TL;DR / Key Summary
- Trial Reels let you test content with non-followers before sharing it with your audience.
- They don’t perform like normal reels since they aren’t shown to followers initially.
- To measure success, compare them to other Trial Reels—not regular reels.
- Key metrics to track: sends, likes, and watch time.
- Wait a few hours before analyzing performance, not the first 10 minutes.
- If the reel does well, upgrade it to share with followers.
What Are Instagram Trial Reels?
Instagram Trial Reels allow you to post a reel that is only visible to non-followers. If the reel performs well, you can then upgrade it to share with your followers and add it to your profile. This feature launched in late 2024 as a way for creators to test content without worrying about how their existing audience will react.
How Trial Reels Work:
- Post a Trial Reel: it only appears to non-followers.
- Instagram distributes it, gathering engagement data.
- You monitor performance metrics like sends, likes, and watch time.
- If it does well, you upgrade it to share with followers and add to your profile.
Why You Should Use Trial Reels
Trial Reels give you a low-risk way to experiment with content. If a Trial Reel flops, it never reaches your followers. If it does well, you can confidently push it to your main audience. This makes them useful for:
- Testing new content ideas before committing.
- Reaching new audiences without affecting your current engagement rates.
- Fine-tuning content strategy based on real-world performance.
Breaking down Adam Mosseri's Reel about Trial Reels
How to Measure Trial Reel Performance
1. Compare to Other Trial Reels, Not Normal Reels
Since Trial Reels don’t go to your followers initially, they naturally get less reach at first. Comparing them to a standard reel would be misleading. Instead, measure them against your past Trial Reels to get an accurate performance benchmark.
2. Track These Key Metrics:
- Sends: How often people share the reel with others.
- Likes: A direct indicator of engagement.
- Watch time: A key signal of content retention.
3. Don’t Judge Performance Too Quickly
Avoid checking performance in the first 10 minutes. Early engagement is usually low because Instagram is still distributing the reel. Wait a few hours before comparing stats.
When to Upgrade a Trial Reel
Once you’ve analyzed the data, decide if the reel is worth sharing with your followers. A good rule of thumb:
- If the sends, likes, and watch time are higher than your past Trial Reels, upgrade it.
- If engagement is low, leave it as a trial and move on.
Final Thoughts
Instagram Trial Reels give you a data-driven way to test content before exposing it to your full audience. By tracking engagement metrics, waiting long enough to assess performance, and comparing Trial Reels against each other, you can make smarter content decisions. If a Trial Reel succeeds, upgrade it and maximize its reach.
If you need help with your Social Media Marketing strategy, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Here's Adam Mosseri's Instagram Reel that we broken down here within this blog:
