TikTok has exploded in popularity in Malaysia over the past few years. As of June 2023, TikTok had around 12 million monthly active users in Malaysia, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the country (1). TikTok’s short form video format resonates strongly with Malaysian internet users, especially among the youth.
The TikTok app allows users to create and share short videos up to 60 seconds long. Its algorithm is designed to quickly determine a user’s interests and preferences in order to serve them highly personalized and engaging content. This creates an addictive, hard-to-stop scrolling experience.
With its huge following and youthful demographics, TikTok represents an important platform for Malaysian brands and creators looking to reach a Gen Z audience. However, creating content that resonates requires an understanding of usage patterns and trends.
(1) https://www.statista.com/statistics/1255182/malaysia-tiktok-mau/
Why Timing Matters on TikTok
Timing is critical for success on TikTok. The platform’s algorithm favors videos that are timely, relevant, and tailored to each user’s interests. Posts that align with trending topics, hashtags, sounds, and viral challenges are more likely to be promoted on users’ For You pages.
TikTok also considers when your followers are most active on the app. Posts published during peak hours when your target audience is engaged stand a better chance of being shown to more viewers. By understanding the best times to post for your niche, you can maximize the odds of your content going viral.
In addition, competition is lower at certain times of day. Scheduling posts when fewer people are active means your content is more likely to be discovered. Timing your TikTok posts well gives your videos the optimal environment to thrive.
Citing: https://instasize.com/learn/best-time-to-post-on-tiktok
TikTok Usage Patterns in Malaysia
TikTok has seen rapid growth in Malaysia over the past few years. As of 2022, TikTok has around 11 million monthly active users in Malaysia. The platform is especially popular among Gen Z and younger millennials between the ages of 18-34.
Malaysians are active TikTok users, spending an average of 45 minutes per day on the platform. Usage tends to spike in the evenings after work and school. The most active hours are from 5pm to midnight, with engagement peaking around 8-11pm.
Weekends see higher TikTok usage in Malaysia as people have more leisure time. Sundays tend to have slightly higher usage than Saturdays, as people relax and unwind before the work week starts again on Monday. TikTok viewing on Sundays begins increasing in the afternoon, remains steady through the evening, and tapers off late at night.
Ideal Posting Times for Malaysia
When it comes to the best times to post on TikTok in Malaysia for maximum engagement, research indicates the peak hours are between 6pm-9pm daily. As Social Leap notes, this evening timeslot aligns with when many Malaysians are done with work and are relaxing or having dinner at home. Checking TikTok becomes a popular post-work activity. Silvermouse also advises posting between 6pm-9pm in Malaysia, describing it as “right after work hours and scrolling during dinner time.”
TikTok Hashtags explains that 6pm-9pm is the prime time because “people check their TikTok in the evening after work and during dinner.” So creators aiming for high viewership and engagement should focus their efforts on posting fresh content during these busy evening hours.
While 6pm-9pm appears optimal, research also suggests 8am-12pm as a secondary posting time that still sees good traction. Social Leap points to busy morning scrolling. So for maximum impact, concentrate posting around the evening spike, but also consider creating content to publish earlier in the day.
Malaysia’s Sunday Routine
Sundays are a popular time for Malaysians to relax, spend time with family and friends, and partake in leisure activities. Most people do not work on Sundays, with the exception of those in essential services like healthcare, security, and transportation (Quora). For many, Sunday mornings start with attending religious services at mosques, churches, temples, or other places of worship.
In the afternoon, popular Sunday pastimes include having a big family lunch, going shopping at malls, relaxing at cafes, playing sports like football or badminton, and enjoying hobbies. Malaysians also like to spend Sundays visiting recreational sites like theme parks, beaches, hiking trails, and parks. Due to Sunday being a common day off, popular malls and restaurants can get very crowded on Sundays, especially in major cities like Kuala Lumpur. Heavy traffic congestion is also common, like the hour-long standstill often seen on highways near Kuala Lumpur (Reddit).
Optimal Sunday Posting Times
When choosing the best times to post on TikTok in Malaysia on Sundays, it’s important to consider the unique patterns and routines that shape Sundays in the country.
According to social media experts, the early afternoon tends to be a good time to post in Malaysia on Sundays. Between 1-3pm is often a popular window, as many Malaysians are relaxing at home after church services or lunch with family [1]. Weekend brunch is also a popular Sunday tradition in cities like Kuala Lumpur, so late morning posting around 10-11am can also perform well.
