The Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2024

When it comes to YouTube, timing is key. If you approach it strategically, you can help ensure your videos reach the widest possible audience. 

After all, with the time and energy you spend crafting your videos, you don’t want them to get lost in the shuffle of the of the 2 billion monthly active users on YouTube who watch over 1 billion hours of videos a day.

The platform is an ocean of content, with over 500 hours of video being uploaded every minute. However, don’t let these figures discourage you. By posting at the right time, you can maximize your video's reach and engagement. 

The thing is - it’s not as simple as knowing the best time to post. There’s a bit more to it. So, let’s explore the ins and outs of timing your YouTube posts. 

TLDR

• Best Times to Post: Evenings on weekdays (6 PM - 9 PM) and afternoons to evenings on weekends (3 PM - 6 PM).

• YouTube is Different: Give your videos a few hours to be analyzed by the algorithm before peak viewing time.

• Consistency is Key: Post regularly, even if it's just once a week, and focus on creating great content.

When is the best time to post on YouTube?

Source: Influencer Marketing Hub

Forget the long explanations – if you want maximum views, focus on these key time slots:

• Fridays: 6 PM – 9 PM

• Saturdays: 3 PM – 6 PM

• Sundays: 12 PM – 3 PM

Why These Times? It's simple: People are done with work/school and are most likely to relax with some YouTube.

However, these are just guidelines. The best times for your channel depend on your audience and content, as well as the country and timezone you're posting in. Track your analytics to find your own sweet spots!

Is it better to post on YouTube in the morning or evening?

It's almost always better to post on YouTube in the evening. This is when most people are done with work or school and are looking to relax and watch videos. Aim for primetime hours like 6 PM to 9 PM on weekdays, or afternoon into the evening on weekends.

What is the best time to post YouTube Shorts?

The best times to post YouTube Shorts are 12 PM - 3 PM and 7 PM - 10 PM on weekdays. People tend to check their phones for short bursts of entertainment during breaks at work/school or when winding down in the evening.

Important: Weekend posting might be less effective, but experiment! Your audience might have different habits.

How does YouTube timing differ from other platforms?

When you post on a platform like Instagram or Facebook, your post shows up pretty much instantly on the other's timeline. However, YouTube plays by its own rules.

Whereas social media posting timing is about catching people when they're online, on YouTube, your videos take time to be analyzed by the algorithm before they get recommended to a wider audience.

This means you don't post at peak viewing time on YouTube. Post a few hours beforehand to give your video time to get indexed. So, if your ideal time is 8 PM, aim to have your video uploaded by 5 or 6 PM.

What else should I keep in mind?

As I mentioned earlier, there isn’t the best time to post on YouTube across the board. Though it is a good idea to keep the general timing in mind, it’s also important to look at your channel to figure out what works best for you. 

Consider your audience 

To start, look at your audience. Where in the world are they located? Maybe 2-4 pm EST doesn’t align well with their time zone. Also, what are their habits? Say, for example, you’re targeting a nice of night owls who hop onto YouTube at 2 am. Then you may want to shift to a nighttime posting schedule. 

Make use of analytics 

If you’re not sure where to start, use the best times noted above as a guideline. Then, keep a close eye on the data. You can access it by going into your Channel analytics, via YouTube Studio. 

If your videos have gained enough viewers in the last 28 days, you’ll be able to see a graph that tells you when your viewers are on YouTube. Keep in mind that this data is based on your time zone. 

Source: Quarterlab

The graph is pretty easy to read - the dark purple bars show you when your audience is watching your videos the most, and the light purple bars the least. 

If you have multiple dark bars throughout the week, choose a day with a slightly lighter shade of purple bar that's close to your main day. Videos usually get most of their views in the first 2 days, so it's best to post on the two peak days.

By studying your audience graph over time, you can get a really clear idea of when your audience is online. Once you do, just make sure to post 2-3 hours ahead to give your videos time to be indexed. This way, they’ll land in your audience’s feed when they’re online. 

You can also see where in the world they’re watching from, among other helpful stats. 

Keep track of your audience in real-time

If you’re new to the platform and don’t have a flushed-out audience graph of when your viewers are live, there’s another way you can go about it. 

In YouTube analytics, check out the 'Real time' section under the 'Overview' tab on the right side. It displays the number of views your videos got within the last 48 hours, broken down by each hour.

To see when your audience is most active, track this data for a month or so. Look for patterns of views throughout the week to find the best posting days and times.

And don't forget, you can start with the average best time to post data. Test if it works for your niche and make tweaks based on your audience's habits.

Your Checklist for High-Performing YouTube Content

Timing is important, but it's not everything. Here's what REALLY matters for getting more views:

• Optimize Your Channel: Remember, first impressions count. Keep an attractive profile picture, banner, video trailer. Also, tell people what you're about in your description. Use keywords.

• Understand the Algorithm: It's not just about views. Watch time, likes, comments, etc., all factor in. Remember to target keywords that your potential viewers actually search for in video descriptions and titles.

• Thumbnails That Get Clicks: Studies show that faces and emotions displayed in thumbnails work best. Also, use bold text and colors that stand out in the feed and home screen recommendations.

• Videos People Watch to the End: Watch time is everything on YouTube, and the more of your video someone watches, the more your video will get pushed. Hook them fast and deliver the good stuff in the first few seconds. You can also use edits, graphics, and B-roll to prevent boredom (on average, make a cut every 10 seconds)

• Don't Forget Shorts: Shorts content is big on YouTube right now. Edit down and optimize your long-form content and repurpose it to short-form for more views. Make sure it's ideal for grabbing attention and new subscribers.

• Consistency is Key: Algorithms love it when you post regularly (even if it's just once a week). This means it's important to plan your content, get ahead, and stay on track. Pace yourself.

• Engage Your Community: People in a community are far more likely to watch and interact with your content. This means you should engage viewers, react, pin, and respond to comments. This shows you care and encourages more interaction.

• Don't Give Up!: Winning on YouTube takes time. Focus on improving each video, and the audience will follow.

How often should I post on YouTube as a beginner?

Aim for consistency over quantity. Start with posting one high-quality video per week. This gives you time to create your best work and learn from each video's performance. As you gain experience, you can gradually increase your posting frequency if it makes sense for your content.

Wrapping up

Finally, make sure to stay consistent - YouTube is all about it. And, now that you know the best time to post, you can carve out a posting schedule. 

With a schedule, you’ll be better able to keep your audience's attention. The more they watch, the more your videos will show up in their feeds. 

You can also put your efforts towards creating quality content. If you're really serious about it, invest in some equipment. There are some quality cameras and great microphones for YouTube out there. Pay attention to the details - like writing compelling YouTube descriptions, using engaging thumbnails, and more.

Also, try to put out videos your audience actually wants to watch. Listen to their feedback, engage with them, and keep an eye on how they behave. This is the best way to grow an online community. YouTube pays close attention to viewers, so do your best to keep them happy and engaged. You got this.