The Best Time to Post on LinkedIn in 2024

Introduction: Understanding the importance of posting at the right time on LinkedIn

LinkedIn has become a pivotal platform for professional networking, job searching, and business development.

With millions of professionals using the platform daily, knowing the Best Time to Post on LinkedIn can significantly impact your content's visibility and engagement. In 2024, as LinkedIn continues to grow, optimizing your posting schedule is crucial to standing out in a crowded digital landscape.

LinkedIn is not just a place to network but also a powerful tool for personal branding, thought leadership, and lead generation. Understanding the optimal times to post can enhance your ability to connect with your audience and achieve your professional goals.

General Best Practices for Posting on LinkedIn

Before diving into the Best Time to Post on LinkedIn, it's essential to understand the general best practices for LinkedIn.

These include choosing the right content type—such as articles, status updates, or videos—based on your goals and audience preferences.

Consistency is key; posting regularly helps keep your audience engaged and informed.

Additionally, engaging with your audience through comments and shares can boost your post's visibility. A well-crafted LinkedIn profile also plays a significant role in supporting your content strategy, ensuring that when people engage with your posts, they find a professional and appealing profile.

Best Times to Post on LinkedIn in 2024

This best times to post are the results of a study led by SocialPilot over 7.000.000 posts and 50,000 linkedin accounts.

Overall, the Best Time to Post on LinkedIn during the week are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, in the morning from 10 AM to 12 PM. Ideal times to post if you only plan to post twice or 3 times a week.

Monday	11 am
Tuesday	6 am to 8 am
Wednesday	12 pm
Thursday	2 pm
Friday	8 am
Saturday	4 am to 5 am
Sunday	6 pm

A. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Monday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Monday is 10 AM to 11 AM

Mondays are typically a busy start to the week, with professionals catching up on emails and planning their week.

Posting around late morning (10 AM to 11 AM) can capture your audience's attention as they settle into their workday. Early morning posts can also be effective as they coincide with the daily commute for many professionals.

This period is ideal for sharing thought-provoking articles or industry news to kickstart discussions.

B. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Tuesday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Tuesday is 06 AM to 08 AM

Tuesdays are ideal for posting between 06 AM to 08 AM. Professionals are more focused and engaged, making it a great day for sharing insightful content that can spark discussions.

Studies have shown that engagement on LinkedIn peaks on Tuesdays, making it a prime day for content that requires more in-depth consideration or calls to action.

Whether it's sharing case studies, whitepapers, or thought leadership articles, Tuesday mornings are optimal for maximum reach.

C. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Wednesday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Wednesday is 12 AM

Midweek, particularly at 12 PM, sees high engagement.

By Wednesday, many users are actively seeking out industry news and updates, making it an optimal time for posting.

It's a day where professionals often take a moment to reassess their week's progress and look for new insights or inspiration. This makes it a good day for sharing motivational content, success stories, or new opportunities.

D. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Thursday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Thursday is 02 PM

Thursdays, similar to Tuesdays, have high engagement. Posting at 02 PM can be effective as professionals look for content to round off their week.

As the weekend approaches, many users start to wind down and plan for the next week, making this a good time for posts that offer actionable advice or future planning tips.

This could include updates on upcoming events, webinars, or other resources that provide value.

E. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Friday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Friday is 8 AM

Friday mornings at 8 AM are good for catching users before they wind down for the weekend. Posts should be light and engaging, catering to the weekend mindset. 

Fridays are great for content that reflects on the week’s achievements or shares lighter, more entertaining insights. Avoid overly technical or dense content as the audience tends to prefer something more relaxed.

Note: Some users post at 8 p.m. so as not to fight for attention. It's definitely something to try.

F. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Saturday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Saturday is 04 AM to 05 AM

Saturdays are generally slower, but posting in the morning (04 AM to 05 AM) can still reach an audience catching up on industry news during their downtime. 

While not as popular as weekdays, Saturday can be useful for reaching a different segment of the audience who may not engage as much during the workweek.

Consider using this day to share inspirational stories or highlight weekend reading material.

G. Best Time to Post on LinkedIn on Sunday

The best time to post on LinkedIn on a Sunday is  6 PM

Sunday evenings (6 PM) are surprisingly effective as professionals prepare for the week ahead, reviewing LinkedIn to catch up on missed content.

This time slot is perfect for summary posts that recap key industry events from the past week or preview what's to come. It's also a good time to share content that helps professionals set goals or plans for the upcoming week.

The Importance of Timing Your LinkedIn Posts

Posting at the right time on LinkedIn is essential to ensure your audience sees and interacts with your content.

In early 2024, LinkedIn launched a new feature called “suggested posts,” which keeps important posts visible in users' feeds for extended periods. This change marks a shift from the traditional chronological newsfeed approach and aims to align content with user interests rather than merely displaying the latest updates.

