Best times to publish YouTube videos in 2023
Starting with the big numbers — there are 2 billion monthly active users on YouTube and over 1 billion hours of videos watched daily. But does it mean your video will be 100% watched? Not at all. The platform is flooded with content. So the question is, what are you going to do to stand out in this hectic crowd to reach more people?
Some may overlook a very crucial aspect — the posting time of your videos. Do you know how on Instagram it’s a ‘make it or break it’ kind of thing? It’s the same with YouTube. You’ve got to hack the YouTube indexing algorithm. And we’ll show you how as we take apart how to tailor your posting schedule to help you get more views, subscribers, and finally the results you’ve been looking for.
Before we start with this hefty piece on the best times to post on YouTube in 2023, it goes without saying that you will not get very far with your YouTube strategy without the right visuals. Explore some YouTube design ideas to get inspired for your outros and intros (just to be sure we’re making the most of your publications on the platform).
4 things to know about the best time to post on YouTube
You put a lot of effort into producing unique content. However, without the right strategy, all that hard work doesn’t pay off; especially if people don’t see your videos. That’s why once the content is made, the next step is developing a consistent YouTube upload schedule.
Understanding the best time to post on YouTube allows you to reach larger audiences and therefore boost video performance. Here’s how else you can benefit from an organized posting schedule.
1. You’ll drive more engagement
By posting during peak times, you can increase engagement with your content. More YouTube users are likely to be online and available to watch, comment, and share your videos, leading to higher engagement and interaction.
2. You’ll increase content visibility
When you know the best time to release YouTube videos on your topic, you can improve the visibility of your videos. Posting at the right times makes your content more likely to be recommended by YouTube’s algorithm, increasing the reach and exposure.
3. You’ll have a chance to grow your YouTube channel
Posting your content at the right times can help you attract more views and subscribers, leading to increased revenue and other opportunities for growth and monetization. Using a strategic posting schedule, you can optimize your channel’s performance.
4. You’ll be closer to outshining your competition
When you know the best time to post on YouTube, you increase your chances of appearing at the top of subscriber feeds and receive an advantage over other creators. This can help you attract a larger audience, increase your views and subscribers, and build a strong online presence on YouTube.
What is the best time to upload a youtube video?
Most marketing studies consider these times to be best for posting on YouTube in 2023:
Friday: 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm
Saturday: 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm
Sunday: 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm
When it comes to the best time to post on YouTube, there are many things to consider. One of them is the time of day. According to YouTube’s Creator Academy, the best time to post is between 2 pm and 4 pm on weekdays. This is because most people watch videos during their lunch breaks or after work. However, this may vary depending on your audience’s location and time zone.
Another important aspect to consider is the best day to upload to YouTube. According to a survey by Hubspot, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the best days to post on YouTube. This aligns with the hours before peak viewing times on the platform. Most people watch YouTube during similar hours to when they watch TV, so uploading videos a little ahead of peak viewing times can increase your chances of being viewed by many users. The worst days to post are Mondays, followed by Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Boosted, a social media marketing agency, also researched and found that the highest engagement on YouTube occurs on Friday through Saturday and Wednesday. They recommend posting videos at 5 pm on most days, and any footage posted before 9 pm has a good chance of succeeding. Surprisingly, the best times to post are on Sunday, either at 11 am or 5 pm.
Social Pilot recommends uploading videos to YouTube during weekdays between 2 and 4 pm CST or EST, the most densely populated internet-active time zones. They stress the importance of giving Google and YouTube time to index videos, so posting a few hours earlier allows videos to show up in search results. However, during weekends, people are more likely to be active on YouTube in the afternoon, so posting weekend videos a few hours earlier, ideally at 9-11 am EST or CST, is advisable.
HowSociable suggests that the best time to post on YouTube is late afternoon when most users are online. They also recommend posting videos on Thursdays or Fridays, likely the best days to upload content. As we’ve already mentioned, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are the worst days to post videos.
LYFE recommends using channel analytics to determine the best time to post on YouTube. The most popular day contains the darkest purple bars in the “When your viewers are on YouTube” report. Posting videos two hours before that time can increase the likelihood of your video being a success. However, note that this report shows when viewers are on YouTube, not necessarily when they are watching your videos.
These good times to post on YouTube, suggested by marketing sources, may help significantly boost the visibility of your content. However, it’s important to understand that these are just general recommendations and may not apply to everyone. The best posting time depends on many factors that are important to consider.
Main factors that influence YouTube posting times
There are several factors that can affect the best time to upload your YouTube videos. These include your target audience, their location, and their viewing habits. If you want to grow your business channel on YouTube, you need to account for all of them!
Audience demographics
Understanding the demographics of your target audience is crucial to determining the best time to upload your videos. For example, if your audience is primarily located in the United States, consider posting your videos during peak viewing times in that time zone.
