The best time to post videos: finding your own channel's hours
A "best time to post" chart copied from the internet is someone else's audience. When your customers are online is a question your own channel's numbers can answer.
- About 4 min read
- Written by Minh Khang
Why general charts are often wrong
A lunch spot's customers scroll at different times from an evening fashion shop's. Viewers abroad sit in other time zones. A general chart averages many channels unlike yours, so use it only as a starting point.
Find when your viewers are online
- YouTube Studio, Analytics, Audience tab: the "When your viewers are on YouTube" chart.
- Facebook Page: when scheduling in Meta Business Suite, look at the suggested times your followers are active.
- Your own past posts: note each post's time and its views after 24 hours, grouped by time slot.
Test it over four weeks
- Pick two or three time slots from the numbers above.
- Post the same number of videos each week, spread evenly across the slots.
- Compare views and engagement after 24 hours, not a great video against a weak one.
- Keep the winning slot, then keep testing one new slot so you do not miss a better one.
Timing does not rescue a weak video
The right time helps a video's first views, but the first three seconds, the content and posting regularly matter far more. Pick the time once, well, then put the effort into the video.
Common questions
Yes, but viewers on the two are often online at different hours. Better to check each platform's numbers and schedule each separately.
It depends on your audience. Some channels are busier at weekends, some go quiet. Include Saturday and Sunday in the four-week test and let the numbers decide.
Every one or two months, or when the channel gains many new viewers, since audience hours shift with who follows you.