Discover Instagram's New Trial Reels: A Game-Changer for Creators
Instagram has always been a platform for creativity and self-expression, but with the introduction of the new Instagram feature, Trial Reels, it’s now offering creators an innovative way to test their content before sharing it with their followers. This new feature allows users to experiment with their creative ideas and gauge audience reactions, all while minimizing the pressure that often comes with posting.
What Are Trial Reels?
Trial Reels enable creators to share their content with non-followers to gather early feedback. This means you can experiment with different genres, storytelling formats, or topics without the anxiety of how your existing audience might respond. If you find that a trial reel resonates well, you can easily share it with your followers later, but initially, only non-followers will see it (although it is of note that followers may see the content if someone shares it directly with them).
Key Features
Professional Account Required: Generally, you need a professional account to access Trial Reels, though some creators may see this feature as part of ongoing testing.
Visibility: When you share a trial reel, it won’t appear on your profile's reels tab, and your followers won’t see it in their feeds or the Reels tab. However, some may still come across it if it’s shared through direct messages or in other ways.
Performance Insights: You’ll receive engagement metrics like views, likes, comments, and shares within 24 hours of posting, helping you assess how well your content is performing.
Benefits and Best Practices
Trial Reels offer a treasure trove of benefits for creators, making it easier to experiment with new ideas and content styles without the looming pressure of sharing directly with their core audience. By testing new content with non-followers first, creators can gauge performance and make data-driven decisions about what to share with their followers. This feature provides a safe space to try out new formats, genres, and topics without the worry of how their followers might react.
To get the most out of Trial Reels, creators should follow these best practices:
Test New Ideas: Use Trial Reels to explore content that may be outside your usual niche. This is your playground for creativity.
Analyze Engagement Metrics: Pay close attention to views, likes, comments, and shares. These insights will help you understand what resonates with your audience.
Fine-Tune Your Strategy: Use the data from your trial reels to refine your content strategy. Make informed decisions based on what works and what doesn’t.
Experiment with Formats: Don’t be afraid to try different formats, genres, and topics. This is your chance to discover new ways to engage your audience.
Share High-Performing Reels: Once you identify a trial reel that performs well, share it with your followers to maximize reach and engagement.
By following these best practices, you can leverage Trial Reels to enhance your content strategy and connect with your audience in innovative ways.
How to Share a Trial Reel
Sharing a trial reel is straightforward:
Create Your Reel: Follow the usual steps to create your content.
Activate Trial Mode: Before sharing, toggle the option to turn on Trial.
Share: Tap share, and your reel will be distributed to non-followers.
Once shared, you can check the performance metrics in the reels viewer. If it’s performing well, you can opt to share it publicly with your followers. Additionally, you can share trial reels with your followers later if they perform well, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement.
Share Trial Reels Automatically
For added convenience, Instagram allows you to set your trial reels to automatically share if they receive significant engagement in the first 72 hours. Here’s how to enable this feature:
Create Your Reel.
Toggle on Automatic Sharing: On the publish screen, tap “How it works” under the Trials toggle, then enable the option to share automatically.
Save Your Changes: Confirm by tapping “Got it”.
This setting will apply to all future trial reels unless you decide to change it, allowing you to share trial reels automatically based on their performance.
Why Use Trial Reels?
Trial Reels are ideal for creators who want to experiment without the fear of disappointing their current audience. This feature allows you to:
Test New Ideas: Try out content that may be outside your usual niche.
Lower Pressure: Create freely without worrying about immediate feedback from your followers.
Reach New Audiences: Engage with non-followers and potentially grow your following based on content that performs well.
Enhance Visibility: Once shared publicly, trial reels can appear prominently in Instagram's reels tab, which shows reels to a broader audience, increasing engagement and reach.
Conclusion
With the rollout of the Trial Reels Instagram feature, Instagram is opening up new avenues for creators to express themselves and experiment with their content. By allowing you to test your ideas with a broader audience, this feature will help to take the guesswork out of content creation and improve overall engagement. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just starting, Trial Reels offer a unique opportunity to enhance your Instagram experience and connect with your audience in innovative ways.
Start experimenting with Trial Reels today and discover what resonates with your audience!
