Instagram introduces 'Trial Reels' feature for creators to experiment & refine content

Instagram has rolled out a new feature called Trial Reels, designed to help creators test ideas and gather early feedback on their content. This feature allows creators to share reels with accounts beyond their followers, offering a broader scope for experimentation before deciding to publish to their full audience.

Who Can Use Trial Reels?

To access this feature, you must have a professional account. However, select creators without professional accounts may also gain access as part of ongoing testing by Instagram.

How to Share Trial Reels on Instagram

Follow these steps to create and share a trial reel:

• Create a Reel: Begin as usual, following all steps up to the sharing phase.
• Enable Trial Mode: Before sharing, toggle the Trial option on.
• Share the Reel: Tap Share.

Key points to note:

Trial reels are not visible in your profile's main grid, reels tab, or Feed unless explicitly shared with everyone later.
Trial reels allow you to gather insights within 24 hours to assess performance, such as views and engagement.
Some followers might still see trial reels indirectly, like through shared direct messages or matching audio tags.

Sharing Trial Reels with Everyone

If your trial reel performs well, you can share it broadly to maximize its reach. Here's how:

• Tap View trial insights in the reels viewer to review metrics like views, likes, and comments.
• Tap Share to everyone to make the reel visible on your main grid, reels tab, and followers’ Feeds.

Automate Sharing for Successful Trial Reels

Instagram also offers the option to auto-share high-performing trial reels. This feature is based on early engagement, ensuring broader reach without manual effort.

Steps to enable automatic sharing:

• On the publish screen, tap How it works under the Trials toggle.
• Toggle on Share to everyone automatically.
• Confirm by tapping Got it.
• This setting will apply to all future trial reels unless changed.

Why Trial Reels Matter

Trial reels are a strategic addition to Instagram’s toolkit, giving creators the opportunity to refine their content, understand audience preferences, and improve their overall engagement strategy. Whether you are a seasoned creator or just starting out, this feature allows you to experiment without risking the performance of your regular content.