With over 1 billion monthly active users as of 2021, TikTok has exploded in popularity and become one of the top social media platforms in the world (The Social Shepherd). The app’s addictive short-form videos make it easy for users to spend hours scrolling through content. But for creators trying to build an audience, determining the optimal posting times is crucial.
Posting at peak times when more users are active can help videos get more views, likes, comments, and shares. Timing also impacts which users a video reaches. Teens tend to use TikTok more in the evenings while adults scroll during commute times. Understanding daily and weekly trends allows creators to maximize engagement.
This article will dive into data and expert advice to identify the best times to post TikTok videos on different days and times. Whether just starting out or looking to improve an existing TikTok strategy, these tips will help make the most of this wildly popular platform.
TikTok Algorithm Basics
The TikTok algorithm is designed to quickly determine which videos will be most engaging and relevant to each user and show them those videos first in their For You feed. It analyzes a wide range of signals to understand users’ interests and preferences, including video information, user interactions, device and account settings.
According to this Search Engine Land article, some of the key factors the algorithm considers are:
- Video information like captions, sounds, hashtags
- User interactions – likes, comments, shares, finishes
- Device and account settings like language preferences, country location
- User profiles and interests
The algorithm gets smarter over time by learning about each user’s tastes. The more a user interacts with certain video types, the better it can refine their preferences and recommend relevant content.
Peak Times for TikTok Usage
Research shows that TikTok usage tends to peak at certain times of the day. According to Estudeonbr.com, “many experts suggest that TikTok’s peak usage times are often in the late afternoon and evening”. This is when people are more likely to be relaxing after work or school. Factswave.com notes that “On weekdays, the platform experiences peak usage between 12 pm to 11 pm”. So the key evening hours of 5-11 pm tend to see high engagement on TikTok during the week.
Usage also varies between weekends and weekdays. Weekends tend to see more consistent usage throughout the day as people have more leisure time. During the week, distinct peaks happen around lunchtime and in the evening when people are off work and school.
So in summary, late afternoons and evenings, especially 5-11 pm, are optimal times for posting TikToks on weekdays to reach the most active users. Weekend usage is higher overall but more evenly distributed.
Optimal Times for Engagement
When it comes to gaining the most engagement on TikTok, research shows that the peak times are in the evenings on weekdays. According to EarthWeb, the best times to post for engagement on a Tuesday are at 5 PM, 7 PM, and 9 PM. These evening hours tend to see more likes, comments, and shares as users relax after work and school and scroll on TikTok.
The key is timing your posts for when your target audience is most active. Analyzing your followers’ activity levels throughout the day can help pinpoint the prime times to post. Many influencers also recommend using tools like Lemon8 to view peak engagement times based on your specific follower demographics and past performance data.
Overall, Tuesday evenings tend to see a spike in engagement across the TikTok community. Posting fresh, captivating content between 5-9 PM gives your videos the best chance of going viral and connecting with viewers.
Weekday vs. Weekend
When comparing Tuesday to other days of the week, research shows that Tuesday is one of the best days for engagement on TikTok. According to one analysis, Tuesday is the best day of the week to post in terms of reach, with Thursday, Monday, and Friday also performing well. The worst day to post is Sunday, likely because many people are preoccupied with family time on weekends.
One study that analyzed over 100 million TikTok videos found that the highest average engagement occurred on Tuesdays. The study looked at metrics like views, likes, comments, and shares. Videos posted on Tuesday got 30% more engagement than videos posted on Sundays, the worst performing day.
The reason Tuesday performs so well is because engagement starts to build during the week as users are more active on the platform. By Tuesday, momentum has already been building so content is more likely to take off. Weekends are a bit inconsistent as usage patterns change. Posting on Tuesday allows you to capture users during a peak period of activity throughout the work week.
In summary, when aiming to maximize the impact of your TikTok, publishing on a Tuesday gives you an advantage over other days. The engagement rates are simply higher mid-week compared to weekends.
Evening vs. Afternoon
When choosing between evening and afternoon times for posting on TikTok, there are a few key differences in engagement that are worth considering. According to past data, the late afternoon to early evening hours between 3PM-7PM tended to see higher engagement rates, though weekends showed more fluctuation than weekdays. The evening hours after 7PM also remain popular, especially among a younger TikTok audience that is often free at night. In 2021, TikTok saw a 5-15% bump in engagement during the evening hours compared to the afternoon
Posting in the late afternoon around 5 PM allows creators to attract views after school/work hours are over, while still leaving time for videos to gain momentum before late evening. However, for some target audiences, especially those based outside the US, evening hours may perform better. Testing different times and tracking analytics can help determine the optimal balance. Overall the data shows that the key evening hours of 5-9 PM tend to see excellent engagement, though late afternoon is also reliably strong in the 3-5 PM range.
Case Studies
Research shows that the times influencers post can provide useful insights into when engagement is highest. One case study by SocialPilot analyzed over 1,000 top TikTok influencers and found that Tuesday morning between 8-11 AM ET was a popular posting time.
Another report by Shopify looked at 10 top TikTok influencers in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. They discovered that while each influencer had different optimal times, most posted on Tuesday mornings between 7-10 AM ET. One majority trend was posting during weekday mornings, allowing content to gain traction throughout the day.
Analyzing influencer posting patterns reveals Tuesday mornings tend to gain high engagement. However, each account’s audience may have different peak times. Testing various Tuesday morning hours can help determine when your followers are most active.
Tools To Schedule TikToks
If you want to save time scheduling your TikTok posts in advance, using a social media management tool is highly recommended. Hootsuite is one of the top options, offering an intuitive dashboard to plan, schedule, and analyze your TikTok content. You can draft, edit, and queue multiple TikTok videos at once using Hootsuite’s composer. It also provides insightful analytics into your TikTok performance.
Other excellent tools to schedule TikTok posts include Sprout Social, Later, and Buffer. These give you calendar views to visualize when your TikToks will be published. Their features like bulk uploading, hashtag research, and auto-scheduling can optimize your process. With social media schedulers, you can plan TikToks in advance and free up more time for content creation.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways for when to post your TikTok videos on a Tuesday:
- Early evening (5-7 pm) is a prime time for engagement, when people are winding down from work and school.
- Late morning/lunchtime (11 am-1 pm) is another peak period, catching people on lunch breaks or reading at home.
- Avoid very early morning and late night, when fewer users are actively scrolling.
- Post multiple times throughout the day to catch different timezones and usage patterns.
- Use analytics to study your own audience’s habits and optimize your timing for them.
Focusing your posting on these engagement hotspots will help you get more eyes on your TikToks on a Tuesday.
Conclusion
When figuring out the best time to post on TikTok, there are a few key factors to consider. The TikTok algorithm favors videos published during peak usage times, especially in the evenings on weekdays. However, you’ll also want to balance when your target audience is most active and receptive. Tools like analytics and schedulers can help you determine optimal times to post for your niche and goals.
In summary, Tuesday evenings tend to see high TikTok engagement, but consider tweaking your posting time based on your audience’s habits. Pay attention to when your videos get the most views, likes, comments, and shares. With testing and analytics, you can refine the strategy over time. The most important thing is creating compelling content that resonates with viewers whenever they log in.
