How to time facebook posts
How To Schedule Posts on Facebook [Top Tools + Tips]
If you’ve ever scrambled to get regular content published to your brand’s Facebook Page, you’ve probably wondered if there’s a way to schedule Facebook posts ahead of time. Well, there is!
Managing a social media content calendar becomes far more efficient when you schedule Facebook posts. Scheduling in advance can help your brand post more consistently and stay on schedule. That way, you can avoid long gaps between posts with little effort.
There are two ways you can schedule posts on Facebook:
- Natively. This method uses Facebook’s built-in posting scheduler.
- Using third-party schedulers. Publishing tools like Hootsuite can be used to schedule social media posts across platforms. Advanced features like bulk scheduling are available.
Why schedule Facebook posts?
How to schedule a post on Facebook using Facebook Business Suite
How to schedule a post on Facebook using Hootsuite
Hootsuite vs. Facebook Business Suite
5 tips for scheduling Facebook posts
Bonus: Download our free, customizable social media calendar template to easily plan and schedule all your content in advance.
Why schedule Facebook posts?
In a nutshell, scheduling Facebook posts can help your business:
- Post regularly
- Stay on brand
- Connect with your audience
- Save time creating individual posts
- Increase your social media engagement
- Stay focused on your posting strategy
First things first: You need to have a Facebook Page to schedule posts.
(Don’t have one? Find out how to create a Facebook business page in just a few steps.)
Once your Page is set up, follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to schedule future posts.
Step 1: Write your post
After opening Facebook to your timeline, click Pages in the top left corner of your dashboard to navigate to your business’s Facebook Page.
Then, navigate to Business Suite in the menu:
Now, click Create Post:
Need a little inspiration? We’ve got your back. Here are some tips on creating an engaging Facebook post.
Step 2: Preview the post
In the Placements section, select where you want your post to be published. You will be able to publish it to your Page and the connected Instagram account at the same time.
As you draft the post, you’ll be able to preview what it will look like on desktop and mobile. If anything looks off, make changes to optimize the post. This is the time to make sure those link previews are pulling correctly.
Step 3: Select a date and time
If you don’t want to publish your post right away, click on the arrow next to the Publish button at the bottom of the page.
Then, choose the day you want the post to be published, and the time it should go live.
Finally, click Save.
Step 4: Schedule your post
Click the blue Schedule Post button, and that’s it! Your post is now in the publishing queue. That means it’s ready to go live on the day and time you set.
How to edit scheduled Facebook posts in Business SuiteYou might want to edit, delete or reschedule the Facebook posts in your queue. Here’s where you can find the queue and edit it.
- Navigate to Scheduled Posts in the Business Suite. There, you’ll see all of your scheduled posts.
- Click on the post you want to edit to view the details.
- Click on the three dots icon. You’ll see several options: Edit Post, Duplicate Post, Reschedule Post and Delete Post.
- Make your edits and click Save. By clicking the arrow next to the Save button, you can also choose to publish the post immediately or reschedule it.
It’s that easy!
How to schedule a post on Facebook using HootsuiteOnce you’ve connected your Facebook Page to your Hootsuite account, this is how to schedule Facebook posts using the app.
Step 1: Click Create Post
Navigate to the content creation icon in the menu on the left side of the dashboard. Then, click Post.
Step 2: Select the Facebook Page you want to publish to
Check the box next to the correct Facebook account.
Step 3: Create your post
Write the text, add and edit your image, and add a link.
Step 4: Schedule a publication time
Tap Schedule for later. This will bring up a calendar. Choose the date and time you want the Facebook post to be published.
Hootsuite’s Facebook scheduling app makes it easy to post at the best times to generate high engagement.
The Best Time to Publish looks at your past engagement data to suggest optimal times to post on every network, not just Facebook!
(If you’d like to learn more, check out how the Best Time to Publish feature works for Hootsuite’s own social channels. )
Step 5: Schedule your Facebook post
Click the Schedule button, and your post will be published at the exact time you set.
How to schedule multiple Facebook posts at once in HootsuiteHootsuite’s bulk schedule tool makes handling a busy posting schedule more efficient. The tool lets you schedule a maximum of 350 posts at once.
To schedule multiple Facebook posts, save your Facebook content as a CSV file.
Include these details for each post:
- The date and time (using 24-hour time) that your post should publish.
- The caption.
- A URL (this is optional).
Note that you can’t add emojis, images or videos to bulk posts. But you can include those afterward by editing each individual scheduled post in Hootsuite.
After you upload your CSV file, the Bulk Composer asks you to review all the posts. Once you’ve made your edits and uploaded any additional media files, select Schedule.
Don’t forget that you can edit individual posts afterward in Hootsuite’s Publisher (in the Planner and Content tab).
Learn more about Hootsuite’s bulk scheduling tool here:
How to auto-schedule Facebook posts in HootsuiteWith Hootsuite’s AutoSchedule feature, you can avoid gaps in your social media calendar. The tool will automatically schedule your posts for publication at optimal, high-engagement times. Instead of manually testing different post times when scheduling your Facebook posts, let us do the math for you!
