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Whats the best time to post on Instagram? Hootsuites Senior Social Marketing Manager, Amanda Wood, and her team seek the answer.

Have you ever wondered what the most optimal time to post on Instagram is? We certainly have. Were excited to bring you another round of insights and learnings from our latest social media experiment this month!

As always, we worked with our lovely partner Stacey McLachlan to test the effectiveness of post timing on Instagram engagement rates. In this experiment, we tested Hootsuites recommended time to publish feature to see if it would improve engagement instead of posting at random times.

The ExperimentAs a social media strategist, Ive always been a firm believer in scheduling posts to engage audiences when they are online. So, our hypothesis for this test was that timing would be a component in a successful social media campaign and that posting when audiences are online would improve the overall engagement rate on Instagram.

We also wanted to figure out when was the optimal time to post. Tools like Hootsuites recommended time to publish were useful in helping us automate the process.

Stacey created and posted some wedding photos on Instagram at random times with a non-methodical cadence throughout the week on a wedding magazine Instagram account with roughly ten thousand followers.

The week after, she posted another selection of beautiful wedding photos using similar captions and images but utilized Hootsuites recommended time to publish feature. The way the feature works is Hootsuite bases suggestions on when your followers are most likely to be on a particular social network and when your account has accumulated the most engagement and views in the past using an algorithm.

Key LearningsDuring the two weeks, we monitored the performance of the posts and consolidated the findings. Heres what we found:

Hootsuites recommended times still helped the posts perform better, with higher impressions, comments, and likes on average than the random cadence of posting from the first week. For example, we saw a 30% increase in impressions, from 2,200 the week before to 2,900 during the Hootsuite Recommendation week.

The best-performing post got 30% more likes than the best-performing post the week prior.

Its safe to conclude that posting when your audience is online will generate more engagement on Instagram. While this may seem like a basic principle, its easy to get caught up in producing quality content itself that you dont stop to think about getting the maximized engagement on all your hard work by posting at the best time. So, what does it mean to post at the best time?

First, its essential to recognize that the best time will look different for everyonedepending on your brand, your goals, and the platform that you choose. Secondly, once youve nailed down an optimal time, understand that your audiences habits will evolve over timeand thus, so will your optimal time.

As you build out your social media strategy for the year, consider your goals and the audience you are trying to target. Then, research your audiences social media behaviors and get acquainted with them when they are active on social. You can also tap into your insights natively through Instagram or use Hootsuites automated scheduling tools for recommendations.

I encourage you to analyze test times on different platforms over different times. Every social media platform has its own user behaviors and may have suggestions on the best times to post you may be surprised with your findings!

At Hootsuite, we publish quarterly Digital Reports that include great in-depth data on different audiences and their internet/social media usage habits.

We hope these insights are useful as you schedule your next social posts! You can also check out our Hootsuite blog to read up on some of our other experiments, learn more about digital strategy and keep up with notable industry news!

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Continued here:
What's The Best Time To Post On Instagram? - We are Social Media

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WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) corrected the record on U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens remarks about the Democrats socialist, big government agenda during a Senate Banking committee hearing today. Senator Cramer specifically discussed the Congressional Budget Offices (CBO) score on Democrats Build Back Better agenda, the lack of work requirements for tax credits and new entitlement programs in the bill, and the current state of inflation with Secretary Yellen and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell.

I want to read directly from the Congressional Budget Offices score. CBO estimates that enhancing this legislation would result in a new increase in the deficit totaling $367 billion over the 2022 through 2031 period,said Senator Cramer.Its $155 billion next year alone, and it continues for five years.

In response, Secretary Yellen acknowledged that the Democratstax and spending spree would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the deficit over the ten year period in CBOs score.

It does say $360 billion over ten year effect on the deficit,said Secretary Yellen.

Yellen also pointed to enhanced resources for tax enforcement to whichSenator Cramer responded,and fairy dust creates energy. The senator then pivoted to discussing the tax credits in the proposal noting the lack of work requirements to receive the credits.

