Meta on Tuesday introduced a new feature called Trial Reels on Instagram, designed to help creators experiment with content and see how it performs before sharing it with their followers.
This feature allows creators to test new ideas by sharing their reels with non-followers first, reducing the pressure of how content will be received by existing audiences, the company said.
Key Features of Trial Reels
- Experiment Without Worry: Trial Reels provide creators with the ability to experiment with new topics, genres, and storytelling formats without the fear of how their followers will react.
- Test with Non-Followers: Instead of sharing content directly with followers, Trial Reels are shown first to non-followers, allowing creators to gather feedback before deciding whether to share it more widely.
- Easy Sharing Options: After sharing a Trial Reel, creators can review its performance. If satisfied, they can either share it with their followers directly or set it up for automatic sharing if the reel performs well within 72 hours.
- Private Until Shared: A Trial Reel will not appear on the profile grid or Reels tab unless the creator decides to share it. Only the creator can see that the reel is a trial, ensuring privacy until they are confident in sharing it with followers.
- Engagement Insights: After approximately 24 hours, creators can view engagement metrics, including views, likes, comments, and shares, to evaluate how their content is performing. Instagram will also compare the current trial reel’s performance with previous trials, offering valuable insights.
- Automation Option: If a Trial Reel performs well within the first 72 hours, creators can opt to have Instagram automatically share it with followers, saving time and effort.
How to Share Trial Reels
- Create a reel as usual.
- Before posting, toggle on the “Trial” option.
- After sharing, the trial reel will be visible on the creator’s profile alongside drafts.
Only the creator can see that it is a trial, and it won’t appear on the main grid or Reels tab unless shared with everyone or followers later.
Feedback from Creators
Meta shared that it started testing Trial Reels earlier this year, using feedback from creators to enhance the feature. Early users have reported success, with their experimental content performing well among both new and existing audiences, according to the company.
Availability
Trial Reels has started rolling out, with plans for a global launch to all eligible creators in the upcoming weeks.