Instagram has launched a new feature called “trial Reels,” giving video creators the ability to test content outside of their circles.
Unlike standard Reels, these experimental videos bypass a creator’s followers’ feeds and recommend them to non-followers, offering creators an opportunity to gauge the potential performance of their content.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, introduced this feature in response to creators’ concerns about publishing content that might not perform well. In an old blog post, the company highlighted that many creators feel anxious about experimenting with new content styles. Trial Reels aims to alleviate this by providing a way to test ideas without directly impacting their established audience.
Creators can enable the “trial” toggle before posting a Reel. The creator’s profile grid won’t show these trial Reels, and accounts that do not follow them will mainly receive recommendations for them. However, Meta cautions that it can’t guarantee a follower won’t encounter the content elsewhere on the platform, such as through direct messages.
After 24 hours, creators can access performance metrics for the trial Reel, including views, shares, likes, and comments. Meta acknowledges that trial content might take longer to gain traction since it isn’t shown to followers, but the feature gives creators a chance to experiment without the pressure of immediate visibility.
Trial Reels aim to empower creators to explore new genres and formats, providing valuable insights to refine their content strategies in a more flexible way.