What's the best time of day to post to AskMe?

November 6, 2008 6:16 AM

What's the best time of day to post to AskMe?

I think yesterday showed me that posting early in the morning (US time) the day after a presidential election is probably a bad idea, as my question got shunted off the front page with impressive speed.

When's the (rough) sweet spot that gets you plenty of readers without lots of other questions piling on top?

[For the purposes of general questions that aren't, say, country specific and would be best answered by, for example, Australians]

[And ignoring that, in theory, questions like this could distort what happens if the consenus is 1pm ET and everybody starts posting then]

posted by Hartster to MetaFilter-Related at 6:16 AM (29 comments total)

About 7:10am (GMT) on the 31st March, 2007.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:22 AM on November 6, 2008

You know, I searched, I really, really did. Gah.

Mods, please scourge all trace of my double posting idiocy.
posted by Hartster at 6:30 AM on November 6, 2008

Never been a better time than right now.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:33 AM on November 6, 2008

Shouldn't this be in AskMe?
posted by Sailormom at 6:58 AM on November 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

No, this should be posted to the blue. And Reddit!
posted by Pastabagel at 7:15 AM on November 6, 2008

From The Mirror: When is the best time?

You may want to try 10:04PM.
posted by netbros at 7:30 AM on November 6, 2008

You know, I searched, I really, really did. Gah.

I searched using the phrase "best time of day to post to askme" and the only two results where this post and the one I linked...
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:15 AM on November 6, 2008

I searched my sock drawer. Found sixty cents!
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:23 AM on November 6, 2008

When's the (rough) sweet spot that gets you plenty of readers without lots of other questions piling on top?

Seriously, if I know the answer, why share it with you, ruining my own questions status?

I'm guessing noon EST. That gives plenty of time for all the American time zones to see it while they're at work, which is when I suspect a lot of AskMefi viewing goes on. Note that's just a guess, as sometimes AskMe explodes with questions.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 9:02 AM on November 6, 2008

This question implies that people only read the questions that are on the front-page, rather than reading all the ones since the last time.
posted by smackfu at 9:57 AM on November 6, 2008

right...... ....... NOW!!!.... wait, you missed it.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:06 AM on November 6, 2008

Is there a reason to think that there is a time period where more people are posting comments but fewer people are posting questions? If you try to post during a period where fewer people are asking questions, it probably also means that fewer people are reading your question as well.

Unless there is evidence for some sort of heterogeneity in peak times for asking and answering questions, the only time you should really consider this is in regards to geography-specific questions. If you post a question about the UK after most people's bedtimes there, there is the chance that it will be overrun by questions from other parts of the world before the British wake up.
posted by grouse at 10:34 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've posted questions in the middle of the night. I've posted questions in the early evening. I've posted questions at lunchtime. I've gotten pretty good responses in almost every case, as long as I took the time to write an interesting, well-composed question.

In one instance I didn't invest a whole lot of effort. I scribbled the question out hastily while waiting for a public computer and the response was rather disappointing. Garbage in, garbage out.

So, yeah. Timing does play a role. But the essence of what you're trying to do is catch peoples' attention on a crowded page or RSS feed. So make your question interesting. Spend a little time polishing the prose. Make it a question that people actually want to read. I think that has a better track record of attracting quality responses than trying to find some magical "sweet spot" on the clock.
posted by jason's_planet at 1:18 PM on November 6, 2008

When's the best time of day to catch Brandon Blatcher with his clothes off? Also requesting tips on distance, elevation, line-of-sight, wind direction, etc.

Wait, that came out wrong.
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:41 PM on November 6, 2008

elevation, line-of-sight, wind direction

The elevation is of course determined by his line of sight, and as for the wind direction: have you never seen a weathervane?
posted by Lemurrhea at 3:18 PM on November 6, 2008

Aaaaaand previously.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 3:27 PM on November 6, 2008

Depends on who you're interested in having respond. For questions without any specific expertise required (e.g. My ____ did ___ to me, should I DTMFA?) I'd guess you'd you'd get the most time on the front page by posting in the middle of the (US) night. Otherwise post during your target audience's early morning/late evening and hope.

*I have no clue, btw...
posted by arnicae at 3:48 PM on November 6, 2008

After that boy smiled at you, and you're not sure if you should make a move, but before you're wondering what those weeping sores are all about.
posted by pompomtom at 5:06 PM on November 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

Two days before a three-day weekend, when people in the Eastern time zone are just getting back from lunch.
posted by box at 5:11 PM on November 6, 2008

I'd say weekdays from noon to 2, and nights from 8-10. It's pretty dead around rush hour and after 10.

...there is an upside to posting during low traffic times, the slower your posts will be flagged by users, and/or the slower they will be deleted by moderators.
posted by sixcolors at 5:20 PM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

...there is an upside to posting during low traffic times, the slower your posts will be flagged by users, and/or the slower they will be deleted by moderators.

If you want to avoid having your posts deleted, rather than trying to time them to low traffic hours, or passive-aggressively sniping at the moderation here, you could try the time-tested technique of NOT POSTING A BUNCH OF HOGWASH TO ASKME.

Just sayin'.
posted by dersins at 6:25 PM on November 6, 2008 [4 favorites]

the slower your posts will be flagged by users, and/or the slower they will be deleted by moderators.

The Magnificent Masked Midnight Mod is perfectly able to delete any AskMe flag-magnets post-10pm.
posted by CKmtl at 8:13 PM on November 6, 2008

noon to 2, and nights from 8-10
post-10pm

This thread is useless without timezones.
posted by jacalata at 8:58 PM on November 6, 2008

This thread is useless without timezones.

Actually the answers are just as useful without timezones. Equally useful answers include:
-shortly after you have a question to ask
-just before you see a slowdown in AskMe posts
-Clocks are big, machines are heavy
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:32 PM on November 6, 2008

My other response was going to be
-after the hangover wears off and before you start drinking again
or more generically
-while sober.
posted by jacalata at 1:33 AM on November 7, 2008

5 o'clock somewhere.
posted by mandal at 6:28 AM on November 7, 2008

i like diet coke.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:07 AM on November 7, 2008

Anytime I haven't posted a question.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:18 AM on November 7, 2008

Relationship-filter questions should be posted on Friday and Saturday nights so the dateless can offer their expertise.
posted by desjardins at 2:29 PM on November 7, 2008 [1 favorite]