Sunday evenings are often focused on family time and TV programs in Malaysia. So the 5-8pm time slot is not ideal for TikTok. Posts late at night also tend to have limited engagement, as Malaysians are getting ready for the week ahead.
Overall, the ideal times for posting on TikTok in Malaysia on Sundays seem to be late mornings between 10-12pm or early afternoons between 1-3pm. These times align both with lulls in Sunday routines locally and broader engagement patterns on TikTok.
Creating Content for Sundays
When creating content for Sundays on TikTok, it’s important to tailor the style and topics to resonate with users during the weekend. According to Social Media Today, inspirational and motivational content tends to perform well on Sundays as people reflect and prepare for the week ahead. How-to and DIY videos are also popular weekend content as viewers look for relaxing activities.
Here are some specific types of content that tend to do well on Sundays:
- Morning motivation/inspiration
- Brunch recipes and cooking tips
- DIY crafts and art projects
- Beauty and self-care routines
- Family/pet videos
- Travel inspiration
- Reflective and thoughtful content
When crafting Sunday content, use a relaxed, inspiring tone and focus on easily digestible videos under 60 seconds. Avoid controversial topics and keep things light and uplifting. Engagement also tends to be higher on Sundays, so be sure to reply to comments and interact with your audience.
Measuring Success
When posting content on TikTok during prime times on Sundays in Malaysia, it’s important to track key metrics to measure the performance and engagement generated. Some of the main metrics to monitor include:
Views – This shows how many times your video has been watched. Higher views indicate your content is resonating with the target audience.
Likes – The number of likes measures how much people enjoy and appreciate your content. More likes signal your content is entertaining and valuable.
Comments – This metric indicates how much your content spurs discussion and engagement. More comments suggest your posts spark meaningful reactions and conversation.
Shares – How often your video is shared shows how compelling your content is. Frequent sharing means your content inspires others to spread it further.
Follows – Any new follower growth demonstrates your ability to attract an audience. More follows indicate your content draws people in.
Watch time – The cumulative time viewers spend watching your video shows how engaging it is. Higher overall watch time signals you’re holding viewer attention.
By regularly analyzing these metrics for Sunday posts, you can continually refine your content approach to maximize results.
As noted in the TikTok Marketing Guide from Sentione, “Understanding your audience and monitoring analytics will enable you to iterate and improve upon your TikTok presence.” Carefully tracking performance data is key.
Optimization Tips
Once you’ve determined your ideal Sunday posting times for TikTok in Malaysia, it’s important to continue optimizing and improving your strategy over time. Here are some tips for optimizing your Sunday TikTok posting approach:
Track analytics to identify trends and patterns in engagement and views for your Sunday posts. Look at metrics like views, comments, shares, follows and watch time to see which times perform best. Use TikTok’s analytics tools or third party analytics services to get detailed data.
Experiment with slightly different posting times in 15-30 minute increments to see if engagement improves. Try posting earlier or later and compare performance.
Pay attention to current events and news that may impact TikTok usage on Sundays. Major sporting events, holidays, breaking news stories, etc. can all influence usage patterns.
Consider blending morning, afternoon and evening posting times on Sundays to cover high traffic periods throughout the day. Spreading out posts can help maximize overall reach.
Analyze the types of content and formats that perform best on Sundays in Malaysia. Tailor your content creation strategy to align with audience interests.
Stay up to date with TikTok algorithm changes and new features that may impact visibility. Adjust your approach as needed to adapt.
Use A/B testing to try out multiple Sunday posting schedules over several weeks. Evaluate results to determine the optimal mix of post times.
Remember to keep optimizing as audience patterns and the competitive landscape changes over time. Continually test and analyze data to improve Sunday performance.
Conclusion
To summarize, while there is no one-size-fits-all best time to post on TikTok, focusing your efforts on Sunday evenings in Malaysia is likely to yield good results. The most optimal times seem to be around 5-7PM, when user engagement starts climbing for the day. Try creating fun, entertaining videos that align with typical Sunday leisure activities in Malaysia. Analyze performance data to identify peak times for your audience and continue optimizing your approach over time. With smart scheduling and captivating content tailored to Sundays, you can develop an effective TikTok strategy.
