Are you looking to take your Instagram Reels game to the next level this year? With Reels‘ surging popularity and increasing importance in Instagram‘s algorithm, mastering the art of creating and sharing engaging short-form videos is essential for connecting with your target audience and growing your presence on the platform.
But here‘s the catch: Even the most spectacular Reel won‘t reach its full potential if it‘s not posted at the right time. Timing is a critical factor in maximizing your visibility and engagement on Instagram‘s fast-moving, constantly-evolving landscape.
So, when exactly should you be hitting that "Share" button on your latest Reel creation? What does the data say about the best times to post Reels in 2023? And how can you tailor your posting strategy to your unique audience and niche?
Let‘s dive in and uncover the secrets to Reels success in 2023.
Understanding Instagram‘s Landscape in 2023
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of ideal posting times, it‘s important to take a step back and consider the current state of Instagram. What factors are shaping user behavior and content performance on the platform in 2023?
First and foremost, Instagram is massive and still growing. As of 2023, the platform boasts over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. That‘s a huge potential audience for your Reels – but also a lot of competition for attention. Standing out in users‘ feeds is harder than ever.
Instagram‘s user base also skews young, with over 60% of users under the age of 35. This demographic reality shapes everything from the types of content that perform best to peak activity times on the app. Understanding the preferences and habits of Instagram‘s core millennial and Gen Z audience is key to developing an effective Reels strategy.
Perhaps the biggest factor shaping Instagram in 2023 is the platform‘s increasing emphasis on short-form video content, driven in large part by the meteoric rise of TikTok. Instagram has been aggressively promoting Reels since its launch in late 2020, with head Adam Mosseri declaring that Instagram is "no longer a photo-sharing app" and video is "driving an immense amount of growth online for all major platforms."
For users and creators, this means that Reels are now front-and-center on the Instagram experience – and often prioritized by the algorithm over static posts. If you want to maximize your reach and engagement on Instagram in 2023, you need to be making Reels a central part of your content mix.
What the Data Says: Best Times to Post Reels in 2023
Now that we‘ve set the stage, let‘s look at what the latest studies and industry benchmarks tell us about the best times to post Reels on Instagram in 2023.
Last year, social media management platform Sprout Social analyzed Instagram data and found that the best times to post Reels for maximum engagement are:
- Wednesdays at 11am
- Thursdays at 11am
- Fridays between 10am-12pm
- Saturdays at 11am
Sprout Social‘s study also highlighted Tuesdays between 8am-9am as a "hidden gem" posting time, with strong engagement outside of the more typical peak hours. Overall, the best day for posting Reels was Wednesday.
Marketing software giant HubSpot released its own Instagram engagement report in late 2022, analyzing global Instagram usage data. Their key finding? The single best time to post Reels on Instagram is Saturday at 11am. Other top times identified by HubSpot were Saturdays at 10am, Friday at 11am, and Saturday at 12pm.
Social media scheduling app Later dug into Reels-specific data in early 2023 and found that:
- The best times to post Reels are Saturday at 10am, weekdays around 12pm, and most weekday evenings around 5-6pm
- Posting Reels during standard work hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) results in the highest average view counts
Clearly, late morning and midday posting on weekdays is a sweet spot for Reels reach, with Saturdays being the prime weekend posting day. This makes sense intuitively – these are times when many people are taking a break from work or school and more likely to be casually scrolling social media.
Beyond the Benchmarks: Personalizing Your Reels Posting Strategy
While studies like those from Sprout Social, HubSpot, and Later provide helpful starting points for timing your Reels, it‘s important to remember that there‘s no true universal "best time" to post on Instagram. Ideal posting times can vary significantly based on factors like:
- Your target audience‘s age, location, and daily routines
- Your industry and niche
- The specific types of Reels content you post
- Your account‘s individual history of post performance
This is where your account‘s native Instagram Insights come into play. By digging into your unique audience data and past post analytics, you can uncover personalized patterns and refine your posting strategy over time.
Pivoting seamlessly into an active Reel strategy is also important in the modern age of Instagram. Keep a close eye on your own best-performing Reels, note any similarities in timing or format, and use those insights to shape your ongoing approach.
Tips for Optimizing Reels Performance in 2023
Of course, posting times are just one piece of the Reels puzzle. Here are a few other tips to keep in mind as you plan and execute your Reels strategy this year:
- Post consistently and frequently. Regular posting beats irregular splurges of activity when it comes to building a loyal Reels audience.
- Engage actively with your community. Regularly like, comment, and DM with followers and similar accounts to boost your visibility on the platform.
- Optimize titles, hashtags, and on-screen text. Use all of the tools at your disposal to make your Reels stand out at a glance in users‘ fast-moving feeds.
- Keep up with Instagram‘s latest updates and features. The platform is always evolving, so staying on top of new Reels tools like Templates is key to staying ahead of the curve.
Remember: growing your Reels presence is a marathon, not a sprint. Use the timing benchmarks as a starting point, but don‘t be afraid to test, tweak, and personalize your approach based on your own account data and audience.
The Bottom Line
There you have it – the ultimate guide to finding the best times to post your Instagram Reels in 2023. While studies show that midday weekdays and Saturday mornings are generally prime times for engagement, the true key is diving into your account‘s unique Insights and audience patterns to develop a tailored strategy.
Armed with these benchmarks, a commitment to consistency, and a finger on the pulse of Instagram‘s latest video-centric tools and trends, you‘re well on your way to Reels success in the coming year. Show the world what you‘ve got, one perfectly-timed Reel at a time – and enjoy the likes, comments and follows that are sure to follow. It‘s time to make 2023 your best Reels year yet!