Here’s how to use the auto-scheduling feature:
Step 1: Compose your post
Create your post as usual: write a caption, add and edit your image, and add a link.
Step 2: Click Schedule for later
This will bring up the scheduling calendar. Instead of manually selecting when your post should go live, navigate to the AutoSchedule option just above the calendar.
Step 3: Turn the AutoSchedule toggle to On
Then, click Done. You can sit back and relax — AutoSchedule is enabled!
How to view and edit scheduled Facebook posts in HootsuiteStep 1: Navigate to the Publisher
Head to the Publisher section of your dashboard (use the calendar icon in the left-hand side menu).
Step 2: Go to the Planner or Content tab
Both tabs will take you to your scheduled posts.
If you’re a visual person, Planner offers a handy way to get a sense of your upcoming content. It gives you a calendar view of your scheduled posts:
The Content tab shows you the same information but uses a list. Both views work for editing and rescheduling posts. The one you choose is up to your personal preference.
Step 3: Click on the post you want to edit
Here’s how this looks in the Content tab:
Step 4: Edit your scheduled post
At the bottom of the post, you have the option to either Edit or Delete your post.
To open your post and make edits, click Edit. Here, you can reschedule your post or edit its contents. Once you’re done, just click Save Edits.
The Delete button will erase the post from your content queue.
Hootsuite vs. Facebook Business Suite
If you want to schedule and automatically post content to Facebook and Instagram, as well as TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Pinterest, Hootsuite is a great choice. It’s easy to use, and it comes with many useful collaboration features for teams. You can also use Hootsuite for social media analytics, social listening, and answering all of your comments and DMs from one place.
Here’s how Hootsuite compares to Facebook Business Suite:
Hootsuite’s Facebook scheduler also has a Best Time to Publish feature that gives you personalized recommendations for when you should post based on your account’s historical performance. Just choose the goals that matter most to you (building brand awareness, boosting engagement or increasing sales). Then, Hootsuite’s scheduler suggests post times that can help you boost visibility and performance.
With Hootsuite, you can also bulk-schedule up to 350 posts at once. Think of all the time this could save you!
5 tips for scheduling Facebook postsWhether you schedule Facebook posts on an app like Hootsuite or directly on the platform, you should follow these best practices:
1. Always stay on brandWhen scheduling posts, the pressure to post immediately is off. So take the time to craft relevant content that will land with your audience.
Scheduling posts can also give you time to make sure your brand guidelines are followed when composing weeks or months worth of content. Make sure that your campaigns across Pages and even social networks are aligned with yours and your audience’s values.
2. Carefully choose the publication date and timeAvoid posting when your audience isn’t online. Hootsuite’s Facebook scheduler comes with a Best Time to Publish feature that will help you schedule Facebook posts on days and at times when your audience is active on the platform.
The more people see your Facebook updates, the more opportunity there is to generate engagement, drive traffic and gain potential new followers.
3. Know when to pause your Facebook postsDon’t forget about the posts you’ve scheduled. Sometimes current events can change the impact of posts you may have scheduled months ago. That means a post may become irrelevant or insensitive in ways you simply could not have predicted.
Regularly check in on your scheduled posts to track what’s coming up. That way, you can pause or delete scheduled posts before they’re published and avoid any potential backlash.
4. Remember that you can’t schedule everythingSome things you have to post about in real-time. And some types of posts cannot be scheduled at all. On Facebook, these include:
- Facebook events
- Facebook check-ins
- Photo albums
If you want to schedule Facebook messages, you may want to look into an automation tool. Facebook messenger bots use conversational AI to send messages that reach customers even if your support team is offline.
5. Track analytics and engagementA good posting schedule shouldn’t be based on guesswork. You’ll know what works best for your Facebook audience by monitoring your performance in a social media analytics tool.
Historical data will show you what posts perform well and where you could make improvements.
Use Hootsuite to schedule all of your social media posts, engage with your followers, and track the success of your efforts. Sign up today.
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How to Schedule Facebook Posts in 3 Different Ways for FREE [2023]
Assuming you have a business page on Facebook (and if you don’t, you should!), there are a couple different ways to schedule your posts:
- Natively – using Facebook Creator Studio, the Meta Business Suite, or the Facebook mobile app on your phone.
- Third-party scheduling tools – using a social media management tool like Planable on desktop or mobile.
But why should you schedule Facebook posts in the first place?
Scheduling Facebook posts can help you save time, ensure your content is published when your audience is most engaged, and help you post consistently when you’re managing multiple social media profiles at the same time.
When you schedule posts in advance, you can be more organized with your social media content calendar even if you’re not in the same time zone as your Facebook followers.
Schedule Facebook posts with Facebook Business Suite | Schedule Facebook posts with Creator Studio | Schedule Facebook posts with a third-party scheduler | Facebook Post Scheduling FAQs
How to schedule Facebook posts using Facebook Business Suite
If you’re looking to schedule Facebook posts natively, here’s the step-by-step guide to posting and scheduling in Meta Business Suite.
