Social Media Campaigns Don’t Match When Consumers Are Online

@dramaiya1 Thanks for sharing, Danielle! Catch you soon.

@Steveology @ginidietrich don't think. Test.

This is so interesting largely because it contradicts of some of the social media tools we've been using that offer advice about when to post updates/tweets/etc to reach the largest audience. But it does seem to make a lot of sense...at least in terms of the kids going to sleep thing. 

I'm surprised that a "minimum of four times a day" was found to be optimal, if only because personally, if I'm seeing four posts from a brand I've liked on FB, I'm probably going to hide or unlike the brand. That's just too much for me. And I didn't think I was unusual in that regard.

Gini, It makes sense so I'm going to give it a go and see what happens when I try different times.

Thanks

Richard

@ginidietrich Nothing more frustrating in these times when you want a response & have to wait. Some cos have 24 hr response which is great!

Wow, these numbers are pretty impressive. It's easy to forget that even though we're utilizing social networks for business, those social networks are...social! People are most likely to be on them before or after work (or maybe on lunch break), particularly if their company is strict about using social networks during business hours. I suppose there might be some fluctuation based on your specific audience (maybe your audience is kids, so you work around school hours, or workers who are on the night shift, etc., etc.), but in the end, humans are humans. We've been conditioned to the 9-5 day!

@TorontoLouise Waving hi!

@seanmcginnis @ginidietrich Actually, that isn't bad--it's at least a focused category and audience, and not some kind of "universal law."

The proper answer to the question suggested by this title is - wait for it - it depends!

And it depends well beyond niche or vertical. It depends on YOUR business, your style, your network, your community. That's why I despise all these studies that purport to have answers to this question.

Businesses must TEST this stuff within their own systems. Test, test, test, Then you'll KNOW what the best time and frequency of posting is FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

I've been thinking on this timing issue as well and trying to publish my post at times right before I generally get high activity on my blog. I find that I see more visitors in the morning hours before work and then right at the noon hour. I suspect this may be working people who are surfing the web in their off hours.

 I guess what I'm saying is take the study recommendations with a grain of salt and properly define the tastes of your community before rushing to adopt the recommendations.

It varies for me. I see a burst of activity in the very early morning (3-4 AM PST) and then relatively steady throughout the day.

But I also see a burst later in the evening that runs from about 8:30 -12 PST. If I picked it apart I bet that I would find a chunk of East Coasters who are night owls alongside my fellow West Coasters.

And none of this takes into account the international readers who show up at all different hours.

Always a pleasure Sunshine ;0) @laurajdaley @ginidietrich

This might be an obvious point but it's important to assess the habits of your own vertical and niche social community first before making a blanket adoption to the recommendations in this study. Since this was a study of clothing retailers, that might be a great benchmark for B2C but what about B2B? It might not be safe to assume that the same results would apply if your focus is B2B. I guess what I'm saying is take the study recommendations with a grain of salt and properly define the tastes of your community before rushing to adopt the recommendations.

I know the focus of the study wasn't on ROI but I would have liked to see how the clothing retailers were able to parlay these strategies into increases to their bottom lines. 

Super interesting!  Thanks for sharing that one Gini.  Never would have thought to post in the evening, but it makes a lot of sense!

--Tony Gnau

YouTube Monday results are interesting. RT @ginidietrich Social Media Campaigns Don't Match When Consumers Are Online http://t.co/y2NGvbOM

A quick look at this and I would agree. I post my client facebook and twitter updates at 9 pm daily and find that this has the most response.  I did an informal poll of their customers, and they all said that time was when they checked their various sites.  Just like you said, dinner is done, kids are in bed, time to plan for the next day. I am also very tired today...my beagle Madison has been doing the Jack Bauer thing and prancing around at 5:45 every day...ugh.