Whether you are a social media manager, a regular user, or a brand promoter, you must strike the right balance to keep users interested without flooding their feeds. So, what is the best Instagram posting frequency?
Why the Frequency is Important?
Posting persistently on Instagram increases reach and discoverability by signalling activity to the Instagram algorithm. Posting more often can help your account’s growth. Besides, if you post steadily, you can learn about your followers’ likes and dislikes.
However, you should keep the balance by not over-posting. Oversharing can overwhelm your Instagram followers and reduce engagement. If you post too often, the algorithm may also consider this as spamming behaviour.
Finding the best Instagram posting frequency rate has many benefits:
- It makes it more likely that your posts appear on the explore page and you can reach a wider audience.
- It demonstrates the adaptability of your account while helping your target audience to help to find you through categories and subjects.
- It enables you to test the optimal content by seeing what your followers respond to the most.
- If you are a marketer, it helps you to figure out how to market to your audience most effectively.
Factors Influencing Instagram Posting Frequency
One rule of high Instagram engagement is to post persistently for the right balance, but how often should you post feeds, stories, or reels? The best posting frequency depends on several factors.
Your audience and their Instagram usage habits are some of the key factors that influence the optimal frequency of your posts. It is always important to know your audience well. What is the demography of your audience? How do they use Instagram and what time do they see your posts the most? Following the statistics of Instagram is crucial for being aware of these valuable data.
The goal of your posts is another important factor when deciding your Instagram posting frequency. Whether your goal is marketing, fostering loyalty, or just entertaining your followers, your posting frequency will depend on your strategic goals. For instance, if you are promoting a brand with fast-paced developments, your frequency can be higher.
Another factor influencing the frequency is the content. It is better not to surrender content quality in order to post often. Make sure that each post is interesting and valuable to your audience. Posting with excellent content is preferable to bombarding their feeds with low-quality content.
The Ideal Posting Frequency
Experimenting and analysing the engagement of your posts is the best way to determine the best frequency for your posts. There are some general rules, but it does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Take the statistics and engagement rates into account and decide the best solution for your Instagram posting frequency.
Although finding the best frequency is an ongoing process for your own Instagram account, studies suggest some guidelines like that a few feeds and stories in a week might be a good idea.
How Often to Post on Feed
Experts suggest that posting a minimum of three times a week is the optimal number. However, some studies recommend determining posting intervals according to the size of followers. If you have an account with less than 10.000 followers, they say, an average of 2 feeds per week is the optimum frequency. Bigger accounts should post 3-5 posts a week, according to these studies.
Frequency of Posting Stories
How about Instagram posting frequency when it comes to stories? Stories are popular and temporary posts or videos that stay for 24 hours. It is suggested that posting stories every day keeps your audience informed about you and increases engagement. If you have a bigger account with a large audience, you might consider posting more than one story each day.
Reels Posting Frequency
Reels are also trendy Instagram posts consisting of short videos. They are essential because they increase your visibility since they can be found on the Explore page. When your reels appear in this section of Instagram, you reach an audience broader than your own followers.
Experts say that the standard is posting 4 reels a week. You can alternate between pictures or carousels and post reels 5 times a week in total.
Posting Too Often
You should find your optimal Instagram posting frequency. If you post too much;
- You lose your account’s authenticity. Your posts do not look organic.
- Your followers may feel overwhelmed, which can result in even unfollowing you.
- The engagement rate might fall because your followers might not keep up with what to engage with.
- The quality of your posts might fall. If you try to create content more than you should, the content quality might be diluted.
Right Times to Post on Instagram
Besides frequency, posting time is also an important factor. If you keep posting consistently with the best frequency but choose to post at times when your audience is inactive, like midnight, your efforts go for nothing.
It is better if you know your audience, what they like, and when they are active is beneficial for deciding the best time for posting on Instagram.
FAQ
Why is Instagram Posting Frequency Important?
To stay relevant to your audience, you must maintain a regular posting schedule. However, you should think carefully about the posting frequency on Instagram. A strategy that keeps your audience active and engaged but not overwhelmed is key to having an effective Instagram account.
What is the Ideal Posting Frequency?
The best frequency depends on your account’s size, audience, and the industry you are in. You should determine your own intervals by knowing your audience and decide according to your objectives for marketing and visibility.
What Happens if You Post Too Much?
Posting more than your determined balance might result in boring your audience as well as reducing the quality of your posts. It may harm your reputation and cause the fall of engagement. A balanced Instagram posting frequency is key to keeping your followers’ attention active.
