What the plan is based on
Most people sit down to watch YouTube in the evening, and for longer at the weekend. A video takes a while to show up for subscribers and in suggestions, so the planner puts uploads a few hours before that: in the afternoon on weekdays, and in the late morning at the weekend.
YouTube is also searched for months after a video goes out. The upload time matters most for the first day, when your subscribers decide if the video is worth a click.
Find your viewers' countries
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Analytics.
- Open Audience. Look at Top geographies for your viewers' countries.
- On the same tab, When your viewers are on YouTube shows the hours they watch, on your channel's clock.
Type the top countries or their biggest cities into the planner with their share.
Use the plan
- Upload at the times in the plan for two weeks, or set the video to go public at those times.
- Compare the views in the first 24 hours of each video. Keep the times that beat your usual.
- If YouTube's own chart of when your viewers watch shows a different peak, upload a couple of hours before it.
FAQ
What is the best time to post on YouTube?
A few hours before your viewers sit down to watch: in the afternoon on weekdays and the late morning at the weekend, on their clock. Add your top countries above to see those hours on your own clock.
Is the best time different for Shorts?
Shorts are shown in a feed, like TikTok, so they meet viewers right away. For Shorts, the evening hours count more. Test both.
Should I use a premiere?
A premiere gives your subscribers a set time to watch together. If you use one, set it inside one of the good hours in the plan.
Does the planner read my YouTube Studio?
No. You type the countries yourself. Nothing is sent to Postfjord or saved.