What is the Best Time to Post tool?
We’ve all heard it before: post at noon to get the most out of your videos, but what happens when your audience is watching from around the globe? When’s the best time to post for your channel? You can stop the guesswork and use the incredible power of the Best Time to Post tool.
How to Get Started with the Best Time to Post
If you're using a computer: Once you're logged into your vidIQ dashboard, you'll see the Best Time to Post inside the "Subscribers" tab:
If you're using the vidIQ extension for your browser: Open YouTube or YouTube Studio. You'll see a "Best time to post" section inside the Details tab of a video:
How does the Best Time to Post work?
Publish Time and Long-Term Performance
YouTube states that the publish time is not known to affect the long-term performance of videos directly. This can undoubtedly be true of search-based content, which needs time to establish itself before momentum starts to kick in. However, immediate engagement could play a crucial role in gaining initial traction and visibility for time-sensitive or trending content.
Timing for Time-Sensitive Content
Remember that sometimes you can't wait for the perfect time to post on YouTube. For example, if Apple announces its latest iPhone at 4:00 p.m. on a Monday, it's better to join the conversation sooner rather than later because your audience may have already found other sources for that information.
Also, consider when you publish your video - avoid posting at the top and bottom of the hour to avoid competing with the influx of other creators' content and notifications to subscribers. Instead, consider posting a few minutes before or after these peak times.
Optimal Posting Times
Focus on the largest blue circles for the highest audience activity, but avoid posting at the top and bottom of the hour to prevent competition with other creators' content and subscriber notifications. Instead, consider posting a few minutes before or after these peak times.
Treat Videos Like Stock
You don't want to invest when their value is at its peak because only one direction can go. You want to get involved when the velocity is starting to ramp up. So, if your potential audience's peak time on YouTube is noon on Fridays, you may want to publish your video at 9, 10, or 11:00 a.m. on Friday.
Posting before the peak ensures your video gains momentum as more viewers come online, increasing the chances of sustained engagement.
Quick Tip! Make sure to check back frequently as audience habits tend to shift over time.
How does our tool differentiate from YouTube’s “When your viewers are on YouTube?
YouTube’s “When your viewers are on YouTube” feature provides insights into the times your audience is generally active on the platform. While this is useful, vidIQ’s “Best Time to Post” feature takes it a step further. It shows when your audience is online and identifies when they are the most active and engaged.
This means vidIQ offers a more precise recommendation for posting times, ensuring your content reaches viewers at peak engagement periods. By leveraging this data, you can maximize your video’s visibility and potential for interaction, leading to better performance and growth for your channel.