Using social media to spread the word to potential subscribers about free content (that just might convert them) is a no-brainer. But how do you break through the social media clutter? Knowing your audience and timing. You will want to test what works best for your specific audience but Dan Zarrella has some great tips in  his new study, The Science of Social Timing. Here are the key takeaways on social media timing:

• If you’re targeting an American audience, consider that nearly 80% of the population is in the Eastern and Central time zones.
• Best days to tweet are mid-week and weekend.
• 5pm ET is the best time to tweet.
• The best frequency of sharing on Twitter is 1 to 4 times per hour.
• The best day to share on Facebook is Saturday and the best time is noon.

While these are guidelines to follow, you will want to test with your own audience and their schedules and habits especially if they have unique situations, i.e. professions who work the graveyard shift.