If you’re using Buffer to schedule posts, you’ve probably realized that not every social network plays by the same rules. Twitter might reward quick bursts, LinkedIn prefers weekday mornings, and Instagram? That’s a whole different animal. If you’re tired of the “set it and forget it” approach that makes your accounts look like bots, this guide is for you.
Here’s a step-by-step, real-world walkthrough for customizing post times for each platform in Buffer—with honest advice on what’s worth your time and what you can safely ignore.
Why Bother Customizing Post Times?
Let’s get this out of the way: Buffer’s default times are fine for beginners. But if you want more engagement (or just want to stop posting at 2am by accident), you need to control when things go live.
Custom times help you:
- Catch your audience when they’re actually online
- Avoid awkward gaps or post clusters
- Schedule around real-world events (like not posting holiday memes on the wrong day)
But don’t drive yourself nuts chasing the “perfect time.” Algorithms, time zones, and randomness play a bigger role than most gurus admit. Customizing times is about making things less random—not perfect.
Step 1: Get Your Buffer Accounts in Order
Before you tinker with times, make sure your Buffer dashboard is set up and all your social accounts are connected. Buffer supports most major platforms:
- Twitter (X)
- Facebook (pages and groups)
- Instagram (business accounts work best)
- LinkedIn (profiles and pages)
- Pinterest (if you’re into that)
Pro tip: Double-check permissions. Instagram and Facebook are picky—sometimes you need to re-authenticate or grant extra rights to schedule posts.
Step 2: Understand Buffer’s Posting Schedules
Buffer works on a “queue” system. Each connected account has its own posting schedule—a series of time slots. When you add a post to that account’s queue, it’ll go out at the next available slot.
What’s important to know:
- Each account’s schedule is independent. You can set up different times for Twitter vs LinkedIn.
- You can set different times for each day of the week.
- You can add as many (or as few) time slots as you want.
This flexibility is great, but it’s easy to overcomplicate things. Start simple.
Step 3: Set Custom Posting Times for Each Platform
Here’s how to actually customize those times:
1. Pick the Social Account
- In Buffer, select the social account you want to adjust from the left sidebar.
- You’ll see the queue for that account.
2. Go to Settings
- Click the “Settings” gear icon (usually near the top right).
- Choose “Posting Schedule.”
3. Edit the Weekly Schedule
You’ll see a calendar grid with time slots for each day.
- Add a time slot: Click “Add Posting Time,” pick a time, and click “Add.”
- Remove a time slot: Hover over an existing time and click the “X.”
- Change a time: Click the time to edit it.
Repeat this for each day, or copy/paste to other days if your schedule is similar.
4. Repeat for Each Account
You’ll need to do this for every connected account you want to customize. Yes, it takes a bit upfront, but you only have to do it once—Buffer will remember.
Step 4: How to Pick the Right Times (Without Losing Your Mind)
Here’s where people get stuck. There are a million “best time to post” guides, but they’re mostly recycled guesses. Here’s what’s actually useful:
- Look at your own data. Most platforms’ analytics will show when your audience is active. Start there.
- Think about your audience’s habits. B2B? Weekday mornings work. Teens? Evenings and weekends.
- Don’t overthink it. The difference between 9:00 and 10:00 probably won’t make or break you.
A simple approach:
- Pick 2–3 slots per day per account to start.
- Spread them out: e.g., morning, midday, evening.
- Adjust based on what gets engagement.
Ignore:
Tools that promise “AI-powered perfect posting times.” They rarely outperform common sense, and you’ll end up chasing ghosts.
Step 5: Scheduling Posts to Specific Times (Overrides)
Sometimes you want a post to go out at a specific time—not just the next slot in the queue. Here’s how:
- When scheduling a post, look for the “Schedule Post” option—instead of “Add to Queue.”
- Pick the exact date and time you want.
- This will override your usual schedule for that post only.
When to use:
- Timely announcements, events, or launches
- Posts tied to a specific date (holidays, campaigns)
- When you want to test a new posting time without changing your whole schedule
Step 6: Testing and Tweaking Your Schedule
Don’t set your schedule and leave it forever. Here’s a basic feedback loop:
- Post for a week or two using your custom times.
- Check your analytics (either in Buffer or each platform’s native analytics).
- Look for patterns: Any time slots getting more likes, clicks, or comments?
- Adjust: Drop dead times, try new ones, or double down on what works.
Warning:
Don’t make changes every day. Give each schedule at least a week or two before you tinker.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What Works
- Customizing times per platform—your audience isn’t the same everywhere.
- Keeping schedules simple (3–4 slots per day max to start).
- Reviewing analytics monthly, not obsessively.
What Doesn’t
- Relying on Buffer’s default times forever—they’re generic.
- Obsessing over “best time to post” articles.
- Setting dozens of time slots—leads to burnout and messy queues.
What to Ignore
- Paid “best time” add-ons unless you’re managing huge accounts.
- Changing your schedule every week because of small fluctuations.
- Stressing over minor time differences. Algorithms and real life matter more.
A Few Pro Tips
- Batch your setup: Set aside 30 minutes to adjust all your accounts at once.
- Account for time zones: Buffer uses your local time by default, but double-check if you’re managing accounts in other regions.
- Don’t post just to fill slots: Quality beats quantity, always.
- Buffer’s mobile app is decent: You can tweak schedules on the go if needed.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Social media is messy, and no tool (not even Buffer) can automate everything perfectly. Start with a basic custom schedule, watch what works, and adjust as you go. Don’t chase “hacks” or overthink it—just keep posting, keep learning, and let Buffer handle the busywork.
Ready to make your feeds look less like a robot and more like a real person? Go set those custom times and stop worrying about when your posts go live. You’ve got better things to do.