1. From your business Facebook page, click on Meta Business Suite.
2. From the Meta Business suite homepage, click Create Post.
3. Add your post copy and select the Schedule option
4. Select your desired time and date and click the Schedule button.
You now have a scheduled post!
Here’s how you can edit scheduled posts in Business Suite:
1. From Facebook Business Suite, click Posts and Stories in the left sidebar.
2. Click on the Scheduled tab and then click on the three dots and Edit Post.
3. Make your changes and click the Save button.
Your Facebook post is now updated!
How to schedule Facebook posts using Creator Studio
The second way to schedule a post on Facebook natively is in Creator Studio. Here’s how:
1. From your business Facebook page, click on Creator Studio.
2. From your Creator Studio homepage, click Create New and select Create Post.
3. Write your copy, click the Share Now button, and select Schedule.
4. Choose your desired publication date and time and click Schedule.
5. Click Schedule Post and you’re done!
Here’s how you can edit scheduled posts in Creator Studio:
1. From Creator Studio, click Pre-published in the left sidebar.
2. Find your scheduled post and hover over it to see the Edit Post option.
3. Make your changes and click the Save button.
Your Facebook post is now updated!
How to schedule Facebook posts using Planable
For a better overview of your scheduled posts, you can use a social media management tool like Planable.
Planable is more than a Facebook publishing tool. It’s the social media collaboration platform that enables you to work together with your entire team on all your channels.
Here’s how easy scheduling posts can be:
1. On desktop
1. Sign up for free (no credit card required) and create your workspace.
2. Connect your Facebook page (and any other platforms you want to schedule posts to).
3. From your workspace, click Compose and select the Facebook tab.
4. Write your copy and click Select date and time.
5. Click Schedule.
And voilá! Congrats on your first scheduled post!
2. On mobile
1. Sign up for free, create your workspace and connect your Facebook page on desktop.
2. From the Planable mobile app, select your Facebook page and tap the Compose button at the bottom of the screen.
3. Write your copy and tap Next to Select the date and time.
4. Choose the desired date and time and tap Schedule.
Your scheduled post is now set to go live!
Facebook Post Scheduling FAQs
Can you schedule Facebook posts in bulk?
Yes! Planable makes it super easy to schedule your Facebook posts in bulk! With the bulk upload option, you can upload all your assets in one go and have them all in one place.
For example, if you receive a batch of photos from your client, you can upload all the images at once and keep track of what you’ve used and what you haven’t. Scheduling posts in bulk ensures you keep a consistent schedule and gives you better visibility over any gaps in your calendar.
Can you create recurring Facebook posts?
Yes! Planable has a useful reschedule post feature that will save you time creating individual posts. Easily create evergreen Facebook posts to increase social media engagement and stay on top of your posting strategy.
Can you schedule posts for a Facebook Group?
Yes! Planable allows you to schedule group posts in just a few clicks. And the best part is you can schedule posts for your page and your groups at the same time.
How do you plan Facebook Content in Planable?
Planable’s social media calendar makes creating content a breeze. You can choose between 4 views (feed, calendar, grid, and list) to better organize your upcoming posts. You can collaborate on content, label posts for faster search, and recycle evergreen content.
What other types of Facebook content can you schedule?
With Planable, you can schedule carousel links, add a CTA, organic targeting, location, videos, and change thumbnails.
Planable vs. Facebook Business Suite
The Meta Business Suite App is a great way to publish and schedule posts to your Facebook and Instagram account. However, if your needs extend beyond these simple requirements, Planable could be an excellent choice for you.
Here are the main differences between the 2 schedulers:
- Publish content on all Facebook pages at once
With Planable, you can publish content on all your Facebook pages at once. At the moment, you can’t do this with Facebook Business Suite, you need to schedule posts on one Facebook page at a time.
- Schedule content for 7 social media platforms
Business Suite only allows you to schedule content on Facebook and Instagram, while Planable allows you to schedule content for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Google My Business, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
- Collaboration & Approval options
Planable’s Facebook Scheduler has powerful collaboration and approval features with next-to-the-post comments, activity history, and helpful notifications. Our app was built with marketing teams in mind and includes workflow options that vastly speed up your workflow.
Planable offers four different set-ups for approvals:
- None.
- Optional – suitable for Social Media Managers who don’t want to make approvals mandatory.
- Required – a must-have for safety and security, at least one approver needs to approve the post before it can go live.
- Multi-level – any one approval will move the status of the post forward.
- Schedule recurring posts
With Planable, you can easily recycle evergreen content. Use the recurring post option to schedule the same Facebook post multiple times weeks or months in advance.
- Schedule posts on pages and groups simultaneously
Planable allows you to publish on pages and groups at the same time. At the moment, this is not possible in Facebook Business Suite.
