Meaningful interactions

Facebook's algorithm prioritizes messages posted by Facebook friends over published content from Facebook pages (commercial content). The reason for this is to encourage meaningful or valuable interaction.

As a brand, the only part of the ranking process that we can control are the signals generated by our content. These signals can be divided into two categories: passive and active:

• Passive signals include display time, story type, posted time, and other inactive statistics.
• Active signals include likes, shares and comments.

If you want to promote positive involvement, you must therefore create relevant and valuable content. If your target group responds positively to your content, Facebook defines it as 'meaningful interaction'.

1. Provide discussion material

You want your content to encourage (positive) interactions, so make sure your content stimulates a discussion between your followers and other people. Don’t just focus on what you want to say or convey, your content should prompt people to stop scrolling through their timelines, and get them to interact and share your post with one another.

2. Know your audience

It might sound obvious, but your content has to be relevant. Make sure you create stories that your target audience wants to view, read, or share. Whether it’s a product or knowledge sharing, it must reflect the interests of your audience.

3. Track how your content is performing

Analyze the social media messages you’ve posted so you can improve them next time around. You can find out various things about Facebook via Facebook insights, but you should use a social media tool such as Coosto if you want to carry out a comprehensive analysis. In Coosto Publish, you can post messages on all your social media channels, and immediately see how they’re performing. See how your posts are performing in terms of interaction, learn from the insights of your posts, and use this to improve them.

4. Promote high-performing posts

The Facebook algorithm assigns value to content that performs well organically, which benefits you if you want to advertise. Content that already has strong organic traction means lower CPCs (cost per click), which combined with a boost-post from Facebook, can create a snowball effect for your content. Conversely, don’t waste money on poor-performing organic content, as this will result in higher CPCs. If a message performs well in terms of involvement, likes and shares, you can boost a post to scale up this performance.

Conclusion

The new Facebook algorithm is complex and depends on a whole range of factors, not all of which are easy to understand. Use the information that is nevertheless available to sharpen your content tactics and increase your visibility in the news feed: Create discussion material, write valuable stories for your target group, and challenge them to share these stories for organically strong content.

1.Know What You Want (And What You Don’t Want)

First of all, you have to make some decisions. What do you want to achieve and who do you want to reach with your content? First decide the big picture, then zoom in on the details. Where do you want to be in a year, for example, and what do you need to get there? Then define the marketing objectives of your content strategy. Are you trying to generate more leads, or increase the number of visitors to your website or blog? Are you aiming to improve customer satisfaction ratings? Whatever your objective, the first step is to make decisions when defining your strategy. These decisions will keep you focused. Prioritizing one aspect will automatically make another less relevant. If you find yourself spending a lot of time on the less important things, cut them out.

2. Decide What to Use in Your Content

What information does your target group need? Decide the kind of content your target group needs in each phase of the buyer's journey. Create an overview of your target group’s preferred content, and make decisions on aspects such as Evergeen or Ephemeral content. You also have to think ahead
about annual events, special days and special moments. For inspiration, take a look at a social media engagement calendar and select the relevant moments to engage that benefit your organization or brand. You’ll be surprised how much you can figure out in advance.

3. Be Consistent

Select those topics and themes you want to focus on with your brand, and convert them into recurring headings. For example, you could start the Monday with news, or end the week with a summary. If you’ve got a large group of followers who post ideas about your product, you could highlight these once a week.

Habits and recurring items appeal to people, because we like things to be predictable and structured. For example, every morning and afternoon I receive a news update from an online news channel, which I use to find out about the previous night’s news while I’m having breakfast. Come up with a content format, and think about how often you publish your posts.

4. Plan Your Content Ahead

It might sound dull, but make sure you plan ahead. Schedule editorial meetings, and think about what you want to say in the coming week, fortnight or month. Does it reflect your strategy? Think about what you want to say, and on which day. How do you make sure you interact enough with your target group? When are you going to publish your posts? You’ll actually find it a load off your mind if you think ahead and make sure there’s enough content. It will leave you with time and mental space for fun, creative and ad hoc ideas.

You can also use a content planner to help plan ahead. All kinds of hardcopy planners are available online that will help you get a clear overview of your posts. The advantage of digital planners and content calendars is that they can be linked to your social media accounts and automatically publish your posts, saving you a lot of manual work. Handy! Another advantage of an online content calendar is that you can measure the effect of your social media posts. This brings us to tip number 5.
 

5. Measure Your Results

Make sure you understand the results of all your efforts. The only surefire way to know if your content is effective is to measure it. Do you remember your objectives? Use UTM Tracking Codes in Google Analytics to identify the content that led your target group to your website, and how they behave on it. This can reveal which posts are most likely to lead to clicks and conversions, for example.

If you also use a publishing tool, you can measure the reach of your posts, how often a post has been clicked, what approach works best, and what posts have the highest interaction rate. Make sure you understand what you’re doing, and use the data you obtain to improve next time around by adjusting your objectives and strategy. If content is successful, continue with it, and if it’s not, try something different. This is the way to get an overview, clear your mind and achieve your objectives without wasting time.

Hopefully these tips will put you on course to take back control of your online communications. If you have some more ideas, please share them!

If you’d like to experience the benefits of using a content calendar, try out Coosto Publish for free.

We spraken met Pleun Eykman, inmiddels 8 jaar werkzaam bij Gemeente Breda. Hier werkt Pleun aan de (door)ontwikkeling van alle online kanalen. Zij werkt aan een succesvolle content- en kanalenstrategie voor de gemeente door middel van online monitoring, data-analyse en contentcreatie. En daar speelt Coosto een belangrijke rol in. 

BREDA TOEN ? & ? NU 

Ginnekenmarkt in 1933 vs vandaag! Ontdek de eeuwenoude waterpomp en café Boerke Verschuren, voorheen 'De Vrachtwagen'. Deze plek is nog steeds het middelpunt van het Ginneken, vooral tijdens carnaval ? 

? Stadsarchief Breda pic.twitter.com/4jj2NJIzLY

— Gemeente Breda (@breda) February 13, 2024

‍

Efficiënt samenwerken binnen één tool

Binnen de gemeente Breda maken meerdere afdelingen gebruik van Coosto. Zo zorgt het klantcontactcentrum (KCC) voor de afhandeling van alle binnenkomende privéberichten, via Whatsapp en de social media kanalen, en is de Newsroom, onderdeel van team Communicatie, verantwoordelijk voor webcare bij openbare reacties, mediamonitoring, het beheer van social media en data-analyses.

Binnen de verschillende afdelingen kunnen collega’s gemakkelijk werk van elkaar overnemen, dankzij de overzichtelijke tool van Coosto. Niet alleen binnen, maar ook tussen verschillende afdelingen van Gemeente Breda gaat de samenwerking een stuk vloeiender door het werken met een content & social media tool.

‘’Coosto zorgt ervoor dat we nauwer en efficiënter samen kunnen werken: tussen het KCC en de Newsroom wordt wekelijks afgestemd wat er in de contentkalender staat voor komende dagen’’, zegt Pleun. ‘’Doordat het KCC weet wat er gecommuniceerd wordt, kunnen ze anticiperen op specifieke vragen rondom bepaalde thema’s en onderwerpen.’’ 

Buiten naar binnen halen

Een succesvolle contentstrategie begint bij het ophalen van de juiste informatie. Daarin speelt de Newsroom van gemeente Breda de hoofdrol. De Newsroom houdt balans in wat er gecommuniceerd wordt naar buiten via social media. ''We vinden het belangrijk om te kijken wat er in de stad leeft en in te spelen op de behoeften van de inwoners.’’, aldus Pleun.

De Newsroom bewaakt dit vanuit de online kanalen en zorgt ervoor dat de online communicatie luistert naar de mening van inwoners en hier proactief op reageert en inspeelt. De Newsroom zorgt binnen de organisatie voor het in verbinding brengen van de binnen- en buitenwereld. Het doel als gemeente is om impact te maken bij de inwoners met maatschappelijke onderwerpen die belangrijk zijn in het dagelijks leven. Zoals de energietransitie, betaalbaar wonen voor iedereen, maar ook veiligheid en gezondheid. 

‘’Coosto vormt de basis van hoe wij als Newsroom werken.’’ 

De Newsroom bij gemeente Breda maakt hiervoor veel gebruik van Listen, de media monitor van Coosto. ‘’Listen geeft ons goed inzicht in de opinie van onze inwoners.’’, volgens Pleun. ‘’Zo weten we beter wat er bij de inwoners speelt, en hoe dit in verbinding kan worden gebracht met de thema’s en onderwerpen vanuit de gemeente.’’

Met behulp van Listen creëert Pleun zoekopdrachten om te monitoren wat er online gedeeld wordt over de gemeente en vooral door de inwoners van Breda. Maar ook bij belangrijke gebeurtenissen, zoals de verkiezingen of een crisis zoals een grote brand in de stad, is het essentieel om te weten wat er gezegd wordt. Met behulp van Listen maakt Pleun in een handomdraai omgevingsanalyses: ‘’Zo zijn we altijd op de hoogte van wat er online gedeeld wordt en hoe we daar op in moeten haken.’’ 

‘’Ik ben groot fan van de zoekhulp in Coosto. Daarmee heb ik binnen een handomdraai een zoekopdracht gemaakt om het laatste nieuws en berichten te monitoren.’’ 

Het contentproces van A tot Z

Het contentproces van gemeente Breda begint bij het verzamelen van informatie en inzichten in de behoeften van inwoners, door middel van de media monitor van Coosto. Die inzichten vormen gedeeltelijk de basis voor de social media content. De creatie, verspreiding over de verschillende social media kanalen en de analyse van social media content gebeurt ook allemaal in Coosto.

‘’Wij gebruiken Coosto voor het contentproces van A tot Z. Coosto vormt de basis van onze werkzaamheden binnen de Newsroom van Gemeente Breda.’’

Vervolgens worden alle social media posts in de contentkalender ingepland. Gemeente Breda plant veel vooruit en werkt met vaste thema’s en rubrieken. Aan de hand van de labels in de contentkalender worden alle posts gecategoriseerd. De labels worden daarnaast ingezet om de rubriek aan te duiden, zoals ‘wist-je-datjes’ en weekendtips, en het format van de content, bijvoorbeeld afbeeldingen en video’s.

Veel content staat al op de planning, maar is in afwachting van het juiste moment om naar buiten gebracht te worden. Pleun: ‘’Denk aan het aanvragen van de energiebijdrage. Hier communiceren we natuurlijk niet over op een zonnige dag wanneer iedereen op het terras zit. Dan staat niemands hoofd naar zo’n onderwerp, terwijl het voor veel inwoners wel echt belangrijk is. We zetten dit soort content alvast klaar in de contentkalender, maar wachten het juiste moment af om dit daadwerkelijk te posten.‘’ 

Verbeteren en verbinden dankzij data

De resultaten van alle social media content worden nauwkeurig geanalyseerd. Zo bepaalt Pleun of bepaalde rubrieken nog steeds aanslaan bij de inwoners van Breda, en welke social media posts het beste presteren.