According to Tim Jurka, LinkedIn’s Senior Director of Engineering, this initiative is part of LinkedIn's ongoing efforts to prioritize valuable knowledge and advice over viral content.

Benefits of Suggested Posts

If your post is promoted as a suggested post, it can have a longer lifespan and multiple opportunities to reach users, potentially remaining visible for weeks or even months. However, the timing of your post remains crucial for several reasons:

1. Visibility:
   Posting when your audience is most active increases the likelihood that your content will appear in their feeds and receive engagement.

2. Engagement:
   High engagement shortly after posting can signal to LinkedIn’s algorithm that your content is valuable, which may lead to increased visibility as a suggested post.

3. Algorithm Favorability:
   Posts that quickly garner engagement are more likely to be promoted by LinkedIn’s algorithm, thus extending their reach.

Strategies for posting during the Best Time to Post on LinkedIn

If you post when your audience is offline, LinkedIn’s algorithm, which considers user activity as a ranking factor, may not prioritize your post in their feeds. As a result, your content could be overlooked and fail to reach its intended audience.

By choosing Best Time to Post on LinkedIn, you can enhance the visibility and impact of your LinkedIn content, ensuring it reaches and resonates effectively with your audience.

Overall:  Best Times to Post on LinkedIn

Work Hours (10 am - 6 pm):

Engagement on LinkedIn is typically higher during standard office hours. During this period, professionals often browse their LinkedIn feed for new research, opinions, and inspiration before diving into their daily tasks.

Commute Hours (7 am - 9 am, 6 pm - 8 pm):

Many users check LinkedIn during their commute to and from work. Early mornings and evenings are prime times for catching up on the LinkedIn feed while traveling.

Overall: Worst Times to Post on LinkedIn

Weekends:

Weekends are generally the worst time to post on LinkedIn. Most of your audience will be engaged in personal activities, socializing, or spending time with their families, leading to lower engagement levels.

Mondays:

Engagement tends to be lower on Mondays compared to other weekdays. This is likely because people are catching up on tasks and attending planning meetings, leaving little time to check their LinkedIn feeds.

Outside of Business Hours:

Posting outside of business hours is not recommended. After work, many professionals switch from using professional social media platforms like LinkedIn to more personal ones, resulting in decreased engagement.

The Role of Content Type in Choosing Posting Times

Different types of content may perform better at different times on LinkedIn due to varying user behaviors and engagement patterns. Understanding these nuances can help you tailor your content strategy to maximize impact and reach.

Long-Form Content

Articles and Whitepapers: Long-form content such as articles, whitepapers, and detailed blog posts tend to perform better during mid-week, particularly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

During these days, professionals are more focused and inclined to engage with in-depth, informative content. They are often looking for valuable insights, industry trends, and comprehensive analyses that can aid in their professional development or decision-making processes. Posting such content in the morning or early afternoon can capture the attention of users when they are actively seeking knowledge and information.

Short-Form and Visual Content

Infographics and Quick Tips: On the other hand, shorter, visually engaging posts like infographics, quick tips, and short videos might see higher engagement towards the end of the week, particularly on Fridays and weekends.

During these times, users are generally winding down from the workweek and may prefer lighter, easily digestible content that provides quick value without requiring significant time investment. These types of posts can capture casual browsing behavior, where users are more likely to share or comment on content that is visually appealing and succinct.

Time-Sensitive and Interactive Content

Polls and Interactive Posts: Interactive content such as polls, Q&A sessions, and live videos can benefit from being posted at times when user engagement is typically high, such as mid-morning or early afternoon on weekdays.

These posts encourage immediate interaction and can generate quick engagement, signaling LinkedIn's algorithm to prioritize the content in users’ feeds. Scheduling these posts during peak engagement times ensures that a larger portion of your audience has the opportunity to participate, thereby increasing visibility and interaction.

Event and Announcement Posts

Webinars and Live Events: Posts about upcoming events, webinars, and live sessions should be scheduled strategically to maximize attendance.

Posting reminders and promotional content a few days before the event, and then again on the morning of the event, can help ensure that your audience is aware and able to participate. Mid-week days like Tuesday and Wednesday are ideal for these types of announcements as users are generally more engaged with their professional networks.

How to Use LinkedIn Analytics to Determine the Best Times to Post

Step 1: Navigate to LinkedIn Analytics

To get started, head to your LinkedIn profile page and locate the “Analytics” button at the top. Clicking on it will reveal a drop-down menu with several categories:

• Visitors
• Followers
• Leads
• Content
• Competitors
• Employee Advocacy
• Content Admin View

For the purposes of this guide, we'll focus on the “Content” section, which offers insights into your post performance, including impressions, click-through rates, and other engagement metrics.

Step 2: Check Content Highlights

Begin by exploring the ‘Content Highlights’ section. This area provides a summary of your activity over the past 30 days, including reactions, comments, and shares. This snapshot helps you quickly understand the overall engagement trends of your recent posts.