- Different content views
The multiple views in Planable offer you the flexibility to view past and upcoming content in different ways. Toggle between Calendar, List, Feed, and Grid views to see all of your content at a glance across 7 different platforms and get a sense of what your content plan looks like across all your pages. The Grid and Feed views allow you to plan your Facebook and Instagram grid and feed, which is currently not possible with Facebook Business Suite.
- Mockups
With Planable, you can test different Facebook profile pictures and covers and get them approved by the client before they go live. You can also create mockup Facebook pages if you want to prepare a customer pitch or get more visual.
- Media library
Planable’s media library allows you to see all your assets in one place and keep track of what’s been used across all platforms. This ensures you’re always on brand and saves you time. You can easily bulk upload all your assets in one go and not worry about tracking down the right assets or pre-approved photos.
- Giphy integration
Planable has a giphy integration that makes using GIFs easy and fun. You can spice up your scheduled posts with entertaining GIFs that will stop users from scrolling on their feed and boost interactions.
Facebook scheduling tips & tricks
Establish a posting frequency
There’s no magic number when it comes to posting frequency on Facebook, but the general rule of thumb is to post at least once a day. This ensures that your Page stays active and relevant in users’ News Feeds.
Depending on your business, you may not have something new to share every day. That’s perfectly fine! Just make sure that you are consistently posting quality content that your audience will find valuable.
Curate relevant posts
To ensure you’re keeping your Facebook audience engaged, you can curate content from other bloggers in your industry. Try to follow the 80/20 ratio: 80% original content created by you and 20% curated content that’s relevant to your audience’s pain points.
Ready to start scheduling Facebook posts?
You should now feel confident in your scheduling abilities, be it natively or via third-party publishing tools. Happy scheduling!
Andreea Stefan
Relentless advocate and practitioner of putting users before Google algorithms since 2016. Geeks out over everything tech SEO. Dabbles in photography and is a natural-born reader.
How the Facebook algorithm works and how to outwit it - Marketing on vc.ru
Brent Barnhart on the Sprout Social blog shared his observations about how the Facebook algorithm works and how to outwit it. We have translated and adapted this material for the SiteAnalyzer blog.
9275 views
You will probably agree that Facebook's algorithm often seems like a mystery, so it's natural that many brands are concerned about their presence on the platform. nine0003
And even if you haven't been affected in any way by recent algorithm changes, you've likely heard horror stories about brands seeing their organic reach plummet.
However, Facebook's algorithm changes don't necessarily mean that brands will have problems with it.
According to Sprout's 2019 Social Index, Facebook continues to be the number one platform for marketers and consumers.
Recent Facebook stats also note that the platform provides one of the best ROI for marketers in terms of social advertising. Given that your customers are already registered on Facebook, there is a reason for you to consider this social network as an advertising platform for distributing your services. nine0003
But how is it really? To stay afloat in the new Facebook algorithm, you need to make some adjustments to your content strategy. This way you can increase your organic reach.
How does the Facebook algorithm work now?
The essence of the Facebook algorithm is that it controls the formation of the news feed so that it most closely matches user requests.
Instead of displaying content in chronological order, the news feed and ads are published based on what Facebook thinks is relevant to you as a user. nine0003
At the same time, every time the Facebook methodology changes, marketers immediately raise a panic.
The most significant and drastic change came in early 2018, when Facebook announced its resistance to branded content, which made many companies sweat. In a moment of transparency from Mark Zuckerberg himself, Facebook appears to have challenged marketers and brands in general.
Facebook's 2018 algorithm update was designed to focus content around individuals' friends and family members rather than favor spam from companies. This left established companies and brands in a difficult position as they had to adapt their Facebook marketing strategies accordingly. nine0003
Changes and stages of development of the Facebook algorithm
Fast forward to today and we can see that the Facebook algorithm is still evolving. Below is a screenshot of some of the changes Facebook made in 2019.
Update: "Why am I seeing this entry?"
Since March 2019, Facebook has been providing context to explain why users see certain content or ads in their News Feed. This reminds brands once again of the need to hone in on their audiences and encourage engagement from followers. nine0003
The ongoing fight against disinformation
Facebook's fight against "fake news" and misleading content is widespread in the media. In April 2019, Facebook detailed its content verification efforts to combat disinformation.
This probably doesn't affect brands directly, but it certainly highlights the importance of trust and transparency on the platform. Since any content that was perceived as unnecessarily controversial or spam could quickly fall under penalties. nine0003
Surveys to help personalize your newsfeed
Personalization and relevance of content remains a top priority for the Facebook algorithm. In May 2019, Facebook announced the widespread use of polls to collect user feedback to make sure they see relevant content.