If all of those credits and giveaways and incentives are going to help increase workforce participation, is there a work requirement tied to all of those?asked Senator Cramer.

There are places where there are not workforce requirements, like the child tax credit,replied Secretary Yellen.

Were talking about a workforce participation rate that needs to be increased, do any of these incentives require people to work to get them or is this just going to be added on to whatever theyre already getting regardless of their employment situation?asked Senator Cramer.

When Secretary Yellen did not answer the question, Senator Cramer answered it for her:They arent, just so you know,said the senator.

Senator Cramer wrapped up his questioning by discussing inflation with Chairman Powell, specifically noting the benefits of investing in the capacity of the economy rather than paying people not to work.

In North Dakota, inflation is over 7%... By the time we got to early this year, the winds of inflation were already blowing and the economy was already expanding, but the Democrats added $2 trillion more dollars to the debt and deficit as well as stimulating the economy without any requirement on the other side. Now were doing another whatever its going to be $2, $4, $5 trillion Democrats are going to push through,said Senator Cramer.[Stimulation] may help people pay for some things, but the cost does not come down.

Do you know of an economic model where costs come down when people have more money to spend on it?asked Senator Cramer.

Chairman Powell couldnt name an example, but hestatedthere are benefits to investments which create more capacity in the economy.

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Sen. Cramer Corrects the Record with Treasury Secretary Yellen on Democrats' Socialist, Big Government Agenda at Banking Hearing - Kevin Cramer

When was the last time you bought a product because you got enticed (and targeted) by an Instagram ad? Probably yesterdayand youre not the only one.

Whether you would like to admit it or not, its easy to fall trap to social media ads, which just proves that they do work. But of course, the process isnt as simple as opening an account, posting a photo, promoting the post, and calling it a day. Theres so much that goes into content creation and ad optimization, especially now that there the number of businesses competing for the attention of consumers is blowing up in numbers.

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Ace The Social Media Marketing Game With This Expert-Led Training Bundle - Black Enterprise

Voters of all stripes who live in three southcentral Pennsylvania counties have the opportunity to cast a ballot in a May 18 special election to decide who will represent them in the state Senate for the next 18 months.

On the ballots in Lebanon County and parts of York and Dauphin counties, voters will see the names of four candidates listed who hope to fill the 48th state Senatorial District seat that became open due to the January death of Sen. Dave Arnold. The winner will serve out the remainder of his term that expires Nov. 30, 2022.

This seat has rested securely in Republican hands for decades and that is an advantage that falls in Republican newcomer Christopher Gebhards favor.

But Dr. Calvin Clements, the Democrat in the race, is optimistic that voters in the district want someone like him working on their behalf in Harrisburg. He touts a science background and more than three decades of business acumen from operating veterinary clinics.

The seat also has attracted the interest of Ed Krebs, an independent who came out of retirement to launch his Bring People Together political movement. Krebs formerly served in the state House of Representatives for 12 years, first as a Democrat and then as a Republican. He believes his legislative experience along with his fiscally conservative but socially moderate views could attract Republican voters who want another option but cant bring themselves to vote for a Democrat.

Tim McMaster, a Libertarian who believes his partys desire to get government out of peoples lives, will carry enough appeal in this race to let his party finally gain a foothold in the Senate.

The interesting twist to this race is it will be decided in a special election that coincides with a primary.

Primary elections typically draw out only registered Republican or Democratic voters to decide their party nominees. But this primary also offers all voters, regardless of party, the chance to weigh in on some controversial proposed constitutional amendments that have been getting plenty of attention.

So that, plus the convenience of mail-in no-excuse voting, could make this race not as cut and dry as some might think.

Their aha moment

Each of the candidates came at their decision to run for this political office in a different way.

For Clements, it was the backlash to the COVID-19 pandemic and Republicans refusal, as he put it, to follow the science.

The 70-year-old retired veterinarian from Lebanon County agrees that Gov. Tom Wolfs mitigation orders were difficult but he said they were difficult to everybody. But without doing it, we would have had a tremendous amount of deaths beyond the more than 26,000 already recorded, he said.

