When People are on TikTok May Surprise You
With over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2022, TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world (Source). But when are all those users actually on the app? Understanding when your audience is most active on TikTok is key to creating content that performs well.
What Makes TikTok Different
TikTok stands out from other social media platforms in a few key ways. First, TikTok is centered around short videos, usually around 15-60 seconds long. This format allows for easily consumable, bite-sized content. According to an article on SearchEngineLand, “TikTok-made videos are more condensed, casual, and raw. The app lacks the overly polished aesthetic found across sites like Instagram.”1
Second, TikTok’s powerful algorithm is unmatched in its ability to determine a user’s interests and deliver tailored content. As stated on SocialInsider, “TikTok’s AI works hard behind the scenes to determine what content might interest you, then serves it up on your For You feed.”2 This creates a hyper-personalized experience and helps content go viral incredibly fast.
Lastly, the For You Page (FYP) allows users to easily discover new content and creators. Rather than only seeing posts from accounts you follow like on Instagram or Twitter, the FYP recommends content you may like based on your interactions. This viral nature is a big part of what has fueled TikTok’s rapid growth.
When Are Most TikTok Users Active?
TikTok usage patterns vary significantly between daytime and nighttime as well as weekdays and weekends. According to research by Influencer Marketing Hub, late at night from 11pm-2am tends to see high engagement on TikTok during the week, while weekend nights from 7pm-2am are also popular times for TikTok users. During the day, key windows are 7-9am and 5-7pm on weekdays when people have downtime before or after work/school. Weekend days tend to see more consistent TikTok usage from late morning through early evening.
A study by Shopify found that Tuesdays at 2am, 4am and 9pm ET are peak times for TikTok. This indicates people are checking TikTok when they first wake up in the morning during the week, as well as later at night before bed.
Optimal Times to Post
When it comes to the best times to post on TikTok, research shows there are some key differences between optimal posting times for weekdays versus weekends.
On weekdays, late morning to early afternoon tends to see higher engagement. The peak times are from 10am to 1pm. This is when many TikTok users are looking at content over their lunch break or in between classes or meetings. Posting during the late morning and around lunchtime means more eyes will be on TikTok.
Evenings are also popular during the week, with engagement picking up again around 7-9pm when people are winding down for the day. Overall, weekdays see more views and engagement concentrated during the usual daytime work hours.
On weekends, late night becomes more popular. The best times to post are from 9pm through midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings when users are relaxing at home. Weekend mornings and afternoons also see spikes in engagement as people have more leisure time to scroll through TikTok.
When comparing AM versus PM, evenings tend to edge out mornings and afternoons, especially on weekends. Late night posting can benefit from night owls in multiple time zones being online.
No matter what day or time, consistency remains key. Pay attention to when your target audience is most active and aim to post regularly at peak times.
Preparing Your Video
When creating a TikTok video, it’s important to tailor the style and length specifically for the platform. TikTok videos tend to be very short, usually between 15-60 seconds. This provides enough time to make your point while keeping the viewer’s attention. Strive to communicate your main message clearly and concisely within the time constraint.
You’ll also want to take advantage of features unique to TikTok. Using relevant hashtags allows your video to be discovered by users interested in that topic. According to Social Insider, videos with at least one hashtag in the first comment get 150% more views. The sounds and effects available on TikTok are also useful for making your video more engaging. Choose options that complement your content rather than distract from it. As liftingconsultant.com suggests, pairing your video with trending sounds can help it reach a wider audience.
With the right preparation tailored specifically for TikTok, you can create captivating and shareable videos that perform well on the platform.
Leveraging Trends
One way to increase visibility on TikTok is by leveraging trending hashtags, sounds, and challenges. However, it’s important not to just blindly jump on every trend. Instead, put your own creative spin on trending topics. For example, you could participate in popular dance challenges but add your own unique choreography. Or make reaction videos using viral sounds while putting your personal reactions.
Look at what’s currently trending by exploring TikTok’s discovery page for trending hashtags like #TikTokTrends or viral sounds https://www.tiktok.com/discover/tiktok-trends-2022. You’ll want to act quickly to capitalize on trends while they’re still popular. But don’t just copy what’s already out there – make it your own. Putting your unique stamp on trends can help your content stand out.
Posting Consistently
Having a consistent posting schedule on TikTok can provide many benefits for your account. According to experts, aiming to post 1-3 times per day can help maximize views and engagement (https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2023/09/20/how-often-to-post-on-tiktok).
Posting on a regular schedule trains the TikTok algorithm that your account is active. TikTok’s algorithm favors accounts that post consistently, so you’re more likely to appear on user’s For You pages and in recommendations (https://icuc.social/resources/blog/how-often-a-brand-should-post-on-tiktok/). This in turn leads to more profile visits, likes, comments, and shares for your content.
Having new videos go up at predictable times also builds anticipation with your existing audience. Loyal viewers will know when to check your profile for new content. Aim to stick to your posting schedule as much as possible to develop this pattern.
While 1-3 times per day is a good goal, focus more on maintaining a consistent cadence rather than an exact number. Some days you may only have time for 1 video, while other days you can post 3. Just keep your account active regularly.
Consistency and quality go hand in hand. Don’t sacrifice the quality of your videos just to post more frequently. Make sure each video aligns with your brand voice and provides value for your audience.
Analyzing Your Performance
One of the most vital parts of growing your TikTok account is analyzing your performance using the built-in analytics tools. As this Hootsuite article explains, you should check your TikTok analytics regularly to identify patterns and optimize your strategy. The key metrics to pay attention to are views, likes, shares, comments, and traffic driven to your site or profile.
The TikTok analytics dashboard provides an overview of how your videos are performing over last 7 days, 28 days, and all-time. You can break down stats by individual videos to see which ones are resonating best with your audience. Check on competitor accounts too to get ideas for what types of content perform well in your niche. As noted in this PlannThat post, analyzing the data will reveal the optimal times to post, top videos, and opportunities to improve.
Pay close attention to changes when you test different elements like captions, sounds, effects, etc. The metrics will clearly show you what engages your audience. Consistently monitoring the analytics is crucial for making smart decisions and fueling growth.
Promoting Your Content
Once you’ve created high-quality content on TikTok, it’s important to promote it to reach a wider audience. Here are some tips for effectively promoting your TikTok videos:
Cross-promote your TikTok content on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. You can share direct links to your videos or snippets to pique interest. Encourage your followers on other platforms to check out your TikTok channel.
Engage with your audience in the comments of your TikTok videos. Respond to questions and feedback, and like constructive comments. Duet with other users who engage with your content to continue the conversation. This shows viewers you care about them.
Use relevant hashtags so your content surfaces in searches. Combine popular tags with niche ones related to your brand. Check which hashtags are trending each day.
Run TikTok ads to expand your reach beyond just your current following. Test different audiences, content types, and objectives to see what resonates.
Analyze your performance data to see which videos are resonating most. Double down on what’s working by making more content in that style or promoting those videos further.
Conclusion
In summary, while there may not be one perfect time to post on TikTok that works for every account, analyzing your own audience and posting habits can help determine when your followers are most active and engaged. The key is being strategic and consistent with when you post, while also leveraging trends and creating captivating videos that spark conversation. Focus on providing value for your audience rather than getting views. With smart preparation and promotion, you can find success on TikTok by posting at the optimal times for your niche.
Keep experimenting to find your ideal posting times for maximum views and engagement. Pay attention to when your followers are active, when similar accounts are posting, and when you see the biggest uptick in likes, comments, shares and follows. Timing matters, but authenticity and consistency matter even more in the long run.
