When it comes to guest post outreach, the message is important—but timing can make or break your chances of getting a reply.
Think of it like this: no matter how compelling your pitch is, if it lands in a cluttered inbox on a Friday evening or during a busy Monday morning rush, it might get buried forever.
In this article, we’ll break down the best days and time to send outreach emails based on:
- Email marketing and outreach studies
- Real-world experience from SEO professionals
- Tools to schedule outreach perfectly
- Bonus tips and FAQs to help you increase your response rates
Let’s get into it.
Why Timing Matters in Guest Post Outreach
Guest post outreach is a numbers game—but not just about how many emails you send. When you send those emails can significantly influence your open rate, response rate, and placement success.
Here’s why timing is crucial:
- Inbox Competition: Emails sent during busy times can get lost in a sea of unread messages.
- Peak Productivity Windows: People respond faster during their most productive hours.
- Mood and Decision-Making: Your email is more likely to get a positive response when the recipient is in a good mental state—usually not Friday 5 PM!
Best Days to Send Guest Post Outreach Emails
Let’s break it down by the week:
Tuesday to Thursday: The Sweet Spot
- Most studies and real-world tests show that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays yield the best response rates.
- These mid-week days offer a balance between productivity and inbox manageability.
Avoid Mondays
- Mondays = inbox chaos.
- Most people are catching up on internal emails, meetings, and task planning. Your pitch will likely be ignored or missed entirely.
Skip Fridays and Weekends
- Fridays? People are winding down for the week.
- Weekends? Most professionals are offline or not checking work-related emails.
- If you send on Friday afternoon, your email might be buried by Monday morning.
Best Times of Day to Send Outreach Emails
Morning (8:00 AM – 10:30 AM)
- The best window for B2B professionals.
- Most people check their inbox first thing in the morning. Your email will be near the top.
Late Morning to Midday (10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
- Another strong window, especially for editors and marketers who start their workday later.
Avoid Lunch Hours (12:30 PM – 2:00 PM)
- Emails sent during this time are likely to be skipped and forgotten.
Afternoon (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
- Good for catching people during their post-lunch productivity zone.
- Not as strong as mornings but still effective.
Avoid Late Afternoon & Evening (After 4:30 PM)
- People are tired, wrapping up, or mentally checked out. Engagement is low.
Time Zone Considerations
If you’re doing global outreach, consider your recipient’s local time:
- Use tools like Hunter.io, Clearbit, or LinkedIn to check their company location.
- Use time zone converters or tools like MailTag, GMass, or Mailshake to schedule your emails to hit their inbox during prime time.
Pro Tip: For U.S.-based websites, schedule emails to hit between 9 AM–11 AM EST or PST, depending on the site’s location.
Real-World Insights from Outreach Campaigns
Here’s a mini case study based on actual campaigns:
We tested three different send times across 100 guest post outreach emails:
- Group A (Sent at 9:00 AM Tuesday): 38% response rate
- Group B (Sent at 2:00 PM Thursday): 27% response rate
- Group C (Sent Friday evening at 6:00 PM): 4% response rate
Takeaway: Early weekday mornings worked best. Emails sent Friday evening were almost completely ignored.
Tools to Help Schedule Outreach for Maximum Impact
Here are some powerful tools to schedule and optimize your outreach timing:
| Tool | Features |
| Gmail’s Schedule Send | Simple, free, built-in for basic users |
| Mailtrack | Tracks opens, click-throughs, and has scheduling |
| GMass | Great for bulk personalized emails and scheduling |
| Yesware | Sales-focused email scheduling with analytics |
| Instantly.ai / Lemlist | Cold outreach automation with AI timing optimization |
| RightInbox | Works with Gmail for scheduling and reminders |
Bonus Tips to Improve Response Rates (Beyond Timing)
Timing is crucial—but not everything. Combine it with these tips for better results:
Personalization
- Mention the blog/site name.
- Reference a recent post or update.
- Use the recipient’s name.
Subject Line Matters
- Keep it short and benefit-driven.
- Example: “Guest Post Idea for [Blog Name]” or “Loved your article on X – Collaboration Idea”
Clear CTA
- Make it super easy for them to say yes.
- Example: “Would you be open to a 1000-word guest post on [Topic] this month?”
Follow-up Smartly
- 2–3 follow-ups are okay (spaced 3–5 days apart).
- Don’t spam. Be polite and casual in your follow-up tone.
Conclusion
If you want better guest post success, don’t just send emails whenever—it pays to strategically schedule your outreach.
Best days: Tuesday to Thursday
Best times: 8 AM to 11 AM (recipient’s time zone)
Avoid: Fridays, weekends, and early Monday mornings
Combine the right timing with strong personalization, a clear pitch, and smart follow-ups, and you’ll start seeing better results from your guest post outreach efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What’s the worst time to send guest post outreach emails?
A: Late Friday evening, weekends, or Monday morning. Your email will likely be lost in the shuffle.
Q2: How many follow-up emails should I send?
A: Ideally 2–3 follow-ups. Space them out and change the tone slightly. After that, it’s best to move on if there’s no response.
Q3: Should I send emails during holidays?
A: No. Outreach during holidays tends to perform poorly. Wait until the following week to maximize visibility.
Q4: Do guest post emails work better on mobile or desktop?
A: Most outreach emails are read on desktop (especially by editors and marketers), so format your email for clean readability on both.
Q5: What if I don’t get a reply even after good timing?
A: Test different subject lines, personalize more, tweak your pitch, or change the prospect. Sometimes it’s not the timing, it’s the message.