If you want the pics you post to Instagram to get as many views, likes and comments as possible, then it makes sense to post at the time & day most people will see them. When is that?
Fortunately, we don’t have to guess. http://statigr.am/optimization.php shows you what times and days the pics you’ve posted have gotten the most likes. Here’s a screenshot of mine.
As you can see, I get consistantly good numbers of likes during the 7 AM hour with big numbers in the 8 AM hour on Friday and Sunday.
There are shortcomings to this analysis, though. As you can see, I have posted many more pics at the 6 and 7 AM hours. Statigr.am only shows raw numbers not likes per post. So, it’s hard to say whether the lower numbers of likes later in the day is because those are less optimal times or because I don’t post much later in the day. So, I’m going to continue to post at what appear to be my optimal early morning times, but also experiment with posting at different times and days.
All at Once or Pace Yourself?
The other question this raises is whether it’s best to post pics as soon as you take them or to post them gradually over time.
(EDIT: Originally I included a statigr.am graph that I mistakenly said indicated the vast majority of likes happen within the first hour of posting. David Sanger correctly pointed out that statigr.am shows comments over time not likes. So, while I believe most likes do happen within the first hour, I don’t have stats to show what percentage this is.)
Most people don’t sit around looking at pics all day, so if I post a whole bunch of pics at once only the people who are looking during that hour are going to see them. But if I post one pic every 2 or 3 hours, then it’s much more likely someone is going to see at least one of my pics. So, if I take a bunch of good pics, I post one immediately and then post the rest gradually over the rest of the day.
How about you? What have you found is the best time & day to post? Do you post all at once or pace your pic posting?
Share Your Progress
Tagging, beautiful sunrises and posting a few pics here and there from one of my trips to Kenya has led to 30-40 new followers each day and a continuing rise in my EAv IG network score. It’s now up to 43 and this morning for the first time I appeared on the U.S. Instagram leaderboard.
How about you? Are you trying anything new on Instagram as a result of this series? How’s it working for you?
– Paul
(e)PDSTEIN
http://statigr.am/pdstein
Instagram #6: Filters <– How to Rock Empire Avenue with Instagram –> Instagram #8: Posting Photos from other Cameras
Empire Avenue Tips 
Instagram #6: Filters « Empire Avenue Tips
Feb 15, 2012 @ 17:02:58
New Blog Series: How to Rock Empire Avenue with Instagram « Empire Avenue Tips
Feb 15, 2012 @ 17:03:38
Feb 15, 2012 @ 17:19:30
Paul –
1)here is the correct link (EAV bug):
http://www.empireavenue.com/leaders/network/instagram?c=us
2) My graph shows how fast my community comments (not likes) my photos. Is your different? 1289 out of 6057 comments were in the first hour
3) agree that 8am seems the best time
Feb 15, 2012 @ 17:29:45
>>1)here is the correct link (EAV bug):
Thanks!
>>2) My graph shows how fast my community comments (not likes) my photos. Is your different? 1289 out of 6057 comments were in the first hour
Oh crap! You’re right. I’m going to have to edit that part of the post.
>>3) agree that 8am seems the best time
AM Eastern or Pacific? If Eastern, do you get up that early just to post for the East Coasters?
Feb 15, 2012 @ 17:45:25
3) not really sure. I think it is Pacific time for me. I definitely don’t get up early.
see also http://osqa.statigr.am/questions/321/best-time-to-post-new-photos-which-time-zone
Feb 17, 2012 @ 15:42:06
FWIW, here’s my statigram optimzation chart.
Mostly it suggests to me that 11am-7pm (ET) are the least popular times for IG use. I have at least some followers (don’t know what %) in Europe and Asia so with the combination of people busy in the US and asleep elsewhere, that makes some sense to me.
It also looks like I should post more on Wednesday’s… it’s my less frequent day but one when my pics tend to be popular.
Feb 17, 2012 @ 16:28:06
Steven, thanks for sharing your optimization chart. That’s interesting. I wonder what it is about Wednesdays.
Other than that, what stands out to me is how consistent and evenly distributed your posts are across all days and from 7 AM to 9 PM.
Feb 18, 2012 @ 10:22:31
Yes. I take about 5x as many pictures as I post and frequently attempt an edit that I decide isn’t interesting enough to share. (If I was a professional photographer it would be more like 50-100x as many photos.)
Even if I have more than one ready to post, I just about always wait at least an hour between pictures.
Feb 17, 2012 @ 15:43:22
When you are logged in, check: http://statigr.am/settings.php
You can set your time zone.
Instagram #8: Posting Photos from other Cameras « Empire Avenue Tips
Feb 17, 2012 @ 17:01:34
Feb 18, 2012 @ 23:12:00
Hi,
Oddly I find that I get a lot more comments and likes when I post Instagram on weekends in the afternoon. I don’t have that many followers yet, since I just started Instagram a few weeks ago, but I noticed that on weekends I also pick up more followers than during the week.
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Hopefully I will do better taking the pics over time and hopefully figure out how to get some new followers.
Feb 19, 2012 @ 07:52:07
That’s interesting. What timezone are you in? And remind me again what your IG username is?
May 23, 2013 @ 11:21:01
I likes to post around 10-11 pm. If i post before that I usally get 50-70 likes, but if I post inbetween those times, I get 150-300 likes. Just suggesting posting around them, might help you out.
May 23, 2013 @ 11:46:51
Justin, thanks for the insight. What time zone are you in?