Social Media Posting Analysis for
Instagram & Facebook
Optimizing Post Timing, Frequency, and Content for Maximum Engagement
1. Best Posting Times
The optimal posting times depend on when your audience is most active.. Based on industry
data and platform algorithms, the following times tend to perform best:
Instagram
● Best Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
● Best Times:
○ Morning Peak: 7 AM – 9 AM (People checking their phones after waking up)
○ Midday Engagement: 11 AM – 1 PM (Lunch breaks)
○ Evening Peak: 6 PM – 9 PM (After work/school, before bed)
Facebook
● Best Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
● Best Times:
○ Morning: 9 AM – 11 AM
○ Afternoon: 1 PM – 3 PM
○ Evening: 7 PM – 9 PM
Crosstimes
● Best Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
● Best Times:
○ Morning: 9 AM
○ Afternoon: 12:45 PM
○ Evening: 7 PM – 9 PM
Key Takeaways:
● Avoid late-night and early morning (11 PM – 6 AM) unless your audience is international.
● Engagement tends to drop on weekends, especially Sunday evenings.
● Midweek posts perform better due to work/school routines.
2. Posting Frequency
Maintaining consistency is key to keeping the algorithm in your favor.
Instagram
● Feed Posts: 3–5 times per week
● Stories: 5–10 times per day
● Reels: 3–4 times per week
● Carousels: 1–2 times per week
Facebook
● Feed Posts: 3–5 times per week
● Stories: 3–5 times per day
● Reels/Videos: 2–3 times per week
Key Takeaways:
● Instagram favors a mix of Reels, Stories, and carousels, so diversify content types.
● Facebook values consistent but not excessive posting.
● Posting too much can reduce engagement as platforms may not push every post to
followers.
3. Content Style & Format
The algorithm prioritizes different formats based on engagement trends.
Instagram
✅ Best Content Types:
● Reels (Short-form video): High engagement, algorithm boost, ideal for trends.
● Carousels: Encourages multiple interactions per post.
● Stories: Real-time engagement, polls, stickers increase interaction.
● High-quality photos: Still relevant, but video content is prioritized.
Facebook
✅ Best Content Types:
● Native Videos (1–3 minutes): Facebook boosts video content over text-heavy posts.
● Live Streams: Immediate engagement boost and long-lasting algorithm favor.
● Carousels & Infographics: Higher engagement than single images.
● Engaging text posts: Questions, polls, and opinions drive discussion.
🔴 Avoid:
● Low-quality images or videos (Algorithm suppresses blurry/low-res content)
● External links in captions (Facebook and Instagram deprioritize posts that drive users
off-platform)
4. Captions & Hashtags
Using the right captions and hashtags improves discoverability.
Instagram
● Captions: 1st line should hook the audience (Question, bold statement, or CTA)
🚀🔥
● Hashtags: Use 3-5 niche-specific hashtags (not 30 random ones)
● Emoji Use: Increases engagement, but don’t overuse
Facebook
● Captions: Can be longer, storytelling works well.
● Hashtags: Not as essential, but 1-2 relevant ones help.
5. Video & Reel Strategy
Both platforms prioritize video content, but there are key differences.
Instagram Reels
● Length: 7–15 seconds is the sweet spot (under 30s for best engagement)
● Trends: Use trending audio/sounds to get more visibility
● Hook: First 3 seconds should grab attention
Facebook Videos
● Length: 1–3 minutes (Shorter videos work better in Reels)
● Native Uploads: Facebook reduces reach on YouTube links—upload directly
● Captions: Add subtitles, as many users watch without sound
6. Algorithm Factors & Tips
How the Algorithm Works
The algorithm prioritizes posts based on:
1. Engagement (Likes, comments, shares, saves)
2. Watch Time (For videos and Reels, longer retention = better ranking)
3. Timeliness (Recent posts are boosted in feeds & explore pages)
4. User Interaction History (Users see more of what they engage with most)
Tips to Beat the Algorithm
✅ Engagement Boosters:
● Ask questions in captions to drive comments
● Use interactive stickers in Stories (Polls, quizzes, sliders)
● Encourage saves & shares (Ex: "Save this for later!")
✅ Post Timing Strategy:
● Post when your audience is online (use insights to track peak hours)
● Engage with followers before & after posting to trigger the algorithm
