.; peak times are Monday through Thursday.
Worst time: 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Traffic fades after 3 p.m. Avoid posting after 3 p.m. on Fridays.

LinkedIn

Best times: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Traffic builds before and after business hours; peak times are Tuesday through Thursday.
Worst time: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Traffic fades from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Avoid posting on Mondays, Fridays.

Google+

Best time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Traffic builds after 9 a.m., with the peak time during morning work hours.
Worst time: 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Traffic fades after 5 p.m. Avoid posting in the evening.

Instagram

Best time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Traffic builds after 1 p.m., with the peak time between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays.
Worst time: 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Traffic fades on weekends. Avoid posting on Sunday evenings.

Pinterest

Best times: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Traffic builds after 12 p.m., with the peak time on Saturday morning.
Worst time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Traffic fades after 5 p.m. Avoid posting in the late afternoon.