The Timing Playbook: Best Posting Times by Role, Industry, and Region
There’s no universal best time—only your best times. This playbook shows a four‑week experiment to find them, plus sensible starting slots by role and region. You’ll end with a calendar that fits your week instead of the internet’s.
Key Takeaways
- Start with three slots; test for four weeks.
- Keep winners by ER % and Saves %.
- Layer in role and region patterns once you have a baseline.
What Does “Best Time” Mean?
Definition: Best time to post means the slots where your audience most often engages.
When to use: New accounts or when reach stalls.
Quick steps: pick 3 slots → post 3–4×/week → review weekly → lock top 2 slots.
Pros: Cadence with evidence.
Cons: Needs consistency for a month.
Four‑Week Experiment
- Baseline slots: Morning 08:30–10:30, Midday 12:30–14:00, Afternoon 15:00–16:30 (local).
- Post 3–4×/week; rotate formats.
- Each Friday, rank by ER % and Saves %; keep the top slot.
Patterns That Often Work (use as a start)
- Founders: Mon POV morning; Wed lesson midday; Fri case afternoon.
- Marketers: Tue framework morning; Thu case midday; Sat recap morning.
- Recruiters: Mon hiring tip morning; Wed story midday; Fri client POV morning.
- Job Seekers: Mon work sample morning; Wed learning midday; Fri ask afternoon.
Calendar Export (CSV headings)
Date,Time,Pillar,Format,Hook,CTA
Import into your LinkedinBuddy calendar and schedule.
See features for planning tools, and pricing for plan options.
Why Timing Matters (but not as much as cadence)
Slots only amplify what’s already working. Once your hooks and proof land, timing helps you capture more of your audience when they’re on. Treat timing as a multiplier on top of content quality and repeatable cadence.
If you can’t post, schedule a short “one‑minute note” to keep the slot warm. Consistency beats the mythical “perfect time.”
Four‑Week Worksheet (filled example)
Week 1: Tue 09:45, Thu 13:15, Sat 10:00 → keep Thu.
Week 2: Tue 09:45, Thu 13:15, Fri 15:30 → keep Tue.
Week 3: Tue 09:45, Thu 13:15, Wed 08:50 → keep Tue.
Week 4: Tue 09:45, Thu 13:15, Sun 09:30 → keep Tue & Thu.
Region Nuance (office hours)
| Region | Morning | Midday | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 08:30–10:30 | 12:30–14:00 | 15:00–16:30 |
| Europe | 08:30–10:00 | 12:00–13:30 | 15:00–16:00 |
| India/SEA | 09:30–11:00 | 14:00–16:00 | — |
Avoid judging a slot by a single post. Keep a 4‑week view and prefer Saves % over raw impressions.
Slot Discovery (bootstrap in 1 week)
If four weeks feels heavy, run a bootstrap: post Tue/Thu at 09:45 and 13:15 with strong hooks and proof. Keep the better of the two; add a third slot next week. You’ll narrow quickly while building consistency.
Cross‑Timezone Teams
If your buyers span regions, rotate posts by region week‑to‑week instead of mixing them in one week. Keep separate mini‑dashboards per region to avoid muddy data.
Seasonality & Events
Note holidays, product launches, and industry events. Expect lower ER % during long weekends; don’t over‑correct. Use events to post live “moment‑in‑time” takes even if they fall outside your usual slots.
Keep a simple “slot diary” with a one‑line context (“holiday week”, “live event”). It explains outliers and prevents chasing ghosts.
Schedule 3 Test Slots Review every Friday for a month