‘’Alle keuzes voor content maken we op basis van data, uit de overzichtelijke dashboards van Coosto’’

Labels vormen de basis voor de data-analyse: per label wordt een dashboard gemaakt, om te tracken hoe de content van een bepaald onderwerp of specifieke rubriek presteert. Per kwartaal analyseren we de verschillende labels, zodat we continu op zoek blijven naar verbeteringen aan de hand van data.

‘’Handmatig alle kanalen analyseren is ondenkbaar: met Coosto zet ik binnen een paar minuten een overzichtelijk en betrouwbaar rapport neer.’’

‘’In een paar minuten maak ik een makkelijk overzicht op basis van zoekopdrachten of labels’’, zegt Pleun. ‘’Daarmee breng ik snel in kaart wat wel werkt en wat niet op onze social media kanalen. Zo kijk ik bijvoorbeeld wat het effect is als we een video plaatsen bij een post of juist een afbeelding.’’

Gemeente Breda en Coosto: sterk verbonden

Coosto speelt een cruciale rol in het succesvol communiceren en betrekken van de inwoners van Gemeente Breda. Van belangrijke inzichten door omgevingsanalyses, tot het snel kunnen reageren op prangende vragen en proactief communiceren over belangrijke thema’s: de content & social media tool van Coosto is een overzichtelijk, efficiënt en bovenal betrouwbaar platform voor gemeente Breda.

X is the perfect social media platform for quick updates and news articles. This social media channel is the online spot to create a large reach: if you manage to create a domino effect with your content, then X is the opportunity to make world news. So, on this social media channel, the general advice is to post right away on X.

But not every post on X is as time-bound as just mentioned. Are you aiming for specific results, such as more engagement or conversions? Then you'll find the perfect moments here to achieve those goals. That's why we delved into the numbers and researched the ideal times for maximum results for each of those goals. 

The best times for more reach on X

Best day to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more reach on X

• Monday at 16:00
• Tuesday at 10:00
• Saturday at 12:00 and 16:00

For X, we see a gradual decline in reach as the week progresses. Our tip: post at the beginning of the week if you want to create a large reach with your post.

Do you want to post on a different day? Peak times on X occur around lunchtime (1:00 PM) and at the end of the afternoon (5:00 PM).

When we zoom in further, we see that Monday at 4:00 PM is the best time to post. We also see more activity on Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon.

The best times for more engagement on X

Best day to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more engagement on X

• Monday at 16:00 and 19:00
• Tuesday at 10:00
• Wednesday at 12:00

The same applies to more engagement on X: post at the beginning of the week. Monday stands out in particular. Additionally, noon is the absolute peak moment during the week, along with 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The best times for more conversions on X

Best days to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more conversions on X

• Monday at 6:00 PM
• Thursday at 9:00 PM
• Friday at 10:00 AM

It's hardly a surprise anymore. Even if you want to maximize the number of conversions, a post on Monday yields the most results.

When we look at the number of clicks per hour, the distribution is fairly even throughout the day, with a slight peak at 9:00 PM.
 

The best times to post for every platform

Are you curious about the best times for other social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn? You'll find them in this overview.

Do you always want to post directly at the best time? With Coosto's Prime Time, you can post with one click at the best moment for your account, your industry, or the platform in general. Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates which times yield the most results.

Facebook is still one of the largest social media platforms. With over 9.9 million users, this channel ranks in the top 3 largest social platforms. In short, there is a lot to gain here! We previously gave a sneak peek into the best times for more reach on Facebook in our blog about the best times to post on social media in 2024.

But there's more to achieve on Facebook: whether it's more engagement or clicks, you're in the right place. Scroll quickly and discover which times will yield better results for you on Facebook.

The best times for more reach on Facebook
The best times for more engagement on Facebook
The best times for more clicks on Facebook
  
 

The best times for more reach on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Sunday and Monday

Peak times for reach on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 PM
• Monday between 3 PM and 5 PM
• Thursday at 11 AM

How do you reach the largest possible audience on Facebook? Very easy, by posting at the peak times mentioned above! Sunday and Monday are the days when Facebook users leisurely scroll through their timelines, increasing the chances that they will see your post. At the beginning of the week, you have the greatest chance of reaching a large audience.

 

The best times for more engagement on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Saturday and Sunday

Peak times for more engagement on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 PM and 7-10 PM
• Monday at 4 PM
• Thursday between 8-10 AM

Interestingly, Facebook users tend to engage more with your posts during the weekend. The weekend is the moment when most users take the time to like posts or leave comments. Additionally, there is generally a clear peak in the mornings: at 9 AM, you can expect a lot of engagement on your Facebook posts.

If you want to leverage the absolute peak moments for more engagement, post on Sunday. Engagement is highest in the afternoon and evening hours.

 

The best times for more clicks on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Saturday

Peak times for more clicks on Facebook

• Sunday between 7-10 PM
• Wednesday at 2 PM
• Thursday at 9 AM

Similar to the best times for more engagement, weekend days yield the best results here. For maximum conversions, post on Saturday or Sunday, preferably towards the end of the day.

During weekdays, there are also peak moments to achieve more clicks: schedule your posts for Wednesday afternoon or on Thursday morning.

 

Do you want to know your best times to post on Facebook?

Looking at the general best times to post on Facebook, we can conclude: Facebook users are most active on weekends. As an organization, it's especially useful to schedule Facebook posts in advance. You can do this with a social media planner like Coosto. That way, you don't have to sit behind the laptop on Sunday afternoon for optimal results on this platform. What a relieve!

What's also important to keep in mind is that this data is based on the overall performance of Facebook posts. If you want to find out when the best time is for your organization specifically to post on any social platform, Coosto's social media planner has a handy feature: Prime Time. This AI technology calculates, based on your company account, industry, and the chosen platform, the best times to post for more reach, engagement, and clicks on Facebook. With just one click, our tool then provides real-time advice on the best time for you to post.

Do you want to discover your best times to post for better results on Facebook? Our Coosto experts would love to show you more during a free demonstration.

Social media gebruik door de jaren heen in Nederland (2013-2024)

Vorig jaar keken we terug in de data van Newcom, waar al sinds 2010 jaarlijks onderzoek wordt gedaan naar het social media gebruik in Nederland. Dit jaar duiken we in de 14e editie van dit onderzoeksrapport en delen we de belangrijkste conclusies en inzichten in dit overzicht. 

Kanttekening: sommige platformen, waaronder WhatsApp, zijn in de eerste jaren van het onderzoek niet meegenomen.

Vooralsnog geen reden om je als organisatie terug te trekken van deze platformen, maar wel een wake up call om jouw content & social media strategie weer eens onder de loep te nemen. 

Ook opvallend: TikTok is de grootste stijger in het aantal gebruikers met maar liefst 34%. Zet deze trend zich door en dwingt TikTok volgend jaar een plekje af binnen de stabiele top 5? Dat moeten we nog maar eens zien. Naast TikTok stijgen ook Snapchat (21%) en Instagram (18%) nog altijd flink in het aantal gebruikers. 

1. 14,3 miljoen Nederlanders maken gebruik van social media

Het aantal Nederlandse social media gebruikers is ook dit jaar gestegen: vorig jaar stond het totaal aantal nog op 14,1 miljoen. Dit jaar tellen we 14,3 miljoen Nederlandse actieve social media gebruikers, die gemiddeld op 4,2 platformen actief zijn.

Gemiddeld besteden deze Nederlanders 2 uur per dag aan social media. De stijging is vooral te zien in de leeftijdscategorieën tot 40 jaar. De leeftijdscategorie 20-39 jaar is dan ook de groep die de meeste social media platformen gebruikt. Voor de andere leeftijdscategorieën blijft het gebruik van het aantal platformen gelijk, alleen bij 65-79 jarigen zien we een zeer lichte daling. 
 

2. Threads: snelle stijger, grote verliezer

Ondanks dat Threads zowel internationaal als in Nederland een vliegende start maakt, is het platform toch nog geen doorslaand succes. 400.000 gebruikers zijn al afgehaakt en het lijkt erop dat de eerste hype om een account aan te maken, voorbij is.

Kortom, vooralsnog lijkt het succes van Threads kortstondig en verwachten we voorlopig geen grote groei in de gebruikersaantallen. Maar wie weet! Het platform is volop in ontwikkeling, dus het kan nog alle kanten op.

Meer weten over dit nieuwe social media kanaal? Hier lees je alles over Threads.

3. Dagelijks gebruik stijgt bij Instagram en TikTok

WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram en LinkedIn blijven aan de top van de meest gebruikte social media platformen. Waar Facebook vorig jaar een kleine daling zag, is er dit jaar weer groei. Hetzelfde geldt voor X: door de vele veranderingen op het platform en de komst van Threads leek het erop dat het platform snel daalde in populariteit, maar niks is minder waar.

Alleen Snapchat en Pinterest blijven achter: zij hebben minder gebruikers in 2024. Ook voor  TikTok zijn de resultaten in groei dit jaar minder. In 2023 zagen we nog een groei van 34%, dat is dit jaar afgenomen naar 6%. Desalniettemin betekent dit nog steeds dat het platform stijgt in populariteit! 

Waarom social media onmisbaar blijft als onderdeel van je contentstrategie

Zoals het onderzoek van Newcom uitwijst is social media nog steeds niet weg te denken uit het online landschap. Het aantal gebruikers blijft stijgen en zo ook de tijd die dagelijks op de platformen wordt doorgebracht. Als organisatie dus de uitgelezen plek om jouw merk onder de aandacht te brengen en te focussen op doelen als bereik, interactie en conversies!

Bovenstaande inzichten zijn essentieel om een passende social media & contentstrategie te maken én tot uitvoering te brengen.

Onderzoeksachtergrond

Newcom voert sinds 2010 jaarlijks het grootste trendonderzoek naar social media gebruik in Nederland uit. Dit jaar werden 7.159 deelnemers boven de 15 jaar ondervraagd voor het Nationale Social Media Onderzoek. Voor meer inzicht in de demografische ontwikkelingen binnen de verschillende social media platformen, verwijzen we je graag naar het volledige rapport op Newcom.nl.

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Previously, we explored the best times to post on social media for greater reach. In this blog post, we delve deeper into the best times for better performance on LinkedIn. As holds for any platform, your content must align with the interests, needs, and questions of your target audience for optimal results. And on LinkedIn, the business-oriented nature of the platform is also something to take into account when scheduling your social media posts.

