Instagram has launched a new feature called Trial Reels, aimed at helping creators test ideas and receive early feedback on their content. This feature allows creators to share reels with accounts beyond their followers, providing a wider platform for experimentation before posting to their entire audience.
Trial reels on @instagram let you share reels only with people who don’t follow you to see what performs best. pic.twitter.com/FYTozsuhsV
— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) December 10, 2024
To use this feature, you need a professional account, although some creators without professional accounts may gain access as part of Instagram’s ongoing testing. According to Instagram, Trial Reels will be initially shown to non-followers, allowing creators to test new content ideas and gauge performance. If a trial reel performs well, creators can easily share it with their followers with one tap or set it to automatically post to their followers after a successful trial.
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How to Share Trial Reels on Instagram
Follow these steps to create and share a trial reel:
- Create Your Reel: Start by creating your reel as usual, completing all steps up to the sharing phase.
- Activate Trial Mode: Before sharing, toggle the Trial mode option.
- Share the Reel: Tap “Share” to post your trial reel.
Notably, Trial reels are not visible on your profile’s main grid, reels tab, or Feed unless shared publicly. They provide insights, such as views and engagement, within 24 hours. Some followers may see trial reels indirectly through shared direct messages or matching audio tags.
Pretty cool feature if you are using Reels -> Instagram rolls out “trial reels”, which let creators experiment by publishing videos only to users who don’t follow them
“By sharing reels to non-followers, trial reels give you the freedom to explore new formats and help take the… pic.twitter.com/RKqnhJqH1W
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) December 11, 2024
Instagram has revealed that when creating the trial reel, you can choose to have Instagram automatically share your trial reel with followers if we determine it’s performing well based on the views it receives within the first 72 hours. You can change this setting at any time.
Instagram said that they started testing trial reels earlier this year and have used creator feedback to refine the current version. Early results show that creators who have had access are seeing success, with their new content ideas performing well with both new audiences and existing followers.
The platform has confirmed that Trial reels will begin rolling out today and will be available globally to all eligible creators in the coming weeks.
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