The Truth About "Best Times" to Post (From a Software Engineer)

As a software engineer, I love data. So when everyone said "post at 9am for maximum engagement," I tested it. Spoiler: Generic advice is garbage.

Why I Stopped Following "Expert" Advice

Think about it - I'm targeting other developers and solopreneurs. Are they scrolling Instagram at 9am? No, they're in standup meetings or deep in code.

The "best times" you see everywhere? They're averages across millions of accounts. Your indie SaaS has different optimal times than a fashion brand or restaurant.

My Simple Testing Method

Being an engineer, I approached this systematically:

1. Posted the same type of content at different times for 2 weeks
2. Tracked engagement rates (not just likes - actual conversations)
3. Found patterns in when my audience was most active

What I Discovered

My developer audience? They're active at weird times:

• Late evenings (9-11pm): After work and side projects
• Sunday afternoons: Planning the week ahead
• Lunch breaks (12:30-1:30pm): Quick scroll between meetings

The traditional "9am peak"? Crickets. My audience is too busy shipping code.

The Automation Advantage

Here's the thing - once you know your best times, you need to hit them consistently. But I'm not setting alarms for 10:47pm to post on Instagram.

That's why I built scheduling into PostQuickAI. I batch create content when I have energy (usually Sunday afternoons), then let it post at the optimal times throughout the week.

Skip the Guesswork

Don't trust generic "best times" charts. Your audience is unique. Test different times, find what works, then automate it. That's the engineer's approach to social media.

And if you're too busy to test? Just post consistently. A regular schedule at "okay" times beats perfect timing with sporadic posts every time.