Here’s How Instagram’s New Trial Reels Feature Could Benefit Your Business

Experimenting with new content ideas, be it slightly longer video lengths or niche topics you haven’t touched on before, can be a huge risk. That’s where Instagram’s trial reels come in.

When you make a reel on Instagram, you can now toggle the video to “Trial” mode. Afterward, your video will be shown to non-followers but not your direct followers. In fact, your followers won’t be able to see the trial reel from their main profile grid or “Reels” tab.

About 24 hours after you’ve shared your trial reel, you’ll have access to key engagement metrics such as views, likes, and comments. This will show you how well your reel has performed. If it’s done well, you can then choose to share it with your followers.

Though Instagram’s trial reels began rolling out on December 10, the feature is only available on professional accounts or with select creators at the moment. However, in the coming weeks, Meta has confirmed that it’ll be available on all Instagram accounts, so you shouldn’t have to wait long if you’re not yet eligible.

Thanks to the new feature, you’ll be able to:

• Test out different niches – This feature gives you the chance to experiment with topics that are outside of your usual niche. For instance, if you’re at the helm of a  makeup business, but have a newfound desire to cover skincare too, you can see how well this new online niche performs in your trial content.
• Test multiple videos at once – Have a huge list of ideas you’d like to try? There’s no video limit on trial reels, so you can test out as many Instagram reel ideas as you’d like at once.
• Reach new audiences – Because trial reels are sent to non-followers, you also have the chance to capture the attention of wider audiences and acquire new customers in the process.

If you’re working on growing your business on social media and are eligible for this latest feature, I recommend giving it a go. You’ll have the opportunity to test out as many  Instagram ideas as you’d like and evolve your content strategy – without the added pressure of losing your existing followers in the process.