With alignment with users, and more specifically, your target audience, you will achieve optimal performance on LinkedIn. When your post's content resonates with your target audience, details like LinkedIn tagging make a difference. Also, the times when you post.

Therefore, we delved into the numbers and investigated the perfect timing for maximum results. We can already reveal that the business nature of LinkedIn means that posts during office hours yield the best results. Keep reading to discover the exact peak times for each goal.

 

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more impressions

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Monday to Friday

Peak times for greater reach on LinkedIn

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3 p.m.
• Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

As mentioned above, the professional and business nature of LinkedIn means that you achieve the best results during office hours. If you want more reach on this platform for your organization, keep it within the workweek and preferably between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

We observe a peak throughout the day at 10 a.m. and later at 4 p.m.

Curious about the best times to post for more reach on other social media platforms? Discover them in this overview.
 

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more engagement

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Friday

Peak times for more engagement on LinkedIn

• Monday at 3 p.m.
• Thursday at 5 a.m.
• Friday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It should be no surprise that weekdays within office hours are undoubtedly the best moments for increased engagement. Friday slightly surpasses the rest of the weekdays, but it's obvious that you can expect little to no engagement on this platform during the weekend.

We see a peak in mid-morning throughout the day, decreasing around lunchtime. There is a resurgence in likes, comments, and shares around 3-4 p.m.

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more clicks

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Monday to Friday

Peak times for more clicks on LinkedIn

• Monday at 3 p.m.
• Friday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For the number of clicks there is no difference in the overall conclusion: office hours yield the best results. There is a slight peak towards the end of the week, but it is safe to say that Monday to Friday are all good days for a conversion-focused LinkedIn post.

Looking at the hours, the 9-to-5 pattern is evident once again. Post at 10 a.m. or between 3 and 5 p.m. for optimal clicks.

Note! LinkedIn groups all clicks under one category. This means that this data includes clicks on posts with a link but also clicks to your profile or, for example, clicks on a presentation post with multiple slides.\
 

The best times for LinkedIn posts for your accounts

The above data provides insight into when to post on LinkedIn to achieve your goal. However, these times are based on the general performance of LinkedIn posts.

To truly get the optimal results from your (LinkedIn) content, it's better to zoom in on when your target audience is online. This can easily be done with Coosto's Prime Time. Get direct recommendations for the best times for the chosen platform, your industry, and your company account in the social media planner. Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates the times that generate the most clicks, engagement or reach for your account. Then, with just one click, you can select the best time to post.

Curious about how this works exactly? Request a free demo, and one of our Coosto experts will be happy to show you!

The impact of AI on marketing

AI has permanently transformed the field of marketing and will continue to drive many developments in the (near) future. The impact of AI on marketing is undeniable. As a marketer, your task is to embrace these changes and familiarize yourself with the latest technologies.

AI significantly aids fundamental aspects of content marketing and social media. The graph below, derived from the annual B2B Content Marketing Trends research by the Content Marketing Institute, clearly illustrates how AI plays a key role in the daily activities of most marketers.

Think of practical tasks such as assistance in writing (social media) copy or achieving better results with AI-driven advice by posting on social media at the optimal time. However, the most mentioned use of AI by B2B marketers is gaining inspiration for content.

And it's not surprising. Manually going through numerous articles, trends, and developments is a time-consuming task. This is where AI comes in handy. For example, there are tools that gather relevant online content within a specific field or topic. Content within a particular subject is evaluated and ranked based on various factors, providing you with insights into what's happening and which topics are worth engaging with.

Discover by Coosto offers such an overview: by analyzing and sorting millions of sources in real-time, you get a digestible overview of all content with algorithmically calculated Trending Scores.

AI will not take over your work. Someone with AI knowledge will!

The numerous possibilities of using AI in marketing for daily tasks contribute to significant development. By applying AI intelligently, you save time, energy, and creativity. You no longer have to 'waste' these resources on routine tasks; instead, you can use them for more strategic and overarching activities. Think of developing a content strategy, fine-tuning and monitoring the strategy, and maintaining focus on achieving objectives. AI allows you to be less consumed by small tasks, which, albeit time-consuming, are essential.

An important shift is happening in the marketing field: marketers solely focused on execution will become less important and eventually be replaced by AI. Marketers with the necessary AI knowledge, outsourcing these tasks to technology, and dedicating their remaining time to strategic activities, will become indispensable. That is what the marketer of the future will look like.

How do you use AI in marketing to achieve more success?

The rise of AI in marketing promises a revolutionary shift in how marketers utilize their time and resources. When applied correctly, AI is not about replacing human input, but rather enhancing marketing professionals with AI knowledge. By using AI smartly for routine tasks, marketers can focus more on the strategic aspects of marketing.

In conclusion, knowledge (and skill) of AI in marketing is the key to success. Interested in learning how to acquire this AI knowledge and efficiently apply it to your daily work? We'd be happy to explain more during a free demonstration.

The success of a social media post always depends on multiple factors. Of course, content plays a crucial role: does the content align with the interests, needs, and questions of your target audience? That is the ultimate key to optimal social media performance. In addition, we always remain dependent on the Instagram algorithm, which changes periodically and influences your content's performance.

But there's another important factor: the timing of Instagram posts. If you want to achieve results, choose the optimal times to reach your followers. These ideal times depend on when your target audience is online because that's when you'll achieve more results on social media. A detail that can truly make a difference.

To delve deeper into the behavior of Instagram users, we researched the best times for both increased reach and engagement. Additionally, we further examine the best times for Reels and carousel posts.

 

Best times to post on Instagram for reach

Best day to post for increased reach on Instagram:
Monday and Wednesday

Peak times for reach on Instagram:
Monday at 1 PM
Wednesday at 9 AM
Friday at 1 PM

With a slight edge over the other days, Monday and Wednesday stand out the most. Additionally, there are some general peak moments throughout the days: on Monday and Friday, in the early afternoon, and on Wednesday morning.

Despite the close figures, it pays off on Instagram to post on weekdays during office hours. However, don't hesitate to post at other times, as you can still achieve great results for your reach on Instagram.

Best times to post on Instagram for engagement
 

Best day to post for increased engagement on Instagram:
Thursday

Peak times for engagement on Instagram:
Sunday at 1 PM
Wednesday at 8 PM
Thursday at 4 PM

Thursday is the ideal day if you want to achieve as many likes, comments, and shares as possible with your Instagram posts. Additionally, Sunday and Wednesday are also good days for more engagement.

Regarding the time, 5 PM stands out significantly when looking at the general times. If you want to capture the real peak moments for more interaction with your followers, Sunday afternoon, Wednesday evening, and Thursday afternoon are the best moments.
 

Best times to post on Instagram for Reels
 

Best day for more reach with Instagram Reels       
Tuesday and Wednesday

Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels    
6 and 8 pm

Best day for more engagement with Instagram Reels       
Monday and Tuesday

Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels    
3, 6 and 8 pm
 

Best times to post on Instagram for carousel posts 
 

Best day for more reach with Instagram carousels 
Wednesday

Peak times for more reach with Instagram carousels 
9 AM and 5 PM

Best day for more engagement with Instagram carousels 
Thursday

Peak times for more engagement with Instagram carousels 
5 PM
 

The best times for your Instagram account

The above-mentioned times are based on the overall performance of Instagram posts and thus provide a good guideline for your social media planning. To achieve even better results on Instagram through proper timing, it is valuable to zoom in further, for example, into your industry, or even better: the performance of your business account.

This can be done with Coosto's Prime Time. This handy feature delves deeper into these times and analyzes real-time all social media performances for the best suggestions. With just one click, you can then select the best time to post on your Instagram account.

Curious about the best times to post on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Pinterest? Check them out here!
 

Timing is everything

Of course, the timing of your social media posts is just a starting point: the success of the perfect social media post depends on several factors. One of these factors is, for example, the market in which your organization operates: that's why it's important to know when your target audience is online.

This blog is the starting point for your experiments to determine the best time for your account. Want to get started right away with the best times for your account? The easiest way to schedule your posts at your ideal time is by using Prime Time in Coosto's social media planner.

Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates which times have yielded the greatest reach. With just one click, you can select the best time to post for each channel. Choose the best time to post for your account, the best time for your industry, or the best time for the platform in general.

Not a Coosto user yet, but curious about the best times per social media platform? We investigated the reach of tens of millions of public posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, and YouTube using the data in Coosto. The result is an overview of the times and days when generally a lot of reach is generated. A useful starting point for your timing experiment! 
 

What are the best times to post on Instagram?         
What are the best times to post on Facebook?         
What are the best times to post on LinkedIn?         
What are the best times to post on X?         
What are the best times to post on YouTube?         
What are the best times to post on Pinterest?

How to efficiently post on social media at the best times in 2024?

What are the best times to post on Instagram?

Best day to post on Instagram 
Monday and Wednesday

Peak times for reach on Instagram

• Monday at 1 pm
• Wednesday at 9 am
• Friday at 1 pm

As you can see, the numbers for each day are very close. Monday and Wednesday slightly stand out, but other days also generate a lot of reach. Saturday is the worst day to post on Instagram if you want to reach the largest audience possible.

Throughout the week, there are several peak times: Monday and Friday in the early afternoon and Wednesday morning. All within working hours, but as mentioned, the weekend is certainly not inferior to the other times.

What are the best times to post on Facebook?

Best day to post on Facebook: 
Sunday and Monday

Peak times for reach on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 pm
• Monday between 3 pm and 5 pm
• Thursday at 11 am

Start your week strong if you want to achieve more reach on Facebook: Sunday and Monday are the best days to post on this channel. And don't underestimate the reach of this platform, as Facebook still belongs to the largest social media channels today, making it an important platform to include in your content strategy.

The peak times also occur on these days: there is a clear peak in the afternoon hours for both Sunday and Monday. If you want to spread your Facebook posts a bit better throughout the week, Thursday morning is a good time for your post.

Do you want to get the most out of your Facebook posts? We already gave the tip in our blog about the Facebook algorithm: both relevance and interaction with your posts play a crucial role in success. So, provide substantive, strong posts that truly appeal to your target audience and provoke likes, comments, and shares. 
 

What are the best times to post on LinkedIn?

Best days to post on LinkedIn 
Monday to Friday

Peak times for more reach on LinkedIn

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3 pm
• Friday between 8 am and 10 am

The focus on business of LinkedIn is reflected in the numbers: you achieve the most results on weekdays and during office hours. The best hours for a maximum number of impressions are at 10 am and 4 pm. Posting outside office hours significantly yields less: the number of impressions is far from noteworthy during those times.

When we zoom in on peak moments, Monday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning are the moments when your posts generate more impressions.

In short, focus on office days and hours if you aim for more reach on LinkedIn!  

 

What are the best times to post on X?

