Timing is an important element for success on TikTok. When you post at certain times, it can significantly impact the reach and engagement you get on the platform. Posting at the optimal time can help your videos get seen by more people, while posting at the wrong time can hurt your growth and limit your views.
The goal of determining the best time to post on TikTok is to maximize your audience and exposure. By understanding when TikTok’s various demographics are most active, you can align your posting strategy for the best chance to get your content in front of those most likely to interact with it. Finding the optimal time not only boosts your individual posts, but also helps grow your account over time.
TikTok Audience Demographics
According to a recent analysis by Backlinko, over 1 billion people actively use TikTok each month. The percentage of internet users on TikTok is around 23%, representing significant market penetration. In terms of gender, TikTok has a slight female skew, with 57% of users female and 43% male as of early 2022 according to Exploding Topics.
When it comes to age, TikTok is most popular among younger demographics. Analysis from Wallaroo Media shows that 60% of TikTok’s users are from Gen Z. Additionally, 80% of users are between 16 and 34 years old. Around 26% of users fall between 25 and 44 years old. Only a small percentage of users are over 45.
TikTok has an international audience, although creators often target content for specific countries. As of late 2022, the countries with the largest number of active TikTok users were China, India, United States, Indonesia, and Brazil according to Backlinko.
TikTok Algorithm Basics
The TikTok algorithm determines which videos to show users on their For You page (FYP) based on previous watches, likes, comments, shares, and other engagement. The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral explains how the algorithm looks at each user’s unique interests and engagement history to deliver a personalized feed of recommended videos.
The FYP recommendations aim to keep users engaged and scrolling through an endless stream of tailored content. As users like, share, and interact with certain videos, the algorithm learns their preferences and shows them more relevant content. How to Work With the TikTok Algorithm in 2024 describes how following hashtags and sounds can also influence recommendations.
TikTok’s AI system gets smarter over time by analyzing viewing sessions and patterns. The goal is to understand each user’s interests and profile to recommend engaging videos most likely to be enjoyed and shared. Knowing how the FYP algorithm works can help creators optimize content for relevance and discovery.
When Most People are on TikTok
Looking at daily and hourly usage patterns gives insight into when most people are actively using TikTok. According to The Social Shepherd, the average TikTok user opens the app around 8 times per day, spending almost an hour on the platform daily. Peak usage times tend to be in the mornings and evenings, when people have downtime before and after work or school.
An analysis by Hootsuite found that usage on TikTok ramps up starting around 9 AM local time, peaks around 11 PM at night, and gradually winds down until around 4 AM. Friday evenings tend to show higher activity, as people relax and watch TikTok to unwind after a long work week. Understanding these daily cycles can help determine the optimal times to post when the most users are actively scrolling on TikTok.
Friday Usage Patterns
Fridays have some unique trends compared to other weekdays. According to research from HootSuite, Fridays tend to see lower engagement in the morning and early afternoon as users are busy with work and school. Engagement starts to pick up around 3pm when people start wrapping up their week and transitioning into weekend mode.
Compared to weekends, Fridays still maintain more of a weekday pattern. But late Friday afternoons and evenings tend to mimic weekend usage, with more leisure time for users. One RecurPost study found Fridays at 7pm and 8pm perform well as users relax at the end of their work week. Overall, Friday evenings tend to see higher engagement, especially from 5pm onwards.
So while Friday morning and afternoons follow weekday trends, Friday nights take on a more weekend-like usage pattern with leisure time and higher engagement in the evening hours.
Best Times for Top Performing Categories
When it comes to top categories like gaming, comedy, and dance trends, the best times to post can vary.
For gaming, the peak times are early in the morning or late at night when hardcore gamers are most active. According to Dexerto, the ideal times to post gaming content are at 5-7 AM or 11 PM – 1 AM on Fridays.
Comedy often resonates well during weekday rush hours when people are commuting and looking for a laugh. Posting comedic content around 7-9 AM or 4-6 PM from Monday to Thursday tends to do well.
Dance trends thrive on weekends when teens and young adults have more free time. SocialPilot recommends posting dance content on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM – 12 PM when engagement spikes across TikTok.
Paying attention to when your specific audience is most active can help determine the optimal times to post top performing content.
Consider Time Zones
It’s important to take time zones into account when determining the best times to post. Some of the top geographies for TikTok usage include the United States, India, and the United Kingdom. These countries span multiple time zones. For example, there is an 8-10 hour difference between the US’s Eastern time zone and India’s time zone.
Looking at key metrics by time and geography can help optimize timing. Tailor the posting time based on which audience you want to target. If appealing to a US audience, aim for afternoons and evenings Eastern time. For European views, post midday-afternoon Central European Time. Target nighttime hours in India when that audience is most active.
Checking TikTok analytics to identify when your current audience is online can further fine tune the best time for your content.
Optimal Length and Formats
When it comes to video length on TikTok, shorter videos tend to perform better. The ideal video length is between 7-15 seconds according to experts (Hootsuite, Buffer). Videos that are under 10 seconds have the highest completion rates. Going over 60 seconds may cause viewers to lose interest.
For live videos, lengths between 30-60 minutes tend to work well on Fridays when people are looking for entertaining content to watch during their free time. Keeping live videos under 60 minutes prevents streaming fatigue. An advantage of livestreams is that they boost viewership and comments while they are happening.
In terms of formats, TikTok’s vertical video style lends itself well to creative short videos that pack a punch. Effects, text overlays, stickers, and trending sounds can be used to enhance shorter videos. Good lighting and an energetic personality also help shorter videos stand out on Fridays.
Friday Afternoon/Evening Recommendation
Based on analysis of when TikTok’s core demographics are most active on the platform, as well as when top performing content categories see their highest engagement, the optimal time to post on TikTok for maximum views and engagement on Fridays is in the late afternoon and early evening.
Specifically, the hours between 4-8pm tend to be a sweet spot. High school and college students often have free time after classes end for the day and before dinnertime and evening plans start. Office workers are also winding down their day and checking TikTok during their commutes home. Late afternoons and evenings are peak leisure hours.
Posting at this time allows your content to be seen by a broad audience and take advantage of rising engagement as people relax and scroll through TikTok after school or work. You’ll want to get your content out earlier in this window, ideally between 4-6pm, to maximize potential viewers and engagement before usage starts to taper off later in the evening.
Other Tips for Success
Leveraging popular trends and challenges on TikTok is a great way to gain more views. When a trending challenge or hashtag goes viral, millions of users participate in creating related content. By making videos aligned with trending challenges, you can get your content seen by a wide range of viewers already engaged with that topic.
Some of the most popular recent challenges include the Silhouette Challenge, Wipe It Down Challenge, and various dance challenges tied to hit songs. Check out the Discover page and hashtags to stay on top of the latest viral trends. But also aim to put your own creative spin on them rather than just copying others.
Maximizing interaction and engagement with your viewers is another key tip. Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage two-way conversation. TikTok’s algorithm favors accounts that get a lot of likes, shares, and comments. So engage with your audience to stand out.
According to research, the algorithm also tends to serve content from accounts that users interact with most frequently. So be sure to Like, comment on, and follow other relevant accounts. This increases the chances they’ll engage back, signaling to the algorithm that you produce quality engaging content.
