How often should you post on Instagram? It is the million-dollar question every Instagrammer dreams of having answered by the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri.
However, in his chat with the Creators page on Instagram in 2021, Adam only offered a general guideline: “Post one to two Instagram Stories daily and a couple of in-feed Instagram posts weekly.” But has this posting frequency changed for 2024? How many posts a day can help grow Instagram followers and keep the audience engaged?
Here, you’ll discover the right Instagram posting frequency for maximum growth and engagement. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
How Often Should You Post on Instagram
Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should post on Instagram. While many Instagram experts suggest posting three to five times each week, many factors can influence the answer, including:
1- The Number of Your Followers
The ideal number of daily Instagram posts varies based on the number of followers you have. You should increase your posting frequency as your follower count increases. Here is how it works.
- Nano Accounts (0-10K Followers): Aim for about 2 posts per week.
- Micro Accounts (10K-100K Followers): Consider posting around 3 feed posts per week.
- Mid Accounts (100K-500K followers): Posting approximately 5 feed posts per week is adequate.
💡Note: As your followers increase, prioritize quality over quantity in your posts to increase engagement rate and keep content valuable and relevant.
2- The Type of Your Instagram Account
Your Instagram posting frequency varies depending on your account type – whether it’s personal or professional.
If you wonder how often to post on Instagram as a business, consider these key points:
- Assess competitors’ posting frequency for insights.
- Businesses post an average of 1.56 times per day; However, recommended Instagram posting strategy as a business is to post feed content 2 to 3 times per week, and the same number for stories.
- Analyze the peak engagement times of your competitors.
- Align your posting schedule with your competitors or exceed them slightly if you have more followers.
- Consistency in posting is crucial for audience engagement and growth on Instagram business accounts.
Suggested Post: How to Target Competitors’ Audience on Instagram
3- Your Niche and the Audience You’re Targeting:
The third key factor in determining how often you should post on Instagram is your niche and target audience. You need to check out what days and times your followers are most active on Instagram and post on those times.
4- Content Type
The effort involved in creating different content types (Stories, Reels, Carousels, and more) impacts the frequency. For example, in comparison to carousels, stories may require more frequent posting.
How Often Should You Post Reels on Instagram?
Instagram suggests five to seven reels per week. It is essential to post entertaining Reels regularly. It’s best to treat reels like part of the main feed but avoid overwhelming followers. Posting reels at the best times and only once a day can encourage higher engagement.
✨Here’s a Tip: Regularly track your Reels’ performance to find what types of content and posting schedules perform best. Then, refine your strategy.
How Often Should You Post on Instagram Stories?
According to the Later studies, nano accounts should post Instagram Stories three times a week, micro accounts four times a week, and mid accounts 15 times a week.
| Account Type | How Many Times Should You Post On Instagram Stories? |
| Nano (0-10K followers) | 3 |
| Micro (10K-100K followers) | 4 |
| Mid (100K-500K followers) | 15 |
Adam Mosseri recommends posting two stories per day. However, posting between one to seven stories per day often leads to the best results.
Does Posting Frequency on Instagram Matter?
The short answer is: Yes.
Being consistent on Instagram is the key to success on the app. It’s crucial if you’re growing your Instagram account from scratch, as it helps you build your social presence.
Moreover, regular posting signals to the Instagram algorithm that your account is active and engaging. This signal can lead to better visibility in users’ feeds and possibly higher placement in the top search results. More Regular posting also allows you to find out what resonates most with your audience.
Adam Mosseri agrees with this, saying: “The more you post, the more your followers usually grow because more people discover you, more people share your content, and there’s more content to be discovered.”
But Wait! Quality over quantity. Let me share Nike’s approach with you, for instance:
According to the 2023 Instagram Engagement Report by HubSpot/Mention, Nike doesn’t post daily. Instead, they post to the feed about three times a week, and are not overly active on Stories. They post high-quality, dynamic, and have engaging post ideas; most of their Instagram content is a reel or carousel. Scrolling through their feed feels like flipping through a high-end magazine or watching an engaging documentary.