Best days to post on X 
Monday

Peak times for more reach on X

• Monday at 4 pm
• Tuesday at 10 am
• Saturday at 12 pm and 4 pm

For X, we see a fairly even spread across weekdays, where Monday peaks slightly. Sunday generates the least impressions. When looking at the interaction per hour, we see a clear peak in the afternoon. At 1 pm and 5 pm, the most activity clearly takes place on this platform, resulting in a larger reach.

Conclusion: the beginning of the workweek clearly yields the most results. If you want to take advantage of peak times on X, further zooming in reveals that Monday afternoon at 4 pm is the best time to post. We also see more activity on Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon. 

 

What are the best times to post on YouTube?

Best days to post on YouTube 
Monday and Thursday

Peak times for views on YouTube

• Monday at 9 am
• Thursday at 10 am and between 2 pm and 4 pm
• Friday at 12 pm

On YouTube, the goal is clear: achieve as many views as possible. Since this platform is number 1 among the most used social media channels, it can definitely be worthwhile to delve into the best times to upload your videos.

Monday and Thursday stand out as the best days. The general peak times occur at 10 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm. If you want to look even more specifically at the best moments, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings by far generate the most views. Thursday afternoon is also a peak moment: between 2 pm and 4 pm, there are many viewers on the video platform. 

 

What are the best times to post on Pinterest?

Best day to post on Pinterest 
Tuesday and Sunday

Peak times for more reach on Pinterest

• Sunday at 7 pm
• Tuesday between 10 am and 12 pm

Pinterest is the odd one out when looking at this overview of social media channels. Looking at the number of impressions on this platform, it is lower than on the above-mentioned social media channels.

However, there are a few clear peak moments to discover if you want to achieve more impressions on this platform. Sunday evening and Tuesday morning clearly generate more reach than other days.

The time-bound nature is much less strong on Pinterest, so it won't come down to the minute here. This platform is characterized by the long lifespan of a post: pins are found years after placement. So, don't hold on too tightly to these times! 

 

How to efficiently post on social media at the best times in 2024?

As mentioned, this overview is ideal as a starting point to further experiment with the best times for your social media accounts. Want to approach this more efficiently? That’s possible! Publish in Coosto allows you to easily schedule and publish from one platform to all your social media channels. Prime Time automatically determines the best times for each channel and your account specifically, using AI technology. This way, you don't have to delve into the data yourself, and you can post with just one click at the best moment.

Threads: the newest Meta family member

On July 5, 2023, Meta introduced Threads: a new platform primarily focused on text, unlike its sibling Instagram. The platform had a flying start: despite only being available in Europe recently, it reached 100 million users in no time (read: 4 days!). Impressive! For comparison, Instagram took 3 years to reach 110 million users.

The rocket start of Threads is easily explained: creating an account on Threads is a breeze if you already have an Instagram account. For many social media enthusiasts, this was a reason to take a look at this platform, but what makes Threads so special?

Time to test it ourselves! As Coosto, we didn't hesitate to do so: follow us on Threads!

Threads distinguishes itself from other social media channels for several reasons, but the main one is this: Threads is set to become an open social network in the (near) future. By making the app compatible with ActivityPub, Threads becomes an 'interoperable' network. Those are a lot of technical terms, but what does that mean? Simply put, social media platforms will be connected: in the future, you could post on Mastodon or receive notifications from that platform via Threads, without having an account on Mastodon. An interesting development that Threads is currently working on.

Threads is already being widely used, now also in Europe. This gives rise to various ideas, myths, and opinions about the platform. But do they hold? We investigated this for you. 
 

Myths arounds Threads

1. Threads doesn't comply with European privacy laws

The reason Threads was not immediately available in Europe had to do with not complying with European privacy laws. The seemingly user-friendly and quick connection to your existing Instagram account was the main reason the platform clashed with our privacy standards.

Fortunately, we can also debunk this myth: Threads can be used without an account, allowing you to bypass the issue.
 

2. Define your timeline with Dear algorithm

If you've already created an account on Threads, you've probably seen posts starting with 'Dear algorithm,' followed by a list of topics. There's a rumor that you can influence the algorithm, telling it where your interests lie to personalize your timeline.

But unfortunately, this is a myth. Meta confirms that this rumor is not true. The Threads timeline is not influenced by such posts but by the user's behavior. Just like on Instagram, what a user sees is determined based on signals like interactions with posts and accounts. You can't influence it with a 'Dear algorithm' post to teach the algorithm a lesson.
 

3. Threads is a text-only platform

Although Threads is primarily focused on textual content, this doesn't exclude other forms of posts. The main approach of the platform is sharing opinions, ideas, and thoughts in a maximum of 500 characters. This can be done through voice messages, images, and short videos. Moreover, you can include links in Threads posts, unlike Instagram.

Threads also announces that they are actively working on new formats. In 2024, you'll be able to enhance your text messages with colored text and the ability to add the 'party popper' emoji (?) to your post for some digital confetti on your screen.

So, the third myth is also debunked!

4. Hashtags are a thing of the past

Let's be clear: hashtags are still very much a part of Threads. However, Threads introduces a new feature with a similar function: Topic Tags. You can add one Topic Tag per post to indicate the theme of your message. This improves the visibility of your post on Threads, a crucial feature as social media channels are increasingly used as search engines.

To prevent the misuse of Topic Tags, the maximum is set to one tag per post. A tag can consist of multiple words or even a short sentence to provide more specific information about the related topic.

Not adding a theme via a Topic Tag doesn't mean your post won't appear in search results if it's related to that topic. The search function displays all related posts, whether a Topic Tag is added or not.

Web developer Max Mykhalchuk examined the most used topic tags and hashtags so far to demonstrate the difference in usage. As you can see, there are quite a few similarities between the two:

Conclusion: hashtags are certainly not a thing of the past, but Threads also brings innovation in this way.
 

How to use Threads for your organization

A new social media platform means new opportunities for your organization. But how do you achieve your social media goals on Threads? Here are some possibilities:

1. Engage with your followers

Threads is the ideal platform to ask short questions to your followers to gauge opinions. This can be done, for example, with the poll feature, but Threads also sets a good example by approaching it differently. Useful and innovative!

2. Increase your reach

A new platform, new opportunities! This relatively new platform provides a clean slate and, therefore, a new chance to reach more followers.

Additionally, Threads offers an excellent opportunity to bring your existing content to the forefront and experiment with new social media content. A breath of fresh air through your social media and content strategy, so to speak!

Moreover, the strong connection with Instagram makes it easy to promote your content cross-platform. With just one click, your latest Threads post can become an Instagram story.

3. Generate more clicks and conversions

Finally, Threads is also a great platform for conversion-focused posts. The ability to include links in your post is the perfect opportunity to direct followers to your website.

Threads currently doesn't have advertising options, which means your posts with a clear call-to-action won't be overshadowed by ads. Take advantage of this! Importantly, respect this and ensure relevant and valuable posts for your followers.
 

Threads is not done developing yet

Since Threads is still a relatively new platform, new developments are being rolled out at a rapid pace. Meta is actively working to continually improve the platform and increase user-friendliness. They make adjustments and enhancements based on user feedback. This platform is far from being fully developed, and we are very curious about what awaits us.

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Onderzoek naar de optimale Instagram-, Facebook-, LinkedIn- en X post voor meer clicks, views en interacties.

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51 Social media tips & tricks

Een bundel vol praktische tips voor beter presterende posts op Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube en LinkedIn

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We spraken met Pleun Eykman, inmiddels 8 jaar werkzaam bij Gemeente Breda. Hier werkt Pleun aan de (door)ontwikkeling van alle online kanalen. Zij werkt aan een succesvolle content- en kanalenstrategie voor de gemeente door middel van online monitoring, data-analyse en contentcreatie. En daar speelt Coosto een belangrijke rol in. 

BREDA TOEN ? & ? NU 

Ginnekenmarkt in 1933 vs vandaag! Ontdek de eeuwenoude waterpomp en café Boerke Verschuren, voorheen 'De Vrachtwagen'. Deze plek is nog steeds het middelpunt van het Ginneken, vooral tijdens carnaval ? 

? Stadsarchief Breda pic.twitter.com/4jj2NJIzLY

— Gemeente Breda (@breda) February 13, 2024

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Efficiënt samenwerken binnen één tool

Binnen de gemeente Breda maken meerdere afdelingen gebruik van Coosto. Zo zorgt het klantcontactcentrum (KCC) voor de afhandeling van alle binnenkomende privéberichten, via Whatsapp en de social media kanalen, en is de Newsroom, onderdeel van team Communicatie, verantwoordelijk voor webcare bij openbare reacties, mediamonitoring, het beheer van social media en data-analyses.

Binnen de verschillende afdelingen kunnen collega’s gemakkelijk werk van elkaar overnemen, dankzij de overzichtelijke tool van Coosto. Niet alleen binnen, maar ook tussen verschillende afdelingen van Gemeente Breda gaat de samenwerking een stuk vloeiender door het werken met een content & social media tool.

‘’Coosto zorgt ervoor dat we nauwer en efficiënter samen kunnen werken: tussen het KCC en de Newsroom wordt wekelijks afgestemd wat er in de contentkalender staat voor komende dagen’’, zegt Pleun. ‘’Doordat het KCC weet wat er gecommuniceerd wordt, kunnen ze anticiperen op specifieke vragen rondom bepaalde thema’s en onderwerpen.’’ 

Buiten naar binnen halen

Een succesvolle contentstrategie begint bij het ophalen van de juiste informatie. Daarin speelt de Newsroom van gemeente Breda de hoofdrol. De Newsroom houdt balans in wat er gecommuniceerd wordt naar buiten via social media. ''We vinden het belangrijk om te kijken wat er in de stad leeft en in te spelen op de behoeften van de inwoners.’’, aldus Pleun.

De Newsroom bewaakt dit vanuit de online kanalen en zorgt ervoor dat de online communicatie luistert naar de mening van inwoners en hier proactief op reageert en inspeelt. De Newsroom zorgt binnen de organisatie voor het in verbinding brengen van de binnen- en buitenwereld. Het doel als gemeente is om impact te maken bij de inwoners met maatschappelijke onderwerpen die belangrijk zijn in het dagelijks leven. Zoals de energietransitie, betaalbaar wonen voor iedereen, maar ook veiligheid en gezondheid. 

‘’Coosto vormt de basis van hoe wij als Newsroom werken.’’ 

De Newsroom bij gemeente Breda maakt hiervoor veel gebruik van Listen, de media monitor van Coosto. ‘’Listen geeft ons goed inzicht in de opinie van onze inwoners.’’, volgens Pleun. ‘’Zo weten we beter wat er bij de inwoners speelt, en hoe dit in verbinding kan worden gebracht met de thema’s en onderwerpen vanuit de gemeente.’’