For McMaster, an information technology analyst who operates a farm in York County, it happened when he was collecting signatures to get the Libertarian Party candidates on the 2020 general election ballot.

The 46-year-old overheard the partys presidential candidate Spike Cohen say the party really needed to focus on getting candidates elected to local offices so others could see we are just normal people who want other people to be free and unencumbered by government. He initially decided to run for township supervisor but switched gears when the Senate seat opened up.

For Krebs, it was the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that roused his desire to return to government to serve only for the 18-month duration of the unexpired term.

The 77-year-old bicycle enthusiast has deep Lebanon County roots and a farming and economics background. He admits he also was influenced by people who like his philosophy of governing from the middle and not wanting the winner to be under control of the countys Republican Party leadership.

Gebhard, who at one point was challenged for the GOP nomination by seven other candidates, said running for a political office was not anything he ever thought he would do. Instead, his family was active in his Lebanon County community in other ways.

Weve always had the belief its the responsibility of everyone to do their small part to make their community a better place, said the 46-year-old owner of an insurance and risk management firm. I felt this was a calling to do that at a greater level.

Primary area of focus

All four identified financial-related issues as the primary area where they would focus their attention if elected.

For Gebhard, it would be looking to improve the states business climate.

We certainly need to look at our business environment and find ways to make it more competitive and make it more attractive so we can recruit and bring in businesses that are going to provide good family-supporting jobs, he said.

For Clements, its paying down the state pension systems unfunded liability and believes its necessary to freeze the defined benefit plan for current employees to bring the pension debt under control. While others maintain that would be unconstitutional, Clements said if its necessary to amend the constitution to make it happen, hes up for that.

For McMaster, its tax reform with an eye toward eliminating the state income tax. He said that revenue could be replaced with money from corporate taxes as a result of all the new businesses and workers that Pennsylvania would draw in being a no-income-tax state.

For Krebs, picking one primary area of focus was tough but among them was balancing a state budget without the smoke-and-mirror tactics of accounting gimmicks, dipping into special funds and ambitious revenue estimates.

I understand the games, he said. They havent passed a real balanced budget basically since I left the Legislature in 2002.

Will you be a full-time legislator?

For Krebs and Clements, the answer is yes, although neither considers serving in the Legislature as a job but rather a short-term public service opportunity.

McMaster raises goats and cows so he said he will still continue farming but would take a leave from his IT job if elected.

Gebhard, on the other hand, does not intend to step away from his business. He said that connection to the community will keep him grounded. Moreover, he said, its going to allow me to not be dependent on the Senate position to support my family. I think thats important because itll allow me to make decisions based on what is right rather than what I need to get re-elected.

What makes them the best qualified?

McMaster, a one-time professional wrestler, said he is not beholden to a party but rather the idea of freedom of the people and getting government out of peoples lives, out of their wallets and out of their bedroom.

I think thats what people really, really want, he said. Its the way our system was intended. The government was there as a necessary evil at best.

Clements cites his maturity, experience in operating a profitable chain of veterinary offices, creating 57 jobs, living within a budget and understanding science.

I can listen to a lot of opinions and can come up with a consensus as opposed to following the left or the right, he said.

Gebhard cites the fact that he isnt a career politician as a selling point to voters.

I think that gives me great independence. Im not beholden to anyone. The only people I answer to are the voters, he said. Im not dependent on this position to support my family and that gives me great independence, independence of thought and independence of action. I think those things are all important.

Krebs pointed to the name of his political movement, Bring People Together. He said in the sharply divided political atmosphere inside the Capitol, that is what needs to happen and hes the guy to do it.

It used to be the center ruled. You had moderates in both parties and they came up with a consensus, he said. Im a moderate who has the experience in Harrisburg and the best one who can do the job in 18 months. Some of the other guys are good but none of them have the experience I do. They need to learn about Harrisburg.

