How To Find The Best Time For LinkedIn Engagement

When is the best time to post on LinkedIn? Research shows that timing can significantly impact your content's visibility and engagement. Here's a quick breakdown:

  • Peak Times:
    • 9 AM to 12 PM
    • 12 PM to 3 PM
    • 3 PM to 6 PM
  • Key Factors to Consider:
    • Your audience's time zones and industry schedules.
    • LinkedIn activity peaks during mid-morning, lunch hours, and early afternoon.
    • Industry-specific engagement times:
      • Tech: 9–11 AM (Tue–Thu)
      • Healthcare: 8–10 AM (Wed)
      • Finance: 7–11 AM (Tue–Wed)
      • Marketing: 9 AM–12 PM (Tue–Thu)
  • Content That Works Best:
    Carousel posts generate 278% more engagement than videos and 596% more than text-only posts.

To find the optimal posting time for your audience, use LinkedIn Analytics to track engagement metrics like impressions, clicks, and shares. Experiment with different times and adjust based on performance. Tools like Sprout Social can help analyze trends and automate scheduling.

Start testing today to maximize your LinkedIn reach and grow your network!

The Best Time to Post on LinkedIn: Data Analysis and Insights

What Affects LinkedIn Post Timing

Timing plays a big role in how well your LinkedIn posts perform. Knowing when your audience is most active can help you get the most out of your content.

When LinkedIn Users Are Most Active

Most LinkedIn users stick to professional routines. Activity tends to peak mid-morning (around 10:00 AM) and again at lunchtime (12:00 PM).

"People usually hop on LinkedIn in the morning while having their coffee and before/mid browsing through their emails."

Your Audience's Location and Industry

Engagement patterns vary by industry, so timing your posts to match your audience's habits is key. Here's a quick guide:

Industry Peak Engagement Times
Technology & Software Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Healthcare Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Finance Tuesday–Wednesday, 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Marketing Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

"I've had the best engagement for posts I do in the morning CET time."

Always consider your audience's time zone when scheduling posts.

How the LinkedIn Algorithm Works

LinkedIn's algorithm determines how widely your posts are shown, and timing has a direct impact on this. Here's what the algorithm looks for:

  • Relevance: Posts that match users' interests and professional focus.
  • Expertise: Content showcasing knowledge in your field.
  • Engagement Window: The first few hours after posting are critical for visibility.

The algorithm favors posts that get quick engagement. Recent updates have also highlighted knowledge-sharing content during business hours, as professionals are more likely to interact with such posts then. With Gen Z becoming a growing audience on LinkedIn, posting strategies are evolving to fit more flexible work schedules.

Finding Peak Times with LinkedIn Stats

Leverage LinkedIn Analytics to discover when your audience is most active and fine-tune your posting schedule for better engagement.

Where to Find LinkedIn Analytics

Navigate to the Analytics tab on your LinkedIn business page (admin view). This dashboard provides several key insights:

Analytics Section What You'll Find
Content Analytics Metrics on post performance and engagement levels
Visitor Analytics Traffic patterns and audience demographics
Follower Analytics Trends in follower growth and activity timing
Lead Analytics Data on lead generation and conversions

Understanding Engagement Metrics

Pay attention to these engagement numbers to evaluate how your content is performing:

  • Impression Rate: Aim for an impression rate around 9.50% for a solid benchmark.
  • Engagement Components:
    • Reactions to posts
    • Number of comments
    • Shares your posts receive
    • Click-through rates
    • Total impressions

To calculate your engagement rate, use this formula:
(Clicks + Likes + Comments + Shares + Follows) ÷ Impressions

These metrics can help you spot patterns and uncover the best times to post.

Identifying Peak Activity Times

By analyzing your engagement data, you can identify the times when your audience is most active. Professionals often engage during these windows:

  • Morning commute: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Mid-morning break: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Lunch hour: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

For a more detailed look at timing trends, tools like Sprout Social can be incredibly useful. Features include custom reporting, competitor analysis, timing insights, and performance tracking across different time zones.

Experiment with your posting schedule based on these insights to confirm the best times for your audience.

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Testing Different Posting Times

Using analytics as your foundation, experimenting with posting times helps you refine your schedule for maximum impact.

