How Often Should You Post on Social Media? A Guide for Small Businesses
Read Time 4 mins
One of the most common questions small business owners ask is: “How often should I post on social media?” The answer depends on your goals, your audience, and the platforms you’re using—but some general best practices can help you stay consistent without burning out.
In this guide, we’ll break down recommended posting frequencies by platform, how to find the right rhythm for your business, and tools to help you stay on track.
Why Posting Frequency Matters
Posting too little can make your brand forgettable. Posting too much can overwhelm your audience. The sweet spot? Consistent, quality content that keeps your brand top-of-mind without becoming noise.
Here’s why frequency matters:
- ✅ Keeps your audience engaged
- ✅ Improves visibility in platform algorithms
- ✅ Builds trust and familiarity
- ✅ Helps you stay relevant in a competitive space
👉 Related: How to create a social media strategy
Recommended Posting Frequency by Platform
Here’s a general guide to how often you should post on each central platform:
Platform | Recommended Frequency | Best Times to Post |
---|---|---|
3–5 times per week | Weekdays, 9am–1pm | |
3–7 times per week (feed), daily (Stories) | Weekdays, 11am–2pm | |
Twitter/X | 1–3 times per day | Weekdays, 8am–4pm |
2–5 times per week | Tues–Thurs, 9am–12pm | |
TikTok | 3–5 times per week | Evenings and weekends |
📌 Note: These are starting points. Your ideal frequency may vary based on your audience and content type.
How to Find the Right Frequency for Your Business
Every business is different. Here’s how to find your ideal posting rhythm:
1. Start Small and Scale Up
Begin with a manageable schedule, such as 3 posts per week, and increase as you become more comfortable.
2. Monitor Engagement
Utilise platform analytics to identify when your audience is most active and which posts yield the best results.
3. Prioritise Quality Over Quantity
It’s better to post three significant pieces of content per week than seven rushed ones.
4. Test and Adjust
Try different posting times and frequencies. Track your results and refine your approach to achieve optimal outcomes.
Tools to Help You Stay Consistent
Consistency is key, but it’s hard to stay on top of everything manually. These tools can help:
- Hootsuite – Schedule posts across multiple platforms
- Buffer – Simple scheduling and analytics
- Later – Great for visual planning, especially on Instagram
- Sprout Social – Advanced scheduling and reporting
👉 Related: How to schedule social media posts
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should post on social media. The key is to be consistent, strategic, and responsive to your audience’s behaviour. Start with the recommended guidelines, test what works, and create a schedule that suits your business and available bandwidth.