What Time to Publish Blog Posts as a Small Business

Content marketing is the name of the game for small businesses. 

A well-maintained blog drives traffic, engages customers, and builds your brand. 

But when is the best time to publish blog posts? 

Why Timing Is Important for Blog Posts

The timing of your posts will impact two big things: visibility and effectiveness.

There are key considerations and strategies to make sure you’re maximizing your time and money for the amount of exposure and conversions your posts drive. 

Let’s delve into it.

Understanding Your Audience

The first step to determine when to publish your blog is to know, who are my customers? What are their browsing habits?

For instance, if your target audience is working professionals, publishing early in the week, during lunch hours, or early evenings might be most effective. 

Tools like Google Analytics can provide insights into when your audience is most active online. 

Analyze Your Data

Look at your website traffic data. When do you generally get the most visitors? Patterns in your data can be a great indicator of when your audience is most receptive.

Remember, what works for one business may not work for yours. Your specific audience will have its own browsing patterns. 

Consistency Is Key

Regardless of the specific day and time, consistency is crucial. If you choose to publish every Tuesday at 10 AM, stick to it. This consistency helps build an expectation among your audience.

They will come to anticipate and look forward to your new content at a specific time.

Industry Trends and Timeliness

Certain industries will benefit from specific timings. For example, a fashion blog might do well with weekend postings when readers have time to catch up on the latest trends. 

On the other hand, a B2B company might find more engagement during weekdays. Additionally, ensure your content is timely– align your posts with relevant events, seasons, or holidays when possible.

But just in case you don’t have time to research, I’ve compiled a general list below.

General Best Times to Publish Blog Posts

1. Working Professionals
2. Early mornings (between 7 AM - 9 AM) before the workday starts.
3. Lunch hours (around 12 PM - 1 PM) when they might check their personal email or social media.
4. Early evenings (5 PM - 7 PM) post-work hours for after-work browsing.
5. Stay-at-Home Parents
6. Mid-mornings (around 10 AM - 11 AM) after the morning rush.
7. Early afternoons (1 PM - 3 PM) during younger children's nap times or school hours.
8. College Students
9. Late evenings (9 PM - 11 PM) when they are likely to be online after classes and assignments.
10. Weekends, particularly Sunday afternoons when they prepare for the upcoming week.
11. Teenagers
12. After school hours (3 PM - 5 PM) on weekdays.
13. Late nights (after 9 PM) and weekends, as they tend to have more free time then.
14. Retirees
15. Mid-mornings (9 AM - 11 AM) post-breakfast and early chores.
16. Early afternoons (2 PM - 4 PM) after lunch and rest periods.
17. Fitness Enthusiasts
18. Early mornings (5 AM - 7 AM) before they head out for their workouts.
19. Weekends, especially early mornings when they might plan their fitness activities for the day.
20. Foodies or Cooking Enthusiasts
21. Late afternoons (4 PM - 6 PM) when they might be planning dinner.
22. Weekends, especially in the mornings for planning meals and grocery shopping.
23. Freelancers or Home-Based Workers
24. Late mornings (10 AM - 12 PM) when they take a break from work.
25. Weekday afternoons (2 PM - 4 PM) during a typical workday slump when they might seek a diversion.
26. Tech Enthusiasts
27. Weekday evenings (6 PM - 9 PM) when they are likely to catch up on tech news.
28. Early mornings on weekends for in-depth reading and exploring new tech trends.
29. Travel Enthusiasts
30. Weekends, particularly Sunday evenings when they might plan their upcoming trips.
31. Mid-week evenings (Wednesday or Thursday) for inspiration for weekend getaways.

Leverage Email and Social Media

When you publish your new post, use your email newsletter and social media channels to amplify its reach.

If you haven’t started either of those yet, do so now!

Timing of social media posts and emails can also play a significant role in driving traffic to your latest blog post.

Test and Adapt

Experiment with different days and times to find what works best for your business. 

Use A/B testing to gauge the effectiveness of different publishing schedules. Track engagement metrics like views, likes, shares, and comments to measure the impact.

The Early Morning Rule

If you don’t have the time to look into your specific audience, you can follow the general Early Morning Rule.

Some studies suggest that publishing in the morning can be effective as it allows your post to catch readers throughout the day.

However, the best time can vary depending on your audience’s time zone and habits. 

Should I Publish On Weekends?

Don’t overlook weekends. 

They’re traditionally seen as a low-engagement time, but weekends can be when your audience has more free time to engage deeply with your content, depending on your industry and audience demographics. 

Conclusion

Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to when you should publish your blog posts. 

It’s a blend of understanding your audience, being consistent, aligning with industry trends, and continuously testing and adapting. By paying attention to these factors, you can optimize your publishing schedule for better engagement, increased traffic, and stronger connections with your audience.

The best time to post is when your content is high quality and at its best!

Know someone looking to start a blog for their small business? Go ahead and share this article now.

But before you go, I'm curious, what sorts of blogs have you found most helpful as a small business owner?

Photo bybruce mars