YouTube is one of the most popular ways to share videos online! But when you upload, your videos join millions of others posted every single day. How do you stand out? How often should you post on YouTube? And what is the best time to post on YouTube?
In this tutorial, you’ll learn the best times to post on YouTube. We’ll look at how YouTube indexes and references videos.
And we’ll explore an array of tips and tricks to help you post your videos at just the right time. This helps position you for success by releasing new videos right when your audience is looking for them!
Let’s get started.
What is the Best Time to Upload a YouTube Video?
So, what is the best time to upload a YouTube video? Well, there’s no single right answer. This will depend on several key factors:
- Your location. Where you’re located will steer the best times to post on YouTube. Generally, it’s best to upload in the early afternoon hours. Online video views spike in the evening and at night. Uploading right before lets you have new content in place when others start logging on to watch.
- The location of your audience. If your audience is geographically far from you, you might want to adapt your upload times to target their location.
- When YouTube indexes your upload. Videos that you upload will be viewable on YouTube. But they may not be easy to find. Why? Because YouTube videos go through what is called indexing. This helps place and rank them in Google’s Search tools. Since indexing isn’t instant, you’ll want to upload prior to peak times for views. As a general rule, allow at least a few hours for YouTube indexing to be completed.
In short, it’s best to upload videos in the late morning or early afternoon. This is the best time to post shorts on YouTube, along with full-length clips.
Day of Posting | Best Times to Post |
Weekdays | 11AM – 3PM |
Weekends | 11AM – 5PM |
When you do this, you’ll be ready to take advantage of traffic spikes at the end of each day. And you’ll allow YouTube time to index your clips so they’ll be easy for others to find using YouTube and Google Search tools.
Find Your Personal Best Time to Post on YouTube with Analytics
It’s easy to see that the best time to upload to YouTube won’t always be the same. It depends on you, your audience, and more. But how can you get to know your audience better?
The top way to find the best times to post on YouTube is to study the habits of your own viewers. Think of this as getting personalized insights into when they watch your videos. Knowing this leads you to the best time to post on YouTube.
Fortunately, YouTube includes a robust analytics suite. With this, you can see an array of data visuals about your audience. It can help you answer “how often should you post on YouTube?” by tracking what works. Post on an interval, then study your watch data.
Most importantly? You can see when viewers are on YouTube and watching your videos. Think of how useful this is. It lets you upload videos to appear right when most of your viewers are online and ready to watch.
To access YouTube’s analytics package, go to the YouTube Studio panel in your account. Choose Analytics from the sidebar on the left. To find this all-important viewing time info, click on the Audience tab. These, and the many other visual insights, help you find exactly when to post your videos for the maximum engagement.
How to Make the Most of the Best Times to Post on YouTube
Analytics help you unlock the best times to post on YouTube. But data alone doesn’t give you the full picture. Embrace these tips to boost traffic the moment you post a new video!
1. Always Promote Your Channel
Promoting your channel is an integral part of success with your YouTube uploads. Think of this as an intro for viewers into your life, and the content you post. What are you sharing, and why should they watch your videos?
Promoting your channel helps you build buzz. When audiences are excited for your next upload, the precise timing actually becomes less important. An engaging channel promo helps you tease new content and roll out future uploads.
Learn more in our full guide here:
2. Launch in Real Time with YouTube Premieres
What better way to boost views than to roll out your video live? This is an incredible way to ensure traffic right out of the gate. Plus, it offers you a great tool for engaging with your audience live.
YouTube supports this with the YouTube Premieres feature. With Premieres, you can share new videos the moment they post.
Viewers can engage in real time, with features including a live chat. There’s no better way to build buzz and connect with your viewers in new and creative ways. After all, why not make the best time to post on YouTube the time that is best for you?
3. Keep Audiences Engaged with Shorts
YouTube Shorts are social, quick videos that you can share with viewers. Think of YouTube Shorts as a similar medium to Instagram Stories, for example. They’re vertically oriented and help you engage in short form with audiences.
Shorts are a great way to promote full-length videos that you’re about to post on YouTube. The best time to post Shorts on YouTube is just before you upload a complete video. It’s a fast, easy way to let your channel viewers know to look for a full post. It’s a social media-driven way to promote your content as it uploads.
Use these top YouTube Shorts templates to help you get started in 2024:
4. Post Channel Videos on a Schedule
Audiences will get to know you and your content. It’s often a good idea to do your uploads on a set schedule. This is a technique that many top channels use! By maintaining a posting schedule, you’ll add predictability to your content. Audiences will know when to look for your latest work.
This also helps you build buzz. Think about your favorite TV show: you know when the next episode comes on. Why not bring this excitement to your own uploads?