Met behulp van Listen creëert Pleun zoekopdrachten om te monitoren wat er online gedeeld wordt over de gemeente en vooral door de inwoners van Breda. Maar ook bij belangrijke gebeurtenissen, zoals de verkiezingen of een crisis zoals een grote brand in de stad, is het essentieel om te weten wat er gezegd wordt. Met behulp van Listen maakt Pleun in een handomdraai omgevingsanalyses: ‘’Zo zijn we altijd op de hoogte van wat er online gedeeld wordt en hoe we daar op in moeten haken.’’ 

‘’Ik ben groot fan van de zoekhulp in Coosto. Daarmee heb ik binnen een handomdraai een zoekopdracht gemaakt om het laatste nieuws en berichten te monitoren.’’ 

Het contentproces van A tot Z

Het contentproces van gemeente Breda begint bij het verzamelen van informatie en inzichten in de behoeften van inwoners, door middel van de media monitor van Coosto. Die inzichten vormen gedeeltelijk de basis voor de social media content. De creatie, verspreiding over de verschillende social media kanalen en de analyse van social media content gebeurt ook allemaal in Coosto.

‘’Wij gebruiken Coosto voor het contentproces van A tot Z. Coosto vormt de basis van onze werkzaamheden binnen de Newsroom van Gemeente Breda.’’

Vervolgens worden alle social media posts in de contentkalender ingepland. Gemeente Breda plant veel vooruit en werkt met vaste thema’s en rubrieken. Aan de hand van de labels in de contentkalender worden alle posts gecategoriseerd. De labels worden daarnaast ingezet om de rubriek aan te duiden, zoals ‘wist-je-datjes’ en weekendtips, en het format van de content, bijvoorbeeld afbeeldingen en video’s.

Veel content staat al op de planning, maar is in afwachting van het juiste moment om naar buiten gebracht te worden. Pleun: ‘’Denk aan het aanvragen van de energiebijdrage. Hier communiceren we natuurlijk niet over op een zonnige dag wanneer iedereen op het terras zit. Dan staat niemands hoofd naar zo’n onderwerp, terwijl het voor veel inwoners wel echt belangrijk is. We zetten dit soort content alvast klaar in de contentkalender, maar wachten het juiste moment af om dit daadwerkelijk te posten.‘’ 

Verbeteren en verbinden dankzij data

De resultaten van alle social media content worden nauwkeurig geanalyseerd. Zo bepaalt Pleun of bepaalde rubrieken nog steeds aanslaan bij de inwoners van Breda, en welke social media posts het beste presteren.

‘’Alle keuzes voor content maken we op basis van data, uit de overzichtelijke dashboards van Coosto’’

Labels vormen de basis voor de data-analyse: per label wordt een dashboard gemaakt, om te tracken hoe de content van een bepaald onderwerp of specifieke rubriek presteert. Per kwartaal analyseren we de verschillende labels, zodat we continu op zoek blijven naar verbeteringen aan de hand van data.

‘’Handmatig alle kanalen analyseren is ondenkbaar: met Coosto zet ik binnen een paar minuten een overzichtelijk en betrouwbaar rapport neer.’’

‘’In een paar minuten maak ik een makkelijk overzicht op basis van zoekopdrachten of labels’’, zegt Pleun. ‘’Daarmee breng ik snel in kaart wat wel werkt en wat niet op onze social media kanalen. Zo kijk ik bijvoorbeeld wat het effect is als we een video plaatsen bij een post of juist een afbeelding.’’

Gemeente Breda en Coosto: sterk verbonden

Coosto speelt een cruciale rol in het succesvol communiceren en betrekken van de inwoners van Gemeente Breda. Van belangrijke inzichten door omgevingsanalyses, tot het snel kunnen reageren op prangende vragen en proactief communiceren over belangrijke thema’s: de content & social media tool van Coosto is een overzichtelijk, efficiënt en bovenal betrouwbaar platform voor gemeente Breda.

X is the perfect social media platform for quick updates and news articles. This social media channel is the online spot to create a large reach: if you manage to create a domino effect with your content, then X is the opportunity to make world news. So, on this social media channel, the general advice is to post right away on X.

But not every post on X is as time-bound as just mentioned. Are you aiming for specific results, such as more engagement or conversions? Then you'll find the perfect moments here to achieve those goals. That's why we delved into the numbers and researched the ideal times for maximum results for each of those goals. 

The best times for more reach on X

Best day to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more reach on X

• Monday at 16:00
• Tuesday at 10:00
• Saturday at 12:00 and 16:00

For X, we see a gradual decline in reach as the week progresses. Our tip: post at the beginning of the week if you want to create a large reach with your post.

Do you want to post on a different day? Peak times on X occur around lunchtime (1:00 PM) and at the end of the afternoon (5:00 PM).

When we zoom in further, we see that Monday at 4:00 PM is the best time to post. We also see more activity on Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon.

The best times for more engagement on X

Best day to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more engagement on X

• Monday at 16:00 and 19:00
• Tuesday at 10:00
• Wednesday at 12:00

The same applies to more engagement on X: post at the beginning of the week. Monday stands out in particular. Additionally, noon is the absolute peak moment during the week, along with 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The best times for more conversions on X

Best days to post on X
Monday

Peak times for more conversions on X

• Monday at 6:00 PM
• Thursday at 9:00 PM
• Friday at 10:00 AM

It's hardly a surprise anymore. Even if you want to maximize the number of conversions, a post on Monday yields the most results.

When we look at the number of clicks per hour, the distribution is fairly even throughout the day, with a slight peak at 9:00 PM.
 

The best times to post for every platform

Are you curious about the best times for other social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn? You'll find them in this overview.

Do you always want to post directly at the best time? With Coosto's Prime Time, you can post with one click at the best moment for your account, your industry, or the platform in general. Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates which times yield the most results.

Facebook is still one of the largest social media platforms. With over 9.9 million users, this channel ranks in the top 3 largest social platforms. In short, there is a lot to gain here! We previously gave a sneak peek into the best times for more reach on Facebook in our blog about the best times to post on social media in 2024.

But there's more to achieve on Facebook: whether it's more engagement or clicks, you're in the right place. Scroll quickly and discover which times will yield better results for you on Facebook.

The best times for more reach on Facebook
The best times for more engagement on Facebook
The best times for more clicks on Facebook
  
 

The best times for more reach on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Sunday and Monday

Peak times for reach on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 PM
• Monday between 3 PM and 5 PM
• Thursday at 11 AM

How do you reach the largest possible audience on Facebook? Very easy, by posting at the peak times mentioned above! Sunday and Monday are the days when Facebook users leisurely scroll through their timelines, increasing the chances that they will see your post. At the beginning of the week, you have the greatest chance of reaching a large audience.

 

The best times for more engagement on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Saturday and Sunday

Peak times for more engagement on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 PM and 7-10 PM
• Monday at 4 PM
• Thursday between 8-10 AM

Interestingly, Facebook users tend to engage more with your posts during the weekend. The weekend is the moment when most users take the time to like posts or leave comments. Additionally, there is generally a clear peak in the mornings: at 9 AM, you can expect a lot of engagement on your Facebook posts.

If you want to leverage the absolute peak moments for more engagement, post on Sunday. Engagement is highest in the afternoon and evening hours.

 

The best times for more clicks on Facebook

Best day to post on Facebook
Saturday

Peak times for more clicks on Facebook

• Sunday between 7-10 PM
• Wednesday at 2 PM
• Thursday at 9 AM

Similar to the best times for more engagement, weekend days yield the best results here. For maximum conversions, post on Saturday or Sunday, preferably towards the end of the day.

During weekdays, there are also peak moments to achieve more clicks: schedule your posts for Wednesday afternoon or on Thursday morning.

 

Do you want to know your best times to post on Facebook?

Looking at the general best times to post on Facebook, we can conclude: Facebook users are most active on weekends. As an organization, it's especially useful to schedule Facebook posts in advance. You can do this with a social media planner like Coosto. That way, you don't have to sit behind the laptop on Sunday afternoon for optimal results on this platform. What a relieve!

What's also important to keep in mind is that this data is based on the overall performance of Facebook posts. If you want to find out when the best time is for your organization specifically to post on any social platform, Coosto's social media planner has a handy feature: Prime Time. This AI technology calculates, based on your company account, industry, and the chosen platform, the best times to post for more reach, engagement, and clicks on Facebook. With just one click, our tool then provides real-time advice on the best time for you to post.

Do you want to discover your best times to post for better results on Facebook? Our Coosto experts would love to show you more during a free demonstration.

Previously, we explored the best times to post on social media for greater reach. In this blog post, we delve deeper into the best times for better performance on LinkedIn. As holds for any platform, your content must align with the interests, needs, and questions of your target audience for optimal results. And on LinkedIn, the business-oriented nature of the platform is also something to take into account when scheduling your social media posts.

With alignment with users, and more specifically, your target audience, you will achieve optimal performance on LinkedIn. When your post's content resonates with your target audience, details like LinkedIn tagging make a difference. Also, the times when you post.

Therefore, we delved into the numbers and investigated the perfect timing for maximum results. We can already reveal that the business nature of LinkedIn means that posts during office hours yield the best results. Keep reading to discover the exact peak times for each goal.

 

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more impressions

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Monday to Friday

Peak times for greater reach on LinkedIn

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3 p.m.
• Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

As mentioned above, the professional and business nature of LinkedIn means that you achieve the best results during office hours. If you want more reach on this platform for your organization, keep it within the workweek and preferably between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

We observe a peak throughout the day at 10 a.m. and later at 4 p.m.

Curious about the best times to post for more reach on other social media platforms? Discover them in this overview.
 

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more engagement

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Friday

Peak times for more engagement on LinkedIn

• Monday at 3 p.m.
• Thursday at 5 a.m.
• Friday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It should be no surprise that weekdays within office hours are undoubtedly the best moments for increased engagement. Friday slightly surpasses the rest of the weekdays, but it's obvious that you can expect little to no engagement on this platform during the weekend.

We see a peak in mid-morning throughout the day, decreasing around lunchtime. There is a resurgence in likes, comments, and shares around 3-4 p.m.

The best times to post on LinkedIn for more clicks

Best days to post on LinkedIn
Monday to Friday

Peak times for more clicks on LinkedIn

• Monday at 3 p.m.
• Friday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For the number of clicks there is no difference in the overall conclusion: office hours yield the best results. There is a slight peak towards the end of the week, but it is safe to say that Monday to Friday are all good days for a conversion-focused LinkedIn post.

Looking at the hours, the 9-to-5 pattern is evident once again. Post at 10 a.m. or between 3 and 5 p.m. for optimal clicks.

Note! LinkedIn groups all clicks under one category. This means that this data includes clicks on posts with a link but also clicks to your profile or, for example, clicks on a presentation post with multiple slides.\
 

The best times for LinkedIn posts for your accounts

The above data provides insight into when to post on LinkedIn to achieve your goal. However, these times are based on the general performance of LinkedIn posts.