Regarding the potential impact on business pages, Facebook representatives stated the following:
"These changes were not made with the intent of showing more or less content on pages or with friends. Rather, the changes will be to links to pages that people find worth taking their time to, and will increasingly show posts from friends that people are interested in. "
From all of this, likes, comments, reactions, and any other form of interaction are all valuable currency for brands that want their content to be relevant to subscribers. nine0003
A note about Facebook reactions: This is an interaction pattern that also influences what the user sees in their feed. But for marketers, reaction is also another way to interact with customers. These badges provide a hub of useful information and allow marketers to see how customers "feel" about their posts. Facebook allows today's businesses to have a clearer picture of what their customers like. Negative reactions also help brands maintain their reputation and solve consumer problems. With reactions, brands can improve and tailor their posts to capture the desired emotion from consumers. nine0003
9 strategies for adapting (and outsmarting) the Facebook algorithm
All of these ongoing changes point to how the Facebook algorithm is forcing brands to adapt to its rules.
This may seem complicated, but it does not diminish the importance of social efforts to promote on the Facebook platform.
As part of the new algorithm's focus on more authentic interactions, brands are expected to promote quality content that can drive genuine interactions and shares. nine0003
How can this be achieved? Below are nine effective strategies on how to keep your brand alive in the new Facebook algorithm.
1. Optimize your posting time on Facebook
The Facebook algorithm prioritizes posts that get attention, so the time factor is very important.
To increase engagement, brands should stick to a content calendar that selects the best times to post on social media. nine0003
The most important thing is the publication time. This table sheds light on when the audience is usually most active. You need to remember that all methods are good when you are trying to increase your chances of getting your post seen by as many subscribers as possible.
And by the way, Sprout lets you schedule Facebook posts based on when they're most likely to get the most engagement. In this way, subscribers already know “when” your post will appear approximately and thus can contribute to the interaction. nine0003
2. Make Video the Core of Your Content Strategy
You've heard it hundreds of times and we'll say it again: marketers need to implement video content now or never.
Facebook executives noted that video content increased user engagement and interaction compared to any other type of content on the platform. Meanwhile, the recent video ranking update further highlights the importance of native video on Facebook.
Marketers of all shapes and sizes can post videos on Facebook that are perfect for starting a conversation and drawing fans' attention to a page. You don't have to create high-budget commercial content to do this. nine0003
For example, look at how Sharpie double-posts custom video content for Instagram on his Facebook page. These short but sweet snippets prove that the video has a huge benefit, in addition to meaningful production.
The platform also encourages creators to use Facebook Live to create compelling real-time content for their audience. Interestingly, Live Video sends notifications that ping your fans and followers. This is an added bonus that also makes your videos stand out. nine0003
Whether it's an impromptu vlog or a how-to guide like Fender's, live video is a powerful medium for brands today.
Take for example the same simple and hackneyed videos that can also be successful. Warby Parker often posts short videos that can be made in seconds and still get user engagement.
In this case, it's not about outsmarting the Facebook algorithm, but about giving the platform exactly what it wants. After all, Facebook rewards organic reach for posts that generate discussion and capture the attention of users. nine0003
With so many options available and Facebook's clear desire for even more visual content, making more videos is easy.
3. First we stimulate discussion - then we share links
As part of the latest update to the Facebook algorithm, the platform is now issuing penalties on marketers who try to cheat the system, so to speak.
For example, Facebook has clearly tightened the screws on publications containing "bait". While posts that come with a direct request for comments, tags or likes were once the norm, Facebook now acknowledges that these posts often serve as spam. nine0003
While there may still be a time and place for such publications, brands should be willing to engage in dialogue with consumers without being ashamed of it. Facebook wants us to create content that stimulates discussion, as long as we approach it with creative methods.
For example, you can poll your audience, allowing them to start the discussion themselves. This jokey post of questions from Loot Crate got a lot of feedback in the form of comments and reposts:
In fact, having questions in any post is a smart way to encourage commenting without having to beg for them. See how Milk Makeup uses a simple question in one of their posts as a call to action:
“All our plans are falling apart like a hurricane. How did you not have a day off? We'd love to hear it :)”
Brands should also try to publish content worthy of discussion when needed. Controversial content is just that, although brands must be careful not to risk offending or alienating audiences (in the case of overtly politically charged or “shocking” content). nine0003
A recent study by Sprout Social found that if your audience disagrees with your position on social and political issues, they are less likely to buy from you or recommend your brand to others.
Consider a brand like Delish, which regularly publishes buzz-inducing recipes and articles that generate a lot of discussion and reposting without causing irritation. These non-standard publications are ideal for getting a response from subscribers. nine0003
The more you can get people to talk, the more likely the Facebook algorithm will organically rank your content as "featured".
4. Encourage employees and brand advocates to promote your content
The key to understanding the Facebook algorithm was right under your nose the moment you started marketing on the platform. However, many brands simply don't notice it. And that key is your employees.
The concept of employee advocacy is growing in popularity. Since Facebook focuses on content from friends and family rather than business, this is the right time to start an employee advocacy program or upgrade it if you already have one. nine0003
Your Facebook page reach is already somewhat limited by the number of your fans/followers. And when you make these new changes to the algorithm, the number of people watching your content will drop even further.
By encouraging your employees to share your content on their Facebook pages, you instantly expand your reach. What’s more, since the posts will come from friends and family rather than your brand, people’s interest in these posts will increase 16 times. nine0003
Even if your brand has significantly more followers than your employees, if they show higher engagement, it will become more valuable in the eyes of Facebook.