How often should you post on YouTube? As with most things, it depends. You have to find a cadence that works for you and your lifestyle. But consistent posting on a regular interval builds credit with your audience.
For you, the best time to post shorts on YouTube (and full videos) is often when you normally post them.
5 Frequently Asked Questions About YouTube Uploads (2024 FAQs)
Knowing the best time to upload to YouTube is important. But it’s not the only detail to keep in mind when you plan to start uploading videos of your own. It’s likely that you have questions!
To help, we’ve answered five common questions about uploading and posting on YouTube. Dive in to learn more key knowledge to boost your video’s chances for success:
1. Can I Schedule a YouTube Upload for a Certain Time?
Yes! We’ve looked at the best time to post on YouTube and how to find it. But what if you’re not available right then? No worries. YouTube offers a tool to upload videos on a schedule. In other words, you can prepare uploads for a certain time, even if you won’t be online then.
To schedule an upload, launch your YouTube Studio. Go to Create > Upload Videos. On the Visibility tab, you can click Schedule.
This allows you to choose a date and time to upload a video! You can even specify the time zone if you’re planning to share to a global audience. This way, the best time to upload to YouTube is always available to you – no matter what your schedule is.
2. Do Templates Help My YouTube Videos Catch On?
Templates help you create professional video. Plus, YouTube templates help you save time. You can always create video designs from scratch. But why not embrace sleek templates made by video experts? They help videos on every topic look their very best.
By using YouTube templates, you can make amazing videos in moments. This helps you avoid missing the deadline for the best time to post on YouTube. Content creation becomes much easier. Invest your new extra time in getting to know your audience’s viewing habits even better.
3. Why Should I Use Analytics to Track My YouTube Videos?
Because you can’t directly engage with every viewer. That’s a fact in the age of global sharing. But you can get to know them! Analytics are the key.
YouTube has a robust set of analytics that unlock insights into your audience. You can see where viewers are, and what time they’re watching your content. Think of it as a customized, personal guide to the best time to post shorts on YouTube.
4. What App is Best for Building Great YouTube Videos?
Adobe Premiere Pro is commonly favored by content creators on YouTube. It’s a powerful editing app that lets you produce stunning YouTube videos from scratch.
But you have additional options. For example, Apple users often enjoy Final Cut Pro. Or, you can even use simpler apps like Movie Maker or iMovie to make your YouTube videos.
For more, turn to our full guide on YouTube editing apps for video:
5. Can I Upload Multiple Videos to YouTube at Once?
Definitely! Be careful here: bombarding your channel with content can drive views down. But you can absolutely upload multiple videos at once. This is especially useful if you’re uploading related content that is split across a handful of clips.
YouTube’s Package Uploader tool lets you do just that. You can upload several videos at once. And you can attach a file containing relevant metadata, like titles and tags. This way, you won’t miss the best times to post on YouTube by uploading videos one by one.
The Top Source for the Very Best Video Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)
Video templates help your YouTube videos shine. And the best source for the top premium video templates is Envato Elements. You’ll find thousands of options, for your favorite editors like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere.
For a flat monthly rate, you’ll enjoy unlimited downloads of each and every one. This gives you the flexibility to try as many as you want.
You might feel overwhelmed as you ponder how often should you post on YouTube. With templates, you can post often. That’s because you don’t have to build everything from scratch.
The unlimited downloads offer goes far beyond video templates. Elements includes millions of digital assets in countless categories. You’ll enjoy fonts, music, stock video, graphics, and so much more. Elements is the ultimate resource for all of your creative needs in 2024.
With Envato Elements, finding the perfect digital assets is easier than ever. We’ve recently launched an all-new AI search assistant. With this tool, you can describe your project needs in a few words. When you do, the smart search assistant will find the very best digital assets just for you. It saves you time and collects the very best content from our vast, ever-expanding library.
So, what are you waiting for? Join Envato Elements today and start exploring!
Use the Best Time to Post on YouTube Today
What is the best time to upload a YouTube video? We asked and answered this question in this tutorial guide. The answer: it depends. Generally, early afternoons are the best. But you can unlock new insights by exploring your channel analytics. When do your audiences like to watch your content? How can you upload on a schedule to take full advantage?
The best times to post on YouTube are really when audiences are looking for your content. If you’re a channel creator, there’s no better way to get traffic than to post on a steady schedule. This predictability drives hype and gets viewers excited for your next upload.
So, it’s time to study your channel analytics and start uploading new content to YouTube today. Get to know your viewers and their habits, and you’ll find yourself poised for much greater success in 2024 and beyond.