Setting Up a Test Schedule

Run your tests over at least four weeks, focusing on business hours (7:00 AM–4:00 PM). Break down your testing into these time blocks:

Time Block Testing Window Best For
Early Morning 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Engagement during commutes
Mid-Morning 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM High workday activity
Lunch Hour 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Browsing during breaks
Early Afternoon 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Post-lunch engagement

Aim to post 3–5 times a week, keeping content types consistent within each time block to ensure accurate comparisons.

Measuring Time Slot Performance

Once your schedule is live, track performance metrics to see which time blocks deliver the best results. Focus on:

  • Impression Rate
  • Engagement Rate (as outlined earlier)
  • Content Performance: Carousel posts outperform others, generating 278% more engagement than videos and 303% more than images.

For every post, record:

  • Posting time and date
  • Content type
  • Impressions within 24 hours
  • Engagement details
  • Audience demographics

Updating Your Schedule

Review your results every two weeks to spot trends and adjust accordingly. Pay close attention to high-engagement periods.

Keep these factors in mind:

  • Stay aware of algorithm changes.
  • Account for overlapping business hours across time zones.
  • Try different content formats during peak times.
  • Watch for seasonal shifts in engagement.

"KPIs allow us as, the agency, to demonstrate our value to the client. There are basic KPIs such as spend, clicks, impressions, ranking, etc, but the real KPIs every client wants to know is leads and/or sales. Ultimately, what is their ROI from our efforts?" - Jacob Hicks, Owner, Magnyfi

Using LiSeller for Timed Engagement

LiSeller

After pinpointing the best times to post on LinkedIn, automating your engagement can help you stay active during these peak periods. LiSeller provides AI-driven tools to simplify this process while adhering to LinkedIn's guidelines.

LiSeller's Main Features

LiSeller combines several tools to support your engagement efforts:

Feature Function Benefit
Post Monitoring Tracks posts by keywords and profiles Ensures interaction with relevant content
AI Filtering Analyzes post relevance and quality Targets high-value opportunities
Auto-commenting Creates contextual responses Keeps activity steady during peak hours
Campaign Management Manages multiple monitoring campaigns Expands engagement across time zones

The AI filtering tool ensures your interactions align with your goals by prioritizing the most relevant posts. For instance, you can use it to monitor posts containing specific industry keywords during your busiest engagement times.

Save Time with Automation

LiSeller's automation features can significantly cut down the time spent on LinkedIn engagement. Here’s how it boosts efficiency:

  • Automates up to 80% of routine tasks
  • Processes opportunities 5x faster than manual methods
  • Keeps activity consistent during peak periods
  • Supports engagement across multiple profiles and time zones

LiSeller also offers flexible pricing plans to suit various needs:

  • Small plan ($47/month): 300 comments/month
  • Medium plan ($197/month): 1,500 comments/month
  • Large plan ($497/month): 4,500 comments/month

"Their platform streamlined our startup outreach processes, saving us countless hours while delivering consistent, high-quality results across multiple regions." - Ilaria Navoni, Program Manager, OVHcloud

Next Steps

Experiment with different posting times over 2–3 weeks, using your audience's activity patterns as a guide. Use the insights you gather to adjust and improve your schedule.

To get started:

  • Set Up a Testing Calendar: Plan a schedule that tests various time slots, focusing on your most engaging content types.
  • Track Performance: Monitor key engagement metrics like comments, shares, and profile views. Here's an example of how you can organize your data:
Time Slot Engagement Rate Comments Shares Profile Views
8–9 AM EST
12–1 PM EST
4–5 PM EST

Automation tools like Sprout Social or Buffer can simplify your posting schedule, ensuring consistency during high-engagement times. This is especially useful since LinkedIn's algorithm rewards posts that quickly gain traction.

If your audience spans multiple time zones, consider tools that support cross-regional scheduling. Regularly review your LinkedIn analytics to adjust your timing based on real engagement data.

Commit to these strategies for at least a month to collect enough data for fine-tuning your schedule. As Trish Riswick from Hootsuite wisely puts it:

"Experiments are the key to finding your optimal posting schedule."

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