To truly get the optimal results from your (LinkedIn) content, it's better to zoom in on when your target audience is online. This can easily be done with Coosto's Prime Time. Get direct recommendations for the best times for the chosen platform, your industry, and your company account in the social media planner. Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates the times that generate the most clicks, engagement or reach for your account. Then, with just one click, you can select the best time to post.

Curious about how this works exactly? Request a free demo, and one of our Coosto experts will be happy to show you!

The impact of AI on marketing

AI has permanently transformed the field of marketing and will continue to drive many developments in the (near) future. The impact of AI on marketing is undeniable. As a marketer, your task is to embrace these changes and familiarize yourself with the latest technologies.

AI significantly aids fundamental aspects of content marketing and social media. The graph below, derived from the annual B2B Content Marketing Trends research by the Content Marketing Institute, clearly illustrates how AI plays a key role in the daily activities of most marketers.

Think of practical tasks such as assistance in writing (social media) copy or achieving better results with AI-driven advice by posting on social media at the optimal time. However, the most mentioned use of AI by B2B marketers is gaining inspiration for content.

And it's not surprising. Manually going through numerous articles, trends, and developments is a time-consuming task. This is where AI comes in handy. For example, there are tools that gather relevant online content within a specific field or topic. Content within a particular subject is evaluated and ranked based on various factors, providing you with insights into what's happening and which topics are worth engaging with.

Discover by Coosto offers such an overview: by analyzing and sorting millions of sources in real-time, you get a digestible overview of all content with algorithmically calculated Trending Scores.

AI will not take over your work. Someone with AI knowledge will!

The numerous possibilities of using AI in marketing for daily tasks contribute to significant development. By applying AI intelligently, you save time, energy, and creativity. You no longer have to 'waste' these resources on routine tasks; instead, you can use them for more strategic and overarching activities. Think of developing a content strategy, fine-tuning and monitoring the strategy, and maintaining focus on achieving objectives. AI allows you to be less consumed by small tasks, which, albeit time-consuming, are essential.

An important shift is happening in the marketing field: marketers solely focused on execution will become less important and eventually be replaced by AI. Marketers with the necessary AI knowledge, outsourcing these tasks to technology, and dedicating their remaining time to strategic activities, will become indispensable. That is what the marketer of the future will look like.

How do you use AI in marketing to achieve more success?

The rise of AI in marketing promises a revolutionary shift in how marketers utilize their time and resources. When applied correctly, AI is not about replacing human input, but rather enhancing marketing professionals with AI knowledge. By using AI smartly for routine tasks, marketers can focus more on the strategic aspects of marketing.

In conclusion, knowledge (and skill) of AI in marketing is the key to success. Interested in learning how to acquire this AI knowledge and efficiently apply it to your daily work? We'd be happy to explain more during a free demonstration.

The success of a social media post always depends on multiple factors. Of course, content plays a crucial role: does the content align with the interests, needs, and questions of your target audience? That is the ultimate key to optimal social media performance. In addition, we always remain dependent on the Instagram algorithm, which changes periodically and influences your content's performance.

But there's another important factor: the timing of Instagram posts. If you want to achieve results, choose the optimal times to reach your followers. These ideal times depend on when your target audience is online because that's when you'll achieve more results on social media. A detail that can truly make a difference.

To delve deeper into the behavior of Instagram users, we researched the best times for both increased reach and engagement. Additionally, we further examine the best times for Reels and carousel posts.

 

Best times to post on Instagram for reach

Best day to post for increased reach on Instagram:
Monday and Wednesday

Peak times for reach on Instagram:
Monday at 1 PM
Wednesday at 9 AM
Friday at 1 PM

With a slight edge over the other days, Monday and Wednesday stand out the most. Additionally, there are some general peak moments throughout the days: on Monday and Friday, in the early afternoon, and on Wednesday morning.

Despite the close figures, it pays off on Instagram to post on weekdays during office hours. However, don't hesitate to post at other times, as you can still achieve great results for your reach on Instagram.

Best times to post on Instagram for engagement
 

Best day to post for increased engagement on Instagram:
Thursday

Peak times for engagement on Instagram:
Sunday at 1 PM
Wednesday at 8 PM
Thursday at 4 PM

Thursday is the ideal day if you want to achieve as many likes, comments, and shares as possible with your Instagram posts. Additionally, Sunday and Wednesday are also good days for more engagement.

Regarding the time, 5 PM stands out significantly when looking at the general times. If you want to capture the real peak moments for more interaction with your followers, Sunday afternoon, Wednesday evening, and Thursday afternoon are the best moments.
 

Best times to post on Instagram for Reels
 

Best day for more reach with Instagram Reels       
Tuesday and Wednesday

Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels    
6 and 8 pm

Best day for more engagement with Instagram Reels       
Monday and Tuesday

Peak hours for more reach with Instagram Reels    
3, 6 and 8 pm
 

Best times to post on Instagram for carousel posts 
 

Best day for more reach with Instagram carousels 
Wednesday

Peak times for more reach with Instagram carousels 
9 AM and 5 PM

Best day for more engagement with Instagram carousels 
Thursday

Peak times for more engagement with Instagram carousels 
5 PM
 

The best times for your Instagram account

The above-mentioned times are based on the overall performance of Instagram posts and thus provide a good guideline for your social media planning. To achieve even better results on Instagram through proper timing, it is valuable to zoom in further, for example, into your industry, or even better: the performance of your business account.

This can be done with Coosto's Prime Time. This handy feature delves deeper into these times and analyzes real-time all social media performances for the best suggestions. With just one click, you can then select the best time to post on your Instagram account.

Curious about the best times to post on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Pinterest? Check them out here!
 

Timing is everything

Of course, the timing of your social media posts is just a starting point: the success of the perfect social media post depends on several factors. One of these factors is, for example, the market in which your organization operates: that's why it's important to know when your target audience is online.

This blog is the starting point for your experiments to determine the best time for your account. Want to get started right away with the best times for your account? The easiest way to schedule your posts at your ideal time is by using Prime Time in Coosto's social media planner.

Based on previous posts, this handy feature calculates which times have yielded the greatest reach. With just one click, you can select the best time to post for each channel. Choose the best time to post for your account, the best time for your industry, or the best time for the platform in general.

Not a Coosto user yet, but curious about the best times per social media platform? We investigated the reach of tens of millions of public posts on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, and YouTube using the data in Coosto. The result is an overview of the times and days when generally a lot of reach is generated. A useful starting point for your timing experiment! 
 

What are the best times to post on Instagram?         
What are the best times to post on Facebook?         
What are the best times to post on LinkedIn?         
What are the best times to post on X?         
What are the best times to post on YouTube?         
What are the best times to post on Pinterest?

How to efficiently post on social media at the best times in 2024?

What are the best times to post on Instagram?

Best day to post on Instagram 
Monday and Wednesday

Peak times for reach on Instagram

• Monday at 1 pm
• Wednesday at 9 am
• Friday at 1 pm

As you can see, the numbers for each day are very close. Monday and Wednesday slightly stand out, but other days also generate a lot of reach. Saturday is the worst day to post on Instagram if you want to reach the largest audience possible.

Throughout the week, there are several peak times: Monday and Friday in the early afternoon and Wednesday morning. All within working hours, but as mentioned, the weekend is certainly not inferior to the other times.

What are the best times to post on Facebook?

Best day to post on Facebook: 
Sunday and Monday

Peak times for reach on Facebook

• Sunday at 3 pm
• Monday between 3 pm and 5 pm
• Thursday at 11 am

Start your week strong if you want to achieve more reach on Facebook: Sunday and Monday are the best days to post on this channel. And don't underestimate the reach of this platform, as Facebook still belongs to the largest social media channels today, making it an important platform to include in your content strategy.

The peak times also occur on these days: there is a clear peak in the afternoon hours for both Sunday and Monday. If you want to spread your Facebook posts a bit better throughout the week, Thursday morning is a good time for your post.

Do you want to get the most out of your Facebook posts? We already gave the tip in our blog about the Facebook algorithm: both relevance and interaction with your posts play a crucial role in success. So, provide substantive, strong posts that truly appeal to your target audience and provoke likes, comments, and shares. 
 

What are the best times to post on LinkedIn?

Best days to post on LinkedIn 
Monday to Friday

Peak times for more reach on LinkedIn

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3 pm
• Friday between 8 am and 10 am

The focus on business of LinkedIn is reflected in the numbers: you achieve the most results on weekdays and during office hours. The best hours for a maximum number of impressions are at 10 am and 4 pm. Posting outside office hours significantly yields less: the number of impressions is far from noteworthy during those times.

When we zoom in on peak moments, Monday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon, and Friday morning are the moments when your posts generate more impressions.

In short, focus on office days and hours if you aim for more reach on LinkedIn!  

 

What are the best times to post on X?

Best days to post on X 
Monday

Peak times for more reach on X

• Monday at 4 pm
• Tuesday at 10 am
• Saturday at 12 pm and 4 pm

For X, we see a fairly even spread across weekdays, where Monday peaks slightly. Sunday generates the least impressions. When looking at the interaction per hour, we see a clear peak in the afternoon. At 1 pm and 5 pm, the most activity clearly takes place on this platform, resulting in a larger reach.

Conclusion: the beginning of the workweek clearly yields the most results. If you want to take advantage of peak times on X, further zooming in reveals that Monday afternoon at 4 pm is the best time to post. We also see more activity on Tuesday morning and Saturday afternoon. 

 

What are the best times to post on YouTube?

Best days to post on YouTube 
Monday and Thursday

Peak times for views on YouTube

• Monday at 9 am
• Thursday at 10 am and between 2 pm and 4 pm
• Friday at 12 pm

On YouTube, the goal is clear: achieve as many views as possible. Since this platform is number 1 among the most used social media channels, it can definitely be worthwhile to delve into the best times to upload your videos.

Monday and Thursday stand out as the best days. The general peak times occur at 10 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm. If you want to look even more specifically at the best moments, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings by far generate the most views. Thursday afternoon is also a peak moment: between 2 pm and 4 pm, there are many viewers on the video platform. 

 

What are the best times to post on Pinterest?

Best day to post on Pinterest 
Tuesday and Sunday

Peak times for more reach on Pinterest

• Sunday at 7 pm
• Tuesday between 10 am and 12 pm

Pinterest is the odd one out when looking at this overview of social media channels. Looking at the number of impressions on this platform, it is lower than on the above-mentioned social media channels.

However, there are a few clear peak moments to discover if you want to achieve more impressions on this platform. Sunday evening and Tuesday morning clearly generate more reach than other days.

The time-bound nature is much less strong on Pinterest, so it won't come down to the minute here. This platform is characterized by the long lifespan of a post: pins are found years after placement. So, don't hold on too tightly to these times! 