The challenge is to get employees to share your content. Just sending an email asking you to share an article is not enough. It would take too much time and effort to go to Facebook, type a message and share it. In addition, some employees will simply forget to share and never return to this letter. nine0003
This is where an employee advocacy platform like Bambu comes in handy.
Bambu makes it very easy to curate the content your employees can share on their personal Facebook page. You can provide a summary of what is being discussed and suggest a message option that they can include in their post.
In addition, each time employees log in, they see recommended content that they can share. This will allow them to publish the post at a convenient time for them. nine0003
5. Favor photos and tags over external links
The conventional wisdom is that Facebook prefers brands to store content on their platform rather than linking exclusively to external sites.
In fact, Facebook's practice of not paying too much attention to links and prioritizing its own content is no secret, especially in the case of videos.
Of course, you won't completely disappear from your subscribers' newsfeed by posting links only. But, you should update your news with different types of content. Bombing your followers with just external links is not only the worst method in terms of marketing, but it will not do you any good with the new Facebook algorithm. nine0003
For example, visual content keeps pace with Facebook best practices, gets 87% more engagement. That's why every post should be accompanied by some kind of visual element, whether it's an infographic, a GIF, or another enticing image.
You can also enhance your descriptions with hashtags or say thank you to another page, which can further expand your reach.
Again, your ultimate goal is to encourage engagement, as the links themselves won't scream "hey, pay attention to me." nine0003
6. Each post must be unique to Facebook
Because brands are expected to consistently post on Facebook day in and day out, companies often run out of their own content to move forward.
Ultimately, this leads to brands repeating themselves, posting the same posts over and over again, or not getting enough bang for their buck from a single post.
How can I fix this?
First, consider creating unique descriptions for your posts so they don't get repeated. Where you previously used a quote, replace it with a tag or ask a question.
Another strategy for re-adding old snippets to your feed, where repetition will be eliminated, is content repurposing.
There are many Facebook tools that can help you instantly turn your work into something completely new.
For example, you can turn a quote from an article into a custom image using Canva or Adobe Spark. You can also convert your post to video with Lumen5 or Animoto. nine0003
7. Start chatting in Facebook groups
Reporting a decline in Facebook page reach, with some sources citing organic reach as low as 2%, is arguably the biggest blow to marketers.
Does this mean that you should completely abandon the promotion of the brand page on Facebook?
Of course not, but it explains why many marketers are moving to Facebook groups, since fans and followers are essentially "added" to the group and participate in discussions within it. In a sense, the customers who join your group are the most likely to interact with your brand content. nine0003
For problem solvers and community educators, Facebook groups may be a better fit for your needs, rather than having to start a page from scratch.
8. Narrow your target audience
One of the beauties of Facebook is the ability to focus on your audience.
If you have a broad audience, consider narrowing your audience by interest or geographic location. Facebook gives you the ability to set these preferences and limits on a per-post basis. While this may initially narrow your reach, it can increase your engagement as a result. Think of it as fine-tuning relevancy for specific subscribers. nine0003
This option is perfect for national companies that hold events in several cities. Residents of St. Petersburg, for example, may not care that you are hosting an event in Moscow.
Narrowing the audience for viewing this publication to subscribers from St. Petersburg means that it will be available only to those people who can really come to this event. This increases the likelihood of more active interaction.
9. Invest in Paid Facebook Promotion
While brands should certainly focus on improving their organic reach, the power of Facebook ads should not be overlooked.
Why is this important?
The data shows that Facebook advertising generates an exceptionally positive ROI, with 93% of marketers already using it. With fine-grained targeting and combined with a host of creative options, Facebook ads offer marketers a freedom unlike any other advertising platform. nine0003
By applying some of the above tips at least twice, you can create a video ad that will grab the attention of your subscribers.
Of course, there are also collectible and carousel ads, which Facebook notes perform very well and have a low CPC.
By combining your organic efforts with Facebook advertising, you are in a winning position. Brands have already written about how to think of Facebook as a pay-to-play platform. nine0003
Therefore, starting experimenting with advertising now is a smart idea in the long run.
And on this, perhaps, we will complete our list!
What do you think about the new Facebook algorithm?
Like it or not, Facebook's ever-changing algorithm is requiring brands to rethink their content strategies.
This is relevant now and will probably be relevant in a few months. Adapting to this kind of change is the nature of social marketing in general. nine0003
And marketers who adhere to Facebook best practices are more likely to be rewarded with audience reach.
Just be honest: what do you think about the latest changes in the Facebook algorithm? Is it confusing or, on the contrary, does it make sense? Share your opinion in the comments!
The best time to post on Facebook. The Complete Guide 2021
If you are someone who creates and posts content on social media, then you know that capturing the attention of an audience is worth a lot. Social media is a highly saturated market where you want to stand out and be seen by as many users as possible. nine0003
We have already talked about how to increase the visibility of posts in our article “The best time to post on Instagram”. Now let’s talk about the best Facebook posting strategies: timing, ads, airtime, and more.
