Highlights

• Instagram added a new Trial Reels feature.
• It will allow content creators to test their videos with non-followers before sharing.
• Creators can toggle the “Trial” option when creating a reel.
• Creators will get access to insights 24 hours after posting a trial reel.
• The feature is in testing and will roll out globally soon.

Instagram has been rolling out several new features specially developed to help content creators ensure only quality content goes in front of their followers. The new ‘Trial Reels’ is a similar feature that will help content creators in experimenting with different types of content.

In a recent press note, Meta announced the rollout of a new feature on Instagram called Trial Reels. This feature has been designed to help creators test how their videos perform with non-followers before sharing them with their actual audience.

It will allow creators to see which content resonates best and ensure only the most engaging videos reach their followers.

Explain how the feature will work, Meta shared instructions, “To share a reel as a trial, simply take the usual steps to create a reel, but before sharing, tap the toggle to turn on ‘Trial.’ After sharing your trial reel, you can find it by visiting your profile, where it will appear alongside any drafts you have.”

It further added, “Only you will be able to see that your reel is a trial. It will not be shown to other people on your profile’s main grid or Reels tab unless you later decide to share it with everyone and your followers won’t see the trial reel in their feed or Reels tab.”

Moreover, creators will get access to insights and metrics 24 hours after posting a trial reel. If the trial reel performs well, creators will have the option to share it automatically with their followers after 72 hours. Once the reel is shared with all followers, it will appear live on your Instagram profile grid. The reel will be eligible to be distributed to followers on all Instagram surfaces.

For now, the Trial Reels feature is in its own testing phase.

Meta has made it available to a select group of users with plans to roll it out globally to all eligible creators in the coming weeks.

FAQs

Q1. What is the purpose of Instagram’s Trial Reels feature?

Answer. The Trial Reels feature helps creators test how their videos perform with non-followers before sharing them with their actual audience, ensuring that only engaging videos reach their followers.

Q2. How can creators share a reel as a trial on Instagram?

Answer.  Creators can share a reel as a trial by creating a reel as usual, then tapping the toggle to turn on ‘Trial’ before sharing it. The trial reel will appear alongside any drafts on their profile, visible only to them.

Q3. What insights do creators get after posting a trial reel?

Answer. Creators get access to insights and metrics 24 hours after posting a trial reel. If the trial reel performs well, they can automatically share it with their followers after 72 hours.

Q4. Is the trial reel on Instagram available for everyone?

Answer. Only the creator can see that a reel is a trial. It will not be shown on the profile’s main grid or Reels tab unless the creator decides to share it with everyone later.

Q5.How to share trial reels on Instagram?

Answer. To share your trial reel on Instagram:
Create a reel. Follow the steps until it’s time to share.
Before sharing the reel, tap the toggle to turn on Trial.
Tap Share.
Only you will be able to see that your reel is a trial. After you share your trial reel, your followers won’t see it in Feed or Instagram’s Reels tab. Your trial reel will not appear in your profile’s reels tab or your main grid unless you later decide to Share to everyone.
You’ll see insights on your trial reel within 24 hours after sharing so you can understand how it is performing.
Note: Some followers may still see your reel in other places. For example, someone might share your reel with them in a direct message or on a page that shows reels with the same audio, location or filter.

Q6.How to share trial reels with everyone on Instagram?

Answer. After you share a trial reel, you can see how the reel is performing in the reels viewer. See engagement metrics, such as Views, Likes, Comments, and Shares. If you feel like your reel is performing well, you may consider sharing it with everyone to increase its reach and connect with your followers.

To share your trial reel with everyone:

Tap on the View trial insights button in the reels viewer.

Tap Share to everyone.

Your reel will now be displayed on the main grid and reels tab of your profile, and may be seen by followers in their Feed and Instagram’s Reels tab. The sooner you share your reel with everyone, the more likely your followers will see it in their Feed.
Note: Trial reels can take longer to gain views because we’re finding non-followers who will enjoy the content. They are treated separately from your other reels in our ranking systems, so shouldn’t impact the performance of your regular reels content.

Q7.How to share trial reels automatically with everyone on Instagram ?

Answer. You have the option to have Instagram automatically share your trial reel with followers. If you turn on this setting, we will automatically share your reel if we determine it’s performing well by getting a lot of views within the first 72 hours.
To share your trial reels to everyone automatically:
Create a reel.
On the publish screen, tap How it works under the Trials toggle.
Tap to toggle on Share to everyone automatically.
Tap Got it to save changes.
Note: This setting will be applied to all trial reels you share in the future unless you change it.