How to Use Instagram Trial Reels to Reach a New Audience
If you’ve taken a break from Instagram and noticed a drop in views and engagement, you’re not alone. After six months away, I saw my reach plummet from 20K-500K views per reel to just 200-800—which, while frustrating, wasn’t surprising.
That’s when I decided to test out Instagram’s Trial Reels feature, and to my surprise, one of my posts hit 2,500+ views in under 24 hours—far higher than my recent average! It wasn’t viral, but it showed me that Trial Reels can be a powerful tool for reaching new audiences.
If you’re looking for a way to experiment with content without hurting your engagement, here’s everything you need to know.
What Are Instagram Trial Reels?
Trial Reels are a new Instagram feature that lets you test content with non-followers first before sharing it with your regular audience.
This means you can:
✅ Gauge how well a post performs before committing to it on your main feed
✅ Reach new audiences who don’t follow you yet
✅ Experiment with new content ideas without fear of “flopping”
How to Access Trial Reels:
- Create a reel as usual
- Before sharing, toggle on the “Trial” option
- Publish—and your reel will only be shown to non-followers
These reels won’t show up on your profile grid, but you can find them under your Reels tab in the same section as your drafts.
Ways to Use Trial Reels to Reach More People
If you want to make the most of Trial Reels, try using them in these ways:
1. Repurpose High-Performing Old Content
If you’ve had reels do well in the past, repost them as Trial Reels to see if they can attract even more engagement from new viewers. Since it won’t be shown to your existing followers, it’s a fresh opportunity.
2. Test Out New Content Ideas (Without Fear of Failing)
Want to experiment with a new niche or style but afraid of low engagement? Trial Reels let you test the waters without it affecting your main audience. Who knows? You might discover your next big content angle!
3. A/B Test Your Content
Use Trial Reels to test variations of the same video to see what performs best. Try different:
• Captions
• Cover photos
• Hooks
• Audio
This can help you refine your content strategy before posting it officially.
4. Try Trending Content Without the “Cringe” Factor
Some trends can feel a little too out there to post on your main feed. With Trial Reels, you can test how a trend performs before committing. If it works, great! If not, no harm done.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try Trial Reels?
Absolutely! Trial Reels are a great way to test content, experiment with trends, and reach a new audience—without worrying about engagement dips.
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss future content tips!
