Getting traction on Instagram is a nightmare these days, with endless amounts of AI slop, and OF grifters, it feels like the entire platform is a waste of time. And in the grand scheme of things, it is. But if you are adamant on grinding your way to some kind of Instagram following and don't want to resort to the usual grifts, you can try out Instagram's new Trials feature that takes your content and places it into an entirely clean feed without any of your followers to muddy the waters. And while I'm generally a pessimist, the feature actually does a decent job, so follow along as we show you how to use it.

Takeaways:

  1. What are Instagram Trial Reels, and are they worth using?
  2. Why you should be using Trial Reels to gain new followers on Instagram.

What Are Instagram Trial Reels?

Think of Trial Reels as Instagram’s built-in content lab. They allow you to publish a reel only to a select group of non-followers. That means your current audience won’t see it (unless you later choose to share it), and it won’t show up on your profile.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has been highlighting this feature for a reason:

“Trial Reels allow you to bypass the entire connected ranking system and go straight to the unconnected recommendations,” he explained. “That way, you don’t risk over-posting or annoying your current followers.

Putting it simply, it works like this:

  • Connected ranking = content shown to followers
  • Unconnected recommendations = content shown to non-followers via Reels/Explore

Trial Reels are essentially your own private focus group, giving you early feedback from fresh eyes.

Note: You’ll need a Creator or Business account to access this feature.

How to Use the Trial Reel Feature on Instagram to Get Way More Views

Using Trial Reels is surprisingly simple:

  • Create your reel as usual
  • Toggle on the ‘Trial’ option before publishing
  • Share and wait for results

Trial Reel Feature on Instagram to Get Way More Views

After 24 hours, you can review performance by heading to:
Profile > Reels tab > Drafts and Trial Reels > View Insights

You’ll see a full breakdown, including:

  • Views
  • Likes
  • Comments
  • Shares
  • Saves
  • Accounts Reached
  • Replays
  • Watch Time
  • Avg. Watch Time

If it’s a hit, you can choose to share it with your followers or let Instagram do it for you. If you enable auto-upgrade, Instagram will automatically publish your trial reel to your audience if it performs well within 72 hours.

Note: You’ll need a Creator or Business account to access this feature.

Why You Should Be Using Trial Reels

  • Experiment without jeopardising your feed or follower trust
  • Test new formats, music, voiceovers, hooks, and styles
  • Understand what appeals to potential followers
  • Reduce anxiety around posting frequency
  • Basically, they’re ideal for creators looking to grow smarter, not just louder.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Trial Reels

Don’t just hit “trial” for every reel without intention.

I made that mistake early on, posting a reel in my usual style with no clear concept. It performed about the same as my other content, and I learned… absolutely nothing.

Later, I ran a much more focused test:
I created three identical reels with only one difference the audio:

  • Voiceover narration
  • ASMR-style background
  • Trending audio

Results? The trending audio reel got 24% more views than the voiceover version, and 33% more than the ASMR. But average watch time was identical between trending and voiceover, prompting my next test: combining both. Basically, change things up until you find something that gains traction.

Eliminate Unnecessary Variables

This one’s basic but essential: control your test.

In one of my experiments, I forgot to include a location tag on one version. That seemingly small detail may have skewed my results. If you’re A/B testing, make sure every element besides the one you're testing, captions, tags, hashtags, filters, etc., is identical.

Don’t Compare to Regular Reels They Work Very Differently

Trial Reels will get fewer views than your normal posts. That’s not a bug, it’s the point.

You’re not broadcasting to your followers; you’re testing in a smaller pool. As Mosseri pointed out, you should compare trial reels to other trial reels, not your usual reach.

For example, my regular reels average 1,500–5,000 views. Trial Reels? 100–180 views max. But within those, I could still spot patterns and performance differences that helped refine my strategy.

Also, give your trials at least 24 hours to breathe. Instagram’s own tips note that it takes time to find the right non-follower audience for your content.