Social Media Benchmarks by Industry — 2026 Data
Stop guessing whether your metrics are good enough. Compare your engagement rate, posting frequency, and growth against real industry benchmarks across every major platform.
Instagram — Technology
2026 benchmark data
Average across technology accounts
Optimal cadence for this industry
Average monthly growth rate
Highest-performing formats
Typical organic reach per post
Schedule content at optimal times and stay consistent with PostEverywhere.
How to Use Social Media Benchmarks
1. Set Realistic Goals
Use industry benchmarks to set achievable KPIs. If your industry averages 1.2% engagement on Instagram, aiming for 1.5% is ambitious but realistic. Jumping to 5% without a viral strategy is not. Start by understanding where you stand relative to peers, then set incremental targets for growth. Tools like our engagement rate calculator can help you track progress.
2. Identify Gaps
Compare your current metrics against benchmarks to find opportunities. If your posting frequency is below the industry average, that is likely hurting your reach. If your engagement rate is high but growth is slow, you may need to focus on discoverability tactics like hashtags and cross-posting to multiple platforms.
3. Track Over Time
Benchmarks are most valuable when tracked monthly. A single snapshot tells you where you are; a trend line tells you where you are heading. Use a content calendar to maintain consistency and revisit benchmarks quarterly to ensure your strategy is still aligned with industry standards.
Understanding Engagement Rate by Platform
Engagement rates are not created equal across platforms. Each social network has a different algorithm, audience behavior, and content format that influences how users interact with posts. Here is what you need to know about each platform in 2026.
Average engagement sits at 1.0-2.5% across industries. Reels continue to drive the highest reach, while carousels generate the most saves and shares. The algorithm in 2026 heavily prioritizes Reels watch time and share-to-impression ratio. Learn more about scheduling Instagram Reels for optimal timing.
Facebook engagement averages 0.4-1.0%, the lowest among major platforms. However, its massive user base means even low rates translate to significant reach. Video content, especially Reels, now outperforms all other formats. Use our Facebook scheduler to stay consistent.
LinkedIn boasts the highest organic engagement at 1.4-2.5%, fueled by professional networking behavior. Text-only posts and polls consistently outperform image posts. The algorithm rewards early comments and dwell time. Schedule LinkedIn content strategically with our LinkedIn scheduler.
TikTok
TikTok leads all platforms with average engagement of 2.6-5.3%. The For You Page algorithm means even small accounts can go viral. Short clips (15-30 seconds) with strong hooks in the first 2 seconds perform best. Use our TikTok scheduler to post when your audience is most active.
X (Twitter)
X sees engagement rates of 0.5-0.9%, driven primarily by replies and retweets. Long-form threads and quote posts with hot takes outperform simple tweets. Posting frequency matters more on X than any other platform. Schedule your X content using the X scheduler.
YouTube
YouTube engagement averages 1.2-2.9% depending on industry and format. Shorts now account for over 40% of watch time on the platform. Long-form tutorials and reviews still drive the most subscriber growth. Plan your uploads with the YouTube scheduler.
2026 Social Media Trends Across Industries
The social media landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Here are the trends shaping benchmarks across industries this year.
Short-Form Video Dominance Continues
Reels, TikToks, and Shorts now account for 60%+ of all social media engagement. Brands that have not adopted short-form video are seeing engagement rates drop 30-40% year-over-year. The average benchmark for video content is 2-3x higher than static posts across every industry. Use our AI content generator to brainstorm video ideas quickly.
AI-Assisted Content Creation is Mainstream
Over 70% of marketers now use AI tools for caption writing, image generation, or content repurposing. Accounts using AI-assisted workflows post 40% more frequently on average, which directly correlates with higher engagement. Try our viral hook generator and content repurposer to scale output.
Cross-Platform Consistency Pays Off
Brands posting consistently across 3+ platforms see 2.5x more total impressions than single-platform accounts. The key is adapting content for each platform rather than identical cross-posts. Learn how to post to all social media at once while still optimizing per platform.