Step 3: Examine Content Metrics

Move on to the ‘Content Metrics’ section. Here, you can:

• Choose a specific time period to review engagement data.
• Select various engagement metrics (such as impressions, clicks, and more).

The metrics will be displayed in a graph. Hover over the graph to see detailed percentages of engagement for both organic and sponsored posts on different days. This analysis helps you identify which days yield the highest engagement, allowing you to determine the best days to post.

Step 4: Analyze Content Engagement

Next, delve into the ‘Content Engagement’ section. This area provides a detailed table showing engagement metrics for each individual post. Use the “Time Range” filter to select the period you want to analyze.

This section offers a comprehensive view of when your audience is most active, highlighting the days and times that generate the most engagement. Although it doesn’t specify exact posting times, it provides valuable data to optimize your posting schedule.

Wrapping this up

By utilizing LinkedIn Analytics, you can gather detailed information to find the best times to post on LinkedIn. This process includes:

• Reviewing content highlights for an overview of recent activity.
• Analyzing content metrics to understand engagement trends over time.
• Investigating content engagement for specific post data.

Using these insights, you can fine-tune your posting schedule to enhance visibility and interaction on LinkedIn.

Understanding LinkedIn's Algorithm

LinkedIn's algorithm prioritizes content that generates engagement, such as comments, shares, and likes.

The timing of your posts can significantly impact how your content is ranked and shown in others' feeds. For instance, if a post quickly garners engagement, LinkedIn is more likely to show it to a broader audience.

Therefore, posting at times when your audience is most active can help boost initial engagement and improve your post's visibility. It's also worth noting that LinkedIn's algorithm favors content that sparks conversations, so posts with open-ended questions or compelling calls to action can perform well.

Practical Tips for Scheduling Posts

Using scheduling tools can save time and ensure consistency.

Platforms like Buffer and Hootsuite allow you to schedule and automate your LinkedIn posts, freeing up time for content creation and engagement.

Please note that we don't know the effects of using an external platform to schedule LinkedIn posts, which is why Vaibes doesn't offer this feature.

Plan your content calendar in advance, aligning posts with key events, industry trends, or company news.

Regularly reviewing your analytics to adjust and refine your schedule is crucial for ongoing success.

Additionally, consider varying your content types and formats to keep your audience engaged. This includes mixing up articles, infographics, videos, and status updates to maintain interest and engagement.

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

To recap, the timing of your posts on LinkedIn can significantly influence your content's engagement and visibility. By understanding your audience's habits and the types of content they prefer at different times, you can optimize your posting schedule to maximize impact.

Don't forget to utilize LinkedIn's analytics to continually refine your strategy based on real data. The professional nature of LinkedIn means that staying relevant and valuable to your network is key, and timing your posts right can make a substantial difference in achieving your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the best times to post on LinkedIn for maximum engagement?

   • The best times vary but generally include mid-morning to early afternoon during weekdays.
     
     
2. What is the best day of the week to post on linkedin ?
   • Mondays seem to be the best day to post on linkedin.

3. How does the type of content affect the best posting times on LinkedIn?

   • Content type can influence timing; for example, detailed articles might perform better during mid-week, while lighter content can be effective on Fridays.

4. Are weekends effective for posting on LinkedIn?

   • While weekends generally see lower engagement, Sunday evenings can be a good time to post as users prepare for the week ahead.

5. How can I use LinkedIn analytics to improve my posting strategy?

   • Utilize LinkedIn's analytics to monitor engagement metrics and adjust your posting schedule and content type based on performance data.

6. What tools can help me schedule LinkedIn posts?

   • LinkedIn's own scheduling feature can help you plan and automate posts for optimal times without risk.

7. How often should I post on LinkedIn?

   • While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, posting at least once per week is recommended to maintain visibility. However, more frequent posting, such as 2-3 times per week, can lead to better engagement, provided the content remains high quality and relevant.

8. What kind of content performs best on LinkedIn?

   • Professional and industry-related content generally performs well. This includes articles, thought leadership pieces, case studies, and industry news. However, personal stories and insights can also resonate if they relate to professional growth or lessons learned.

9. Can I use LinkedIn's native tools to schedule posts?

   • Yes, LinkedIn offers a native scheduling tool that can help you plan your posts in advance. This feature is particularly useful for maintaining consistency and optimizing post timing based on analytics.

10. How do I measure the success of my LinkedIn posts?

    • Success can be measured through a combination of metrics such as engagement (likes, comments, shares), reach, and follower growth. Analyzing these metrics over time can help you understand what types of content resonate most with your audience.

11. Should I consider paid promotions for my LinkedIn posts?

    • Paid promotions can boost visibility, especially for important content such as company announcements or thought leadership pieces. However, they should complement, not replace, a solid organic content strategy.

By implementing these strategies and tips, you'll be better positioned to make the most out of LinkedIn in 2024. Remember to stay flexible and adaptable, as trends and best practices can evolve over time.