Unveiling the Enigmatic Twitter Report Card

Twitter Ads is a powerful platform, providing businesses worldwide with access to diverse audiences. However, companies in India often notice a peculiar limitation: the absence of Indian Standard Time (IST) in the Twitter Ads timezone settings. This can complicate ad scheduling for Indian businesses looking to target local audiences at optimal times. In this article, we’ll uncover why IST is missing from Twitter Ads, explore possible workarounds, and provide tips to help Indian businesses manage their ad schedules effectively.

Why Indian Standard Time is Missing on Twitter Ads

One of the biggest questions for Indian advertisers is the absence of Indian Standard Time on Twitter Ads. As of now, Twitter Ads does not support IST directly, making it inconvenient for businesses and advertisers targeting Indian users. This issue is primarily due to the lack of timezone options specific to Twitter Ads’ current infrastructure.

The Impact of Missing Indian Standard Time

The absence of IST on Twitter Ads creates complications for Indian advertisers in the following ways:

• Ad Scheduling Confusion: Without IST, advertisers must rely on alternative time zones, leading to errors in scheduling and incorrect targeting.
• Reduced Ad Performance: Ads scheduled outside of peak engagement hours risk lower visibility and engagement.
• Additional Time Zone Adjustments: Indian advertisers must manually adjust times to sync with IST, increasing the time spent on ad management.

Potential Reasons Behind the Absence of Indian Standard Time

While Twitter has not released an official statement, some possible explanations for IST’s absence include:

• Technical Limitations: Twitter’s ad management system may not support a full range of global time zones, including IST.
• Prioritization of Larger Markets: Twitter Ads may prioritize time zones in larger advertising markets.

How to Schedule Ads Without Indian Standard Time

Despite the absence of Indian Standard Time on Twitter Ads, businesses can take specific steps to manage ad schedules effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Choose an Alternative Time Zone Close to IST

One way to approximate Indian Standard Time is by selecting an alternative timezone that closely matches IST (GMT +5:30). Here are a few options:

• Dubai (GMT +4): Ads scheduled here will be 1.5 hours behind IST, so adjustments are necessary.
• Bangkok (GMT +7): Scheduling ads in this timezone will be 1.5 hours ahead of IST.

To synchronize with IST, set ad schedules with the correct offsets.

2. Calculate Ad Start and End Times Based on IST

After selecting a timezone, adjust start and end times manually. For example, if your ad should go live at 9:00 AM IST, you’ll need to set it accordingly in the selected timezone:

• For Dubai Time: Set the ad to start at 7:30 AM.
• For Bangkok Time: Set the ad to start at 10:30 AM.

By calculating the correct start and end times, you can manage your campaigns even without Indian Standard Time available.

3. Test and Optimize Ad Scheduling Regularly

Once you set the ad timing based on another timezone, monitor performance metrics closely. Observing engagement patterns and making regular adjustments will help you maximize effectiveness.

Tips for Effective Ad Scheduling Without Indian Standard Time

Utilize Google Sheets or Calendars for Time Zone Conversion

Managing multiple time zones can be complex, especially if you’re handling numerous campaigns. Use tools like Google Sheets to calculate and log time conversions, ensuring accuracy across different ad campaigns.

Collaborate with Twitter Support

To streamline your experience, consider reaching out to Twitter Ads support and expressing the need for Indian Standard Time. This feedback can increase the likelihood of IST being added in future updates. Visit Twitter Ads Support for more information.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Using a workaround for Indian Standard Time on Twitter Ads may present some challenges. Here are common issues and solutions:

Challenge 1: Incorrect Timing of Ad Delivery

If you notice that your ad delivery is not aligning with IST, double-check your timezone settings and offset calculations. For example, a common issue is forgetting to adjust end times when manually converting between time zones.

Challenge 2: Missed Target Audience Peak Times

Ads displayed outside peak hours can impact engagement. If you’re experiencing this issue, try adjusting your start times to test different scheduling windows and monitor performance changes.

Alternative Social Media Platforms Supporting Indian Standard Time

If scheduling ads with IST is critical, you may consider using alternative social media platforms that natively support Indian Standard Time, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. These platforms include IST in their timezone options, allowing for more precise scheduling tailored to Indian audiences.

Additionally, using other platforms allows cross-referencing ad performance, providing insights that may improve Twitter campaign timing as well. Explore other social media advertising options to compare results.

Conclusion

While the absence of Indian Standard Time on Twitter Ads creates challenges, Indian businesses can still optimize ad scheduling by using workarounds and monitoring campaign performance. By carefully selecting an alternative timezone, calculating ad times based on IST, and testing ad performance, advertisers can achieve effective reach and engagement. With the continued expansion of digital advertising, it’s possible that Twitter will eventually introduce IST, easing the scheduling process for Indian advertisers. Until then, following these strategies can help you make the most of Twitter Ads, even without direct support for Indian Standard Time.

This article is in the category News and created by SociaTips Team