 

How to efficiently post on social media at the best times in 2024?

As mentioned, this overview is ideal as a starting point to further experiment with the best times for your social media accounts. Want to approach this more efficiently? That’s possible! Publish in Coosto allows you to easily schedule and publish from one platform to all your social media channels. Prime Time automatically determines the best times for each channel and your account specifically, using AI technology. This way, you don't have to delve into the data yourself, and you can post with just one click at the best moment.

Threads: the newest Meta family member

On July 5, 2023, Meta introduced Threads: a new platform primarily focused on text, unlike its sibling Instagram. The platform had a flying start: despite only being available in Europe recently, it reached 100 million users in no time (read: 4 days!). Impressive! For comparison, Instagram took 3 years to reach 110 million users.

The rocket start of Threads is easily explained: creating an account on Threads is a breeze if you already have an Instagram account. For many social media enthusiasts, this was a reason to take a look at this platform, but what makes Threads so special?

Time to test it ourselves! As Coosto, we didn't hesitate to do so: follow us on Threads!

Threads distinguishes itself from other social media channels for several reasons, but the main one is this: Threads is set to become an open social network in the (near) future. By making the app compatible with ActivityPub, Threads becomes an 'interoperable' network. Those are a lot of technical terms, but what does that mean? Simply put, social media platforms will be connected: in the future, you could post on Mastodon or receive notifications from that platform via Threads, without having an account on Mastodon. An interesting development that Threads is currently working on.

Threads is already being widely used, now also in Europe. This gives rise to various ideas, myths, and opinions about the platform. But do they hold? We investigated this for you. 
 

Myths arounds Threads

1. Threads doesn't comply with European privacy laws

The reason Threads was not immediately available in Europe had to do with not complying with European privacy laws. The seemingly user-friendly and quick connection to your existing Instagram account was the main reason the platform clashed with our privacy standards.

Fortunately, we can also debunk this myth: Threads can be used without an account, allowing you to bypass the issue.
 

2. Define your timeline with Dear algorithm

If you've already created an account on Threads, you've probably seen posts starting with 'Dear algorithm,' followed by a list of topics. There's a rumor that you can influence the algorithm, telling it where your interests lie to personalize your timeline.

But unfortunately, this is a myth. Meta confirms that this rumor is not true. The Threads timeline is not influenced by such posts but by the user's behavior. Just like on Instagram, what a user sees is determined based on signals like interactions with posts and accounts. You can't influence it with a 'Dear algorithm' post to teach the algorithm a lesson.
 

3. Threads is a text-only platform

Although Threads is primarily focused on textual content, this doesn't exclude other forms of posts. The main approach of the platform is sharing opinions, ideas, and thoughts in a maximum of 500 characters. This can be done through voice messages, images, and short videos. Moreover, you can include links in Threads posts, unlike Instagram.

Threads also announces that they are actively working on new formats. In 2024, you'll be able to enhance your text messages with colored text and the ability to add the 'party popper' emoji (?) to your post for some digital confetti on your screen.

So, the third myth is also debunked!

4. Hashtags are a thing of the past

Let's be clear: hashtags are still very much a part of Threads. However, Threads introduces a new feature with a similar function: Topic Tags. You can add one Topic Tag per post to indicate the theme of your message. This improves the visibility of your post on Threads, a crucial feature as social media channels are increasingly used as search engines.

To prevent the misuse of Topic Tags, the maximum is set to one tag per post. A tag can consist of multiple words or even a short sentence to provide more specific information about the related topic.

Not adding a theme via a Topic Tag doesn't mean your post won't appear in search results if it's related to that topic. The search function displays all related posts, whether a Topic Tag is added or not.

Web developer Max Mykhalchuk examined the most used topic tags and hashtags so far to demonstrate the difference in usage. As you can see, there are quite a few similarities between the two:

Conclusion: hashtags are certainly not a thing of the past, but Threads also brings innovation in this way.
 

How to use Threads for your organization

A new social media platform means new opportunities for your organization. But how do you achieve your social media goals on Threads? Here are some possibilities:

1. Engage with your followers

Threads is the ideal platform to ask short questions to your followers to gauge opinions. This can be done, for example, with the poll feature, but Threads also sets a good example by approaching it differently. Useful and innovative!

2. Increase your reach

A new platform, new opportunities! This relatively new platform provides a clean slate and, therefore, a new chance to reach more followers.

Additionally, Threads offers an excellent opportunity to bring your existing content to the forefront and experiment with new social media content. A breath of fresh air through your social media and content strategy, so to speak!

Moreover, the strong connection with Instagram makes it easy to promote your content cross-platform. With just one click, your latest Threads post can become an Instagram story.

3. Generate more clicks and conversions

Finally, Threads is also a great platform for conversion-focused posts. The ability to include links in your post is the perfect opportunity to direct followers to your website.

Threads currently doesn't have advertising options, which means your posts with a clear call-to-action won't be overshadowed by ads. Take advantage of this! Importantly, respect this and ensure relevant and valuable posts for your followers.
 

Threads is not done developing yet

Since Threads is still a relatively new platform, new developments are being rolled out at a rapid pace. Meta is actively working to continually improve the platform and increase user-friendliness. They make adjustments and enhancements based on user feedback. This platform is far from being fully developed, and we are very curious about what awaits us.

51 Social media tips & tricks

Een bundel vol praktische tips voor beter presterende posts op Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube en LinkedIn

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1. Contentinspiratietool

Het eerste onmisbare hulpmiddel voor contentmarketeers: een contentinspiratietool. Af en toe krijg je uit het niets ineens een geniale ingeving, maar soms kan contentcreatie een regelrechte worsteling zijn. Waar moet je nú weer over schrijven, filmen of podcasten? Traditioneel zoekwoordenonderzoek biedt lang niet altijd uitkomst. Voor die momenten is een tool die je van inspiratie kan voorzien meer dan handig. 

Discover (Coosto)

Discover in Coosto geeft je op basis van jouw organisatie, branche, concurrentie of product tips voor te creëren content. Dat kan bijvoorbeeld een overzicht zijn van content die trending is of bijzonder goed presteert op social media, en dus mogelijk interessant is voor jouw organisatie. Je kunt op deze content voortborduren, er een eigen variant op maken of de content zelfs rechtstreeks delen met je volgers op social media. 

Met Discover zit je nooit zonder inspiratie en heb je altijd actuele en pakkende content te delen met je doelgroepen.

Gratis beperkte opties:

• Google Trends (alleen zoekvolumes in Google)
• Pinterest Trends (alleen zoekvolumes op Pinterest)
• Answer the Public (enkel gebaseerd op zoekverwachtingen)

2. Social media planner

Een andere tool die niet weg te denken tool is uit de gereedschapskist van een contentmarketeer: een social media planner. Je bent er natuurlijk in eerste instantie vooral op gebrand om je content zo aantrekkelijk, relevant en waardevol mogelijk te maken. Maar als vervolgens niemand die content tegenkomt of vindt, heb je daar niets aan. Je moet je content daarom actief gaan verspreiden. Op social media natuurlijk, want vrijwel elke publieksgroep is wel op één of meerdere social media te vinden. 

Het grote nadeel: het aantal benodigde uren loopt snel op als je content wil verspreiden op 5, 10 of nóg meer accounts van verschillende platformen. Daarom is een tijdsbesparende social media planner een absolute must-have. Zo heb je al je social media accounts op één overzichtelijke plek en hoef je niet 10 tabbladen te openen om je social media te beheren. 

Publish (Coosto)

Met Publish plan je jouw content vanuit één omgeving in op al je social media accounts, en worden posts automatisch gepubliceerd op het moment van jouw keuze. Dat scheelt zeeën van tijd – tot wel 75%. 

Bovendien werken diverse AI-functionaliteiten in Publish direct resultaatverhogend. Met Prime Time plan je jouw posts bijvoorbeeld automatisch wanneer jouw doelgroep online is. Post Optimizer doorgrondt de algoritmes en assisteert proactief bij het finetunen van je content voor meer bereik, clicks en interactie. De Hashtags Generator helpt je om je relevante bereik te vergroten met hashtags die passen bij het onderwerp van je post. 

Daarnaast kun je concepten aanmaken, agenda’s inladen, posts laten reviewen door collega’s en al je statistieken bekijken voor extra optimalisaties. 

Gratis beperkte opties:

• Contentkalender template (posts zijn niet daadwerkelijk in te plannen)
• Tweetdeck (alleen geschikt voor Twitter)

3. Community management tool

Wat je doel met contentmarketing of social media ook is, de kans is klein dat je het behaalt als iemand jouw content slechts eenmalig ziet, leest of hoort. Wie échte resultaten wil boeken, moet daarom bouwen aan een langere relatie met de doelgroep. Alleen zo zorg je ervoor at mensen vaker in contact komen met (nieuwe) content. Dat betekent onder andere dat je online de interactie moet aangaan, en moet reageren op vragen en opmerkingen op social media.

Ook het bijhouden van deze reacties is een tijdrovende klus als je meerdere accounts beheert. In de praktijk betekent het dat je 10 tabbladen tegelijk open moet hebben, of irritant zit te switchen tussen apps op een veel te klein smartphonescherm. 

Om dat te voorkomen, gebruikt vrijwel iedere contentmarketeer een community management tool: een soort grote algemene inbox, waar inkomende berichten van al je accounts en kanalen binnenkomen. 

Engage (Coosto)

Engage in Coosto een ‘grote social media inbox’ noemen is wat kort door de bocht, want de tool bevat veel meer functionaliteiten. Sterker nog, Engage ondersteunt bijna alle denkbare manieren om online de interactie met je doelgroep aan te gaan. Zo like, deel en reageer je niet alleen op berichten van alle social media; ook messengers, livechat en reviewsites zijn er standaard bij inbegrepen.

Daarbij kun je instellen dat je automatisch berichten binnenkrijgt waarin jouw merk, organisatie of product genoemd wordt, maar die niet direct aan jou zijn gericht. Op die manier kun je proactief het gesprek aangaan en nieuwe doelgroepen voor jouw organisatie aanboren. Vanzelfsprekend biedt Engage alle mogelijkheden om met je hele team samen te werken.

Gratis beperkte opties:

• Tweetdeck (alleen geschikt voor Twitter)
• Meta Postvak IN (alleen geschikt voor Facebook en Instagram)

4. Social listening tool

We noemden eerder al dat de meeste social media planners ook statistieken aan boord hebben. Zo zie je direct hoeveel bereik, engagement en clicks je content op social media heeft opgeleverd. Maar contentresultaat is natuurlijk méér dan een overzicht van je social media prestaties.

