Are you a blogger who has ever wondered why your stats are falling? At one time or another, most of us have.
The philosophy over whether bloggers should post frequently or infrequently varies. There are also theories about what times of the day are most effective. Bloggers feel that by writing new material, they can expect a boost in traffic. Has it ever occurred to you that by publishing your blogs posts at the wrong times you could actually be hurting your traffic?
The first blog was written in 1994. Since that time research has been done to help bloggers. That research includes the most effective times to blog if you are interested in increasing your page views by promoting on social media. The information from two sources are presented to you. At times they agree, and at times they disagree (no pun intended) over the best hour of the day to post.
According to research*, Facebook users work, and they are not likely to read blogs while they are there. My observation tells me this is true. Teens, that were once on Facebook, have moved on in large part to Instagram, while their working parents stayed on Facebook.
Therefore, the best times to blog are when Facebook users are not at work. Research shows, if you promote your link on Facebook, to post it weekday mornings between 6:00 and 8:00 am before users go to work. Facebook posts come in as a feed. If you want readers to see it, put your link while they are still home.
There is conflicting research** to suggest that if you want people to click on your link and you post it on Facebook, 3:00 pm is the best time. Rationale: People start getting restless to go home by 3:00, so they go on Facebook, or they have already left work by that hour.
How about posting your link on Facebook after blog readers get home? My observation has told me to save myself the effort. I find many Facebook users that click my link do so before 2:00 pm. Once the kids arrive home from school, they are with their children and not on Facebook.
Twitter is also a feed. Carolyn West, the head of the Southern California Lady Blogger Association, advised me to post my link on Twitter four times a day. Research* shows that weekends between 1:00 and 3:00 pm are the best times to post your link on Twitter and hope people click it.
However, the other source I cited** shows that 5:00 pm is the best time to post your link on Twitter and have people retweet it.
Google +
I have experienced success with Google + as my post, 7 Ways You Can Increase Your Blog Traffic Using Google, explains, and my experience contradicts the research*. The source I read* says, nighttime posting will perform the worst by far. I often post my link on Google + at night, but I don’t know how my links would have performed if I’d posted them on Google + earlier in the day.
Research* shows the best times to post your link on Google + is between 9 am and 11 am. Just like with Facebook, you will engage readers when their children are at school. The Quicksprout article** agrees with this.
LinkedIn
According to research* LinkedIn users will read your blog posts either right before they go to work or right after they leave work. Therefore, the best times to post your link there is either between 7:00 and 8:30 am, or after the business hours end, between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.
However, there is conflicting research** that shows that during business hours is the best times to post on LinkedIn after all.
Pinterest
The advice I am about to share will be effective for DIY (Do It Yourself) bloggers. A blogging friend of mine, who is a DIY blogger, finds that 40% of her traffic comes from Pinterest. I have not experienced her success with Pinterest because I don’t give advice about how to do DIY projects. I give advice about how to blog.
However, if you are a DIY blogger, research* shows that your will be most effective at using Pinterest to get your blog traffic on Saturday mornings, between 2:00 to 4:00 am, and between 8:00 and 11:00 pm.
While the Pinterest article* does not cite research on ideal times to post on Instagram, the Quicksprout article explains any time its users are not at work is the best time to post on Instagram.
In conclusion, thanks to scheduling your posts, you can have your blog writing published during these ideal times. These suggestions may not work for everyone. These are just guidelines based on the research I’ve read.
Sharing is caring. If you feel this post will help other bloggers, please share.
Readers, what do you find are the best times to post? Do your experiences support the research? I look forward to your views.
Sources: *http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135248795033158609/
**http://www.quicksprout.com/2015/01/02/what-are-the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media/