If you are a registered voter who lives in any of the following municipalities, you have the opportunity to vote for one of these candidates: All of Lebanon County; in Dauphin County, Conewago, Londonderry, Swatara and Lower Swatara townships and the boroughs of Highspire, Middletown, Paxtang, Royalton and Steelton; and in York County, Conewago, East Manchester, Newberry and Springettsbury townships and the boroughs of Goldsboro, Lewisberry, Manchester, Mount Wolf, and York Haven.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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The Pa. Senate 48th District race: Whos the best man for the job? - PennLive

President Joe Biden spent his first week in office signing executive orders and memorandums on priority issues, including climate change, LGBT rights, the economy and health care.

To little surprise, conservatives and allies of former President Donald Trump have not been impressed. U.S. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise called Biden's first week in office "radical," "scary" and "a disaster," and accused the president of only looking out for the "far left."

But progressives, who helped oust Trump and loft Biden into office, also are voicing concernsarguing the president isn't doing enough to meet their demands and could miss a narrow window to make significant change as Americans struggle with the coronavirus pandemic, economic hardships, and the growing threat of natural disasters linked to climate change.

"I'm seeing too much hesitation," Jeff Cohen of RootsAction, a progressive activist group, told Newsweek. "If they don't deliver amid these multiple crises, then Republicans will storm back into power in 2022."

After campaigning for Biden's election, RootsAction pivoted to campaigning for him to adopt more progressive positions through its "No Honeymoon for Biden" effort, with Cohen noting the "narrow window" that Democrats have in control of the House of Representatives, Senate and White House ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Cohen said he already fears a midterm election cycle like 2010 in Obama's first term, when Republicans took control of the House and narrowed the Democrats' majority in the Senate.

"We're looking at history and trying to save Biden from himself," Cohen said.

The White House has repeatedly stressed that Biden's been in office a little over a week and his top priority at the moment is trying to build support around his proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The president and key members of his administration have been lobbying lawmakers since before the inauguration.

Biden has signed at least 42 executive actionsthe first flurry coming just hours after he was sworn into office on January 20. Nearly every weekday since then, he's had more.

"We're actually pretty hopeful and optimistic about the opportunity and the ability to work with Democrats and Republicans to get packages through to help bring relief to the American public. But we also recognize that members of Congress have different points of view. They have lots of ideas, they're gonna bring those forward. We're hearing them, and we're just eager to move things forward as quickly as we can," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters this week. "We're still on a pretty rapid pace here."

Republicans in Congress have seized on Biden's executive actions as divisiveness from a president who pledged unity in his inaugural speech.

"He spent the first week-and-a-half of his presidency carrying out executive orders that are divisive and devastating to millions of families in America," Scalise told Newsweek.

Scalise said that in his home state of Louisiana and elsewhere, the president's executive actions on energy and decision to reenter the Paris climate agreement will cost thousands of jobs.

"In one short week we will have lost over a million jobs, seen our energy security drop and seen global emissions on the path to increasing," Scalise said.

Scalise said he was also bothered by Biden's decision to repeal the Reagan-era Mexico City policy that Trump resigned to bar federal funds from going to organizations that provide abortion services abroad.

"It's an insult to millions of people in America whose religious beliefs are being attacked and the people who don't want taxpayer dollars going to fund abortions," Scalise said.

A president's authority through executive orders, which skirt congressional approval, is finite. Orders can be reversed by future administrations and often are limited in scope.

But progressive activists say they expect more from Biden, who has hung a portrait of progressive folk hero Franklin D. Roosevelt near his desk in the Oval Office.

"(FDR) transformed this country," Cohen said. "Biden's impulse is to reach across the aisle to Republicans and assure them he's not making big changes."

When the president signed an executive order undoing Trump's efforts to dismantle the Obama-era federal Affordable Care Act, he said publicly that his action wasn't doing anything newit was just a return to the Obama plan.

"Who did he feel he was assuring with those comments?" Cohen said. "He was infuriating us."

"A third Obama term is not good enough," Cohen added.

Read more:
Progressives Not Impressed With Biden's Executive Orders: '3rd Obama Term Is Not Good Enough' - Newsweek