Key Takeaways on Regular Posting Frequency
When you ask how many times I should post on Instagram to gain followers, you should keep the following points in mind:
- Get Started with What’s Possible: Start with a manageable posting schedule, like three Instagram feed posts and three Stories weekly. Consistency is critical; post as much as you’re comfortable with. Also, Determine the amount of resources required for the creation of engaging content.
- Have a Consistent Posting Schedule: Make sure to schedule your Instagram posts strategically, such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for your feed posts and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for your Stories. Brainstorm ideas, plan a monthly schedule, test, and adjust with different Instagram features. AiGrow is the top Instagram scheduling tool, ensuring peak-time posts for maximum engagement and consistent audience interaction.
- Test, Test & Test: Experiment with different posting schedules and content types over a few weeks. Successful Instagrammers thrive by continuously testing and adapting their content based on emerging trends. By trial and error, you can enhance your Instagram strategy.
Suggested Post: Top Tools to Schedule Instagram Posts
AiGrow Scheduler
As already mentioned, scheduling and publishing your Instagram content at peak interaction times is crucial for maximizing reach and engagement. AiGrow is a powerful, all-in-one Instagram scheduling tool that can help you achieve this.
With AiGrow, you can create high-quality content and schedule it in advance. This ensures your posts go live when your audience is most active, leading to higher organic growth and engagement. Using AiGrow also helps maintain consistency in your posting schedule, which is key for keeping your audience engaged.
For businesses looking to increase their Instagram presence, AiGrow is the best solution. It combines convenience with advanced features that will help you improve your marketing results.
Final Thoughts on How Often to Post on Instagram
As you’ve discovered, the best answer to ‘how often should you post on Instagram?’ varies based on many factors, including your account type, the number of followers, and the resources and time you have available.
Finding the right balance in your Instagram posting frequency is crucial. Too many posts can overwhelm followers, and too few can lead to decreased visibility and engagement.
While studies suggest 3-5 posts per week (3-5 stories per day), it’s different for new accounts and those with more followers. Additionally, the amount of resources you have available as well as the type of account and the content you are publishing can affect your regular posting schedule. So, keep testing and monitoring your follower and engagement growth until you find your ideal posting schedule.
Once you’ve determined your optimal posting frequency, maintain consistency. Ensure each Instagram post you make is high-quality and engaging.
FAQs
Q1. How Often Should I Post on Instagram to Gain Followers?
There is not a fixed number. However, studies suggest 3-5 posts per week and consistent Stories. If you have more time and resources, consider increasing your regular posting frequency to multiple times weekly or daily. Don’t forget: the more you post, the more likely you are to be discovered. So, test different schedules to discover the one you will find most effective for your Instagram strategy.
Q2. Is Posting 3 Times a Week on Instagram Enough?
It depends. If you’re building your Instagram followers, you may need to post 3-5 times a week.
Q3. Is It Bad to Post Twice a Day on Instagram?
Posting twice a day on Instagram isn’t necessarily bad. It depends on your content’s quality and how your audience responds. If your posts are interesting and engaging, twice daily can work well. However, if your content isn’t captivating, it might bore your followers and lead to lower engagement. So, monitor audience feedback and adjust your posting frequency accordingly for optimal results.
Q4. Is Posting Too Much on Instagram Bad?
Yes, posting too much on Instagram can be harmful and lead to less engagement, content fatigue, and a spammy look.
Q5. How Much Is Too Often to Post on Instagram?
Sorry, but no exact number! If the quantity goes over quality (you post too often), you’ll get alarms like:
- Likes, comments, and shares start to fall.
- Negative comments like “These posts are starting to feel repetitive” or “Not sure what the point of this post is” will grow.
- You’ll see ghost followers and unfollowers.
- You feel overwhelmed by creating content, and you’re spending less time and effort on each piece.
Q6. How Can I Find the Best Posting Frequency?
Don’t just go by what others say about posting frequency. Instead, you should find your own ideal posting frequency. If studies and experts are saying that posting 3 to 5 times a week is going to work, why not give it a shot? Just don’t be afraid to try!
The next step is to track your Instagram insights. Open your Instagram insights to learn more about your followers and their most active times on the platform.
Experiment with different posting schedules over a few weeks. For example, post four times in one week and six times in the next. Then, monitor how your engagement metrics change.
Q7. How Often Do Influencers Post?
Influencers should aim to post on Instagram three to five times per week.
