TikTok, what time is on the clock?
Does finding your best time to post on TikTok really matter?
Short answer: yes. But don’t fret, it’s easier to figure out than you think.
From reaching new audiences to seeing a boost in engagement, finding your best time to post can support your TikTok strategy.
We’re breaking it all down, below.
Does Posting Time Matter on TikTok?
While the TikTok algorithm ranks content based on a combination of factors, posting at your most optimal time is worth experimenting with.
The math speaks for itself: if you post when most of your community is online, you’ll reach more people right away.
That is of course, coupled with posting consistently, using popular sounds, adding relevant hashtags, and hopping on trends when appropriate. With the right strategy, you’ll be well on your way to a boost in views.
So, What Is the Best Time to Post on TikTok?
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding your best time to post on TikTok – every brand and influencer will be different based on their audience’s location and scrolling habits.
So figuring out when your audience is most active is key (more on that, soon).
At Later, we discovered that our best time to post on TikTok is:
- Weekdays at 1pm PST, specifically Thursdays and Fridays
“In the beginning, we tested posting only in the mornings, but as our audience grew, we saw that afternoons work best for us,” shares Later’s Social Media Specialist, Lindsay Ashcraft.
How to Discover Your Best Time to Post on TikTok
While there’s no universal time for posting on TikTok, there are a couple of ways to guide you in the right direction.
Here’s how to find your best time to post on TikTok in 4 easy steps:
- Create a Business or Creator Account
- Identify Your Top Territories
- Know When Your Audience is Most Active
- Track and Measure Your Content
Step #1: Create a Business or Creator Account
Switching to a Business or Creator TikTok account will unlock your profile’s metrics, and these are key to figuring out your best time to post.
Here’s how to switch to a Business Account on TikTok:
- Go to the “Settings and Privacy” section by tapping the three lines in the top right corner of your profile page
- Tap “Manage Account”
- Under “Account Control”, tap “Switch to Business account”
NOTE: Business Accounts can only use music from TikTok’s royalty-free Commercial Music Library.
With a Business account, you’ll gain access to a suite of analytics tools:
- Head to the “Settings and Privacy” section again
- Tap “Business Suite”
- Go to “Analytics”
If you have a Creator account, you’ll follow similar steps to find your analytics:
- Head to the “Settings and Privacy” section
- Tap “Creator tools”
- Go to “Analytics”
In your TikTok Analytics, you’ll find four tabs: Overview, Content, Followers, and LIVE. You’ll also be able to choose your date range – up to 60 days.
With these numbers, you’ll be able to see what type of content is working, where your audience is located, and more.
Step #2: Identify Your Top Territories
Identifying where most of your audience is based can help you understand when they’ll most likely be online.
For example, most of Later’s TikTok audience is based in the US.
However, unlike Instagram Analytics, TikTok doesn’t break this info down into cities, so while we know the US is the main audience, there’s multiple timezones to consider.
“As the majority of our audience is US-based, we try not to post too early or too late in the day. This way we won’t exclude too much of our audience. Our sweet spot tends to be midday PST to catch most time zones,” shares Lindsay.
Once you identify where the majority of your audience is based, you can accurately predict when they’ll be online.
It may take some trial and error but stick to it and soon you’ll have a better understanding of what times suit your audience best.
Step #3: Know When Your Audience is Most Active
This is one of TikTok’s best-kept secrets: the “Follower Activity” section.
And the best part? It’s super easy to find! Just go to the Follower tab of your TikTok Analytics and scroll down.
Here you’ll find detailed information on your audience’s most active hours and days:
Though it’s important to note that the times on TikTok are recorded in UTC. So, you’ll need to convert the hours that your followers are most active into the timezone you’re located in.
For example, if you’re located in NYC and notice most of your followers are active at 8pm UTC, it’d really be 3pm EST – so that’s when you’d post!
TIP: Use a timezone conversion tool to easily switch between timezones. No calculator required!
Step #4: Track and Measure Your Content Performance
The final step to understanding your best time to post on TikTok is to monitor your content’s performance.
Under the Content tab in TikTok Analytics, you’ll see your most recent posts’ performance, along with videos that are trending.
From there you’ll then be able to click on a video and see tons of performance data – like average watch time, number of comments, and where in the world your views are coming from.
By keeping track of your TikTok content performance, you’ll be able to find common trends between when a video was posted and how well it performed.
Of course, there’s still a bit of guesswork left in the mix — but this should give you a strong indication of what time works best for you and your audience.
Here at Later, we like to follow this equation:
Video Performance + Time Posted + Audience Most Active = Your Unique Best Time to Post on TikTok
You may notice that as your profile grows, your audience’s location and behaviors change, too.
So keep checking in on your reporting and adjusting your strategy along the way.
Ultimately, understanding TikTok analytics is a journey, not a destination. Use the above tactics to help you discover your best time to post on TikTok and watch those views hit new heights!
Monique Thomas
Later.com
Monique is a Content Marketer at Later who loves helping brands define their voice and content strategy.
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Jim Campbell, Founder & Network President of Radio Training Network, Inc. began his radio career in commercial radio in Tennessee in 1964. In 1966 he moved his family to Lakeland, Florida to attend college, and upon graduation he joined the staff at First Assembly of God Church where he and the church launched in the mid 1970s the first Contemporary Christian Radio Station in the nation, WCIE-FM. The station grew in both market impression and influence not just in Lakeland, but around the country inspiring others to follow Jim’s lead. In 1989 Jim left the church and founded Radio Training Network, Inc. (RTN) and over the next 30+ years, he oversaw the acquisition and development of 40+ stations plus translators. With 130 team members, RTN stations serve the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri. These stations are well recognized in their respective markets thanks to the servant leadership of the staff, aggressive marketing, and a commitment to a strong emphasis on Jesus first. At present RTN has some two million listeners each week on air and approximately the same number online.
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