Unveiling the best time to post YouTube Shorts in 2024

YouTube Shorts has rapidly become popular since its introduction, emerging as a platform for content creators to engage audiences with short-form videos. So more than 70% of YouTube creators have adopted Shorts to expand their reach and grow their subscriber base.

By 2023, it had over 2 billion monthly logged-in users, showing a rapid increase in user engagement and popularity. This guide will help you navigate through the secrets of optimal posting times.

Demystifying your audience

Target 

To better understand the best time to upload YouTube shorts, you need to have a strong understanding of your audience and their interests at different times. We have covered this topic in our comprehensive guide on trending YouTube videos, so here we will focus on the key points of your followers research:

• Tailoring content to their preferences increases engagement and attracts more viewers;
• Knowing their interests, behaviors, and viewing habits helps create resonating content;
• Building a loyal audience base and growing your channel become more effective.

Analytics

You can uncover audience watch times, location data, and peak activity periods with the help of YouTube Shorts analytics:

1. Utilize the «Audience Retention» metric to understand how long viewers engage with your Shorts. Identify trends to know when viewers are most engaged or when they drop off;
2. Explore the «Audience» tab to discover the geographic locations of your viewers. This data enables you to customize content for specific regions or expand your reach to new audiences;
3. Review «Traffic Sources» and «Engagement» metrics to pinpoint peak activity times. Monitor spikes in views, likes, comments, and shares to understand when your audience is most engaged;
4. Use the «Demographics» section to understand your audience’s age, gender, and other demographic details to refine your content strategy.

Target audience research will aid in grasping the best time to post your video. Note that you need not just check this data, but analyze your shorts performance.

Approach

You always need to change your approach and adapt. The audience’s interests are constantly changing, and to stay on trend, you need to be flexible and creative.

• For instance, different regions may have different cultural references or humor preferences. So you need to personalize your content to make it more relatable and connected. When viewers feel like the content speaks directly to them, they are more likely to engage with it, like, comment, and share;
• Posting at the right times in various time zones helps your content reach a worldwide audience effectively, instead of being buried in feeds when your audience is offline;
• You also need to find the ideal length of your Shorts, because some regions or demographics might prefer shorter or longer content;
• You need to stay informed to address current topics for discussion effectively. The more your content resonates with your audience, the more likely it is to be recommended to similar viewers, leading to organic growth;
• Engaging with your audience through personalized content creates a feedback loop. You can learn more about what works and what doesn’t, refining your content strategy over time;
• Don’t forget to use your Insights from platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook: it can supplement the understanding of the followers.

At first glance, it might seem challenging to keep all of this in mind. But in reality, you’ll quickly get used to it, and before you know it, noting these details will become a habit.

For example, you find out that your audience in India loves Bollywood jokes, while your audience in Australia prefers dry wit. You could create one Short with Bollywood-themed jokes tailored to your Indian audience and another Short with dry humor targeted at your Australian audience.

Posting the Bollywood jokes when your Indian audience is most active ensures maximum engagement from that region, while the dry humor Short can be posted when your Australian audience is online.

Conquer the time zone tango

Global vs. local reach

Targeting a global audience casts your net wide and lets your content reach many people, but timing can be tricky: it might not always catch them at the right time. Focusing on specific time zones means more engagement when your audience is active, but you might miss others.

Balancing global and local strategies makes sure your content is right for everyone. Understanding your audience helps to post when they’re most interested, keeping a wide reach. It takes planning to make sure your content connects across regions and time zones, but the key is finding what works best for your audience and content.

Data & Research

Here are some YouTube shorts case studies on peak YouTube shorts viewing hours worldwide:

• North America:

Peak viewing hours: evenings, particularly between 6 PM and 10 PM local time. Weekends often show increased viewership throughout the day.

• Europe:

Peak viewing hours: evenings, similar to North America, with a slight variation based on time zones. Lunchtime viewing also sees a spike, around 12 PM to 2 PM.

• Latin America:

Peak viewing hours: late evenings, similar to Europe and North America. Weekends are particularly popular for leisurely content consumption.

• Asia:

Peak viewing hours: late evenings to nights, especially between 8 PM and 11 PM local time. Lunch breaks and late afternoons also show significant viewership.

• Middle East and Africa:

Peak viewing hours: evenings, similar to other regions, but may vary due to cultural factors and religious observances. Weekends show consistent high viewership.

Experimentation is the key

Your best tactic is to always experiment to optimize your content strategy and maximize engagement with your YouTube Shorts. Here are 7 effective steps to master it:

1. Pick various time slots across different days to test, considering your audience’s demographics and behaviors;
2. Make different versions of your Shorts for each posting time to observe individual performance;
3. Utilize YouTube Studio to schedule your Shorts to publish at different times, spacing them out to avoid overwhelming your audience;
4. Once your Shorts are live, track their performance through YouTube Analytics within YouTube Studio;
5. Evaluate the performance of each Short across various posting times, identifying engagement patterns to determine effectiveness;
6. Alternatively, conduct A/B testing by posting identical content at different times to compare results. Ensure that each variant is the same except for the posting time;
7. Based on your analysis, adapt your posting schedule to optimize engagement, considering factors like peak viewing hours and audience behavior.

Beyond the clock: optimizing for success

Consistency in posting Shorts is essential for fostering audience anticipation and engagement:

• Regular uploads create a predictable rhythm and reliability for your viewers;
• It builds trust and encourages repeat engagement; 
• It also boosts visibility on YouTube’s algorithm, increasing chances of reaching new audiences. 
• Maintaining a consistent schedule strengthens your brand, keeps your audience engaged, and nurtures a loyal community around your content.

You can also promote Shorts across other social media channels for broader reach, attract new viewers, and grow your YouTube channel effectively:

• Share your Shorts in relevant groups, forums, or subreddits where your target audience hangs out. Ensure your content adds value to the community.
• Engage with influencers, communities, and relevant groups to expand your reach organically. 
• Use trending hashtags and run paid advertising campaigns to target specific audiences effectively. 
• Monitor performance metrics and adjust your strategy based on what resonates best with your audience for maximum impact.

Successful strategy

Let’s sum up how to become a successful YouTube Shorts creator and how you can effectively grow your audience, increase engagement, and build a loyal community around your content.

1. Consistent posting schedule: you need to post Shorts regularly to keep the audience engaged and returning for more;
2. Variety in content: try to include entertaining, informative, and relatable Shorts to appeal to a broader audience;
3. Trend riding and timely content: don’t forget to capitalize on trending topics, challenges, and viral content to stay relevant and attract new viewers;
4. Engagement with the audience: always respond to comments, ask for feedback, and include viewer suggestions into your content;
5. Cross-promotion: it is important to share your Shorts across other social media platforms, leveraging platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to reach a wider audience;
6. Collaborations and Shoutouts: get to work with other creators or give shoutouts to the audience, fostering a sense of community and expanding your reach;
7. Experimentation: try different content styles, posting times, and formats, don’t forget to analyze performance metrics to refine strategy.

Conclusion

Now you are ready to take your Shorts content to the next level! Start experimenting, tracking your progress, and adapting your approach for optimal success.

Try different content styles, posting times, and formats to create engaging Shorts that resonate with your audience and propel your channel forward. Join the journey towards growth and creativity and you will discover what works best for your followers.