Best time to post on Facebook: the big picture
At first, it seems that certain posts work better by chance. However, many companies are carefully studying and determining the effective time for posting, using built-in analytics tools and special services for this. nine0003
Companies that are already online, and indeed many business sectors in general, are now entering the international market, and this, in turn, means that content will be directed to people located in different time zones. Research shows that there are patterns of user behavior regardless of their location.
In general, the periods of greatest user engagement are:
- Best time: from 9 am to 11 am and from 1 pm to 2 pm. nine0265 Best days: Wednesday and Thursday.
- Worst days: Saturday and Sunday.
Best time to post on Facebook: by day of the week
There is a fierce competition for user attention among companies, especially when you consider that Facebook's algorithms prioritize posts from friends and relatives of the user in the feed. But at the same time, you can calculate the peak moments of user activity and increase the views of your posts. nine0003
It is natural that human activities vary depending on the day of the week. On certain days, people pay more attention to their news feed, and there are days when Facebook is the last thing on the user's mind. Below is the best time to post on each day of the week.
The best time to post on Facebook is on Mondays
It doesn't take long for users to return to social networks after the weekend - everything is online by Monday morning. nine0003
The largest number of users on the network is observed from 10 am to 2 pm, therefore, this is the right time to attract attention to posts. After 4 p.m., the number of users decreases significantly.
The best time to post on Facebook is on Tuesdays
Tuesday is almost the same as Monday in terms of user engagement. It is better to plan the publication of posts in the morning, namely from 10 am to 3 pm.
The best time to post on Facebook is on Wednesdays
Wednesday is the best day for an SMM manager. User engagement is not only observed earlier (from 9 am), but also decreases much later (after 7 pm).
The best time to publish posts is between 12:00 and 15:00 – it is during this period that the peak of user activity is observed on the platform for the whole week. In the period from 9 to 14 hours, activity is constantly high.
The best time to post on Facebook is on Thursdays
Thursday is another day of high user activity. If the post comes out from 7 to 8 in the morning or around 17 hours, the results will please. nine0003
During the day at 13:00 and 14:00 - the second most effective interval for Facebook posts on that day. It would be wise to schedule the publication of valuable content for this period of time.
The best time to post on Facebook is Friday
Friday is somewhat similar to Thursday in terms of user activity, except there is no spike at lunchtime. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., there is heavy constant traffic on the platform, and this is exactly the period when you can catch the attention of the audience on the eve of the weekend. nine0003
The best time to post on Facebook is on Saturdays
Unfortunately or fortunately, the attention of users on weekends will not work. Contrary to popular belief that users spend more time on social networks on weekends, statistics show that Saturday is the least active audience on Facebook.
If you do decide to post something on a Saturday, do it between 10 am and 11 am for the best results.
The best time to post on Facebook is on Sunday
On Sunday, users are slightly more active than on Saturday, but not by much. The movement is observed from 11 to 12 and from 14 to 15 hours, so at this time you can get a little attention from the audience, but it would still be wiser to postpone the release of the post until Monday.
The best time to post on Facebook, depending on the type of business
As much as marketers might like, there is no universal advice on the best time to post on Facebook. For each industry and for each type of activity of the company, there is an audience that behaves in a certain way. nine0003
Therefore, in addition to general recommendations on posting time by day of the week, be sure to consider which industry/type of activity your company belongs to. We, due to objective reasons, will not be able to give recommendations for each category, but we have identified the most significant sectors of the economy and give an overview of the best time to post on Facebook.
Best Facebook posting times for consumer goods companies
Online consumer companies perform best on weekdays, Wednesday through Friday. As with other platforms, Facebook users watch their news feed during their work breaks. However, there is a peak time at which you can take advantage of the increased attention of users. nine0003
Consumer goods is a very broad concept, so for the best results, pay attention to a specific consumer segment. Consumer behavior varies depending on the type of product offered. To keep it simple, let's take the most typical behavioral patterns as an example:
- Best time: 9 am to 10 am, 12 pm to 1 pm and 4 pm to 5 pm;
- Best day: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday;
- Worst day: Sunday.
The best time to post on Facebook for media companies
Media companies can target their content to an audience that spends time on social networks before the start of their work day, during lunch breaks, commuting from home to work and back, or while resting after work. The best time to post news reports is in the morning and lunch break. In general, user engagement is high on all working days of the week, but on Wednesday and Friday the audience is especially active. nine0003
Even though the weekend is one of the worst times to post, media companies these days can get much better results than companies in other business areas. And this is not surprising. Users on weekends, choosing between media, finance and healthcare, prefer media content.
- Best time: 7, 11 and 18 hours.
- Best day: Wednesday, Friday
- Worst day: Sunday
The best time to post on Facebook for education companies
The idea of continuing education or choosing a different career resonates more with the audience before noon and early afternoon. User activity remains constant from Monday to Friday, but, and this is not surprising, marketers should prioritize Wednesday.