Een belangrijke KPI die iets zegt over het succes van je content, is het bereik van jouw earned media. Dat is eigenlijk het resultaat dat je - zonder te betalen - behaalt buiten je eigen kanalen. Denk bijvoorbeeld aan nieuws- en vakmedia die de content van jouw organisatie overnemen of delen, mensen die op social media over je content praten, of blogs die linken naar jouw content. 

Het probleem: earned media is handmatig ontzettend moeilijk meetbaar. De oplossing: met een social listening tool (ook wel media monitoring tool genoemd) is het een fluitje van een cent. 

Listen (Coosto)

Listen in Coosto is een zeer uitgebreide media monitoring tool, waarmee je gemakkelijk jouw earned media in kaart brengt. Van het aantal betrokken sites en auteurs, tot het potentieel bereik en de pr-waarde van alle berichtgeving: met Listen zie je het direct. 

Daarbij biedt Listen volop mogelijkheden om ook dieper de berichtgeving in te duiken. Je krijgt bijvoorbeeld een beeld van de mate waarin jouw merk ‘leeft’ op social en online media? Wat is op dit moment het sentiment rond je organisatie? Is het op dit moment verstandig om bepaalde content of gevoelige onderwerpen aan te kaarten? Is het slimmer om even te wachten met een social media post? Is dit wel het moment voor lollige community management-reacties?

Het zijn dit soort inzichten die je óók opdoet met behulp van Listen. Ze helpen je aan een correct en compleet omgevingsbeeld, zodat je de kans verkleint dat je de plank misslaat.

Gratis beperkte opties

• Google Alerts (bevat alleen nieuwsartikelen die expliciet jouw merk vermelden)
   

5. Rapportagetool

Uiteindelijk wil iedere contentmarketeer waar voor zijn werk. Of je nu puur wil bewijzen wat jouw behaalde resultaten zijn, of gericht wil zoeken naar verbeterpunten voor een volgende social media post of campagne: aan een rapportage ontkom je niet. Ook voor intern draagvlak is bewijs van behaalde resultaten vaak onmisbaar. 

Een groot nadeel van de versnippering van kanalen in content & social media, is dat elk kanaal zijn eigen manier heeft om data en statistieken te presenteren. Om te voorkomen dat je aan de gang moet met het transformeren van .CSV bestanden of kromme vergelijkingen moet trekken, gebruikt vrijwel iedere contentmarketeer een speciale rapportagetool.

Report (Coosto)

Report in Coosto brengt de resultaten van al je kanalen samen onder één dak. Zo analyseer je de prestaties van je social media, je community management, alle earned media en meer. Kortom: je kunt in een handomdraai je contentresultaten bekijken, vergelijken en je werk verantwoorden. 

Creëer PDF-rapportages of live te delen dashboards, en ontdek direct toepasbare verbeterkansen in overzichtelijk gepresenteerde resultaten. Zo vind je in no-time antwoord op vragen als: wat heb ik in totaal bereikt met mijn contentmarketing? Wat is de ROI van mijn werk? Welk platform is voor mij het meest succesvol? Welke content slaat aan en welke niet? 

Met welke tools ga jij jouw social media beheren?

Dit zijn de 5 must-have tools voor iedereen die werkt in de wereld van content- en social media marketing. Coosto brengt alle tools samen in één resultaatverhogend en tijdbesparend platform voor optimaal social media beheer. Zo kun je vanuit één omgeving van A tot Z aan de slag voor meer merkbekendheid, websitebezoekers en conversies. 

Wat maakt een perfecte hashtag?

Om vast te stellen wat een hashtag ‘goed’ of zelfs ‘perfect’ maakt, is het goed om eerst stil te staan bij de manier waarop hashtags voor een boost in bereik en interacties zorgen.

Dat gebeurt namelijk pas als een gebruiker daadwerkelijk op een specifieke hashtag klikt of zoekt, om onderliggende posts (hopelijk die van jou) te bekijken en de interactie aan te gaan. De kans dat een gebruiker dit daadwerkelijk doet is veel groter bij hashtags die:

a) Populair zijn. Die hashtags komen immers veel vaker voorbij in de nieuwsfeed of tijdlijn van een gebruiker.

b) Op dit moment gebruikt worden. Een hashtag als #facebookdown wordt tijdens een Facebook-storing ontzettend veel gebruikt, maar zolang het social media kanaal gewoon up and running is, ga je er niet meer bereik mee genereren.

c) Relevant zijn. Op het moment van schrijven wordt #kinderboekenweek veel gebruikt op Instagram. Als jouw merk echter niks met de kinderboekenweek te maken heeft, is de hashtag alsnog niet geschikt voor jou. Een perfecte hashtag heeft dus een link met het onderwerp van jouw social media post.

Een perfecte hashtag is daarom trending in jouw markt; een voor jouw merk relevante hashtag die op dit moment veelvuldig wordt gebruikt.

Hoe vind je de beste trending hashtags?

Er zijn verschillende manieren om de beste trending hashtags voor jouw merk te vinden:

1. Volg accounts met dezelfde doelgroep

Het is even wat werk, maar het kan goed uitpakken: volg accounts die dezelfde doelgroep hebben als jij. Houd bij wat zij posten en welke hashtags ze gebruiken, om vervolgens mee te liften op hun succes.

Dit kan vooral tot resultaten leiden als de accounts die je op het oog hebt een groter publiek aanspreken dan jij. Denk aan influencers, marktleiders of experts in jouw markt. Het nadeel hiervan is dat het een vrij arbeidsintensief proces is, terwijl je natuurlijk ook nog 1001 andere dingen te doen hebt. Je moet bovendien kort op de bal zitten, want een populaire post en een vaak aangeklikte hashtag kan de volgende dag alweer oud nieuws zijn.

2. Zoek op social media kanalen zelf

Een tweede, veel gehanteerde optie werkt iets praktischer - met de nadruk op íets. Je gaat voordat je een post samenstelt op platformen zelf zoeken naar hashtags die geschikt zijn voor jouw post. Verschillende social media bieden hier (beperkte) mogelijkheden voor:

Hashtags op Instagram & hashtags op Facebook

Op Instagram en Facebook kun je zoeken naar een specifieke hashtag die je interesse heeft, om te zien hoe vaak de hashtag in totaal gebruikt is. Maar de platformen zijn letterlijk niet van gisteren, dus er is geen manier om te achterhalen of die hashtags ook daadwerkelijk recentelijk zijn gebruikt.

Hashtags op X

X biedt die mogelijkheid wel. Onder het veld waar je naar tweets kunt zoeken, zie je een lijstje met (eventueel gepersonaliseerde) trending hashtags, wereldwijd of een specifieke locatie. Het totale gebruik van een bepaald onderwerp of een hashtag waar jouw interesse naar uitgaat, ontbreekt juist op X.

Hashtags op LinkedIn

LinkedIn geeft weer andere inzichten in hashtags op het platform. Je kunt er, net als op andere social media platformen, zoeken naar hashtags om onderliggende berichten te vinden. Daar zie je als resultaat niet het aantal gevonden berichten, maar juist het aantal mensen dat ervoor heeft gekozen om de specifieke hashtag te volgen.

Kortom: platformen bieden wel manieren om geschikte hashtags te zoeken, maar ze laten zeker niet het achterste van hun tong zien. De inzichten die je opdoet met deze methodes zullen spaarzaam zijn.

3. Gebruik een Hashtag Generator

De derde optie is daarom in alle opzichten de beste: accurater, eenvoudiger en sneller. In ons Coosto-platform kun je gebruik maken van de ingebouwde Hashtag Generator om binnen een fractie van een seconde de perfecte hashtags voor je post te vinden. Gewoon, real-time, tijdens het creëren van je post. Je typt het onderwerp van je post in, en het systeem geeft je direct suggesties voor geschikte hashtags.

De generator maakt gebruik van geavanceerde data van miljoenen social media posts om jou per kanaal (Instagram, X, Facebook en Pinterest) de meest trending hashtags voor te schotelen. Natuurlijk volledig op basis van jouw onderwerp, zodat de hashtags altijd relevant zijn en jouw bereik en interacties gericht verhogen.

4. Hergebruik goed werkende hashtag(groepen)

Geen zin om elke keer dezelfde hashtags bij elkaar te zoeken rondom veelbesproken onderwerpen? Bewaar en hergebruik je meest populaire hashtags voor een optimaal resultaat. 

Dankzij hashtag groepen in Publish maak en organiseer je eenvoudig combinaties van hashtags. Maak een groep hashtags om vaker te gebruiken in posts gerelateerd aan een campagne of bepaald onderwerp. Zo hoef je slechts eenmalig de hashtags bij elkaar te zoeken, en hergebruik je deze groep met één klik op de knop in je volgende post of voor je post op een ander social media kanaal. 
 

Waarom populairder niet altijd beter is

Soms is het verstandig om niet de meest gebruikte hashtag te kiezen. Hoewel die voldoet aan alle criteria (populair, recent, relevant), kan de concurrentie binnen de populairste hashtags enorm zijn. Op een populaire Instagram-hashtag als #fashion zijn in totaal al meer dan 1 miljard berichten verschenen. Zie daartussen maar eens op te vallen met je post! De eveneens populaire, recente en relevante hashtag #fashiontips telt ‘slechts’ 1,2 miljoen berichten (1000x minder dus). Hoewel deze hashtag dus minder gebruikt wordt, kan het alsnog een slimmere zet zijn.

Je ziet in Coosto daarom per hashtag hoe vaak ze op dit moment gebruikt worden ten opzichte van de andere hashtags in de lijst, zodat je altijd een weloverwogen keuze kunt maken.

Werken hashtags echt op ieder platform?

Het korte antwoord: ja. Het iets uitgebreidere antwoord hebben we laten genereren door de rekenkracht van Post Optimizer in Coosto. Hoe goed scoren posts met hashtags ten opzichte van een gemiddelde post op het gebied van bereik en interactie? (peildatum 16 november 2023).

Hoeveel hashtags moet ik gebruiken?

Zoveel als je wil.

Er is tot nu toe geen onderzoek met stabiel en overtuigend bewijs voor een ideaal aantal hashtags in een Instagram-, LinkedIn- of andere social media post. Waar de ene expert ‘3’ als ideale aantal Instagram-hashtags ziet, roept een ander ‘11’ of ‘8, maar dan moet je ze wel in de comments plaatsen’. Geen van deze uitkomsten kunnen worden bevestigd bij herhaald onderzoek. Kortom: er ís geen ideaal aantal, en je kunt helemaal losgaan met je hashtags.

Máár…De basisprincipes van communicatie leren ons dat de vorm niet mag afleiden van de inhoud van de boodschap. Het is verstandig die stelregel ook te toe te passen op je hashtag ge- of misbruik. Zodra de hashtags de leesbaarheid of overzichtelijkheid van een post in de weg gaan staan, moet je concluderen dat je te veel hashtags hebt gebruikt. Schrappen, dus!