To help creators test content before sharing it with their followers, Instagram is launching a new feature called Trial Reels. This tool, which is rolling out globally over the next few weeks, allows creators to share Reels exclusively with non-followers to gauge audience interest.
Testing without fear of judgment
A lot of creators feel limited by their preexisting content style and are afraid of their fans’ negative reactions if they try something new. Instagram’s Vice President of Product Management, Ashley Alexander, explained, “We’ve heard from creators who are hesitant to try new genres or storytelling formats because they don’t want to alienate their audience.”
With trial Reels, creators can post videos that won’t appear on their profile or be shown to their followers’ feeds. Only non-followers will be able to view the content via feeds, shared Reels tabs, or associated tags like location or audio. Creators will get performance data, such as views, likes, comments, and shares, after a 24-hour period.
Simple and flexible
Before uploading a reel, creators must enable the “Trial” option to use the feature. As a result, the reel remains separate from their main profile. If the reel does well, they can choose to share it with their followers manually or allow Instagram to post it automatically based on how many interactions it gets in the first 72 hours.
Encouraging creativity
Instagram views this feature as a means of encouraging creativity by easing the pressure of constantly creating high-quality material. “One of the worst things for creativity is feeling like there are consequences for taking risks,” Alexander said. “Trial reels allow creators to take bold chances and see what resonates.”
This move also positions Instagram as a step ahead of competitors like TikTok, which doesn’t currently offer a similar feature. Instagram aims to improve content quality and increase audience reach by giving creators the freedom to experiment.
All professional accounts should soon have access to trial Reels, giving content creators a new opportunity to hone their approaches and test out new concepts.