Instagram has become a virtual hub of creativity and engagement with over a billion active users. Despite being challenged by major competitors like Snapchat, TikTok, and Pinterest, it has managed to hold its own.
So, what is it that makes Instagram so popular as a platform?
It’s a question with many answers, but there’s denying that versatility is an area of strength for Instagram. Content creators have plenty of options for expressing themselves— from image carousels, captivating videos, and spur-of-the-moment Live broadcasts. The platform welcomes brands and influencers to experiment and find the content format that best suits their style.
But there is a downside to having endless possibilities— it makes content scheduling and staying in the algorithm’s good graces a constant challenge. Each content format experiences its rapid evolution of trends, hashtags, and engagement tactics, adding another layer of complexity to social media marketing.
It’s a reality that’s left many content creators wondering how often to post on Instagram and how to maximize their exposure in such a competitive digital landscape.
Ready for the good news? You don’t have to spend hours Googling and researching “How many times should you post on Instagram?”. We’re here to provide all the necessary answers to establish a consistent and effective posting routine!
How Often Should You Post on Instagram?
While there’s no ideal strategy for how many times to post on instagram to gain followers, there are general best practices you can follow. Here are the key considerations to keep in mind.
To start, using multiple content formats is recommended for maximum exposure. That means you’ll want to share feed posts along with (at least) one of the following:
Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are temporary, full-screen photo and video posts you can share on your profile for 24 hours. They appear at the top of the Instagram feed, allowing for quick and easy viewing. Plus, they offer interactive features like polls and swipe-up links to enhance user engagement.
Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are short-form, vertical videos that last for a maximum of 60 seconds. They are excellent for content creators who like to explore and share their creativity since features like music, effects, and editing tools can be used to completely customize the video.
Instagram Live
Instagram Live is a real-time, interactive broadcasting platform where you can stream live video content to your followers. These live events establish a sense of urgency and authenticity, making them ideal for building a deeper connection with your audience.
Don’t feel pressured to commit to all of these formats, though! Instead, find the ones you enjoy most and utilize them in addition to traditional feed posts.
Secondly, you always want to make data-driven decisions regarding your content schedule and greater marketing strategy. Review your analytics regularly to determine what posts resonate most with your audience. Then, continue to post more of the content they enjoy!
Now that you’re familiar with the format options available, we can explore the question, “When should you post on Instagram?” Let’s get to it!
How Many Reels Should I Post a Day?
Generally speaking, sharing 2-3 Reels per week is an excellent starting point. But content creators wondering how often to post reels on Instagram will want to keep in mind that posting frequency changes depending on how large an audience is, how much time you can commit to producing content, and how active your target market is on the platform.
Furthermore, your ideal posting frequency may change depending on your specific goals and objectives on Instagram. If you aim to build brand awareness, you might post less frequently but strongly emphasize captivating and shareable content. But if you’re planning a promotional campaign or time-sensitive event, you may need to post more regularly to maintain momentum and engagement.
How Many Times Should I Post on Instagram?
It’s recommended that brands and content creators post to their main Instagram feed 3-5 times per week. But remember, quality should always be a top priority, so it’s better to share fewer high-quality posts than a high volume of lower-quality content.
If you’ve been nervously Googling “How many Instagram posts per day is ideal,” try not to stress about the specifics too much. Just aim to post regularly and consistently over time.
How Many Stories Should I Post Per Day?
Your audience’s size and engagement level significantly affect how often you post Instagram stories. If you have a large audience of loyal followers, they’ll likely respond favorably to a more frequent posting schedule. But if you’re still growing your audience and brand awareness, your audience may find daily posts overwhelming.
Our recommendation? Aim for 2-3 stories per week when starting out. Then, increase to daily stories once you reach 2500-5000 followers.
How to Post on Instagram for Maximum Engagement
We’ve answered the question, “How many times a day should you post on Instagram?” but here’s the thing — simply posting at the recommended frequency isn’t enough to maintain a highly engaged audience. You need to make sure you’re considering the time of day your posts are going out, what hours your audience members tend to be online, and the consistency of your posting over time.
Here are the best strategies for increasing engagement rates:
Learn the Best Timing
You want to make the most of your online presence, and while there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to how many instagram posts per day will yield the best results, you can set yourself up for success by following a few general rules.
First, you want to think about the daily habits of your audience. Are you targeting young professionals? These individuals are more likely to work a regular 9-5, with a lunch break around noon. In this case, scheduling posts to go live around lunch hour is an excellent strategy. On the other hand, if you target busy new moms, scheduling posts between 7–9 pm ensures they are seen during those precious downtime hours when the baby is asleep.
Secondly, remember that weekend schedules are pretty different, impacting how often to post on Instagram. Generally, the peak times for Instagram usage on Saturdays and Sundays are between 10 am and 3 pm.
Your best bet? Monitor your engagement rates for a few months to determine when your audience is most active.
Create a Schedule
Once you’ve gathered enough data to determine when your audience is most active, you can decide how often to post on Instagram and create a content calendar that aligns with what you found.
Choosing to categorize your content into themes is one helpful approach. That way, you can consistently create content for 3-5 different posts that appeal to your audience while remaining true to your brand’s purpose.
Examples of Instagram content themes include:
- Product showcases
- Giveaways and Contests
- Tutorials or How-To’s
- Local News
- Inspirational Quotes
- Quick Tips
It’s also super smart to incorporate cross-promotion into your Instagram content schedule. That could mean collaborating with other influencers, partners, or brands so you can tap into their established audiences and introduce your content to a broader market. But it can also mean sharing essential content across multiple channels to ensure it’s accessible to each online community you’ve built.
Repurpose Existing Content
Your existing content is a treasure trove of opportunities. With a few adjustments, you can put a fresh spin on your existing content and reshare it on other platforms (or in different formats on the same platform).
The critical thing to remember here is that different platforms have varying video dimensions, requirements, and audience expectations. To make the most of each channel you’re on, you need to understand these requirements and create compelling content optimized for that particular platform.
With Vizard, you can create a clip compilation video, for example, by using a video splitter and then stringing them together. You can also repurpose a video and turn it into multiple clips for social media.
There are countless ways to reuse content and extend its lifespan. You just have to experiment with different editing techniques and strategies!
Vizard: An All-In-One Solution for Instagram Creators
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Our Instagram Reel Maker‘s cutting-edge AI technology shortens editing time from hours to seconds, allowing you to enhance your content effortlessly. Whether it’s adding subtitles to an Instagram Reel, resizing a YouTube video for your Instagram Stories, or editing publish-ready videos with just the click of a button — we’ve got you covered.
Want to know the best part? There’s no experience required! Our AI takes the complexity out of editing, making it a breeze for anyone, regardless of skill level. We even have an online library of video tutorials to help guide you through every step of the way. We empower marketers, creators, and agencies to produce professional videos and grow their brands online. Level up your content and give Vizard a try today!