Attention to the audience of companies working in the field of education also rises at 5 pm on Saturday - and this is a unique feature of the industry. At this time, there is the same activity of users as before lunch on weekdays. In other areas, this feature is not observed. nine0003
- Best time: 8, 12 and 15 hours;
- Best day: Wednesday, Saturday;
- Worst day: Sunday
Best Facebook posting times for NGOs
Facebook supports non-profit organizations in every possible way - donation and fundraiser buttons, fundraising tools, etc. If you want to make the most of these features - act in the morning, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays. nine0003
In general, a consistent level of user engagement is observed in the morning (until 15:00) in the middle of the week (Wednesday to Friday). If you have a lot of posts throughout the week, pay special attention to the content on those days.
- Best time: 8-9 a.m.
- Best day: Wednesday, Friday;
- Worst day: Sunday
Best Facebook posting times for tech companies
The activity of the audience of technology companies is not significantly different from the activity of Facebook users in general. As in many other industries, Wednesday will have the most likes, comments, shares, etc.
The best time to post is at lunchtime. Remember that periods of increased user activity entail increased competition for the attention of these users, so the content should be as attractive as possible.
- Best time: from 9 am to 1 pm;
- Best day: Wednesday;
- Worst day: Sunday
The best time to post on Facebook for healthcare companies
Statistics show that the activity of healthcare companies is most effective in the morning (in the early hours). It is logical, given that a person who has any health questions should attend to finding answers to them immediately after waking up. First, the user will look for information related to his health condition, and only then will he shift his focus to entertainment content. nine0003
From Monday to Friday, the attention of the audience of companies in the healthcare industry is the most consistent when compared with similar indicators in other areas. Experts, nevertheless, distinguish peak periods of user attention on certain days.
- Best time: 6 am to 7 am, 9 am and 11 am to 12 pm;
- Best day: Wednesday and Friday;
- Worst day: Saturday, Sunday.
Best time to post on Facebook for financial companies
The audience of financial companies is the most active group of Facebook users. Some bursts, however, can be distinguished. In general, posts published in the first half of the day (from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) receive the maximum attention of users.
If your posts are related to social benefits, taxes and retirement savings, investing or cashing out your savings, or anything like that, it's best if they come out during business hours on weekdays. People don't tend to think about serious financial matters before or after work. nine0003
- Best time: noon;
- Best day: Wednesday;
- Worst day: Saturday, Sunday.
The best time to post on Facebook for leisure companies
The term "leisure" we have combined such areas as: travel agencies, amusement parks, sports, gambling, fishing, etc. It is quite obvious that users will search for content that associated with rest, in their free time from work - but not in the morning or evening hours, namely at lunchtime. nine0003
On the eve of the weekend, everyone had already fully formed plans for the coming days, so the search for such information at this time is unlikely.
- Best time: 11 am, 1 pm and 2 pm;
- Best day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
- Worst day: Sunday.
The best time to live stream on Facebook
If you want to broadcast during working hours, do it during the lunch break (from 13 to 15 hours), this is the interval when users are more likely to pay attention to long content. The time from 18:00 to 21:00 on weekdays (people finish work and are ready to perceive content) is also quite suitable for broadcasting. nine0003
Big and meaningful events don't happen as often in various industries, but live streaming of such events (as shown in the example below) is becoming an increasingly significant segment of Facebook broadcasts.
The best time to post on Facebook
The best time to post for organic traffic and the best time to post for paid ads differ significantly. There is no point in determining the best time to release ads if you have not taken into account the specifics of your specific audience and their activity on the social network. nine0003
Look at the statistics to understand:
- At what point in time are there the most "purchase and sale" transactions?
- What are your email subscription rates? When do you get the most subscriptions?
- In what time zones does your most active audience live?
The following data can be used as a guide:
- Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 12 pm;
- Wednesday and Thursday from 12:00 to 15:00; nine0268
- Friday and Saturday from 15:00 to 18:00;
- Sunday from 18:00 to 21:00.
The best time to change your profile photo on Facebook
Changing your profile photo is reflected in the News Feed, so it's wise to do it when there are maximum users on the platform. As we have said, the vast majority of users are online during weekdays. If we talk about a certain time interval, this is the period from 10 to 14 hours. nine0003
Don't change your profile picture too often - users will get tired of it, likes and comments will stop.
How to schedule Facebook posts with Onlypult Planner
Onlypult Planner is an easy-to-use tool that allows you to create, check and publish Facebook posts whenever you want. Now you can plan your media plan for many months ahead, based on your statistics goals and taking into account all the posting recommendations described above. nine0003
How to schedule Facebook posts with Onlypult Planner.
- Go to the control panel and add your Facebook business account.
- Click "Add Post" and prepare a post with a description, hashtags, geolocation and other components that you want to include in the post.
- Next, click "Select date and time" in the lower command line, the available days and time intervals will open - select the ones you need to publish content.