You know when you write an awesome post and you just can’t wait to share it? It’s the second-most frustrating feeling as a blogger, only behind writer’s block and feeling like your well of post ideas has run dry. I like to call it blog post anxiety: the feeling of wanting to share your super-wonderful post right away, but knowing that “right away” isn’t always the best time to post and share. Does anyone else ever feel this, or is it just me? Maybe it’s just me.
So what do you do about it? How do you combat blog post anxiety? The simple answer is to wait and be patient. I know, I know, easier said than done, but that’s really all you can do. Sometimes I will go ahead and publish the post, but wait to share it on social media.
Your next question is probably, “So when do I share my blog posts on social media? How long do I have to wait?” Well, that depends on several factors. There are good times and bad times to post on social media. Of course, these times might differ for everyone, depending on your target audience(s). Here are the most common best and worst times to post on social media, and the ones I go by when posting for myself on my favorite platforms.
The best times to post on Facebook are early in the morning, between about 6-8am before people leave for work, and from 2-5pm during the “afternoon slump.” People get distracted and tired in the afternoons and sometimes need to peek at social media to give themselves a little break. The worst time for Facebook–and across the board, really–is late at night, specifically 10pm-4am. No one is online then to read your content.
Twitter:
Aim your tweets for 1-3pm on weekdays, mainly Monday through Thursday. People are always checking their social media during their lunch hours, so it’s a prime time to grab them. They’re less active on Twitter after 8pm Monday through Thursday, and after 3pm on Fridays, so schedule your content for more popular time frames.
Pinterest:
Most users go to Pinterest when they’re daydreaming. When do you have a tendency to daydream the most? In the afternoon slump at work or school, right? Or later at night when you’re procrastinating? It makes sense, then, that the best times to post on Pinterest are 4pm and 8-11pm during the week. Avoid dinner time and overnight times. Again, no one is online during those times, so your content won’t be seen.
So yes, sometimes you have to hold off your blog post anxiety for a while. But there are enough platforms and social networks that maybe you won’t have to wait so long. Waiting to share your content on social media, and learning the best times for YOU, tends to be difficult. Once you find the best patterns and times for you, everything gets much easier.
When do you post on social media? How do you handle blog post anxiety?