Engagement-to-Conversion Metrics Matter More
Vanity metrics are out. In 2026, marketers are focusing on saves, shares, and click-through rates as indicators of content quality. Use UTM tracking to connect social engagement to actual business outcomes and prove ROI.
LinkedIn is the Fastest-Growing B2B Channel
LinkedIn engagement rates for B2B and SaaS have increased 18% year-over-year as the platform invests in creator tools and video. Personal brand accounts outperform company pages by 3-5x in engagement. Read our guide on the best time to schedule LinkedIn posts.
How to Beat Your Industry's Average
Knowing the benchmarks is step one. Here are proven strategies to outperform your competitors on every platform.
Post at Optimal Times
Timing is one of the easiest wins. Posts published during peak audience hours see 20-40% higher engagement. Each platform and industry has different optimal windows. Use our scheduling features to automate this and read our comprehensive guide on the best time to schedule social media posts.
Create Platform-Native Content
Algorithms reward content that uses native features. Instagram prioritizes Reels, LinkedIn boosts polls and carousels, TikTok favors trending sounds. Repurpose your core message but adapt the format for each platform. Our content repurposer tool makes this process instant.
Engage Within the First Hour
Replying to every comment in the first 60 minutes signals to algorithms that your content sparks conversation. This can boost reach by 50-100% on Instagram and LinkedIn. Pair this with a consistent posting schedule using PostEverywhere's scheduler so you are always ready to engage.
Use Hashtags Strategically
The right hashtags can increase reach by 30% on Instagram and TikTok. Use a mix of broad and niche tags tailored to your industry. Our free hashtag generator creates platform-specific tag sets instantly. Avoid generic tags like #love or #instagood which are too competitive for most accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good engagement rate on social media?▾
A "good" engagement rate varies by platform. On Instagram, anything above 1% is considered solid, while 3%+ is excellent. On TikTok, 3-6% is average. LinkedIn tends to see higher rates (2-4%) due to smaller, more targeted audiences. The key is comparing against your specific industry, not a universal number.
How often should I post on social media?▾
Posting frequency depends on the platform and your capacity. Instagram performs best at 3-5 posts per week, TikTok rewards daily posting (5-7/week), LinkedIn sees optimal results at 3-5 posts per week, and X/Twitter benefits from 1-3 tweets per day. Consistency matters more than volume.
What is average follower growth rate?▾
Average monthly follower growth varies widely. Most established accounts see 1-3% monthly growth. New accounts or those using viral content strategies can see 5-10%+. TikTok tends to offer the fastest organic growth, while LinkedIn and Facebook growth rates are typically slower but more targeted.
How is engagement rate calculated?▾
Engagement rate is calculated as (Total Engagements / Total Followers) x 100. Engagements include likes, comments, shares, and saves. Some marketers use reach-based engagement rate instead: (Total Engagements / Total Reach) x 100, which accounts for algorithmic distribution.
Are these benchmarks accurate for 2026?▾
Our benchmarks are compiled from published research by Socialinsider, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer, combined with aggregated data from thousands of social media accounts. We update these figures regularly to reflect the latest algorithm changes and platform trends.
Why do engagement rates differ between industries?▾
Industries with highly visual or emotional content (like fitness, food, and fashion) naturally generate more engagement. B2B industries like legal or finance tend to have lower engagement rates but often drive higher-value conversions. The audience intent and content type both play major roles.
What content types get the highest engagement?▾
Short-form video (Reels, TikToks, Shorts) dominates engagement across all platforms in 2026. Carousel posts perform best on Instagram and LinkedIn for educational content. Interactive content like polls and questions drive high engagement on LinkedIn and X.
How can I improve my engagement rate?▾
Focus on posting at optimal times, using platform-native features (like Reels on Instagram), engaging with comments within the first hour, and creating content that encourages saves and shares. Using a scheduling tool like PostEverywhere helps maintain the consistency that algorithms reward.
Related Free Tools
Turn benchmarks into results.
Now that you know the numbers to beat, schedule your content at optimal times across every platform with PostEverywhere. Join 2,000+ creators and marketers who are growing faster with data-driven scheduling.