Social Media Posting Frequency: How Much is Too Much?
How often you should post on social media sites is one of the most common questions asked by social media users and managers alike. Because you want to spread your content far and wide, it can seem like the more frequently you post, the better your content will be seen by as many people as possible. However, some sites recommend posting in moderation so as not to annoy or alienate your followers. So what’s the best way to find out how often you should be posting?
Start with 1 social media platform
It’s better to do one thing really well than it is to be mediocre at two things. Focus on mastering your social media plan before you make it more complicated. In other words, start with 1 platform and master that before adding another one in (and be sure to keep a close eye on your data to make sure you aren’t spreading yourself too thin).
2-3 posts per day
When you first launch, it’s important to regularly post to social media to drive people back to your website and let them know what you are up to. Aim for 2-3 posts per day during these early stages. Keep in mind that quality counts more than quantity—it’s better to publish high-quality content less often rather than low-quality content frequently.
Track your performance to decide what works best for you
To figure out what’s best for your business, keep a log of your posting frequency and engagement. For example, record when you post to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; how many people like, comment on or share each post; and which posts received higher engagement than others. If a certain approach doesn’t perform as well as you’d hoped (for example, if some days are better for social media activity than others), consider adjusting accordingly.
Give yourself permission to stop when you reach your goals
If you’re posting a few times per day and your strategy seems to be working, stop. If you’re still getting engagement and conversions, don’t push yourself to double or triple your efforts. That will just burn out your social media audience and turn them off—and who knows where that might lead! But if you start seeing less engagement with each post, it might be time to amp up how much you’re sharing on social media.
