You’ve spent hours filming, editing, and perfecting your latest YouTube video. But have you given much thought to when you hit that publish button? The timing of your upload can significantly impact how many people see your content.

With over 500 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute, getting your videos in front of the right audience at the right time is crucial. Missing that sweet spot could mean your masterpiece gets lost in the endless stream of new uploads.

Don’t worry, in this post we’ll dive into proven tips and strategies to help you identify the best time to post on YouTube for maximum visibility and engagement. From analyzing your audience’s viewing patterns to leveraging YouTube’s analytics tools, you’ll learn how to schedule your uploads for success.

Discrediting the Common Myths

It’s NOT what you think. Let’s break some myths.

Myth 1: Any Time Works If The Content Is Good

The Assumption:

There’s a belief that if your content is of exceptional quality, it’ll naturally find its audience, irrespective of when it’s posted.

The Reality:

Even the most compelling content can disappear into obscurity if it’s posted at a time when your target audience isn’t active or if it’s overshadowed by other competing content. The initial hours after posting are crucial because high engagement during this period can boost the video’s recommendation by YouTube’s algorithm.

Breaking It Down:

Think of your video as a product in a vast supermarket. Even if it’s the best product, if it’s tucked away in a corner, few will see it. But if it’s showcased right at the entrance during peak hours, it’s bound to attract more attention.

Myth 2: Stick to Business Hours

The Assumption:

Many believe that people only or mainly consume content during traditional business hours, perhaps during breaks or downtime.

The Reality:

The digital age, with smartphones and round-the-clock internet, means people are consuming content at all hours. Plus, “business hours” vary greatly across professions, regions, and individual routines.

Breaking It Down:

Understanding when your audience is most active is pivotal. For instance, if your target audience comprises working professionals, they might prefer to wind down with videos in the evening. Conversely, students might be more active during late mornings or afternoons. Relying solely on “business hours” can make you miss key engagement windows.

Myth 3: Weekends are a No-Go

The Assumption:

Some creators assume weekends are when people disconnect from screens or are too engaged in personal activities to consume content.

The Reality:

For many, weekends are relaxation days — a perfect time to catch up on content they might’ve missed during the week or to deep-dive into longer videos.

Breaking It Down:

Consider the nature of your content. If you produce detailed, long-form videos, weekends might be the perfect time for your audience to engage deeply. Similarly, if your audience includes a lot of students or working professionals, weekends might be when they have more leisure time. It’s essential to look at your analytics and understand when your subscribers are most active.

The Best Day and Time to Post on YouTube

Let’s dive deeper into the concept of posting on YouTube and understand why Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. might be an optimal time for businesses, as well as the nuances surrounding this recommendation.

Why Wednesdays between 11 am and 1 pm?

1. Mid-week Momentum: By the time Wednesday rolls around, many people are deeply entrenched in their workweek routines. They’ve overcome the initial inertia of Monday and are not yet gearing up for the weekend, making them more receptive to consuming content. Posting during this period captures this mid-week audience effectively.

2. Lunch Hour Browsing: Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. is the typical lunch break time for many professionals. During this break, they are more likely to check their phones, catch up on social media, or watch a short YouTube video. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to engage with these viewers when they’re looking for a brief diversion.

3. Beating the Evening Rush: Posting in this time frame ensures the video has enough time to garner initial views, comments, and likes, which can then boost its visibility by the evening when there might be another surge of viewers logging in after work.

Factors That Make It Not “One-Size-Fits-All”

1. Audience Specifics: It’s essential to understand your audience demographics. A channel targeting teenagers might find that after-school hours or weekends are more effective, while one catering to working professionals might indeed find the mentioned window optimal.

2. Geographic Considerations: If a business’s audience is spread across different time zones, they might have to adjust their posting times or even consider multiple posts to cater to different regions.

3. Content Nature: The type of content also plays a crucial role. For instance, educational or ‘how-to’ content might see better engagement during the day, while entertainment content might perform better in the evening.

4. Engagement Metrics: It’s vital for businesses to regularly check their YouTube analytics. The data will reveal when most of their subscribers are online and engaging with content, allowing for a more tailored approach.

5. Competition: If many channels in the same niche are posting at similar times, it might be beneficial to experiment with different time slots to avoid getting lost in the shuffle.

While the recommendation for businesses to post on YouTube in 2023 on Wednesdays between 11 am and 1 pm can serve as a guideline, the actual best time can vary based on various factors. Constant monitoring, experimentation, and adjustments are key to ensuring content reaches the widest possible audience effectively.

The Worst Day and Time to Post on YouTube

The digital landscape, along with user behaviors, undergoes frequent changes, influenced by shifts in work culture, technological advancements, and general lifestyle patterns. It’s essential to keep up with these changes to remain effective in content distribution strategies.

Why Mondays before 8 am might be ineffective:

1. Monday Morning Rush: The start of the workweek usually sees individuals getting back into their professional routines. Many are catching up on emails, setting their week’s agenda, and possibly dealing with a slight Monday blues. This can make them less likely to engage with YouTube content early on a Monday morning.

2. Weekend Hangover: If your audience comprises a considerable number of working professionals, they might have a packed weekend, and the fatigue can carry into Monday. This makes it less probable for them to engage with leisure or even professional content on YouTube early in the day.

3. Low Notification Engagement: If subscribers have notifications enabled for a channel, early Monday morning posts might get drowned out by other notifications (like work emails). By the time they do check, newer notifications might push your video down, making it less visible.

List of Potentially Ineffective Times to Post on YouTube:

1. Early Mornings During Weekdays (before 8 am): Most people are just starting their day, getting ready for work or school, and are less likely to be on YouTube.

2. Late Nights (after 11 pm): By this time, many viewers might be winding down or already asleep, especially on weekdays. However, this can be content-specific. For instance, relaxing or sleep-inducing videos might still do well.

3. Friday Evenings: Historically, this time is when people are wrapping up their workweek and possibly planning or heading out for the weekend. Engagement might be lower as the audience shifts their attention offline.

4. During Major Events or Holidays: Posting during significant global or local events (like the Super Bowl, World Cup, or significant political events) can lead to decreased visibility, as viewers might be occupied elsewhere.

5. Overlapping with Bigger Channels: If you’re in a niche where a dominant channel has a set posting schedule, try not to post at the same time. Your content might be overshadowed.

While these suggestions offer general guidance, the best approach entails tailoring strategies to one’s unique audience. Consistently monitoring YouTube analytics is key to pinpointing peak subscriber activity. As digital marketing consultants, we recognize the importance of adapting to evolving user behaviors for effective content strategies amidst shifting digital landscapes.