Time-of-day targeting in solo ads is an often overlooked yet incredibly effective tactic to increase your email campaign success. While most people focus on ad copy, funnels, and traffic quality, the timing of your solo ad sends can significantly impact your results.
In this post, we’ll break down:
- What time-of-day targeting in solo ads really means
- The best times to send for higher open and click-through rates
- Data-backed insights and how to test it yourself
- Internal and external tools to optimize delivery
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
What Is Time-of-Day Targeting in Solo Ads?
Time-of-day targeting in solo ads refers to choosing specific times of day to send your email ads to maximize engagement. Since solo ads involve leveraging another person’s email list, you often don’t control the send directly—but a reputable vendor will consider your timing preferences or already optimize for them.
If your offer hits a subscriber’s inbox when they’re most likely to check email, you increase your chances of:
- Higher open rates
- More clicks
- More conversions
Sounds simple, right? But many ignore this small yet powerful lever.
Why Does Timing Matter in Email Marketing?
According to multiple studies, including data from Mailchimp and Campaign Monitor, email engagement is not random — it follows predictable human behavior.
Here are some insights:
- Emails sent between 9 AM and 11 AM have the highest open rates
- Afternoon windows, particularly 3 PM to 5 PM, also perform well
- Emails sent too early (before 6 AM) or too late (after 9 PM) generally perform poorly unless your niche is specifically active during those hours (like gamers or night shift workers)
So if timing matters in traditional email marketing, why wouldn’t it apply to solo ads?
Spoiler: It does. In fact, even more so — since you’re paying for each click or lead.
Solo Ad Performance by Time Block (EST)
| Time Block | Engagement Potential |
|---|---|
| 6 AM – 9 AM | Low |
| 9 AM – 12 PM | High |
| 12 PM – 3 PM | Medium |
| 3 PM – 6 PM | High |
| 6 PM – 9 PM | Medium |
| 9 PM – 12 AM | Low |
Most solo ad vendors report their highest engagement during:
- Late mornings (9 AM – 12 PM)
- Afternoon hours (3 PM – 6 PM)
If you’re using a solo ad service, don’t be afraid to ask your vendor:
“When do you typically send out for highest performance?”
Time Zone Matters — Don’t Ignore It!
Timing isn’t just about the hour—it’s about which time zone your audience lives in.
Sending an email at 10 AM EST is great—if your list is in North America. But if your vendor’s traffic is mostly from the UK or Australia, that message might land while people are asleep.
Top-tier vendors may offer time-zone-based targeting or adjust send times based on your target location.
🧭 Use tools like World Time Buddy (DoFollow) to align send times across regions.
What Time-of-Day Targeting Impacts in Solo Ads
🎯 Open Rates
If your message arrives while your prospect is online, it’s more likely to be seen and opened.
🎯 Click-Through Rates (CTR)
People are more likely to click when they’re not distracted—during lunch, mid-day lulls, or post-work.
🎯 Conversions
Depending on your niche, certain times create the right emotional state to convert. For example:
- Make Money Online (MMO): Best during late morning and afternoon when people are at work, daydreaming about quitting.
- Fitness: Early mornings or evenings, tied to workout schedules.
- Dating: Evenings and weekends, when people are relaxed or lonely.
How to Apply Time-of-Day Targeting in Solo Ads
✅ Step 1: Ask Your Vendor About Timing
A good solo ad vendor should know:
- Peak performance times
- Geo-location breakdown of their list
- Ability to accommodate timing requests
If they can’t answer, it might be time to look for better vendors.
🧠 Need help finding top solo ad sellers? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Solo Ad Vendor (Internal Link).
✅ Step 2: Split Test Time Blocks
Run the same offer, copy, and landing page across two different send times:
- Campaign A: 10 AM EST
- Campaign B: 4 PM EST
Track:
- Open rate
- Click-through rate
- Opt-in/sales rate
🛠 Tools like ClickMagick or Thrive Tracker (DoFollow) can help you monitor and analyze results.
✅ Step 3: Use Internal Data
Already building your own email list? Tools like ConvertKit and ActiveCampaign (DoFollow) let you track best send times by subscriber behavior. Use that data to plan your solo ad buys too.
Is Time-of-Day Targeting a Game Changer?
Time-of-day targeting in solo ads won’t fix a bad funnel, bad copy, or low-quality traffic.
But it can give you a 10% to 30% boost on a campaign that’s already working. In the paid traffic world, that’s a huge edge.
Imagine getting:
- 20% more opens
- 15% more clicks
- 10% more leads or sales
…just by tweaking when your email goes out.
Final Thoughts: Make Time Work for You
If you’re buying solo ads, you’re already investing in leverage. So don’t stop short — leverage time too.
Time-of-day targeting in solo ads is a low-effort, high-upside optimization that many overlook. By scheduling smart, you give your campaign the best possible shot at success.
✅ Key Takeaways
- Focus Keyword: Time-of-day targeting in solo ads
- Best Send Times: 9–11 AM and 3–6 PM
- Always Ask Vendors: About their send schedule and list timezone
- Split Test Timing: To learn what works best for your niche
- Use Tools: ClickMagick, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign
👉 Want to learn how to scale a solo ads business from scratch?
Check out the Solo Ads Lifestyle Model (Internal Link) — your complete step-by-step blueprint to building passive income with solo ads.