Viewing habits
Whether you want to know the best time to post YouTube shorts or videos, it’s important to consider your audience’s viewing habits. When are they most likely to be online and watching videos? Do they tend to watch YouTube during the day or at night? Are they more likely to watch on weekends or weekdays? By analyzing your audience’s viewing habits, you can determine the best time to post on YouTube to maximize engagement.
Competitor analysis
Analyzing your competitors’ posting schedules can also help you determine the best times to upload your videos. By identifying the times when your competitors are most active, you can avoid posting at the same time and reduce competition for viewer attention.
Algorithm updates
YouTube’s algorithm is constantly changing, and updates can affect when your videos are recommended to viewers. By staying up-to-date on algorithm updates and adapting your posting schedule accordingly, you can increase your visibility and engagement.
The topic of your content
It’s also important to note that the type of content you create can influence the best time to post. For example, if you create educational or instructional videos, it may be better to post them during weekdays when people are looking for information related to their work or studies. On the other hand, if you create entertainment or lifestyle content, posting on weekends or during evenings may be more effective.
Check out trendy design ideas for YouTube in VistaCreate. You can find pre-made templates for both educational and lifestyle content. Pick a template you like and start making your own content.
How to know the best time to upload YouTube videos
Once you’ve considered the factors that influence posting times, it’s time to determine your ideal posting schedule. So, when is the best time to upload a YouTube video on your channel? Here are some tips to help you get started.
Analyze your audience
It’s important to look at your channel’s analytics to determine the best time to post for your specific audience. Use YouTube Analytics to learn more about your audience’s demographics and viewing habits. This YouTube Studio tool can provide insights on when your viewers are most active and engaged with your content. This information can help you find out the best times to upload your videos to reach the largest possible audience.
How to analyze your audience with YouTube Analytics
- Sign in to your YouTube account and click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
- From the drop-down menu, select “YouTube Studio.”
- In the left-hand menu, click on “Analytics.”
- You will see an overview of your channel’s performance, including the number of views, watch time, and subscribers. From here, you can click on the “Audience” tab to gain insight into your viewers.
- Under the “Audience” tab, you can view information about viewer age, gender, location, and device type. This information can help you tailor your content to your audience’s preferences. Plus, you will know what topics work best for your potential subscribers, so you can use proper YouTube hashtags to promote your content on the platform.
- You can also view your viewers’ engagement metrics, such as likes, comments, and shares. This can help you understand which videos resonate with your audience and adjust your content strategy accordingly.
Experiment with different posting times
Experiment with posting times to find the best time to publish your videos. Track your results so that you can adjust your posting schedule accordingly. Try out various days and times and analyze the performance of your videos in terms of views, engagement, and audience retention. This way, you can optimize your posting schedule to maximize engagement and reach.
Consider time zones
If your target audience is located in different time zones, be sure to consider the best posting times for each location. This can help you reach a larger audience and maximize engagement. Identify your audience’s location using YouTube Analytics and adjust your posting schedule to ensure your videos are uploaded at optimal times for each time zone.
Monitor algorithm updates
Keep an eye out for YouTube algorithm updates. By staying ahead of the curve, you can increase your visibility and engagement. YouTube’s algorithm is constantly changing, and staying up-to-date with the latest updates can help you optimize your content and reach more viewers. Consider subscribing to YouTube’s Creator Insider channel.
Stay consistent
Once you’ve determined your ideal posting schedule, be consistent with your uploads. This can help you build a loyal audience that knows when to expect new content from you. Consistency is key when it comes to building an audience on YouTube. Your viewers will come to expect new content from you at certain times, so make sure you stick to your posting schedule as much as possible. If you need to change your schedule, communicate this with your audience, so they know what to expect.
Bonus: YouTube design templates
As a bonus, we’ve prepared free YouTube design templates that you can use to make your channel stand out. These templates are easy to customize and can help you create eye-catching thumbnails, channel art, and more. Select one that resonates with you and start making standout content to promote your brand on YouTube!
YouTube Intro
YouTube Outro
YouTube Thumbnail
YouTube Channel Art
Wrapping up
YouTube can be an incredibly valuable platform for small business owners looking to promote their brands. With its vast reach and engaged user base, YouTube offers a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers and grow your business.
To make the most of this platform, it’s important to create high-quality content that showcases your brand and speaks to your target audience. What may be even more important is making this content visible to audiences. Understanding the best time to post on YouTube can maximize your reach and engagement.
So, take the time to experiment with different times, use analytics to track your performance, and adjust your posting schedule accordingly. Follow the best practices mentioned in this article and build an effective strategy to turn your YouTube channel into a powerful tool for growing your business!
Want to learn more about how to leverage social media platforms for your business? Discover everything you need to know about social media marketing in our article and build a strong online presence for your brand.
