"When should I post?" is one of the first questions new sellers ask. Instead of guessing, we looked at real numbers. Our data from about 5,000 cash-on-delivery orders from Sri Lankan online shops on our system (September to October 2026) shows a clear pattern. Here is what it says, and how to plan your day around it.
What the numbers show
- Enquiries peak between 7 pm and 11 pm.
- The busiest single hour is 9 pm.
- Sunday brings about 50% more enquiries than other days of the week.
- About half of enquiries became orders, and 3 in 4 of those ordered within a day. Almost nobody ordered after 3 days.
The first three facts tell you when people are looking. The last one tells you something just as important: when you must be there to answer.
Why evenings work
It makes sense when you think about ordinary life in Sri Lanka. During the day people are at work, at school, travelling or busy at home. After dinner, they sit down with their phone. That is when they scroll through Status updates, Facebook and TikTok, and that is when they have time to ask "how much?".
Post a little before the rush
You want your post to be fresh when people pick up their phones, not buried under everyone else's.
- Post around 6.30 to 8 pm. Your WhatsApp Status, Story or post is then near the top as the evening rush begins.
- Stay free between 8 and 10 pm to answer messages. This matters more than the exact minute you post.
- WhatsApp Status lasts 24 hours, so a Status shared at 7 pm is still there the next morning and afternoon too.
If you can only give selling one session a day, make it the evening. See selling with one hour a day for a full routine.
Make Sunday your big day
With about 50% more enquiries, Sunday deserves a little extra effort.
- Plan on Saturday. Pick your best product for Sunday and have the photo and caption ready.
- Post on Sunday afternoon or early evening. People are home and relaxed.
- Keep Sunday night free. More enquiries means more messages to answer.
- Follow up on Monday. Anyone who asked on Sunday but didn't order yet is still interested. A polite reminder on Monday evening is fine. After three days, the chance is very small.
A simple weekly plan
- Monday: follow up Sunday's enquiries. Post one product in the evening.
- Tuesday to Friday: one evening post or Status. Answer messages 8 to 10 pm.
- Saturday: prepare Sunday's product, photo and caption. Light posting.
- Sunday: your best product. Be ready for the busiest night.
This is a starting point, not a rule. Adjust it to your own life.
Timing is worthless if you reply late
Here is the part many sellers miss. Posting at the perfect time brings messages at 9 pm. If you answer them at 11 am the next day, the buyer may have moved on. With 3 in 4 orders placed within a day of the enquiry, a fast reply is where the sale is won. Read reply within an hour for scripts and tips.
The MyKade app helps here: you can connect your Facebook Page and Instagram and answer messages in one inbox, and AI can suggest a reply that you check before sending.
Watch your own pattern too
The numbers above come from many shops together. Your own buyers might be a little different: for example, if most of your contacts work night shifts, or if you sell to mothers who are free in the early afternoon.
For two weeks, note down roughly when each enquiry arrives. A notebook is enough. If you see your own peak, post just before it.
Quick summary
- Post in the evening, around 6.30 to 8 pm.
- Be available from 8 to 10 pm, especially around 9 pm.
- Give Sunday extra attention.
- Follow up within a day or two, never weeks later.
- Speed of reply matters more than the perfect posting time.
Ready to try it tonight? Download the MyKade app, pick a product, and share it before the 9 pm rush.