Instagram is officially rolling out “Trial Reels,” a way for creators to test new content by publishing videos that aren't visible to followers. The feature, which began testing in May, allows creators to try new ideas and see what works best without worrying about how their followers will react.
Trial Reels are visible to more than just your followers, and creators who are happy with how their content is performing can choose to share it with their followers.
This feature could give Instagram a bit of an edge over TikTok, which currently doesn't offer users a way to experiment with different types of content.
Ashley Alexander, Instagram's vice president and head of product management, said in an interview with TechCrunch that the idea behind the feature is to allow creators to experiment with new genres, storytelling formats, or topics without facing performance pressure. He said his goal is to provide a method.
Image credit: Instagram
“We've heard from creators that they're reluctant to try different types of content because they don't always feel comfortable or they've built a follower base and want to make sure they don't alienate it. ” said Alexander. Said. “I've heard from fashion creators that they're probably thinking of branching out into a career in music, but they're so used to their followers getting their outfits of the day that they don't want to post videos of themselves singing. It's a little scary. They're worried that they'll ignore them.”
Creators can share a Reel as a trial by toggling the “Trial” option after creating a Reel. Reels are shared with non-followers and are not visible in the main grid or Reels tab of that user's profile. It's worth noting that followers can see your trial reel even if someone shares it directly.
After 24 hours, creators can see how many views, likes, comments, and shares their Reels received. You can then choose to archive it or post it to your profile to share with your followers.
This new feature will roll out globally over the next few weeks to everyone with a professional Instagram account.
Image credit: Instagram
Trial reels are a useful addition for creators. Many creators see their Instagram profile as their business card, which puts a lot of pressure on them when it comes to the content they publish. This new feature allows you to test new content and only feature the most polished content on your profile to ensure you don't lose followers or brand deals.
“Creative people have a lot of ideas, but one of the worst things that can kill creativity is feeling pressured or feeling like taking a chance will have a negative impact,” Alexander says. I did. “And we never want to feel that way on Instagram. Instagram should be a place where you take all your boldest creative chances and are rewarded when they work.” .”
Alexander said that Instagram's goal is to innovate ahead of its competitors, and that by recognizing what's working and what's not, the social network can make its content better and create more content. He said he wants to help creators understand how they can reach their audiences. The company plans to do this with both trial reels and future creator-focused features.